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Network Newsletter  Rights and Democracy Network Number 24 December 9, 2008 Newsletter Sections |
Learning about rights-based solutions to hunger
Taking a human rights-based approach to solving the problem of hunger was the subject of a one-day conference organized by Rights & Democracy on November 7, 2008 in Ottawa. Network members Krisztina Damjanovich and Simon Gargonne were among the 70 participants at this event entitled “A Solution for Hunger: a Policy Seminar on the Human Right to Food”, which brought together the Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Barbara Ekwall, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), and representatives of civil society from Haiti, Malawi and Nepal.
Carol Samdup, Rights & Democracy’s Policy Advisor on Economic and Social Rights has gone on three missions to assess hunger and food insecurity from the perspective of the state's obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human right to food. These reports, along with other resources on the right to food are available on the Rights & Democracy website at: The Human Right to Food: A Reference Primer.
Through her participation at the seminar, Krisztina, an alumnus of the Glendon Delegation, said that she gained inside and up-to-date information on the current food crisis, the challenges and obstacles that the international community is facing, and the advantages of the right-based-approach on the national, regional, and international levels. Impressed by the work, compassion and dedication of professionals and experts in the field of right to food, she was inspired to look at the right to food issues “close to home” and will support small scale food producers in her region. She was encouraged to learn that while the right to food issue is complex, even minor changes in individual behaviour can add to the solutions for achieving food security.
Simon Gargonne, the other Network member who attended the policy seminar, remarked in his blog: “Olivier De Schutter is absolutely wonderful and I am amazed at everything he is doing to advocate positive change for the right to food.” Read more of Simon’s impressions on his Taking It Global blog at: http://gsimon.tigblog.org/post/521223.
Long live Burkina-Brunswick! (or is it New-Faso?)
From November 11 to 18, 2008, three members of the Rights & Democracy Delegation from the University of Ouagadougou came to Moncton, braving the Canadian cold to take part in an unique activity, the Caravan of Human Rights.
For nearly two weeks, we crisscrossed New Brunswick, from north to south and east to west, in the company of Salifou Nasré, Tyna Koala and Roselyn Ouerdraogo, along with Paul Bossé and members of the University of Moncton Delegation. The Caravan made stops at a dozen francophone high schools throughout the province to discuss human rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They also took the opportunity to demystify Africa and have frank, open discussions about the lives of young people from Ouaga and Moncton, Bathurst, Népisiguit, Caraquet, and other New Brunswick towns.
Keep your eyes peeled because in the next edition of the Network newsletter, Sophie will tell us all about the experiences she had when she joined the Caravan for a few days. To be continued….
Olympic Journal Short Essay Contest Winners Announced
The winners of Rights & Democracy’s Olympic Journal website short essay contest, which was launched in August 2008 as part of our coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games, have been announced!
Ann Dominique Morin has earned a bursary of $500 for her essay “Hosting the Olympic Games – A Privilege Accompanied by Obligations”, which illustrates her commitment to human rights. Ann Dominique Morin is working towards her Master’s in International Law at the Université de Montréal.
Two essays received honourable mention from the jury. “The Olympics and Human Rights” written by Bethany Deshpande, a student at York University’s Glendon College, was a favourite of the jury’s. “The Moral Pole Vault” by Srinivas Murthy of Boston, Massachusetts, was honoured for its editorial style.
The goal of this contest, which was to encourage reflection on the link between human rights and the Olympic Games, seems to have been achieved. The jury was made up of Charles Vallerand, Director of Communications, Jean-François Lesage, China Regional Officer, Elana Wright, Liaison Officer, Rights & Democracy Student Network, and Sophie Rondeau, Coordinator of the Rights & Democracy Student Network. This jury had the difficult task of selecting the essay that would earn its author a bursary and publication on Rights & Democracy’s Olympic Journal web site. The discussions were animated and the decision-making process was not the easiest! Consensus was finally achieved after heated debates about editorial style, the concision and density of the text, the commitment shown towards the spirit of human rights, and the factual support for the arguments of the essay!
