Dignity News

* FINAL CALL for the 9th Annual Global Linking & Learning Programme, Human Rights-Based Development

* 3rd Regional Consultation on ASEAN Human Rights

* Dignity Invited to support PWESCR Training

* Consolidating Efforts to Address the Plight of Pastoralists in Kenya

* Saying Hello to Dignity Partner NCDHR

Other News

* Landmark Decision: The Human Right to Water and Sanitation

* COHRE on World Habitat Day

* FIAN on World Food Security

* The 2010 Social Forum - Climate Change and Human Rights

* The Big Squeeze: Geopirating the Remaining Commons

Action Appeals

* Thailand: Migrant Workers Have the Right to Workers' Compensation

* Say NO to Sexual Violence in Conflict

* Support an End to Poverty on 17 October and Beyond!

Announcements

* Zambia: Call for Papers, Access to Information in Quality Education

* Master’s Degree Programme in International Human Rights Law at Institute for Human Rights at Abo Akademi University, Finland

Events

* 17 October - World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty

* OHCHR Meetings and Events

Publications

* New Book: Dispersing Power- Social Movements as Anti-State Forces

* 25 Questions and Answers on Health and Human Rights

*** FINAL CALL for the 9th Annual Global Linking & Learning Programme, Human Rights-Based Development, 1-10 December 2010, Malaysia. For the ninth consecutive year, Dignity International is proud to invite applications to the Annual Global Linking and Learning Programme. This programme will build on the successes of the previous learning programmes on “Human Rights-Based Development”, and on “Economic Social and Cultural Rights” organised by Dignity International with a range of national, regional and international partners. For details about programme content, participation criteria, application procedures, financial and practical information, please visit our website.

Application Deadline: 20 October 2010.

*** Dignity Invited to Support PWESCR Training – Dignity International’s Executive Director, Mr Jerald Joseph, has been invited to join the core faculty team of Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR) which is an international initiative in the area of gender and economic, social and cultural rights located in New Delhi, India.

Dignity has been invited to join in the conducting of a Regional Training called Training Institute in Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (South Asia Region) which is scheduled to be on 22-29 January 2010. With our experience in conducting participatory methods of ESCR training, we will be able to share our learning with human rights NGOs.

Core Faculty Team meeting Neemrana, Rajasthan, 13-15th September 2010

*** 3rd Regional Consultation on ASEAN Human Rights - Southeast Asia is a vibrant region with a booming economy and rich culture. However the region also has its fair share of human rights issues and violations, both present and historically.

In recognising this, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) – consisting of 10 countries in the regions like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, etc – has formed the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR) in October 2009 to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of the ASEAN people.

With the establishment of the AICHR, it is of utmost importance that civil society organizations in the region engage with the commissions in their foundational years to ensure the direction and working modalities of the institution are up to the expectation of civil society.

Dignity Staff Team Chan Tsu Chong and Adrian Pereira
attentively particiapting.

In view of the above, FORUM-ASIA, together with Era Consumer and SUARAM of Malaysia, organized the 3 rd Regional Consultation on ASEAN and Human Rights to provide a platform for civil society to reflect past engagements with ASEAN, the challenges ahead and to devise new strategies and action plan for the strengthening of the ASEAN human rights mechanisms in 2011.

The meeting was held from 17 to 18 September 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and involved 50 representatives from various civil society NGOs in the region. Team Dignity represented by Jerald Joseph (Executive Director), Adrian Pareira, and Chan Tsu Chong, were also present to contribute their views and ideas. The team drew from its experience in working with global grassroots communities to assist in enhancing human rights mechanism in the ASEAN region.

At the end of the 3 rd Regional Consultation on ASEAN and Human Rights, the group call on AICHR to:

*** Consolidating efforts to address the plight of Pastoralists in Kenya - Surviving in the unforgiving arid and semi arid pastoralist lands is not easy, in addition to the national perception as a relic from prehistoric days, pastoralists have for over a century had to grapple with social exclusion, insecurity, underdevelopment, human rights violations, social, cultural, economic and ecological exploitation and hunger has predominantly become their daily bread.

