DIGNITY INTERNATIONAL: MONTHLY NEWSBULLETIN - May 2006

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Dignity News

* Get Up - Stand Up – Community Leaders Learning Programme
* Dignity’s Annual Report 2005: Now Available Online
* ESC Rights Learning Programme, Ireland, June 2006

Other News

* URGENT ACTION - Stop Mandala evictions!
* Government of Malawi Must Comply with Right to Food Obligations
* Mexico Alternative Report on ESC and Environmental Rights
* Human Rights Council Election of Mandates – some NGOs reactions
* WB & IMF Spring Meetings - outcomes

Publications

* The Banyan Tree Paradox: Culture and Human Rights Activism
* 3D Publication on Trade and ESC Rights
* FIDH Mission report on NAFTA effects on human rights in Mexico

Announcements

* Learning Program on Budget Analysis and ESC Rights - call for applications
* Equalinrights: Outreach Officer Vacancy
* Fund for Global Human Rights – grants available
* Master in ‘Development and Globalisation amongst Growth and Exclusion’

Forthcoming Events – Highlights

* Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
* ILO General Conference
* Workshop on Human Rights and the Media
* 2006 Stockholm Conference on Environmental Law and Justice

DIGNITY NEWS

*** "Get Up - Stand Up" – Community Leaders Learning Programme.

Hakijammii Trust and Dignity International are organising a new learning programme for Community Leaders: Get Up, Stand Up - Stand Up for Your Human Rights! This programme will take place this month of May, from the 20th to the 27th, in Nairobi, Kenya.

This learning programme aims at increasing the affected communities’ awareness and knowledge about human rights, in particular ESC rights; relating existing struggles of the community (water, sanitation, housing, education, healthcare) to human rights and working with them to strengthen their call for change through use of human rights instruments; equipping the community members with the skills to claim their human rights and people’s based advocacy; engaging with the Community Based Organisations and other NGOs on a longer term campaign for social change.
Contact person: Elijah Odhiambo (hakijamii@wananchi.com)
http://www.dignityinternational.org

*** Dignity’s Annual Report 2005: Now Available Online - Dignity’s Annual Report 2005, with a full description of all our activities undergone in the past year is now available for consultation and/or download at http://www.dignityinternational.org/A/P1/AnnualReport_2005.pdf

Do take a look at all we’ve been doing last year. Any feed-back from you will be very important for us. You can email us at info@dignityinternational.org

*** ESC Rights Learning Programme – Ireland – From 26-30 June, the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Women’s Human Rights Alliance in co-operation with Dignity International will organise a 5 Day Residential Training Programme on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with a focus on the gender dimension. The overall goal of this programme is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to actively promote and defend economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in relation to combating women’s poverty and social exclusion. Further information on this programme can be obtained from Mary Ruddy of IHRC at mruddy@ihrc.ie and Noirin Clancy at womenshumanrights@eircom.net.

OTHER NEWS

*** URGENT ACTION - Stop Mandala evictions!

On May 9, police, along with Mumbai Collectorate officials demolished the slum communities of Indira Nagar and Janata Nagar in Mandala, in Mumbai, India. About 500 – 700 police along with 6-7 bulldozers demolished about 5000 houses from both the areas. The houses that were not demolished, were set on fire. People are now at the open, standing, with all the personal belongings they managed to save from the fire or from police deliberate destruction.

The demolition in Mandala is a blatant violation of the human beings basic right to housing. Ironically as it might sound, the houses burnt and/or demolished were situated on land allotted for rehabilitation by the Government.

Today, 11th of May, 5 men and 3 women activists were arrested and beaten up. Many people have been injured - Shamin Banu, for example, has had a miscarriage after women police beating her in her stomach.

We request all of you to immediately fax/call Mr. R. R. Patil, Home Minister of Maharashtra, to immediately stop the brutal demolition and that the guilty be arrested.