The Network offers our warm congratulations go to the winners and to all those who submitted an essay for the contest. The challenge of summarizing one’s thoughts on human rights and the Olympic Games in only 300 words is no easy task!
Read the winning essays at http://www.olympicjournal.ca/?page_id=7
Host Delegations busy planning Regional Events in all four regions of Canada
Host delegations in all four of Canada’s regions are busy planning this year’s Regional Events, which will take place in February and March 2009, and will bring each region together by welcoming one representative from each delegation to spend a weekend exploring a human rights theme, selected by the region’s members at the national event held in Montreal last May.
The western region’s delegations will go west to Nanaimo, BC from February 19-22, 2009 where the Vancouver Island University and the University of Victoria Delegations will co-host the regional event on the theme of Fair Trade vs. Free Trade. Both delegations are well-prepared for this topic, because the Vancouver Island University Delegation has been committed to fair trade since its beginnings, and has encouraged fair trade through sweatshop fashion shows and fair trade fairs, and the UVic Delegation recently held fair trade days on their campus, and produced a flyer on fair trade in Victoria. This four-day event will welcome delegates from across the four western provinces, which is the Network’s biggest region.
In Ontario, the Laurentian University Delegation will welcome their province’s delegations to their university in Sudbury from March 6-8, 2009 to explore the theme of the rights and responsibilities of journalists, and what role journalists play in the context of human rights. Lead by Amélie Pelletier, and supported by Prof. Henri Pallard, the Delegation has begun their research on the issue, and are ready to put this research into action.
The Quebec Delegations have decided to take an artistic approach to human rights with their regional event this year. Inspired by artists who have used their work to promote human rights, they have chosen the theme “the voice of silence: respect or violation of human rights”, and plan to express their theme through video and art exhibitions. The date of this event will be confirmed soon.
Mount Allison University will host the Eastern Regional Event on their campus in Sackville, NB from February 5-8, 2009, exploring the theme of war-affected children and youth. The Delegation is organizing a four-day conference open to all students across the Atlantic provinces which will use experiential learning and skills-building workshops to explore the issue and discuss solutions. Rights & Democracy’s president, Rémy Beauregard, will give the keynote speech on his experiences working with children affected by conflicts in Northern Uganda. The Delegation will also invite representatives from the Canadian Red Cross, War Child, UNICEF, Free the Children, and other groups working to fulfill children’s rights to give action-oriented workshops.
Registration forms for the Regional Events will be circulated in the new year. Contact Elana Wright at ewright@dd-rd.ca if you would like more information on your regional event, and to find out how you can get involved.
Submit your PFUND forms early!
Does your Delegation have big plans for the winter semester, but you haven’t yet filled out and submitted your PFUND form? In order to ensure that you receive your funding in time for your event, we recommend that you contact the Network team as soon as your idea takes shape, in order to discuss your plans, and then to submit your PFUND form at least 3 weeks before your event.
PFund forms are available here: http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/cms/site/resources-en.
Call Elana Wright at 1-877-736-3833, ext. 259 to discuss your project ideas!
Delegations from BC to NB launch Panties for Peace in Burma campaigns
Delegations at the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University, UQAM, Université Laval, Mount Allison University and others are launching their Panties for Peace in Burma campaigns on their campuses.
The Mount Allison Delegation held a highly successful campaign, which was launched on October 27 and ran until November 3. With trees wrapped in Panties for Peace banners, and a paper panty-covered drop box in the library, the delegation was able to collect about 270 pairs of panties and thirteen boxers (both real and paper) as well as 126 signatures on a petition calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners in Burma. On the final day of the campaign, the Delegation welcomed Mika Lévesque, Rights and Democracy’s Asia specialist, for a very well-attended talk about the origins of the campaign and human rights in Burma. Read more about the delegation’s experience organizing this campaign on their web page at: http://www.dd-rd.net/cms/spip.php?article208.
