former title: NGOs – we and the others, running then under world-citizenship.org – still under construction
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) »
Linked with our presentation of Tarun Tejpal – India.
And linked with our presentation of For whom the bell tolls.
Tarun Tejpal says: « we, at Tehelka, will carry on our sting operations ». (See an Interview on this Hindustan Times page).
Excerpt: … Tejpal, 38, created Tehelka on a shoestring a year ago with his brother and a journalist colleague, Aniruddha Bahal. Many ordinary Indians, judging from the crowds at Tejpal’s public speeches, regard him as a champion. Tejpal believes he has helped his much maligned profession in India. « The explosion of consumerism since economic liberalization in 1991 created a journalism of public relations, » he complains.
That’s changing. Ever since the bribery scandal, Tehelka has been awash in resumes from journalists, and receives scandal tips daily. Besides the resignations, the defense expose prompted New Delhi to adopt new procurement rules. A Punjab University economics graduate and veteran newspaperman, Tejpal has recruited some of India’s best political columnists. Author V.S. Naipaul is on its board. Says Vinod Mehta, editor of the newsweekly Outlook, where Tejpal once worked: « Tehelka has been an earthquake in Indian politics. »
Finances are a problem, though. The Web site spends $85,000 a month on overhead and staff, but takes in only $8,000 a month in advertising. The defense expose was cut off when Tehelka, after handing over $23,000 to politicians, ran out of money. « So we just went public with the story, » Tejpal says. But in February, broadcaster Zee Telefilms expressed interest in buying a stake. Also, Tejpal is raising money from Indians in the U.S.
Continuer la lecture de « Tehelka – the people's paper – India »
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: