Dignity works LOCALLY with a range of partners who have earned deep respect of the communities. Our community work involves SUPPORTING and FACILITATING:

Linking & Learning Programmes for community leaders, for community trainers and for community theatre groups on linking daily reality of the communities with human rights and strengthening advocacy for change using human rights.


People-led Advocacy processes such as those of the Nairobi People Settlement Network.


Joint Action around Human Rights Day to bring together the struggling communities across the globe.


Exchanges between the struggling communities from different countries.


Establishment of Community Resource Centres to support community advocacy work and to connect to others around the world.





OUR COMMUNITY WORK:

60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

On 10 December 2008 Dignity International and its partners around the world in Africa, Asia, Americas and Europe celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Here are some highlights.

In Sao Paulo, Brazil

In Nairobi, Kenya

Human Rights Day People's Forum organised by Nairobi People's Settlement Network

In Delhi, India

A Mass Rally on Dalit Women Discrimination organised by All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Mach (AIDMAM) and Dalit arthik Adhikar Andolan - Photos from National Coalition of Dalit Human Rights

In Gwalia, India

Demonstrations on Land Rights & Farmers Rights organised by Ekta Parishad

In Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok , Ajarn Bantorn Ondam, former board member of Dignity International, speaks about the neglect of human rights in Thailand	Representatives of the Assembly of the Poor submit a petition to Ms. Hannah Wu, Human Rights Officer, OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia.

In Alcochete, Portugal

Dignity’s partners/collaborators around the world wrote a series of articles on Global Human Rights Struggles to raise awareness on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its 60th Anniversary and to inspire and motivate the readership into action – to bring about changes globally by acting locally and personally and make the pledge to the goals and principles of the UDHR.

These articles were published in the Journal do Alcochete (Portugal) newspaper in the weeks preceeding 10 December and with the last article culminating on 10 December.

From Africa:
Forced Eviction in the Eyes of a Child – A Poem
by Jacqueline Ndina (10 years) – daughter of Ester Ndina Nairobi People’s Settlement Network


From Asia:
Freedom from Poverty: Thailand’s Poor Claim and Win Basic Human Rights
by Chinda Chaorensuk, Former President of the Four Regional Slum Networks of the Assembly of the Poor


Reclaiming the Right over the Space for Intellectual and Creative Engagement: The Experience of Janasanskriti, West Bengal, India
by Nayana Chowdhury, Programme Officer at Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, India


From Europe:
The Poor Cannot Wait: The Struggle to Fight Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe
by Michaela Moser, Vice President, European Anti Poverty Network


From Latin America:
Human Rights Violations – Experience of Brazil
by Maria das Graças de Jesus Xavier Vieira, Coordination of União dos Movimentos de Moradia-UMM and Coalizão Internacional do Habitat-HIC

Uma Estrada na Estrada
by Aton Fon, Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) – article in Portuguese


Closing Article:
Hold the Torch of Human Rights – Developing a Human Rights City in Alcochete
by Shulamith Koenig, Founder and President of People’s Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE)

10 December 2008 marked not only the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the start of the International Year for Human Rights Learning. Human Rights Learning around the world will continue and so will our local-global struggle to achieve all human rights for all.

GET UP STAND UP - STAND UP FOR YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS

Dignity is working together with Hakijamii Trust of Kenya and the Nairobi People's Settlement Network (NPSN) to assist the struggling communities to get up and stand up for their human rights. The activities included Linking & Learning Programme for Community Leaders (May 2006) that led to theTraining of Community Trainers (november 2006) and to the Training of Community Theatre (November 2006).

	Linking & Learning Programme for Community Leaders (May 2006) Report |Participants
	Training of Community Trainers (November 2006)
	Training of Community Theatre (November 2006) Report

PASSING THE TORCH OF STRUGGLE

The Torch of Struggle - the theme chosen by the Nairobi People's Settlement Network for our joint Human Rights Day celebrations in 2005 - is the underlying theme that ran through all of Dignity’s programmes in 2006. It has travelled and will continue to travel through 4 continents showing unity in Dignity’s activities and solidarity across national borders of the communities with whom we are working. May the Torch of Struggle – the Torch of Human Rights, the symbol of hope for billions of people around the world unite us all who are in the frontline of the struggle for human dignity. [69]Report]

Nairobi, Kenya	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Torch of Struggle Travelling Trough 4 Continents!
Alcochete, Portugal	Quito, Ecuador

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE SCHOOLS

2004	2005	2006

Alcochete, a small town 30 km from the Portuguese capital Lisbon is the former home of the Dignity International secretariat. Determined to try out for ourselves in our former community what we encourage others to do, Dignity started a project with the primary schools in the municipality. This project was in partnership with the Group of Schools, the Municipality and the Animation Group Anime. The activities took place during the months of November and early December culminating in a joint celebration on 10 December Human Rights Day. The animation group used puppet theatre and the two characters Tito and Nini to take the 4-8 year old children on an adventure to the land of Human Rights. The annual activities have gone from strength to strength. In 2006 the town council recently passed a resolution to put human rights day and the activities surrounding it on its official calendar. The resolution is a landmark for all parties concerned. The seed that was sown by the Group of Schools in Alcochete and Dignity International can now flourish and be sustained in the local context under local leadership.

Alcochete Municipality's Resolution - Annual Human Rights day Celebration
Municipality of Alcochete | Alcochete Group of Schools | Anime