At Université Laval, the Delegation will kick off their campaign this holiday season by decorating their University Service Centre’s Christmas tree with panties! They’ll continue to collect panties into the new year, when they’ll welcome Mika Lévesque to their campus to talk about the human rights situation in Burma, and how the Panties for Peace campaign can help.
The Delegations at University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University and UQAM will welcome Mika Lévesque to their campuses in the new year as part of their own Panties for Peace campaigns.
The Huron College Delegation shows their solidarity with the Minga Resistance movement by Indigenous peoples in Columbia
The new Delegation at Huron College (UWO) organized a coffee house in solidarity with the Minga Resistance Movement on November 26th, featuring Justin Podur from Pueblos en Camino who spoke about the Minga Indigenous movement, which involves over 10,000 Indigenous People who are marching in for human rights, freedom of the press, and against terrorism in Colombia. The Huron College Delegation invited the larger University of Western Ontario and London community to show their support for this movement as well by attending the coffee house, where fair trade coffee was served and donations were collected to support ACIN, the independent media network in Colombia.
UQAM celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UQAM Delegation held several human rights awareness activities on November 24 and 25, including a kiosque where they distributed copies of the Declaration, and a screening of the film « Rape : A War Crime ». For more info, visit: http://www.dd-rd.net/cms/spip.php?article204 (in French).
Delegation events on the John Humphrey Freedom Award cross-Canada tour
The Delegations at McGill University, UQAM, University of Calgary, University of Toronto, Mount Allison University, Université de Moncton and Dalhousie University are meeting with Irene Petras and Andrew Makoni of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the recipients of the 2008 John Humphrey Freedom Award, during their tour across Canada.
At McGill, the Delegation hosted a Q&A with the two courageous human rights lawyers in the hallowed halls of their law school, where John Humphrey himself once taught law. The ZLHR lawyers, Irene Petras and Andrew Makoni, answered thought-provoking questions submitted by several students, each of whom had personal experience in Zimbabwe.
At the University of Calgary, the Delegation hosted a lunch with the lawyers, where the discussed their work defending human rights activists who have been arrested and tortured for their work defending the rights of citizens. They also described the current educational crisis, and explained that the schools and universities in Zimbabwe are no longer functional. Professors cannot afford to travel to the universities to teach, because of crippling government economic policy and skyrocketing inflation, so students are unable to continue their studies.
At the University of Toronto Delegation event, a student who is studying refugees from Zimbabwe moderated a lively discussion with the ZLHR representatives on the reasons why over 3 million Zimbabweans have fled for safety to other countries, and how they are being treated, especially in neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana.
Network members from the Université de Moncton and Mount Allison University are travelling all the way to Halifax to join the members of the Dalhousie Delegation to attend the public event on campus, on the theme of “Prosecution as a Tool of Persecution”, and to meet with Irene Petras and Andrew Makoni at a reception following the event.
Between the Citadel and the Casbah: a Visit to the Université Mohamed-V Souissi Delegation
By Sophie Rondeau, Network Coordinator
Autumn is magnificent in Quebec. The trees on Mount Royal look like they are alive under all the fiery shades of red and orange and the harvest season gives us a chance to take full advantage of what the fertile earth has to offer: beets, pumpkins, leeks, carrots. However, I must admit that this year, I have experienced October in a whole new light: in the heat of the sun and the fresh sea breeze with the scent of tajines and mint tea.
Last October I had the opportunity to spend a week in Morocco in Rabat. The goal of this trip was to meet and work with the Delegation members from the University of Mohamed-V Souissi, as well as to create links with other key actors in the Moroccan youth movement.
See all Stories from the field - >
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights wins Rights & Democracy’s 2008 John Humphrey Freedom Award
MONTREAL – Nov. 13, 2008 – Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is the winner of Rights & Democracy’s 2008 John Humphrey Freedom Award in recognition of its courageous pursuit of justice for victims of human rights abuses inside Zimbabwe.
