|
Dignity News | Other News | Action Appeals | Announcements
Events | Publications
|
Dignity News
* 5th Latin American Programme
* Meeting with União dos Movimentos de Moradia (UMM) in Sao Paulo
* Dignity International Granted Observer Status
* Dignity International at the Asia Regional Youth Social Awareness Training Program on Migration and Gender Issues
* Dignity On the Web
Other News
* A Labour Day of Ironies
* UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries Begins in Istanbul
* Flower Power: Justice for Flower Workers on Labour Day
Action Appeals
* Spain: Mobilisations Against the “Antisocial Pact”
Announcements
* COHRE Seeks Programme Officer for South Africa
* ESCR-Net: Share Information and Seek Out Support!
Events
* Provocation Seminar Series: Making markets work for smallholders or wage labour?
* Africa: Exploitation and Resistance
* OHCHR Meetings and Events
Publications
* Building Partnerships to Combat Human Trafficking and Forced Labour
* Evaluating HR Training Activities
* Civil Society Organisations in Situations of Conflict
*** 5th Latin American Programme - The dances, games, group dynamics, collective thinking and joint construction of concepts are part of the teaching-learning process in the 5th International Course on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) held between 11 and 17 April in Huatajata-Bolivia.
The 5th Latin American Programme was organised by Dignity International in Bolivia, and hosted by the National Institution for Social Action (Unitas) and the Institute for Social Research and Action for Integral Development (IIADI). UNITAS and IIADI have been actively involved in training processes and providing on-going support to the urban and rural social organisations in the country.
From left to right: the course facilitators DESC Carlos Revilla, Fabio Gama, Jerald Joseph (Director of International Dignity) and the facilitator Jeanneth Lara.
Sharing learning
"Participation is vital for us because it is a platform for sharing of knowledge and ideas," said one of the facilitators of this course, also a representative of Dignity International, Fabio Gama. The popular education methodology is applied throughout this programme "because we understand that this method is more dynamic and more democratic," he added.
"In addition to that, this learning process allows the participants to utilise and enhance the experience they have garnered while working in their communities and organisations on the issue of human rights. In return, they can disseminate their learning experience within their organisation,” said Gama.
The theme
More than 25 representatives from social organisations, neighbouring associations, unions and human rights institutions in various countries around Latin America came together to discuss on labour rights in terms of rights to health, education, housing, and land, as well as issues related to discrimination, race and gender.
Issues related to regulations and the enforceability of ESC rights were reflected upon at various levels: national, regional and international, and participants are encouraged to apply the skills learned in their daily activities. Through better management of the instruments of civil society organisations, and above all social groups which suffer violations of their rights, participants access enforcement mechanisms to demand that their formally-recognised rights are met in practise and not only in legal theory.
Group activity
Sharing experiences and improving tools
One of the highlights of this programme was the sharing of experiences on the issues of violation of human rights, particularly the ESC rights, alongside instruments to improve the effect and enforceability in different parts of Latin America.
Common problems
"This course is important because Latin Americans encounter problems that we share in common but also problems which are different. We can design appropriate strategies to address these problems. And from those differences we can learn from other countries, something that was not going through my mind before this course," said Tiago Santos, a representative of the Afro-Brazilian Council of Santiago Preto, Brazil, an organisation that works against discrimination and violence against the population of African ancestry.
Brighter prospects for the enforceability of ESC rights
"This programme incorporates numerous concepts not only in the ESCR context, but also in the perspective of civil and political rights, linking with international, regional and national institutions in Latin America. Besides that, it has also provided tools and instruments for the participating social organisations, enabling more capacity to the enforceability of ESCR. In addition to that, this fun methodology encourages participants to promote new strategies for participation, contributing what was learned during the programme in their own organizations by applying relevant methods in their work, "said Jhon Jairo, a social scientist working on the implementation of local development programs for vulnerable populations such as indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, African -Colombians, women and children.