Mr. R.R. Patil, Home Minister of Maharashtra - Telephone: 022 - 22022401,22025014; Fax: 022- 22024873; Email: DeputyChiefMinister@maharashtra.gov.in
Fore more info, contact evictionwatch@yuvaindia.org
A copy of the letter sent by Dignity International on 10 May can be viewed at:
http://www.dignityinternational.org/A/P1/Mandala_sampleletter.doc

*** Government of Malawi Must Comply with Right to Food Obligations - An international fact-finding mission composed of civil society organisations representatives from Canada, Ghana, Germany, Malawi and Zambia was concluded with a set of observations and recommendations to the Malawian government. The mission, conducted by the Canadian human rights organisation Rights & Democracy together with FIAN (Food Information and Action Network), was invited to evaluate the state of the right to food in the country by the National Right to Food Taskforce, a Malawian civil society initiative. Mission members met with rural communities in the Kasungu, Salima and Mchinji districts and with representatives of local and central government, donor agencies and civil society in Lilongwe.

Although the Government of Malawi has taken positive steps to respond to the hunger crisis, the mission observed a number of shortcomings with regards to State compliance with its human rights obligations. The response to the hunger emergency was characterised by lack of accountability, a systemic discrimination of the most vulnerable groups, and a failure to take appropriate steps to lift the country out of food aid dependency.

The preliminary recommendations of the fact-finding mission pledge the Government of Malawi to: draft and adopt legislation that entrenches the primacy of human rights in the design of food security and nutrition related policies; implement effective monitoring mechanisms and complaints procedures at all levels but particularly at the district and village levels; to adopt and support long term programming aimed specifically at the implementation of policies for national self-sufficiency in food production.
For additional information, please contact Kofi Yakpo at kofi@fian.org
http://www.fian.org/fian/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=210&Itemid=103

*** Mexico Alternative Report on ESC and Environmental Rights - On May 1st 2006, Areli Sandoval presented, at the UN Committee on ESCR in Geneva, the Mexican Alternative Report on behalf of the Promoting Group of the Alternative Report on Economic, Social, Cultural and Enviromental Rights. 49 Mexican civil and social organisations and networks elaborated the Alternative Report, and several other organisations - including some regional and international – have been endorsing it.

Reports includes a summary of the diagnosis of the Mexican situation of all the rights considered in the Covenant, the analysis of the economic and social policies, the public budget, as well as other relevant issues in this country.

On May 9 and 10 the Mexican Government presented an Official Report to the UN ESCR Committee on the implementation of Human Rights policies in the country. In the report, the Government acknowledges that the results of the implementation of the Covenant are very varied throughout the country.

The alternative report, the Mexican Official report, as well as observations and declarations are available at
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/cescrs36.htm
Further information at
http://www.socialwatch.org/es/noticias/noticia_131.htm

*** Human Rights Council Election of Mandates – some NGOs reactions

The first election of the members of the newly established Human Rights Council (HRC) was held by the General Assembly on 9 May.

Human rights groups said they were generally pleased with the 47 members elected to the council, which will replace the highly politicised Human Rights Commission, which was discredited in recent years because some countries with terrible rights records used their membership to protect one another from condemnation. "The spoiler governments, the governments that have a history of trying to undermine the protection of human rights through their membership on the old commission are now a significantly reduced minority when it comes to the council," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "That doesn't guarantee that the council will be a success, but it is a step in the right direction."