The organization has played a leading role in the promotion and protection of human rights across Zimbabwe since its founding in 1996. Guided by a professional commitment to the rule of law and Zimbabwe’s international human rights obligations, ZLHR provides essential services ranging from legal support for victims of state-endorsed persecution to public education and human rights training for activists and civil society organizations working at the community level.
Named in honour of John Peters Humphrey, the McGill University law professor who prepared the first draft of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the annual John Humphrey Freedom Award includes a speaking tour of Canadian cities to help increase awareness of the recipient's human rights work. This year’s tour will bring Ms. Petras and Mr. Makoni to take part in public events in Calgary (Nov. 27), Toronto (Dec. 2), Halifax (Dec. 5), Montreal (Dec. 8) and Ottawa (Dec. 10).
Source: http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/media/index.php?id=2332&subsection=news
Rights & Democracy urges international pressure for release of all political prisoners in Burma
MONTREAL – November 19, 2008 – The mass sentencing of pro-democracy activists in Burma to prison terms of up to 65 years must be met with immediate and coordinated international pressure to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, said Rights & Democracy.
Among the activists sentenced are Min Ko Naing and Su Su Nway, who are both past recipients of Rights & Democracy’s John Humphrey Freedom Award. Min Ko Naing was sentenced to 65 years in prison last week for his role in peaceful protests last year against the junta’s arbitrary increase of fuel and commodity prices. Su Su Nway received a sentence of 12 years for activities in support of Burma’s democratic movement.
Both sentences were announced alongside those of at least 23 members of the pro-democracy “88 Generation Students” who also received long-term sentences for their participation in last year’s mass pro-democracy demonstrations. No defence lawyers were present at the secret trials, according to reports. Their sentences are the first among hundreds of political activists currently facing trial in closed courts and reports suggested hundreds more could face similar proceedings. It is estimated that the number of political prisoners in Burma has doubled in the last year to more than 2,100.
More information: http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/media/index.php?lang=en&subsection=news&id=2382
Support this Declaration by Women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
From November 14-17, 2008, at the Cape Town International Convention Center, up to 1,500 women's rights leaders and activists from around the world will converge on Cape Town, South Africa at the 11th AWID (Association for Womens' Rights in Development) International Forum to discuss the power of social movements.
The Congolese women at the conference launched a call for solidarity, which comes at a moment of renewed fighting between government forces and rebel groups in the eastern province of North Kivu has left thousands of women and girls at risk of further sexual violence, a situation made worse by the forced displacement of an estimated 250,000 people in the area.
One of the people who signed this declaration is Julienne Lusenge, coordinator of the Association Solidarité féminine pour la paix et le développement integral (Women’s Association for peace and holistic development). This Congolese NGO is dedicated to the defense and promotion of human rights in the DRC, and is supported by Rights & Democracy.
Are you concerned about the situation in the DRC? Would your Delegation like to contribute to public awareness about this crisis? Contact us: srondeau@dd-rd.ca or ewright@dd-rd.ca.
CONGOLESE WOMEN’S DECLARATION AT AWID FORUM
Cape Town, November 15, 2008
1. As representatives of women’s organizations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), gathered in he margin of the 11th International AWID Forum on “women’s rights and development” held in Cap Town, from 14th to 17th November 2008;
2. Caused by repeated wars, in particular the recent one led by Laurent Nkunda and its National Congress for People’s Defense (CNDP) against public institutions in place established after long political negotiations (199-2003), the new constitution and 2006 elections;
3. We denounce the support to CNDP from external forces through neighbouring countries which countries signed peace agreement in the Great Lakes region;
4. We denounce CNDP attacks targeting civilians who are not actively involved in hostilities, particularly women and children. We also denounce human rights abuses perpetrated by all armed groups including DRC army (FARDC), in violation of the Goma peace agreement signed in January 2008.
