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Linked with our presentation of Grace Antonia D’Almeida – Benin.

Linked also with our presentation of UNFPA.

REFAMP was created with a view to promoting greater access by African women to decision-making posts. Through this network, women ministers and parliamentarians decided to unite and form a pressure group to defend the interests of women and ensure the promotion and protection of their rights, improve their living conditions, and work towards sustainable peace and development.

REFAMP’s sub-regional conference on women’s role in the prevention and management of conflicts in West Africa was held in Conakry from the 24th to the 26th of January, 2000. The purpose of the conference was to give the women of the sub-region the opportunity to express their concerns, sharee their experiences and exchange ideas so as to devise strategies and co-ordinate their activities towards the prevention and management of conflicts. FAS and the AWCPD participated in the conference.

The outcome of the conference was the Conakry Declaration and Plan of Action. The Declaration recognised the need for the protection of civilian populations, re-establishment of public order and disarmament, social reintegration, repatriation, and re-adaptation of refugees and respect for human rights and democracy.

At the end of the meeting, they launched a sub-regional network known as UREFAMP/ECOWAS.

ECOWAS = Economic Community of West African States.

Trouvé sur RISAL – Réseau d’information et de solidarité avec l’Amérique latine.

Source : Ecoportal.net, décembre 2005.

Par Gustavo Castro S. – Les ouragans, les tempêtes et les catastrophes naturelles qui s’abattent sur le monde ont accéléré la pauvreté non seulement dans les pays du Sud mais aussi dans ceux du Nord eux-mêmes. La Chine, l’Inde, le Salvador, le Mexique, le Guatemala, les Etats-Unis, parmi beaucoup d’autres, subissent des « phénomènes naturels » jamais vus. Mais ces catastrophes naturelles sont aussi le résultat de catastrophes politiques et économiques. Plus de trente années d’un modèle de production et de consommation néolibérales qui nous a conduit à une consommation excessive de papier, d’eau, d’énergie électrique, de produits chimiques, etc., qui a provoqué la déforestation que l’on sait, l’interruption et l’altération du cycle de l’eau. Le protocole de Kyoto est arrivé trop tard et la disparition de la couche d’ozone et le changement climatique provoquent déjà de grands ravages qui accélèrent la l’émigration de pays pauvres vers les plus riches.

Le plus ironique est que les migrants, fruit de l’expulsion que génère le modèle économique de production et d’exploitation capitaliste, se concentrent dans les pays responsables de la politique qui les a obligés à quitter leurs propres foyers pour être doublement exploités. Ils perdent maisons, terres, famille, culture et, comme si cela ne suffisait pas, une grande partie de leurs maigres revenus, en les envoyant à leurs familles dans leur pays d’origine.

Continuer la lecture de « L’argent des migrants : exploitation ou pouvoir potentiel ? »

Linked with our presentation of V. Mohini Giri – India.

Linked also with our presentation of Transforming Approaches to Conflict Resolution.

The Guild of Service (North India ) was begun in 1972 under the Chairpersonship of Dr. Mohini Giri (Former Chairperson National Commission for Women and Founder President of War Widows Associations) with the mandate of empowerment of marginalized women and children . Since then the Guilld of Service has embarked on ultidimensional programs aimed towards capacity building of women both through advocacy and grass root work. All the members of Guild of Service give their services and talents ex gratia. This voluntary commitment is really the culture of Guild of Service. Its strength and vision.

Continuer la lecture de « Guild of Service – India »

Linked with our presentation of Bahey El-Din Hassan – Egypt.

Bahey eldin Hassan, Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, CIHRS, presents the Provisional « Electoral » Conclusions:

The Majority of the voters (75% + almost 10 millions unregistered) have turned their back to the electoral process , they don’t believe in its integrity and fairness, whether parliamentary or presidential .

However, the political composition of the new parliament reflects the reality of half a century of political desertification of Egypt, and the dominance of religious discourse.

Continuer la lecture de « Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies CIHRS »

Linked with our presentation of Bahey El-Din Hassan – Egypt.

The Executive Committee consists of 12 members representing human rights organizations. The new formation of the Executive Committee therewith includes representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. EMHRN was established in 1997 « to contribute to the protection and promotion of the human rights principles embodied in the Barcelona Declaration of November 1995 and in the bilateral association agreements between the EU and its Mediterranean partners. » Today, more than 60 organizations from 20 different countries from the Euro-Mediterranean region are members in the network.

