DIGNITY INTERNATIONAL - MONTHLY NEWSBULLETIN - October 2006

DIGNITY NEWS
*** Latin America Programme on ESC Rights – Flood of Applications
The popularity of a training programme on economic, social rights in Spanish for the Latin America region is proved once again with the flood of applications received from almost all countries of the continent. At the close of applications in September, 180 applications – mostly women - were received and 25 persons have now been selected to participate in the programme.
“We are energised by this process so far and very much looking forward to welcoming the participants to Ecuador in a few days time” said Juana Sotomayor, General Coordinator of CDES, host organisation in Ecuador. The programme is organised by CDES, COHRE–Americas Programme, Dignity International, DECA Equipo Pueblo and Social Watch, withthe support of Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund of the Anglican Church of Canada (PWRDF), UNIFEM and the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights. The programme willtake place in Quito, Ecuador, from 2 to 10 November 2006.

*** Community Trainers Gear Up for Action - From the 7 th to the 11 th of November, 24 community trainers from the different settlements of Nairobi, will gather for a Training of Trainers programme organised by Hakijamii in partnership with Dignity International. This is part of the Get Up Stand Up: Stand Up for Your Human Rights process aimed at raising awareness about human rights and building the capacity of the communities to claim their human rights.

*** Lectures out! Community Theatre In! Promoting human rights education and learning at the community level can be simple and fun. We just have to use the tools that people love most – like community theatre!
Back to back with this training of trainers, a workshop on community theatre will also be organised from 13-14 November. The workshop will bring together different theatre groups from the settlements to better use community theatre to promote human rights. This is the first workshop of this type to be organised by Dignity International.

*** Global Learning Programme on Human Rights in Development – last days to apply!
This 5th Global Linking & Learning Programme, organised by Dignity International in partnership with Pusat Komas, a Malaysia based Popular Communication Centre, will take place in Malaysia, form 1 to 10 December 2006. The programme is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and Oxfam NOVIB.
Experienced development activists from the different world regions working either at the grassroots or at the international advocacy levels are encouraged to apply. The programme will be based on the rich development experience of the participants themselves who, in a non-formal and participatory learning framework, will explore together the meaning of human rights in development work and how integration of human rights into development work translates into concrete strategies and development programming at the grassroots and international levels.
Deadline for applications: 17 October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Informative Document (http://www.dignityinternational.org/dg/RC/Dignitydocs/2006/2006_HRD_global.pdf) | Application Form (http://www.dignityinternational.org/dg/RC/Dignitydocs/2006/2006_HRD_globalapplicationform.doc)

OTHER NEWS
*** Koch FM - The Voice of Korogocho
Koch FM: a community radio with a frequency...by the community for the community! - “With Koch FM, we are making a megaphone for the people!”
KochFM is a project started in the beginning of 2006 by a group of 6 young people from Korogocho - Nairobi’s third largest slum, with almost half a million inhabitants. The main goal for this group is to find ways of informing people about what is going on in their neighbourhood, and what political decisions are made, which concern people in the slums of Eastern Africa and affect their lives. The concept of Koch FM has been inspired by similar projects abroad, like Radio Favela, in a slum of Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s third largest city.
More at MissKoch (http://www.misskoch.org/) and you can also contact them at misskoch2001@yahoo.com

*** Grassroots Eviction Guidelines Campaign – On Their Way
A national grassroots evictions guidelines campaign is being planned for 2007. This follows the successful Kenya National Eviction Guidelines symposium organised by Hakijamii Trust, Kenya national Commission on HR, Kenya Land Alliance, Shelter Forum, Pamoja Trust, 4Cs, Kenya HR Commission, Kituo Cha Sheria, Umand Trust and COHRE.
Over 1000 community representatives from all over kenya Coast, Eastern, North eastern, nyanza and western parts of Kenya turned up for the symposium. Participants called for urgent action to develop and adopt eviction guidelines that incorporate the core human rights principles of consultation, notice, alternative resettlement, legal remedies and special attention to the most vulnerable groups.
For further information, please contact Hakijamii Trust [esrc@hakijamii.com]

*** Africa: Forced Evictions Reach Crisis Levels
A research, conducted by Amnesty International and Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), reveals that the practice of forced evictions has reached epidemic proportions in Africa - since 2000, more than 3 million Africans forcibly evicted from their homes. The two organisations called upon African governments to bring to an end forced evictions and respect the international human rights obligations they have recognised.
"Forced evictions are one of the most widespread and unrecognised human rights violations in Africa" - Kolawole Olaniyan, Director - Amnesty International's Africa Programme.
"Many African governments justify forced evictions on the grounds that they are essential for 'development' and therefore, in the interests of the general public good. However, development that leads to forced evictions is fundamentally counterproductive because forced evictions create homelessness, destroy property and productive assets, and obstruct access to potable water, sanitation, healthcare, livelihood opportunities and education. By carrying out forced evictions, African governments are pushing people into poverty - not pulling them out of it" - Jean du Plessis, COHRE’s Executive Director (Acting Interim) - Complete Press Release (http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR010092006)
For more information you can contact Deanna Fowler [deanna@cohre.org] - COHRE or Eliane Drakopoulos [edrakopoulos@amnesty.org] - Amnesty International

