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Linked with our presentation of Sakhibakhon Irgasheva – Uzbekistan.

Women Economic Empowerment – Presentation of the partners: The Business Women Association (BWA) of Uzbekistan is one of the first Non-Governmental Organizations in Uzbekistan which was founded in 1991 by 12 women entrepreneurs that had their own business activity.

During the first years of its activity, BWA faced a lot of problems, such as the lack of understanding of what a non-governmental organization is and the negative attitude towards entrepreneurship. In 1991-1992 there were absolutely no woman organizations where women could address their problems and ideas. That was a very complicated instable time (transition period, USSR collapse, all economic links broke-up, industry development problems, etc.). All those problems had an impact mostly on women. They were fired in case of staff reduction. BWA felt that women needed assistance and it had to undertake some measures.

Thus, BWA started providing vocational education towards women entrepreneurs, with its own resources. Women were taught the basics of market economy, marketing, accounting and taxation. There was no other place, where women could learn about these topics, since in the former USSR there was no knowledge about private entrepreneurship. For three years BWA used only its own resources to train women on entrepreneurship. BWA’s Chairperson published her first book « Learning to pay taxes ».

Continuer la lecture de « Business Women Association BWA -Uzbekistan »

Linked with our presentation of Probir Sikdar – Bangladesh.

Despite pledges by authorities to uphold the freedom of the press, journalists are frequently targets of attacks, intimidation and harassment. Dozens of journalists have been assaulted with impunity either by the police when covering demonstrations or by armed gangs affiliated to various political parties. In addition, several journalists have been arrested and accused of a range of politically motivated charges including sedition. They have been taken into custody for weeks or sometimes months and many of them have been tortured or ill-treated whilst being held.

Amnesty International has started the Human Rights Defenders Project aiming to increase protection and seeking justice for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Bangladesh. The twelve month project hopes to initiate systemic change in the treatment of violence against Human Rights Defenders and public appeals will be a mechanism to help this process by raising international scrutiny and making the Government of Bangladesh more accountable to ensuring justice for these abuses. We will keep updating the project monthly, so stay tuned. Below is the case of Tipu Sultan and AI’s recommendations. Take Action Now to ensure his safety! (To read more, especially on the cases, go to this page of Amnesty International).

‘Legislative’ leadership distinguishes nonprofits from businesses, author says.

March 8, 2006

Nonprofits operate differently from businesses and so must be led differently, says Jim Collins, author of « Good to Great ».

An interview with Collins in the February issue of Bridgestar’s « Leadership Matters » publication focused on his recently-published booklet, « Good to Great and the Social Sectors. »

The booklet discusses distinctions between the types of leadership needed in the business and social sectors.

While businesses have more « executive » leadership, with decision-making power held by one or a few individuals, the social sector has « legislative » leadership, Collins says.

« In the social sectors, composed of a much more complicated governance and power structure, » he says, « rarely do we find a single individual…with enough concentrated power to make the big decisions by himself or herself. »

He says nonprofit leaders must use tools such as language, coalitions and persuasion to cultivate conditions for the right decisions to happen.

A factor the business and social sectors share, he says, is the importance of collaboration and the resulting development of discipline among leaders.

In both types of organizations, « under the right conditions and with the right mechanisms, » he says, « collaboration increases discipline, as you will be held accountable for high standards by your peers and colleagues. »

While businesses can easily measure their success in terms of profit, nonprofits must measure their success using other standards, Collins says.

He says nonprofits might measure success in terms of time donated by volunteers or board members, sustained cash flow, and the organization’s ability to cultivate emotional good will and shared ideas among supporters.

Collins also says nonprofits should be able to identify strong individuals as potential leaders and study leaders of successful nonprofits to better understand what it takes to be led well in the social sectors.
(Read more on Philanthropy Journal).

On April 19-29, 2006 in the Philippines – Mabuhay! My name is Dave G. Saceda, Chair and Founder of the Saceda Youth Lead, A Youth Serving Institution of the Philippines under the auspices of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines. Saceda Youth Lead, registered as a foundation under the Securities Exchange Commission, member of the Philippine Society for Training and Development, awaiting consultative status with the United Nations and awarded as 2004 Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations of the Philippines for Visayas, builds leadership through education and action.

It continues empowering elementary, high school and college students and even professionals to become most effective citizens of my country by providing them opportunities in leadership, community service and exchange. I am purposely writing to ask for your solidarity and support. May I invite outstanding youth of your community (youth ranging from 10-25 years old) to come to the Philippines to participate in the 2006 Asia Pacific Summer Leadership Camp which will be held on April 19-29, 2006 at Avila Kiosk, Balugo, Dumaguete City, Philippines.