The 5th Latin American Programme facilitators,
trainers and participants
Providing closer contact
"In terms of content, I'm really learning from the others, being exposed to the reality of Latin America within the ESCR and Civil and Political Rights. Similar events are happening in my country and in another country, and I think we can solve this problem together. The participants were exchanging solutions and sharing personal, creating a more direct learning. The whole experience helps expand ones network”, said Jacqueline Altagracia, a Dominican Republic lawyer.
Witnessing the entirety of human rights
According to Ruth Alvarez of Mexico, "Knowing that we can discuss human rights, seeing all the people working at different times, from different countries and different problems, it's like seeing human rights in their entirety. These courses, through personal contact, clarify my professional context and give it meaning. Sometimes we work believing that's what you should do, but we do not always refer to all available instruments". Ruth works with “Tierra de Mujeres” (Land of Women), an institution dedicated to improving access to health services for women and strengthening indigenous organisations.
Developing ESC rights
"Methodologically the programme is important because the facilitators guide the treatment of the subject and the expertise to address conceptual elements of ESC rights, which in turn allows us to enrich and deepen the subject. Participating in this course allowed me to learn from the experiences of participants from other countries about the processes and enforceability of ESCR, in order to influence our work," said Roberto Narvaez, an anthropologist who works with Pachamama Foundation of Ecuador, which supports the development of self-government and self-determination processes with indigenous peoples of the Amazon.
Enhancing capabilities
"I think this course has served to enhance personal skills through the application of methodologies that were shared among all and also the clarification of theoretical and ideological trends that are part of the ESC and its fundamental principles. The programme is essential to the work in Urban Programme because we focus on DESC, using the methodology of popular education in suburban neighbourhoods. Moreover, it helps strengthen the vision and our existing methodology, as well as deepen the mechanism and defence agencies of DESC which will improve the work we do in peri-urban areas," said Roxana Reynaga of Urban Programme.
The Urban Program is coordinated by Unitas, which for more than 10 years working in the strengthening of social organisations.
For more information, or to read this article in Spanish, CLICK HERE>>>
Source: UNITAS
*** Meeting with União dos Movimentos de Moradia (UMM) in Sao Paulo - During an early morning stopover in Sao Paulo on the way to the Latin American Programme, Jerald Joseph, Executive Director of Dignity International took the opportunity to meet with the UMM. It was a successful engagement, learning about their very committed and sustained way of work with the urban poor in defending the homes and lands. Besides that, the meeting was an excellent way to touch base and keep the exchange of ideas and strategies on working together as UMM has a good network of volunteers and supporters on their housing rights campaigns.
Maria Aparecida Tijiwa (UMM), Sidnei Antônio Euzébio Pita (Executive Coordinator, UMM), Maria de Fátima dos Santos (Executive Coordinator, UMM), Maria das Graças Jesus Xavier Vieira (Executive Coordinator, UMM), Jerald Joseph (Executive Director, Dignity International), Benadita jovina perez quesada um Beijos (UMM)
*** Dignity International Granted Observer Status - Great news! At its recent session in Gambia, The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights granted Dignity International Observer Status as an NGO. This role and function for Observer Status was established by the commission during its meeting at the 25th Ordinary Session in Bujumbura, Burundi back in 1999. This enables Dignity International to be more directly involved, with our partners in Africa, with the activities and deliberations of the Commission.
*** Dignity International at the Asia Regional Youth Social Awareness Training Program on Migration and Gender Issues - From the 25th to 27th April 2011, Chan Tsu Chong and Sasha Leong from Dignity International participated in the Asia Regional Youth Social Awareness Training Program on Migration and Gender Issues, held in Kuala Lumpur. The program themed 'Migration and Gender Issues, Two Dimensions of the Current Globalisation' organized by Pax Romana and Woori Technology Institute (WTI), and hosted by the Community Action Network (CAN), brought together a group of young activist from India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Philippines, who utilized the space as a platform for discussion, discovery, and an exchange of knowledge and stories from their own country on the human rights situations of people impacted by migration.
Team Dignity participating and sharing
on migration and gender issues
*** Dignity On the Web - Have you seen Dignity International's new website layout?
Old website layout
New website layout
We will be constantly uploading more photos and videos from our programs and activities. In the mean time, do visit our website HERE
*** A Labour Day of Ironies – This Labour Day was filled with irony for the vast majority of those living in poverty, workers, children, the elderly and disabled in many countries. While neoliberal globalisation and the US-led G20 trillion dollar bail-out schemes for dubious financial transactions has sapped the public coffers in most industrial and post-industrial economies, it has led to a farcical demand for so-called 'belt-tightening' which leaves social concerns in the global North and South last on their greedy list of 'priorities'.
The First of May, the day which commemorates the 1887 execution of the Haymarket anarchists who organised a million-worker strike in Chicago USA, saw millions of working people on every continent standing firmly against the intensified attacks of neoliberal policies which are quickly undermining economic, social, and cultural rights in all countries, rich and poor. With pensions, working hours, health care, development assistance and other social and cultural programmes being slashed, tensions between the people and their governments, big business and international financial institutions, has risen to an unprecedented level.
What is more, the people are rising up. Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Bahrain, Greece – in so many places ordinary citizens are demanding self-rule, and self-prioritisation – not a return to dogmatic bureaucracies or 'benevolent dictatorships' of any stripe, but a fundamental recognition of what human dignity means: the right to stand up for one's self and participate in the process of economic, social and cultural liberation.
In the USA, where the Chicago strikes for an 8 hour day resulted in tragedy, but eventual victory, the consequences of government policies which unabashedly favour the wealthy are increasingly being seen for what they are: attacks on human dignity, labour and basic human rights. Although corporate media are reluctant to cover street actions, the mobilisation on the state capitol in Wisconsin in the past few months has served as a model for similar actions from California to New York, with occupations of universities and government buildings now becoming commonplace.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators attended May Day rallies at Taksim square in central Istanbul, in Ankara, in Paris, London, Caracas, Berlin, Kiev, Moscow, and across parts of Asia and Africa. In Australia, 30,000 marchers took to the streets in opposition to similar economic policies, and in Taiwan thousands of workers calling on the government to deal with problems of low wages and long working hours. In Pakistan, workers, who are furious at the government's new Industrial Relations Act, believe that the situation of the Pakistani worker is the worst it has ever been according to trade unions, political parties and civil society organisations which rallied on Sunday and paid homage to the Chicago martyrs.
Even as so-called wealthy countries try to turn the clock of human struggle backwards, solidarity is growing between those who are being exploited across the globe. With communication, training, perseverance and solidarity, the peoples of every continent draw strength and see that another world is possible. On this International Workers' Day 2011 the people of many countries are remembering and honouring the many which have died in the cause of human dignity, but more importantly, they are working together more than ever to share, learn and stand up for their rights and collective sovereignty.
*** UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries Begins in Istanbul - 9 May 2011 - The Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV) has begun at Istanbul's Lutfi Kirdar Congress Centre. Turkish President Abdullah Gul was chosen as chairman of the conference. Some 10 thousand guests including ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of private sector, scientists and members of non-governmental organisations from 192 UN-member countries are attending the event.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the sixty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly Joseph Deiss, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, President Bamir Topi of Albania, President Mahmud Ahmedinejad of Iran, President Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Yves Leterme of Belgium, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Nikoloz Gilauri of Georgia are among guests of the conference.
The conference brings together nearly 50 heads of state and government, 10 vice-presidents, 94 ministers and chairmen of 47 international organisations in Istanbul. To read more about this conference CLICK HERE>>>
Source: UN
*** Flower Power: Justice for Flower Workers on Labour Day - On the occasion of International Labor Day on the 1st of May, 2011, the partners of the European-wide campaign 'Fair Flowers - For Human Rights' demanded the respect of internationally acknowledged labour rights for flower workers world-wide.
Flower workers in many countries are not allowed to join trade unions, have to work a minimum of 12 hours a day during peak seasons, are getting poisoned by highly toxic pesticides, and are not getting paid enough to adequately feed themselves. Their flowers are sold in European flower shops and supermarkets.