*** CDES celebrates! - Norway Cancelled Ecuador’s Illegitimate Debt
CDES (Centre of Economic and Social Rights – Ecuador) is celebrating Norway’s decision of cancelling Ecuador’s debt. The case of this Ecuadorian Illegitimate Debt towards Norway was documented by CDES already in 2001 and, since then has been monitored and publicised internally and internationally.
On the 2nd of October, Norway announced, unilaterally and without conditions, the cancellation of US$80 million in illegitimate debts owed by 5 countries: Egypt, Ecuador, Peru, Jamaica and Sierra Leone. Norway's Government has, in effect, admitted that it's lending in these particular cases was irresponsible and motivated by domestic concerns, rather than an objective analysis of the development needs of the countries involved. The reason given by Norway for this unprecedented unilateral cancellation is a failed development policy lacking proper needs assessment and a proper risk analysis.
"Norway now cancelling illegitimate debt and admitting co-responsibility for a failed development initiative is simply historic" (Kjetil G. Abildsnes - Chair of Jubilee Norway).
For more information see CHOIKE (http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/4964.html)
More on CDES campaign for this debt cancellation (http://www.cdes.org.ec/biblioteca/busc-tematico/deuda-externa.html) (in Spanish)

*** NGOs Criticise Outcome of IMF/World Bank Meeting
Representatives of non-governmental organisations have criticised the negligible results of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World-Bank (which ended on 20 th September), which they said were grossly inadequate to deal with the massive problems of financial instability, debt, poverty and economic imbalances plaguing the world today.

They also attacked the lack of democracy and participation, manifested by the scandalous treatment meted out to NGOs at the present meetings in Singapore – people were either banned from entering Singapore, detained at the Singapore airport without explanation, subjected to custodial interrogation and, regrettably, some were even deported. Civil society has also attacked the lack of basic changes in the decision-making structures of the two institutions, despite the positive ‘spin’ that the IMF secretariat had tried to put on the decision adopted by the IMF Board to raise the quota shares of four countries. Source: CHOIKE (http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/4964.html)
International Peoples Forum vs. the IMF and World Bank (IPF) - the World Bank and IMF were found responsible for policies and actions that lead to the intensification of poverty and deprivation, the violation of basic human rights, the curtailment of basic political and civil liberties, the undermining of national sovereignty and democratic governance, and the subversion of the right to development. As a result of these analyses on the World Bank and IMF, the Forum concluded with several demands, regarding the policies and practices of the World Bank and IMF, re-invigorating The Global Call to Action Against the International Financial Institutions. Furthermore, to ensure that there is full accountability and transparency of the IFIs to peoples and communities that are affected by their operations, the IPF c alled on the governments, members of the World Bank and IMF Boards of Directors, to keep these institutions fully accountable for their impacts on human rights, equity, and the sustainability of development. (CompletePressStatement (http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR010092006) by the Organisers of the International Peoples Forum vs IMF-WB)
In addition, see IFIwatchnet (http://www.ifiwatchnet.org/index.shtml) (where you will also find the IFIwatchnet WEBLOG, full of news and opinions from Singapore), as well as Focus on the Global South (http://www.focusweb.org/content/blogcategory/76/103) and Bretton Woods Project (http://brettonwoodsproject.org/art.shtml?x=543245)

*** African Civil Society Launches Campaign Against EPAs
A coalition of several African organisations together with some international civil society movements (including Oxfam International, Enda Tiers Monde, the African Network for Integrated Development, The International Fair Trade Association and the Network of West-African Farmers) launched an international campaign to denounce the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) currently under negotiation between the European Union (EU) and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

“EPAs represent a serious threat to ACP countries development prospects, as their implementation will lead to a significant drop in customs revenues and threaten African farmers’ means of existence through forced liberalisation and the flooding of international markets with subsidised farm products from rich countries” - declared Lamine Ndiay (Oxfam). She added that, through this trade agreement (between the EU and ACP countries), European multinational companies, which are more powerful than the African productive force, will be the ones obtaining the most benefits from EPAs, therefore jeopardising African countries’ sovereignty and undermining the sub-regional economic integration. See AngolaPress (http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=476212)

*** Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
After five years of negotiations, countries have agreed on a new treaty to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. “This is the first convention of this magnitude for this century”, and the message the negotiators convened to the world is “the message that we want to have a life with dignity for all and that all human beings are all equal” -UN General Assembly President Jan Eliasson said.
Proponents of the convention maintained that the treaty was necessary because persons with disabilities represented one of the most marginalised groups and that their rights had been routinely ignored or denied throughout much of the world. While the convention does not create new rights, it specifically prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in all areas of life, including civil rights, access to justice and the right to education, health services and access to transportation. It is estimated that 10 per cent of the world's population, or about 650 million people, suffer from disabilities. See UN Enable (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable)

*** Human Rights Council – 2 nd Session
The 2nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 September to 6 October 2006. As a result of the high number of draft proposals submitted for the session, and of the insufficient time available in order to guarantee the due and balanced consideration of all those proposals, the Council decided to suspend its 2 nd session until 27 November. On that date, immediately before the Council’s 3 rd session, all decisions would then be tackled. The Council also adopted a decision on mechanisms and mandates, and a decision to add to the programme of work of the third session a segment on the theme of "follow-up to decisions of the Human Rights Council". See UNHCHR (http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/07981D553C100203C12571FF00497E84?opendocument)

*** AGE - Open letter to EU Ministers & latest edition of CoverAge
The European Older People's Platform (AGE) has written an Open Letter to the European Union Social Affairs Ministers, ahead of the 5 th Roundtable on Poverty and Social Inclusion scheduled to take place in Tampere, Finland, next October 16 & 17. As the Roundtable will be one of the key events in the social policy agenda during the Finnish Presidency, AGE wishes to take this opportunity to engage in an open discussion on how to make progress on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion.
AGE is a European network of organisations of people aged 50+ and represents over 22 million older people in Europe. AGE aims to voice and promote the interests of the 150 million inhabitants aged 50+ in the European Union and to raise awareness of the issues that concern them most.
At AGE’s website you can find the OpenLetter (http://www.age-platform.org/EN/IMG/Position_Poverty_and_social_inclusion_of_older_people_final_letter_to_ministers.pdf) as well as the last issue of CoverAge (http://www.age-platform.org/EN/IMG/CoverAGE_September_2006.pdf) – AGE’s news letter.

PUBLICATIONS
*** FIAN’s new publication: Right to Food Quarterly
The last issue of FIAN’s Right to food Quarterly has been launched and published. The Quarterly is an e-publication and can be downloaded for free from FIAN (http://www.fian.org/fian/pdf/RtfQuaterly.pdf). For any comments, queries or ideas to contribute to the Right to Food Quarterly, you are welcome to contact Wilma Strothenke [strothenke@fian.org], Editor of Right to Food Quarterly.

*** 2006 Social Watch Report – Impossible Architecture
The Social Watch Annual Report - Impossible Architecture: Why the Financial Structure is Not Working for the Poor and How to Redesign it for Equity and Development- was launched on September 19th in Singapore. The Annual Report monitors governments’ public policy to determine their degree of compliance with commitments and treaties to eradicate poverty and achieve gender equity that they have signed. The launch was marked by deep criticism of the international governance system and emphasised the urgent need for changes in the international finance structure to ensure that commitments taken on by countries are effectively fulfilled.
An "Impossible Architecture" – the picture of the world’s Global Finance. The Social Watch Report 2006 explains how citizens from around the world see the Global finance Picture, trying to provide new perspectives and ideas for a viable blueprint that makes finances actually work for poverty eradication and development. Download the Report (http://www.socialwatch.org/en/informeImpreso/index.htm)

*** 1 st International Sustainability Watch Report 2006
The Sustainability Watch 2006 Report was launched at the annual meetings of the Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stressing that sustainable development was crucial as about 3 billion people (almost 50 percent of the world population) now live on less than two dollars a day. A figure expected to rise by 100 million by 2015, unless implementation of internationally agreed commitments was substantially improved.
The most critical factor is the market-oriented development frameworks, which promote trade liberalisation and privatisation, said Roy Cabonegro, regional facilitator for Asia of Sustainability Watch, a civil society network in 15 southern countries monitoring promises to improve sustainability. These frameworks do not pay serious attention to environmental constraints, especially in the case of planning for land and natural resource use. The report also identified four other key barriers to sustainable development: weak governance, institutional constraints, inconsistent policies and inadequate resources. Download the Report (http://www.suswatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=91)
More at International Press Service (http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34801)
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*** WSF 2007 - Individual Registration Now Open!
The World Social Forum 2007 event in Nairobi is less than four months away - is now already opened the individual registration for the event and the registration of activities will start soon as well. To register, you have to download the Individual Registration Form (http://wsf2007.org/Registration-individuals-WSF2007-english-5.doc), fill it in, and send it to registration@wsf2007.org.