Here, delegates will have fun discovering their own leadership talents. They meet, question and interact
with outstanding leaders in business, education, government and the professions. This is a way of putting Asia Pacific region forward with the help of our regional brothers and sisters. It is essential that we look into our neighbors for mutual understanding and peace, and it is just well that our young people will start forging strong relations and friendships as we go through many challenges under One People, One Geographical Division of the World- the Asians

Registration fee is P4,000 per participant includes food and accommodation, uniforms, seminar kits, Island Escapade, and other related expense. Domestic tickets from your place to the Summer Camp 2006 venue and back shall be borne by the participants.

Please take note that there will be a cultural presentation. Kindly inform your delegates to bring national costumes, brochure and souvenir items for exchange. This is a camp, and everyone will be sleeping on tents. Your representation will truly mean a lot to the future of our young people and our nations. Attached is the official program of the Summer Camp 2006. I truly hope that you will be able to send delegates to the program.

I am looking forward to your most favorable response. Thank you very much. Very truly yours, Dave G. Saceda, Chair, Saceda Youth Lead. (Read more about this event on this site).

Linked with our presentations of Dalit Women and Reservation Policy, and also of DALIT WOMEN: The Triple Oppression of Dalit Women in Nepal.

and linked with our presentation of Durga Sob – Nepal.

FEDO a Nepal based NGO works in field of caste and gender discrimination. The main activities are Education, Health and Sanitation, Income Generation and Advocacy. Email ma@ahrchk.net, Main Address: Kupandole, Lalitpur, P.O. Box. 4366, Kathmandu, Nepal. (See OneWorld).

Anita Shrestha is a staff of the Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO): Nepal retains its centuries-old caste system. Dalits, the discriminated people under this system, suffer from restriction on the use public amenities, deprivation of economic opportunities, and general neglect by the state and society.

Continuer la lecture de « Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) – Nepal »

Linked with our presentation of Aziza Abdirasulova – Kyrgyzstan.

24.05.2005 – Public Fund “Kylym shamy” is standing for land capturers:

In the press-release as of May 18 2005 PF “Kylym shamy” has distributed
information stating that on May 16 more than 100 citizens who wanted to receive
land were beaten by members of militia in Asanbai micro district. As a result 5
people were hospitalized One of them, Kochkonov Taalai was hospitalized to
hospital #4. His condition was extremely hard.

Continuer la lecture de « Public Fund “Kylym shamy” »

Here some webs giving informations for Indigenous Peoples:

Continuer la lecture de « Indigenous Webs for Information »

Linked with our presentation of Limota Goroso Giwa (Hajiya) – Nigeria.

Brief Summary of the Women Institute Initivative in Nigeria and its Activities.

The Women Institute Initiative is based in Ilorin Kwara state of Nigeria with (7) local branches in different district of Kwara State of Northern Nigeria . The total population of the region is about 2.5 million people; out of this are 1.5million women and girls residing in the community.

Continuer la lecture de « The Women Institute Initivative in Nigeria »

(Note prepared by Dr. Kashinath Pandita, Vice President, Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum, Geneva)
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• NGOs are initially registered in some country. ECOSOC status, a privilege, is the aspiration of almost all of them.
• ECOSOC has set forth a procedure for NGOs to apply for its status. This enables them to participate in the GA sessions and the sessions of various subsidiary bodies of the UN. It gives them exposure and provides them a vast field for activity. NGO can become the eyes and ears of the civil society.
• Existing procedure is time consuming and rather complicated. It has to be simplified and made time bound
• ECOSOC NGO Committee that recommends applications behaves in a wayward manner. It is oblivious of the implications of its waywardness. The NGO applicants are made to go through an ordeal. The Committee begins with suspecting each applicant and then behaving with it like treating criminals in a court of law.
• The worst thing is politicizing of NGOs. If the country where an NGO is registered happens to be a political rival or antagonistic or ideological opponent of another member country, then the applicant NGO is doomed.
• Influential members in the NGO Committee can manage to obtain status for the applicants in whom they are interested. It takes a few minutes to see them through whereas others with no political support are made to cool their heels for any period say 5 to 10 years. This procrastination defeats the aims and objectives of the UN.
• The Committee is supposed to take decisions in a democratic manner. But allowing politics to supervene, the Committee has laid down the tradition of obtaining consensus of opinion. When that consensus is not forthcoming, applications are deferred year after year. This leads to loss of faith in the UN principles. This trend needs to be arrested.
• The importance of NGOs as a bridge between the civil society and the managers of administration is bound to increase with the passage of time. Therefore it is necessary that the process of admitting NGOs to ECOSOC status is simplified and streamlined.

Linked with our presentation of Malalai Joya – Afghanistan, and Malalai Joya’s Historical Speech in the Loya Jirga.