Few people are aware of the conditions of workers on flower farms across the world, most of which are women, who cultivate flowers for the European market. To raise consumers', florists' and the European Union policy makers' awareness, the “fair flowers – for human rights” campaign has invited Irene Nyambura Kiarie (Red Lands Roses, KPAWU) and Redemta Akoth Josia (KEWWEDO), two representatives of the Kenyan civil society and Kenyan flower workers, to give testimonies during a European speaker's tour from the 22 April until the 12th of May. During the speakers' tour signatures will be collected to demand that the European Union support decent labour conditions on flower farms.
“For many workers, their insufficient wages constitute a violation of their right to feed themselves and their family" knows Sophie Vessel from FIAN Austria. "Moreover, they are exposed to highly toxic pesticides and do not benefit from any proper protection, which violates their right to decent working conditions" adds Alena Věžníková from Ecumenical Academy Prague. "We demand governments and farms to respect international, labour, cultural and environmental rights" says Clara Moeremans from Netwerk Bewust Verbruiken. "Farms can prove their commitment by getting certified by the two labels Fairtade, and the Flower Label Program (FLP).”
“Consumers, flower traders and public institutions give incentives for respecting human rights and environmental protection when they buy certified flowers” adds Steffi Neumann from Vamos e.V. Münster.
To read more CLICK HERE>>>
Source: FIAN
*** Spain: Labour Mobilisations Against the “Antisocial Pact” - The Spanish labour union “Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo” (CNT) announced that it is completely opposed to the Economic and Social Pact recently made between the Spanish government, the private sector, and the largest trade union federations COOO and UGT. CNT charges that the agreement's methods (cutting pensions and creating precarious economic situations for workers),are nothing but a continuation of the “Labour Reforms” which have seen cuts in pay, pensions which are violating human rights across the country.
As a consequence of this "social pact" which seeks to destroy workers' rights at the service of big business and banks, the CNT membership has decided to organise mobilisations throughout Spain beginning on Labour Day, then on 7 May and 4 June. For details on these actions, please visit the CNT website. This information is available only in Spanish. Más información: CNT continúa la campaña de movilizaciones contra la política económica y social del gobierno y El Pacto Antisocial.
Source: CNT
*** COHRE Seeks Programme Officer for South Africa - The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is an international human rights NGO working to promote and protect the human right to adequate housing for everyone, everywhere. COHRE has regional programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Position Summary
The Programme Officer will take a lead role in the development and implementation of COHRE's programme activities in South Africa. The programme will focus on research and analysis of housing rights challenges and violations – including forced evictions – in South Africa and in the design and implementation of advocacy, capacity building and other activities related to the promotion and protection of the right to adequate housing. The Programme Officer will work under the supervision of the Africa Regional Director and will support COHRE's regional activities. To learn more about this position, CLICK HERE>>>
Source: COHRE
*** ESCR-Net: Share Information and Seek Out Support! - Do you want to communicate more closely with the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights community? We want to send a reminder that a great way to reach out to organisations and individuals within ESCR-Net's community is through the ESCR-Net online discussion groups. Many of you belong to one or more of the groups and circulate relevant information from your current work, but we want to remind you that this is also a space to facilitate discussions and reach out to others in the field of ESCR regarding specific topics, requesting resources, and advancing discussions on shared experiences of work, research and strategies. For broad topics, you can join the general INESCR group or share within one of our specific thematic discussions. For more information about our specific discussion groups, please visit: http://www.escr-net.org/getinvolved/getinvolved_list.htm?cat_id=1479
Source: ESCR-Net
*** Provocation Seminar Series: Making markets work for smallholders or wage labour? - The fourth in a series of six seminars on markets and small-scale farmers will take place in Manchester, United Kingdom on 25 May 2011, 12.00-16.30 (British Summer Time) and will also be available as a live stream on www.iied.org/provocation4. Download the flyer here.