Continuer la lecture de « Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network EMHRN »

Linked with our presentation of Veronica Khosa – South Africa.

Linked also with our presentation of Successful Social Entrepreneurs … a book review.

The Social Centre serves as a base where HIV/AIDS-affected children and families can access essential services. Vulnerable families are assisted with material support (food parcels), educational support (school uniforms and supplies) and other support to meet their basic household needs. Families caring for orphans are assisted to access government foster care grants by a contract social worker. A support group has formed for parents living with HIV/AIDS. They received training in income-generating activities.

Continuer la lecture de « SOS Social Centre Mamelodi – South Africa »

Linked with out presentation of Medha Patkar – India.

Linked also with the presentation of The Narmada Dam Project – India.

The construction of large dams on the River Narmada in central India and its impact on millions of people living in the river valley has become one of the most important social issues in contemporary India. Through this website, we the friends of the Narmada valley and its people hope to present the perspective of grassroots people’s organisations on the issue. Read an introduction to the issue.

Continuer la lecture de « Narmada Bachao Andolan – India »

Linked with our presentation of Willy Randin – Switzerland.

Nouvelle Planète grew out of the project to add an extension to the Albert Schweizer hospital in Lambaréné (Gabon). Willy Randin, Switzerland, was its founder. In 1986, given the success of “Sahel Action of Schweizer’s Work”, it was decided to extend activities to Haiti, then to the Amazon, while continuing with Sahel-based projects with the CEAS. At that point, the name of the organization was changed to “Nouvelle Planète”.

Continuer la lecture de « Nouvelle Planète (New Planet) »

The Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies (CSDMS) is organizing the joint event egov India (www.egovonline.net/egovindia), Digital Learning India (www.digitallearning.in/dlindia) and Indian Telecentre Forum 2006 (www.i4donline.net/indiantelecentreforum) at Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi from 23 – 25 August 2006. This conference is being organized in consultation and collaboration with Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of India.

Continuer la lecture de « The Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies CSDMS – India »

Linked with our presentation of Fatoumata Dembélé Diarra – Mali.

IAWJ is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of more than 4,000 members at all judicial levels in 89 nations. Since forming in 1991, the IAWJ has united women judges from diverse legal-judicial systems who share a commitment to equal justice and the rule of law.

Continuer la lecture de « The International Association of Women Judges IAWJ »

The Fund for Reconciliation and Development announces in its latest newsletter:

Join us in Washington, DC, June 19 – 22, 2006

– Conference I (June 19 – 21) : Legacies: Normalization of Diplomatic, Economic and
Cultural Relations with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

– Conference II (June 22): Lesson: Why not Cuba?

Continuer la lecture de « Fund for Reconciliation and Development »

Linked with our presentation of Cheshmak Farhoumand-Sims – Canada & Afghanistan.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women CEDAW, is an expert body established in 1982, is composed of 23 experts on women’s issues from around the world. The Committee’s mandate is very specific: it watches over the progress for women made in those countries that are the States parties to the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. A country becomes a State party by ratifying or acceding to the Convention and thereby accepting a legal obligation to counteract discrimination against women. The Committee monitors the implementation of national measures to fulfil this obligation.

At its meetings held twice annually, the Committee reviews national reports submitted by the States parties within one year of ratification or accession, and thereafter every four years. These reports, which cover national action taken to
improve the situation of women, are presented to the Committee by Government representatives. In discussions with these officials, the CEDAW experts can comment on the report and obtain additional information. This procedure of actual dialogue, developed by the Committee, has proven valuable because it allows for an exchange of views and a clearer analysis of anti-discrimination policies in the various countries.

The Committee also makes recommendations on any issue affecting women to which it believes the States parties should devote more attention. For example, at the 1989 session, the Committee discussed the high incidence of violence against women, requesting information on this problem from all countries. In 1992, the Committee adopted on general recommendation 19, which requires national reports to the Committee to include statistical data on the incidence of violence against women, information on the provision of services for victims, and legislative and other measures taken to protect women against violence in their everyday lives C such as harassment at the workplace, abuse in the family and sexual violence. As of July 2005, the Committee has made 25 general recommendations.

Continuer la lecture de « Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women »

Linked with our presentation of Douangdeuane Bounyavong – Laos.

Douangdeuane Bounyavong is the head of Dokked Publishing and bookstore in Vientiane. Established in May 2002 (address: 68 Thanon Luang Prabang, Ban Sithane Neua, Muang Sikhottabong, (PO Box 230), Vientiane, Laos).