Estimated at about four million persons deriving the bulk of their livelihood and economic wellbeing from camels, cattle, sheep and goats, Kenya’s pastoralists are strewn across four regions bordering Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia to the west and North and Somalia and Tanzania to the east and south respectively. Pastoralist communities form the country’s vanguard and from the colonial days northern and north eastern regions were classified as the closed northern frontier district while the south Rift Maasai region was a reservation. This meant that not many development initiatives were focussed in these areas owing to the colonial belief that pastoralists were hostile and not receptive to European style development.

An estimated 4 million people derive their livelihoods from Kenya’s pastoral lands

Post colonial Kenyan policies especially Sessional paper number 10 of 1965 sought to invest heavily on the so–called high agricultural potential areas while remaining ignorant to the immense production potential of pastoralists lands. Myriad international agencies humanitarian and development agencies have camped in these lands for years yet not much has been realised. This reality forced pastoralists to seek ways of addressing the policy and legal gaps and to inform national planning and intervention mechanisms. As such, grassroots pastoralist communities mooted the idea of creating a national umbrella called the Pastoralist Development Network of Kenya (PDNK) specifically to lobby and advocate for the integration of pastoralist agenda in mainstream development as well as seeking policy and legal recognition, protection and promotion of pastoralism in the country.

A PDNK Training Programme

From inception in 2003, PDNK has spearheaded the pastoralists struggle at the national and regional levels by mobilising pastoralist communities around social, cultural, political, ecological and economic advocacy. The pastoralist struggle has primarily been hinged on positioning the pastoralist agenda in equal footing with the dominant non-pastoral agenda at the national level.

Whereas pastoralists occupy 80 percent of the Kenyan landmass boasting 75% of the Kenyan livestock herd, geothermal energy, 90 percent of ecotourism interests, breath-taking scenery and the melting point for unadulterated African cultures, only a pittance in investment is ploughed back from the central government. This has subjected pastoralists to infrastructural decay, rampant insecurity, myriad human-wildlife conflicts, exploitation by tourism and mining sectors, cattle rustling, human rights abuses in the guise of disarmament and foreign military training, climate change and social neglect that have heralded the near collapse of the pastoral production system.

PDNK has trained community organisers and police on rights
based governance in Samburu County

PDNK has been involved in training community organisers on budget tracking to ensure efficient utilisation of devolved funds. It has also trained police on rights based policing in Samburu County while at the same time advocating for adequate resource allocation to pastoralist areas. PDNK is pushing for the creation of good markets for livestock and livestock products, revenue sharing from ecotourism, respect for pastoralist cultures and protection of pastoralist intellectual property rights, ecological protection and mobilising grassroots communities to participate in governance processes such as civic education on elections and the newly promulgated constitution. PDNK is also a member of several networks such as the Minority Reforms Consortium (MRC) and Livestock Policy Initiative of the regional Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). PDNK liaises with both local and international media as part of creating linkages and amplifying the voice of the disenfranchised members of the Kenyan society.

Source: Dignity partner PDNK

*** Saying Hello to Dignity Partner NCDHR - While Jerald Joseph, Executive Director was in India in September, he met with the friends from NCDHR (National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights) to catch up and follow up on the on going partnership.

Jerald Joseph meeting Paul Divakar, General Secreatry of DA3(Dalit Aarthik Adhikar Andolan) and Ms. Asha Kowtal (General Secretary, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch)

*** Landmark Decision: The Human Right to Water and Sanitation - At its latest session, the UN Human Rights Council for the first time, affirmed that the right to water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living.

According to the UN Independent Expert on human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque “this means that for the UN, the right to water and sanitation is contained in existing human rights treaties and is therefore legally binding.”

