Monthly Archives: April 2011

International Mother Earth Day – April 22

Mother Earth is a common expression for the planet earth in a number of countries and regions, which reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet. For instance, Bolivians call Mother Earth Pachamama and Nicaraguans refer to her as Tonantzin.

The proclamation of 22 April as International Mother Earth Day is an acknowledgement that the Earth and its ecosystems provide its inhabitants with life and sustenance. It also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.  Read more http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/index.shtml

International Mother Earth Day was celebrated at the UN on Wednesday 20th April with an Interactive Dialogue with the General Assembly on Harmony with Nature http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/04/general-assembly-interactive-dialogue-on-harmony-with-nature-english-2.html   There were two panels.  It is the second panel presentation that is webcast.  All panelists are experts in their field.   Riane Eisler book “The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics” (2007) is highly recommeded.   

Interactive Panel Debate 1: Ways to promoting a holistic approach to sustainable development in harmony with nature

Moderator

  • Mr. Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Center

Panelists

  • Ms. Vandana Shiva, Founder of Navdanya, India
  • Mr. Peter Brown, Professor, McGill University, Canada
  • Mr. Cormac Cullinan, Environmental Attorney, South Africa
  • Ms. Riane Eisler, Author of “The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics” (2007)

Interactive Panel Debate 2: Sharing national experiences on criteria and indicators for measuring sustainable development in harmony with nature

Moderator

  • Mr. Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Center

Panelists

  • Mr. Paul-Bertrand Barets, Head of International Economic Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France
  • Mr. Gilberto Gallopin, Regional Adviser on Environmental Policies, Economic and Social Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Mr. Ivo Havinga, Chief, Economic Statistics Branch, UN DESA Statistics Division
  • Mr. Mathis Wackernagel, Executive Director, Global Footprint Network

Women’s and Children’s Rights:Making the connection”

The publication “Women’s and Children’s Rights: Making the connection,” a joint effort by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), makes a case for linking the human rights of women to those of children. Today, these rights are still treated in an isolated manner, while there are actually practical arguments for considering them together, in particular because many human rights violations against women directly affect children and vice versa.

Linking them together would support efforts to promote the human rights of adolescent girls, to eliminate child marriage, to prevent the spread of HIV and to reduce maternal mortality.

To download the report, click here.

The April Edition of Stop Trafficking Newsletter

The Anti Human Trafficking newletter for April 2011 is now available.  http://www.stopenslavement.org/stoptraff904.pdf   Read about how globalized labour exploits the vulnerable.   

If you are interested, the March  has been translated into Spanish and can be accessed here. http://www.stopenslavement.org/index.html   There is also a petition for signing: ‘Stop Child Pornography and Child Sex Trafficking on Facebook’.

Stations of the Cross for Japan

“On the morning of March 11, 2011, the people of Japan began what would be a triduum of suffering and catastrophic loss as earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster overcame them with-out warning. In moments, lives were changed forever and human suffering and loss overtook not only the country, but the entire world, as we watched with hearts broken and sorrowful. What better way can we show our solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters than by joining them on their own Way of the Cross.”

Stations of the Cross For the Healing of Japan S. Michele Vincent Fisher, CSFN March 17, 2011

Collaboration to Combat Human Trafficking in the Asia Pacific Region

Clare Nolan facilitated a capacity building workshop in Kuala Lumpur from the 12 – 17 February 2011 for 50 participant from the Good Shepherd Asia Pacific Region.  The process of the workshop was based on dialogue, discussion, sharing of expert knowledge within the group, with some input on issues such as International  trends, human rights, and perspectives of  (input from) NGO partners (ICMC)  and US State Embassy in Malaysia. Two participants shared on experiences of international advocacy – one going to the margins with migrants in Mexico protesting a Un international body and calling for grassroots voices, the other in presentations to a group of international bishops in Rome – how different can you get! Good Shepherd Mission Development Office also presented their role in funding and responded to questions.  Read more   http://www.buonpastoreint.org/news/summary-of-capacity-building-training-workshop-cbtw-12-17-february-kuala-lumpur-1109

“Migration is not a static phenomenon, nor is it black and white”, noted ICMC U.S. Liaison Officer, Jane Bloom, in her presentation to the plenary. “The continuum from migration to trafficking is a ‘slippery slope’, which increases protection risks for migrants—especially women and children on the move—who can become easy prey for traffickers. What we are doing here this week is leveraging the strengths, the knowledge, the connections of each others’ work to better the lives of those who are most vulnerable.”  Read more

http://www.icmc.net/article/icmc-partners-with-sisters-good-shepherd-combat-human-trafficking-asia-pacific-region