Yvonne Terlingen, U.N. representative for Amnesty International, said it was "fairly pleased" that the countries elected would provide a good basis for a new "strong and effective human rights body." "Some countries have been elected with weak human rights records, but they also are now committed to uphold the highest human rights standards," she said.
See list of elected mandates at http://www.un.org/ga/60/elect/hrc/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-05-09-rights-council_x.htm

*** WB & IMF Spring Meetings – Outcomes -

Low Down on World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings 2006 - Eurodad highlights some of the major official announcements made at this year’s Bank/Fund Spring Meetings (20-24 April) as well as details of other issues on the agenda of the IFIs and civil society organisations. The briefing covers some of the key issues that were debated at this years Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, both official and civil society events, including: Debt; Corruption; Conditionality and Governance; and IMF - Budget ceilings and reform.
See http://www.eurodad.org/articles/default.aspx?id=699

Walden Bello: WB/IMF in Crisis, Spring Meeting Wrap-up Walden Bello of Focus on the Global South reports on strategy meetings held last weekend to discuss the future of international campaigning on the World Bank and IMF, coordinated by the 50 Years Is Enough Network and Focus on the Global South, and held at the Institute for Policy Studies. See full article at http://www.50years.org/cms/updates/story/325
Spring Meetings official website
http://www.imf.org/external/spring/2006/index.htm

PUBLICATIONS

*** The Banyan Tree Paradox: Culture and Human Rights Activism – A new publication from International Human Rights Internship programme. The enormous impact of various facets of globalisation on cultures around the world challenges human rights activists to work more effectively with communities concerned about protecting their cultures. Drawing on the experiences and insights of activists in a range of countries, this book seeks to untangle some of the complexities and controversies that surround culture and human rights issues and aims to help human rights activists to work together to better protect the right to culture.
IHRIP webpage http://www.iie.org/Website/WPreview.cfm?CWID=430&WID=171

*** 3D new publication on trade and ESC rights - 3 D has just released its latest publication: a compilation of references to trade and trade-related issues by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 3D considers this as a very valuable tool in assessing to what extent human rights experts have considered that trade-related issues are of human rights concern.
To read the full compilation on-line please visit
http://www.3dthree.org/en/page.php?IDpage=49. If you would like a paper copy of the compilation, please contact 3D’s secretariat by mailing to Maison des Associations, 15 rue des Savoises - 1205 Genève (Tel: +41 22 320 21 21; Fax: +41 22 320 69 48) or by email to info@3dthree.org

*** FIDH Mission report on NAFTA effects on human rights in Mexico - on the 36th session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) published today a report of a fact-finding mission on the effects on human rights of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The mission, conducted in Mexico between 22 and 31 of August 2005, looked specifically at the effects of NAFTA, ten years after its entering into force, on employment and working conditions in the Northern part of the country, in particular in the maquilas (free zones) and in the informal economy.

On the report, FIDH calls upon Mexican authorities to reform current labour law in order to ensure that workers are protected, and in particular to raise the minimum wage to ensure a basic living wage; to promote an effective and independent mechanism for the protection and enforcement of labour laws and to ensure that trade unions are independent, representative and transparent.
Read the report at http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/Mexique448-ang2006.pdf

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*** Learning Program on Budget Analysis and ESC Rights – A call for applications is now for the 2nd International Learning Program on Budget Analysis and ESC Rights. The Program is organised by Fundar - Centro de Análisis e Investigación, the International Budget Project (IBP), the International Human Rights Internship Program (IHRIP) and Centro de Estudios Legales y socials (CELS). It is aimed at activists involved in development work, social and economic justice movements, human rights organisations and applied budget groups. Program participants will acquire the basic skills needed to read and analyse budgets, assess situations within a rights framework, and relate budgets to economic, social and cultural rights obligations.
Deadline for applications - June 1st 2006 - For more information and to obtain the application form email to info@escr-net.org

*** Equalinrights: Outreach officer vacancy - equalinrights is looking for an Outreach Officer whose primary responsibilities will be to develop relevant communication strategies and policies; to organise events, such as trainings, seminars, World Social Forum sessions and lobbying efforts, with partners; to coordinate any advocacy work undertaken by equalinrights in conjunction with partners; to coordinate the information needs of equalinrights; to produce and/or edit and manage equalinrights publications; to develop and maintain a database of skilled resource persons on human rights-based strategies.
Read the full job description at
http://www.uu.nl/uupublish/homeuu/homeenglish/working/vacancies/25678main.html
For more details, contact Emma Sydenham - equalinrights Coordinator - at sydenham@equalinrights.org
See also www.equalinrights.org

*** Fund for Global Human Rights – grants available – currently the fund is accepting applications from groups based and working on human rights in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Morocco, Tunisia, or Algeria.