Complete information about the Registration (including Participation Fees) at WSF 2007 Webpage (http://wsf2007.org/individual-registration-for-wsf-2007-is-now-open)

*** Joining Hands at the WSF - Human Dignity & Human Rights Caucus
Interested organizations are invited to join and contribute to the Human Dignity and Human Rights Caucus (HDHRC) of the World Social Forum. The HDHRC is conceived as a temporary device created to provide practical, logistical support and coordination (for joint registrations, reservation of space and facilities, etc.) and to facilitate the expression of international human rights movement in WSF. HDHRC participants are expected to take responsibility for organizing joint presentations and cultural displays as collective activities, as well as any of their own human rights-related events within a common conceptual framework and common space within the WSF compound.
The HDHRC now has an international program coordinator working within FIDH (Paris), and will engage a local coordinator to manage local arrangements and collaboration with the local WSF Organizing Committee. For further information, please contact Rosa Sanchez [coordinationhdhrc@yahoo.com], HDHRC coordinator or Joseph Schechla [hlrn@hlrn.org] - Housing and Land Rights Network.

*** Equalinrights -Human Rights Resource Persons Database
Equalinrights has activated its database of resource persons on Human Rights-based Approaches (HRBAs). The interactive database of resource persons has been created to respond to a serious gap in knowledge and understanding of the human rights-based approach. The aim of the database is to make available a pool of resource persons crossing many disciplines and experiences, which centres on understanding and applying holistic human rights-based approaches in development work.
In order to make this database as complete as possible, the organisation calls upon everyone to provide contacts of persons with the relevant approach, knowledge and experience recommended as resource persons. Furthermore, Equalinrights would really appreciate your critical comments and suggestions about the database itself.
For more information you can access Equalinrights (http://www.equalinrights.org/content/partners.html) or contact the organisation by e-mail [info@equalinrights.org].

*** Vacancy - COHRE Americas Programme (CAP) Coordinator
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) wishes to hire a Coordinator to manage its Americas Programme, the expansion and further development of the organisation in the Americas Region. The CAP Americas Coordinator will be based in COHRE's Regional Office in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
All information at COHRE (http://www.cohre.org/view_page.php?page_id=175)

*** International Service for Human Rights – Programme Announcement
The Geneva based International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is calling for applications for 2 Training Programmes - the Advanced Geneva Training Course on International Human Rights Law and Advocacy, (from 15 March to 6 April 2007 - deadline for applications 16 October) and the French Version of the same Programme (from 22 March to 6 April 2007 - deadline for applications 1 November).
The Advanced Geneva Training Course in International Human Rights Law and Advocacy (AGTC) is an annual training course, which focuses on the use of UN mechanisms. The course provides human rights defenders with an opportunity to experience first-hand the United Nations human rights machinery in action, particularly the new Human Rights Council which will be sitting for its 3rd Session during the course.
For more information, contact ISHR [courses@ishr-sidh.ch]

FORTHCOMING EVENTS – HIGHLIGHTS
*** Do Not Forget - 17 October – Stand Up Against Poverty!
Between 11 (GMT) on 15 October and 11 (GMT) on 16 October, people all over the world will be STANDING UP AGAINST POVERTY, which will culminate in World Poverty Day on 17 October. From bicycle demonstrations to music concerts, human chains to a Day of Worship, Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) supporters in more than 100 countries will Stand Up for one minute to add their voice to a 24-hour global call of millions, to demand world leaders to take action to end poverty and inequality.
See How You Can Act (http://www.whiteband.org) | More Information On This Day (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/poverty/poverty.htm)

*** International Forum on the Eradication of Poverty
"Eradicating poverty is an ethical, social, political and economic imperative of humankind” - General Assembly Resolution 51/178
To mark the end of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, the Division of Social Policy, in collaboration with United Nations agencies and civil society, is organising the International Forum on the Eradication of Poverty. The Forum aims to achieve two major objectives: it is intended to send a strong message on the importance of a continued and enhanced commitment to poverty eradication in the run-up to 2015; and will provide a valuable opportunity for forward-looking dialogue among stakeholders on the next steps over the next decade towards the realisation of the universal goal of poverty eradication.
The Forum is an interagency initiative that will be held on 15 and 16 November 2006 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.
See PovertyForum (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/poverty/PovertyForum)

 *** The Human Right to Food - FAO Special Event
Next Saturday 4 November 2006, in Rome, Italy, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations system will be hosting a Special event on the Human Right to Food.
The purpose of the Special Event is to inform about the progress made in implementing the right to food and to discuss practical steps to advance this human right as well as the implementation of a rights-based approach at country level. This will be an afternoon event, which will combine panel discussions with ongoing "information fair" on the implementation of the right to food, where stakeholders will be able to showcase their work, presenting specific aspects of the realisation of the right to food at the country level.
For more information you can contact FAO’s Righ to Food Unit [righttofood@fao.org].

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 [info@dignityinternational.org?subject=information]