Development efforts to make agricultural markets work for the poor tend to focus on supporting small-scale farmers or producers. But what about the millions of poor rural workers employed in commercial operations such as plantations and large farms? Could more attention to improving wage labour offer a faster route to reducing poverty?
The provocation will bring together policymakers, academics and practitioners working at the interface between small-scale production, markets and development to contest the benefits of smallholders and commercial agriculture as targets of efforts to make markets work for the rural poor.
For more information visit: http://www.iied.org/provocation4.
Source: Hivos
*** Africa: Exploitation and Resistance - Africa has some of the richest natural resources in the world. Yet the majority of its people have been impoverished by decades of policies imposed by international finance institutions and northern governments. This free conference will be held on Saturday 11 June, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm at the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Oxford. Find out more
Source: Fahamu Books
*** Building Partnerships to Combat Human Trafficking and Forced Labour - 18 - 19 May 2011, Tbilisi, Georgia. Regional conference to exchange good practices on the prevention of forced labour and trafficking in the context of increased labour mobility between the South Caucasus, neighbouring countries and the European Union.
For more information, CLICK HERE>>>
Source: ILO
*** OHCHR Meetings and Events
|
CEDAW Pre sessional WG
From : 01-08-2011 To : 05-08-2011
New York
|
|
WG on communications / 61st session
From : 29-08-2011 To : 02-09-2011
PW 1st Floor
|
*** Hired on Sufferance: China's migrant workers in Singapore - There are an estimated 200,000 Chinese migrant workers in Singapore. They are employed in the city's construction sites, factories, shops and restaurants; working long hours for low pay in frequently hazardous conditions. Many have to endure abuse, discrimination and violations of their rights but few can obtain legal redress. Their movements, behaviour and even their "moral conduct," are tightly controlled by their boss, who can terminate their employment and send them back to China at anytime and without any justification.
China Labour Bulletin's new research report, Hired on Sufferance: China's migrant workers in Singapore, systematically examines the entire process by which mainland Chinese workers are recruited, employed and, when no longer needed in Singapore, repatriated.
The 60-page report outlines a series of measures the Chinese and Singaporean governments should take to improve the working conditions and safeguard the legal rights of Chinese workers in Singapore. Specifically, CLB calls on Singapore to abolish its employer-sponsored work visa policy, which gives employers excessive power and control over foreign workers, and calls on China to tighten its monitoring and supervision of the country's rapidly expanding and increasingly chaotic labour export business.
Violations of migrant workers' rights are widespread, but many workers choose not to take legal action because they lack the knowledge and confidence to pursue a claim. Many feel alone, with no one to turn to for help. Others fear reprisals from their employer if they make a fuss. Those that do seek legal redress have to face numerous hurdles, including properly understanding the legal process and collecting sufficient documentary evidence to file a lawsuit. Many Chinese migrant workers interviewed by CLB for this report felt there was one law for the Singaporean boss and another for them. Singapore is currently the second largest global market for Chinese labour behind Japan; the subject of CLB's new Chinese language research report published last week. An English version of the report entitled Unfulfilled Dreams in a Foreign Land: The rights and interests of Chinese "trainees" in Japan, will be published later in the year.
Hired on Sufferance: China's migrant workers in Singapore is available now as a downloadable PDF. It will soon be available from CLB in a bound edition.
Source: China Labour Bulletin
*** Civil Society Organisations in Situations of Conflict - This new Civil Society Organisation in Situations of Conflict report authored by CIVICUS in partnership with the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness summarises working conditions in more than 46 countries worldwide. It illustrates the specific dynamics, needs and challenges of CSOs working in situations of conflict and analyses how governments, international community and donors can ensure their policies adequately empower citizens and CSOs in all stages of peace building and development.
At the time of writing, more than thirty countries were embroiled in violent conflict. At this time of increasing violence, creating situations of instability and fragility, freedoms and the fulfillment of political, social and economic rights are not protected. Development actors and citizens face significant challenges not only to their effectiveness, but also to their safety, sustainability and livelihoods. Click here to download a free copy
Source: CIVICUS
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