Call to art lovers in Europe to work for Justice and Peace and End Violence against Women

United Nations Regional Information Centre Launches Europe-Wide Ad Competition to End Violence against Women
http://www.saynotoviolence.org/around-world/news/create-ad-united-nations-no-violence-against-women    Winner receives Euro 5,000.00                      
  • An opportunity for all you designers and art lovers living in Europe to work for justice and peace and ‘To End Violence Against Women’ by entering an advertisement competition – open for submission until May 31st, 2011.  
  • Una oportunidad para todos los diseñadores y los amantes del arte que viven en Europa a trabajar por la justicia y la paz y ‘Poner fin a la Violencia contra las Mujeres’ participando en un concurso de anuncios- el plazo para la presentación esta abierta hasta el 31 de mayo de 2011. Para mas informacion ir al enlace siguiente – esta en tres idiomas :                                 
  • C’est l’occasion pour tous les concepteurs et les amateurs d’art vivant en Europe à travailler pour la paix et la justice et « Mettre fin  a la Violence a l’egard des Femmes » en participant au concours d’annonces publicitaires – le delai pour la presentation des travaux est jusqu’au 31 mai 2011. Pour plus d’information aller au link suivant – c’est en trois langues:

UNICEF Executive Director Mr. Anthony Lake visists in Tigray, Ethiopia.

UNICEF Image

UNICEF

In Ethiopia, UNICEF Executive Director sees equity strategy accelerating development

TIGRAY, Ethiopia, 1 April 2011 – UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake has been in northern Ethiopia this week, witnessing first-hand the progress made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals through an equity-based strategy that reaches out to the poorest and most vulnerable communities.
You can read the full article by clicking on the title above.  In the article it states that an estimated 2.8 million Ethiopian children do not attend primary school.  I wonder how many of these children are girls?  I would like if Mr. Lake had  mentioned what ratio of the children attending school were girls?  Has the community an awareness of a girl’s right to attend school?   ‘Teberh wants to be a teacher when she grows up and Goitom wants to be a pilot…’ I am happy to read that Teberh, a girl is one of the facilitators in the child to child strategy but the replies to the questions about what they want to do in the future indicates gender stereotyping exists.  There are many positives to recommend these sorts of programs – community based, needs based, and flexible.   I would have liked to read a little more about the education of girls.

Resources to address violence against women and girls

    

 The United Nations Women’s Global Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls is an evidence-based programming resource with …

“The Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence Against Women & Girls is accessible at http://endvawnow.org/ 
When you enter the site you will see in that you there are programming modules for GBV work related to Adolescents & Youth, Campaigns, Conflict, Education, Health, Justice, Legislation, Men & Boys, Policy & Budget Cycles, Prevention, Safe Cities,
and Security – Military and Police.
Unfortunately, right now the only links you can actually click on are Legislation, Men & Boys, and Safe Cities. They are hoping to make the site fully functional in a few months. HOWEVER, on the right-hand side, where “TOOLS” is located, enter a search term, and you can find virtually any and every document from a credible source on anything related to that term. Think of it as a Google for Violence Against Women. Note that you can refine your search by Language (documents available in 60 languages!), Subject, Region and Category. Subjects cover everything from Dowry Abuse, FGM, school-related GBV, working with Parliamentarians, advocacy, etc. – you can click on all the fields necessary. And in your categories section you will find protocols, indicators, survey assessments, evaluations, minimum standards, training curriculums, audio materials for training, etc. It is really a brilliant tool – please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the site and enter some search terms to test what you come up with.”
 

Opportunity for free e-learning on socio-economic policies for child rights with equity.

UNICEF and the Economic Research Foundation (ERF) invite you to participate in a new e-learning programme focusing on socio-economic policies for child rights with equity. This free, self-paced online course is available to all development partners at UN agencies, governments, universities and civil society organizations.

Course description: This innovative programme is a foundational course on economic and social policies to promote equity and child rights. The topics covered include: the human rights-based approach to development; equitable macroeconomic and sector policies; public finance and social budgeting; multidimensional poverty; social protection, migration and climate change.

The e-course aims to provide evidence-based arguments and advocacy skills needed to promote equity and children’s rights in public policy, in the context of recent developments such as the economic crisis or high food prices.

Course duration: The course is self-directed and may be completed at your own pace.

Registration: This course is being offered free of charge to ensure maximum outreach. Upon completion of each module, a test is administered and a certificate will be issued to all who reach successful completion.

Visit http://www.policyforchildrights.org/ to get started. Please share this announcement with all who may be interested in participating.