Lack of Urban Sanitation is a violation of human rights

The decision of the Human Rights Council follows the July resolution of the UN General Assembly which recognized access to water and sanitation as a fundamental right but did not specify that the right entailed legally binding obligations. The resolution tabled at the Human Rights Council by the Governments of Germany and Spain, with support from many others, closes the legal gap by clarifying the foundation for recognition of the rights and the legal standards which apply.

“It is a landmark decision which has the potential to change the lives of the billions of human beings who still lack access to water and sanitation,” de Albuquerque says. To read more CLICK HERE>>>

Source: OCHCR

Dr. Anna Kajumulo TIBAIJUKA
UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-HABITAT

*** COHRE on World Habitat Day - As the world marked World Habitat Day on 4 October, more than half the world's population lives in cities. An estimated 1 billion live in slums and other sub-standard housing – more than one in seven people worldwide. Hundreds of millions of these people live in truly dire conditions – without water and sanitation, public infrastructure or security of tenure. To continue reading, CLICK HERE>>>

Source: Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions

*** FIAN on World Food Security - FIAN International’s Statement on the issues discussed at the 36th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome, 8 October 2010. FIAN International supports the reformed CFS as the central governance mechanism of the world food system. However, in order to become the most inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together, the new CFS must facilitate financial support to the establishment of the autonomous Civil Society mechanism as currently discussed, with proper funding to guarantee its effective functioning and the real participation of all relevant constituencies in the CFS process. Read More CLICK HERE>>>

Source: FIAN

*** The 2010 Social Forum - Climate Change and Human Rights - In his opening remarks to the Social Forum, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the President of the UN Human Rights Council said that the social and human rights implications of climate change must be given greater priority.

The Social Forum is an annual event which provides a unique opportunity for Member States, civil society and intergovernmental organisations to discuss the global human rights challenges. This year the Forum focused on the relationship between climate change and human rights.

The Forum coincided with climate change talks being held in China ahead of a year-end meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Both rounds of negotiations aim to find sufficient common ground to enable a treaty on climate change.

Much attention at the Forum was directed to the upcoming Conference in Cancún. Anders Kompass speaking on behalf of the UN Human Rights Office emphasized that any agreed text from the Cancun gathering had to be consistent with State’s human rights obligations.

A human rights-based approach, Kompass said “brings into focus how climate change-related threats affect individuals and groups differently. Climate change impacts exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, which in turn, are rooted in discrimination, disparate health status and imbalances in access to knowledge and information.”

Source: OHCHR

*** The Big Squeeze: Geopirating the Remaining Commons - As the UN General Assembly prepares for the June 2012 environmental summit in Rio de Janeiro, the global response to the current set of crises around ‘food, fuel, finance and Fahrenheit’ are giving rise to even greater commoditisation of our lives, writes Pat Mooney. In the face of new ‘shock doctrines’ around agricultural erosion, ecosystem collapse, cultural extinctions and gender ‘disappeareds’, Mooney discusses the supposed therapies and ultimate pay-offs. To read the article CLICK HERE>>>

Source: Pambazuka News

*** Thailand: Migrant Workers Have the Right to Workers' Compensation - At least 2 million migrants from Burma work in low-skilled, dirty and dangerous jobs in Thailand from which they frequently incur accidents and disease. Since 2001, Thailand has discriminated against migrant work accident victims from Burma by denying them access to the Workmen’s Compensation Fund (WCF), even though all workers regardless of national origin are legally eligible for access to this fund. These work accident victims are denied access to work accident compensation from the WCF, rehabilitation assistance and are also denied the right to register as disabled if they suffer permanent disabilities at work. This denial is on the basis that most of these workers were smuggled into Thailand “illegally,” despite more than 1 million of them registering to legally work. The State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation (SERC), an affiliate of the ITUC, has since 2007 demanded an end to this systematic discrimination against all migrants in Thailand to ensure their access to the WCF equally with Thai workers. The ILO’s Committee of Experts in February 2010 responded to a SERC complaint on this issue stating denial of access to the WCF to migrants from Burma breaches ILO Convention 19 on equality of accident compensation. Thailand then announced plans to set up an insurance scheme managed by private insurance companies to provide compensation to migrant work accident victims. SERC disagrees with this proposal as it is discriminatory and unlawful, but despite our protests, the Government continues to push ahead with this scheme. To take action CLICK HERE >>>