Hamoon Health Center has room for three doctors, but only one doctor actually works there now because they can’t afford more. Every day 200-300 women come and wait outside the clinic for health care. It’s the only free clinic in the area. There are two other clinics, but you have to pay for them, and most of the women and children who come here have no money. So Hamoon Health Care Center is completely overcrowded and overstretched.

Continuer la lecture de « The Hamoon Health Center in Afghanistan »

Written by Kashi Nath Pandita, Secretary General of Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum (AEHRF), and Vice-President of the Geneva Office of AEHRF:

The need and importance of NGOs in promoting good governance has been debated for a long time. A majority of commentators has recommended further empowerment of NGOs as they are the real liaising mechanism between the civil society and the government.

However, formulation of an NGO and its accreditation to ECOSOC remain a complicated process. There is need of changing the broad approach to these aspects. Our experience is that at present an NGO seeking ECOSOC status is generally looked upon with some suspicion. Owing to political differences among member states of the UN, these differences are allowed to percolate down to lower levels and take the toll of good intentions of aspiring NGOs.

A reform in the procedures of granting ECOSOC status to aspiring NGOs is badly needed. It makes little sense that the granting of status is deferred for innumerable number of years. Procrastinating the matter badly affects the working spirit of an NGO. This trend has to be arrested. A decision about granting or not granting status to an aspiring NGO should be tie bound.

Yet one more aspect of the issue needs to be addressed. A free and fair discussion on each new application has not been witnessed in the NGO Committee. The member states are conditioned by mutual political relation syndrome. There is more of escapism rather than initiative for helping the civil society move towards good governance.

This matter needs to be discussed by the civil society with all seriousness. K.N. Pandita.

Linked with our presentation of Julien Florence Mona Saroinsong – Indonesia.

I tried to find material about this Crisis Center SAG SULUTTENG. Google presents some links, and we arrive at this:

Continuer la lecture de « Crisis Center SAG SULUTTENG »

Welcome to the Middle East! – Welcome to a life experience in the Middle East.

This year, 2006 landmarks the tenth anniversary for the establishment of the International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL). Ten years of giving and dedication towards a better world. With the end of this season, IPYL will be finishing 49 international voluntary workcamps. IPYL did not just make workcamps, but also encouraged other organizations in Palestine and the Middle East to do so, in order to triple the number of the volunteers who want to live this experience, taking into consideration the increasing demands from our partners and some individuals to visit the region.
Similar to last year, IPYL together with its twin and partner organizations; Youth Development Department at the Orient House (occupied East Jerusalem), the Baladna Youth Association in Haifa and Gudran for Art Development (Republic of Egypt) are very happy to introduce to you our joint Workcamps Directory for the year 2006.

We hope that this directory and the timetable will enable your volunteers to attend one or more workcamps in order to have a clearer idea about this region and its concerns. Wishing you and us all the best in this season. Middle East Work Camps Coalition, IPYL, Baladna ,YDD and Gudran.

Continuer la lecture de « MIDDLE EAST REGION WORKCAMPS DIRECTORY 2006 »

A Labour Union-busting happens at the banana plantations of the Costa Rican banana company named Desarrollo Agroindustrial de Frutales S.A. (formerly known as Caribana). This Company owns 21 plantations. Most of its production is sold with the Chiquita label. The plantation workers’ union SITRAP started organising in two of these farms – Cahuita and Tortuguero – in mid-2004. They successfully recruited members and set up local committees inside the plantations. This unleashed an anti-union campaign with several members sacked, permanent harassment from supervisors and a manager driving members to the union office to give up their membership. The company also maintains a security gate at the entrance to the two farms and has imposed restrictive conditions on the union’s access. On 5th October 2005, a SITRAP organiser was attacked and robbed on his motorbike on his way out of the plantations. The union attributes this to the fact that the company would not allow access until after 4pm, therefore meaning that union personnel would be likely not to leave before nightfall and have to drive through an area noted for its assaults. SITRAP’s appeal is to ask the company to cease its anti-union campaign, give free access to union officials and reinstate union members who have been sacked. You can help … by going to this page of LabourStart and sign their initiative.

And here the Sitrap appeal on their website.

Linked with the presentation of Sevim Arbana – Albania.

Linked also to the presentation of NGO’s Protest for Women’s Rights in Albania.

Sevim Arbana is working for the Groups ‘Useful to Albanian Women’ (UAW), and the ‘Woman Bridge for Peace and Understanding’. It seems, they have no websites, but they are mentionned by many other NGOs or working groups by running common projects or meetings.

Hereafter all these projects and groups working for Albania.

Continuer la lecture de « NGOs and Groups working for Albania »