Dokked Publishing Co Ltd offers graphic design, web design, advertising, publishing, editing and translation services, as well as being Vientiane’s leading literary bookseller. Works published by Dokked include Legends in the Weaving, a full-colour book about the art of making silk textiles and the different techniques and patterns of various ethnic groups written by Dara Kanlaya, Douangdeuane Bounyavong and Kiyoko Yasui; the Association for Sending Picture Books to Lao Children (ASPB)’s Lao Animal Stories in Pictures; Fa Pin, a collection of short stories (in Lao) by Dara Kanlaya; Lao History from Ancient Times to 1946 (in Lao); Who is the Teacher? (in Lao); Missing Outhine Bounyavong 1942-2000 (in Lao); My Life: Autobiography of Maha Sila Viravongs (in Lao and English); and When Mother was in Prison (in Lao and English) by Douangdeuane Bounyavong and Inkiane Dejvongsa. Run by the family of renowned Lao scholar Maha Sila Viravongs, Dokked is also the point of contact to arrange a visit to the Maha Sila Viravongs Library outside Vientiane.

Her most recent work is in the dissemination of Lao literature (in English and Lao) for use in public education in Laos : Bounyavong Douangdeuane, A comparative study on the political ideology expressed in the Thao Hung Thao Cheaung epic, with reference to local chronicle of Lao-Thai groups , Tokyo: Institute of Asian Cultures , Sophia University, 1995.

Note: Douangdeuane Bounyavong is also Director of the Mahasila Viravong Memorial Library, which had opened to the public in December, 2004.

Continuer la lecture de « Lao literature (in English and Lao) »

A call for help: The (Indonesian) union chairperson, Robin Kimbi, and the regional secretary, Masry Sebayang, got two years in prison. Fourteen months terms were given to union leaders Suyahman, Safrudin, Akhen Pane and Sruhas Towo. Their « crime » was to exercise their mandate as union leaders. They are prisoners of conscience.

Last week, Amnesty International called on its members around the world to raise their voices in protest against the jailing of the Musim Mas trade unionists.

And unions around the world are taking up the cause. The Nestle European Works Council, representing 80,000 company employees, has written to the company to express concern over the possible presence of Musim Mas palm oil and oleochemicals in Nestle products.

The German Food and Allied Workers NGG and the Dutch FNV Bondgenoten have echoed the public call by the Unilever European Works Council for Unilever to distance itself from Musim Mas and publicly reveal its sources for the palm oil in company products.

And the global union federation representing food workers, the IUF (at whose request we launched our campaign) has now begun to raise money for the struggle through its International Musim Mas Defense Fund. Momentum is growing again. A three-month old campaign, no longer « fresh », is attracting attention. The Indonesian government is going to have to start paying attention. Please do these 3 simple things today:

1. Send off your message of protest: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=76

2. Donate generously to the International Musim Mas Defense Fund:
http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=3231&view_rec
ords=1&ww=1&en=1

3. Spread the word in your workplace and union. Forward on this email message! In the international trade union movement we do not forget those who languish in prisons for our cause.

Indonesian Labour Start link:

Bahasa Indonesia.

Linked with our presentation of Dora Nkem Akunyili – Nigeria.

NEWS: Thursday, May 11, 2006, NAFDAC makes bonfire of dangerous products, by Juliana Francis: It was yet, another victory for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as its surveillance team confiscated fake, substandard and unwholesome products, worth over N152 million. (Read this article on Daily Sun, Nigeria).

See more NAFDAC-news on this link.

NAFDAC is in Nigeria the National Administration for Food, Drug Admnistration and Control. Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili (OFR) is their Director General, called also the Teflon Lady. According to her at the time she came into the establishment, NAFDAC was having some problems, « We went to work prayerfully and with God’s guidance we can say that today our humble efforts are being blessed. NAFDAC now has offices in the states and there is surveillance activity group on. I had to create state, zonal and specialised zonal offices for effective work ».

So far, several enlightenment campaigns have been mounted reagrding pure water, fake and adulterated drugs. Pure water production is one of the most important aspects of poverty alleviation in the country. It engages and employs many people. Stressing the importance of pure water, she said the Agency would educate the public on ways of preparing the water, expose them to the equipment required and explain the implication of water not properly produced and the processes involved in NAFDAC registration.

Continuer la lecture de « NAFDAC Nigeria »