Source: LabourStart

Women of Gaza Demand UN Hearings

*** Say NO to Sexual Violence in Conflict - During conflict, women are often the ones who suffer the most and are targets of systematic sexual violence. Yet, fewer than 10 percent of the people who negotiate peace deals are women. Say NO is participating in the Global Open Day for Women and Peace. You can play a role in making women count for peace. Sign the Say NO petition today! Read More >>>

Source: UNIFEM

*** Support an End to Poverty on 17 October and Beyond! – “Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty,
Human Rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights are respected is our solemn duty.” -- Father Joseph Wresinski. Join hundreds of actions and thousands of people as we demand an end to poverty. Sign the petition and learn more about the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty by CLICKING HERE>>>

Source: ADT Fourth World

*** Zambia : Call for Papers, Access to Information in Quality Education - From 14-16 February 2011 the Right to Know, Right to Education project will host a regional conference to address the issues of quality basic education for all. Final academic papers should be evidence-based and theoretical; they should also include case studies and relevant policy information. The papers should be unpublished and reflect on the critical gaps in the debate on quality education. The papers should not exceed 6000 words or 20 pages in length. For more details please CLICK HERE>>>

Source: IDASA

*** Master’s Degree Programme in International Human Rights Law at Institute for Human Rights at Abo Akademi University, Finland - The Institute has a long experience in arranging human rights courses of high standard. Moreover, it is currently coordinating a Nordic School in Human Rights Research, for post-graduate students and doctoral candidates from the Nordic and Baltic countries. A Master's Degree Programme in International Human Rights Law was introduced in the fall of 2006. Applications deadline for the next academic year is 28 February 2011.

Source: Institute for Human Rights Abo Akademi University

*** 17 October - World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty - The Council of Europe's strategy for combating poverty is aimed at strengthening social cohesion in Europe, preventing and combating social exclusion. The Council of Europe has a number of legal instruments chief among them the European Convention on Human Rights which establishes rights and fundamental freedoms, and the European Social Charter which establishes social rights, including the right to protection against poverty and the right to housing.

Each year, the Council of Europe takes part in the celebration of World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty and organises a ceremony in front of a replica of the Commemorative Stone, symbolising the refusal of extreme poverty, which was laid in 1993 on the Palais de l'Europe forecourt.

Created on the initiative of Father Joseph Wresinski and of 100,000 defenders of human rights, who gathered together on the Trocadero Plaza in Paris on 17 October 1987 to honour victims of hunger, violence, and ignorance, to express their refusal of extreme poverty, the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty is celebrated on that date, each year since 1992. To learn more about this and other human rights programmes of the Council of Europe, CLICK HERE>>>

Source: Council of Europe

*** OHCHR Meetings and Events –

*** New Book: Dispersing Power- Social Movements as Anti-State Forces - In his first book translated to English, veteran Uruguayan journalist and scholar Raul Zibechi draws on the Aymara city of El Alto in Bolivia as source of inspiration and possibility, a unique example among the many important popular and Indigenous struggles unfolding throughout Latin America. He offers an in-depth exploration and analysis of the many possibilities of movement building that exist outside of leftist organizing oriented towards taking state power. To read more CLICK HERE>>>

Source: Upside Down World

*** 25 Questions and Answers on Health and Human Rights - 25 Questions and Answers on Health and Human Rights” lays the foundation for the rest of the series by suggesting answers to key questions which come to mind in exploring the linkages between health and human rights.

Click here to order copies [pdf 48kb]

Source: WHO

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it