The Fund for Global Human Rights works on the belief that securing basic freedoms worldwide requires effective frontline organisations challenging abuse wherever it occurs. Despite their importance, many on-the-ground human rights groups have woefully little access to the financial resources and support that would amplify their voices and increase their impact. The Fund aims to bring new financial support to struggling, often isolated human rights organisations. The Fund’s ultimate goal is to promote a strong, effective human rights community in every country around the world.

In late 2006, grants will also be available for groups based in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Mexico, or Guatemala.
See http://www.globalhumanrights.org/for-grantees/english/for-grantees

*** Master in ‘Development and Globalisation amongst Growth and Exclusion’ – are now open the applications to the IMAS - International Master of Advanced Studies – Development and Globalisation amongst Growing and Exclusión (Desarrollo y Globalización entre Crecimiento y Exclusión), which will be taking pplace from 14 August 2006 to 27 April 2007. The IMAS is organised by the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED) of Geneva, with the colaboration of DESCO from Peru – country where takes place part of the programme. For more information see http://www.desco.org.pe/dfd-diploma.asp and http://www.unige.ch/iued/en/enseignement/imas/

FORTHCOMING EVENTS – HIGHLIGHTS

*** Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - From May 15 to 26, in New York, will take place the 5th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, under the theme of "The Millennium Development Goals and indigenous peoples: Re-defining the Millennium Development Goals".
For more information see
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_fifth.html or contact the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous at indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

*** ILO General Conference - The member States of the International Labour Organisation will meet at the International Labour Conference, which is held every year, from May 28 to June 25, in Geneva, Switzerland. Each member State is represented by a delegation consisting of two government delegates, an employer delegate, a worker delegate, and their respective advisers. (Employer and Worker delegates are nominated in agreement with the most representative national organizations of employers and workers).
See http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc95/reports.htm
For more information you can contact the Official Relations Branch at RELOFF@ilo.org

*** Workshop on Human Rights and the Media - A two week course, where students stay affiliated with Viva Rio, an NGO based and acting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Viva Rio is most known for their media campaigns and human rights programs in ‘favela’ communities throughout Rio de Janeiro. The dates for the course are July 10 - July 21, 2006. Students will study international human rights standards, the role of international and local NGOs in the Brazilian human rights movement, the everyday practice of human rights at the community level, and as a special focus, the role of media in representing and promoting human rights.
For information about the course and application guidelines, please see http://homepages.nyu.edu/~pl29/brazil/index.html
To request more information, you can also contact Professor Peter Lucas at peterlucas@nyu.edu, writing in the subject line "Human Rights in Brazil”.
For more about Viva Rio visit http://www.vivario.org.br

*** 2006 Stockholm Conference on Environmental Law and Justice - from 6 to 9 September 2006. Considerations of justice are crucial in all cases of environmental law and decision-making – at the national as well as international level. This Conference on Environmental Law and Justice is arranged by Stockholm Environmental Law and Policy Centre. The topics to be addressed range from local to global settings, and include structural and cross-cutting aspects such as gender, trade, corporate responsibility, climate change, globalisation and North-South dimensions
For information about programme, speakers, workshops and registration, visit the Conference website at www.juridicum.su.se/EnvJusticeConf.

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This is a monthly electronic news bulletin of 'Dignity International: All Human Rights for All'. Dignity International does not accredit, validate or substantiate any information posted by members to this news bulletin. The validity and accuracy of any information is the responsibility of the originator.

If you are working in the area of human rights with a special attention to different aspects of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, we would love to hear from you. To contribute, email us at info@dignityinternational.org

Posted by Evelin at May 12, 2006 12:54 AM