5. We request a declaration of solidarity from more than two thousands women meeting in this 11th AWID Forum; in order to end the war in the DRC. We are convinced that if women across the world show their solidarity to Congolese women against the war; ourselves and our families will be relieved;
6. We ask all nations across the globe to take note of the holocaust of the millennium which is happening right now in the DRC, in total indifference without any actions of world leaders. Six million of deaths, two millions internal displaced, thousands of raped women and girls;
7. We are calling upon the United Nations and African Union to immediately act to protect civilian, due to the DRC government’s failure to do so.
Benazir Bhutto and Louise Arbour named among seven winners of UN human rights prize
26 November 2008 – A Congolese doctor who treats female victims of sexual violence, a nun who advocated for indigenous rights before her murder in Brazil three years ago and the slain Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto are among seven recipients of a prestigious United Nations prize awarded for outstanding work in human rights.
The UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights, awarded by the General Assembly every five years, will be presented this year at a ceremony in New York on 10 December to mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
This year’s winners, announced today, include Louise Arbour, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Ramsey Clark, ex-Attorney-General of the United States; Carolyn Gomes, Executive Director and co-founder of Jamaicans for Justice; Denis Mukwege, co-founder of the General Referral Hospital of Panzi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); and Human Rights Watch.
Dozens of nations sign up to UN-backed treaty banning use of cluster bombs
3 December 2008 – Representatives of around 100 countries gathered in Oslo, Norway, today to sign an historic United Nations-sponsored treaty formally renouncing the use of cluster bombs, a weapon that frequently kills innocent civilians and cripples communities for decades after hostilities have ceased.
First used in World War II, cluster munitions contain dozens of smaller explosives designed to disperse over an area the size of several football fields, but often fail to detonate upon impact, creating large de facto minefields.
The failure rate makes these weapons particularly dangerous for civilians, who continue to be maimed or killed for years after conflicts end. Some 98 per cent of victims are civilians and cluster bombs have claimed over 10,000 civilian lives, 40 per cent of whom are children.
December 10: Human Rights Day
This year, the Human Rights Day will be an opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/
http://www.knowyourrights2008.org/
The Network’s on-line forum announces job and internship opportunities in Canada and around the world. To access the forum, you must be a member of the Rights & Democracy Network. Become a member by signing up here: http://www.dd-rd.net/members/
If you are already a member, visit the Forum’s jobs and internships section by clicking here: http://www.droitsdemocratie.net/network-forum/index.php?login_lang=en
The Network Team:
Coordinator: Sophie Rondeau
Liaison Officer: Elana Wright
Administrative Assistant: Diane Migneault
Webmaster: Sylvain Aubé
Rights & Democracy Network
1001, boul. de Maisonneuve E., Suite 1100
Montréal, Québec H2L 4P9 CANADA
Phone: (514 283-6073)
Toll-free: 1-877-736-3833
Fax: (514) 283-3792
network@dd-rd.ca
www.rightsdemocracy.net
Available issues :
Issue 24 (December 9, 2008)
Issue 23 (October 29, 2008)
Issue 22 (August 27, 2008)
Issue 21 (July 23, 2008)
Issue 20 (April 24, 2008)
Issue 19 (March 27, 2008)
Issue 18 (January 24, 2008)
Issue 17 (December 20, 2007)
Issue 16 (November 27, 2007)
Issue 15 (November 6, 2007)
Issue 14 (October 18, 2007)
Issue 13 (September 25, 2007)
Issue 12 (September 11, 2007)
Issue 11 (Summer 2007)
Issue 10 (April 13, 2007)
Issue 9 (November 2006)
Issue 8 (August 2006)
Issue 7 (May 4, 2006)
Issue 6 (April 12, 2006)
Issue 5 (March 21, 2006)
Issue 4 (March 1, 2006)
Issue 3 (February 16, 2006)
Issue 2 (January 31, 2006)
Issue 1 (January 17, 2006)
