Miscellaneous

E-CIVICUS 478 11 March 2010

Highlights frmo CIVICUS

CIVICUS condemns detention of Malawian civil society activists

CIVICUS' Civil Society Watch

In what clearly amounts to unjustified restriction of the freedom of expression, three members of the Malawian civil society organisation, Eye for Development remain in arbitrary detention on grounds of incitement of violence. Edward Chileka, Howard Jimu and Awoneji Chimera were arrested after a press conference for criticising the statement of President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika that priority in the disbursement of loans under the official Youth Enterprise Development Fund should be given to youth members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. The three activists were further intimidated after their arrest on 24 February 2010 by being kept in arbitrary detention for six days. They were only presented before a court on 2 March in breach of the constitutional requirement to bring arrested persons before a judicial officer within 48 hours of the arrest. Their bail application was rejected on 4 March by the court which has scheduled the next hearing for 11 March.Read more from: http://civicus.org/media/CIVICUS_condemns_detention_of_Malawian_activists.pdf

Creating space for cooperation: Counterpart Armenia heads to Turkey

CIVICUSโ€™ Civil Society Index (CSI)

On February 18, 2010, an unprecedented step was made in Turkish-Armenian civil society cooperation. A group from Counterpart International Armenia travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, for a two-day working meeting with the Third Sector Foundation of Turkey, or TUSEV. The trip was the first activity in the Cross-Border Cooperation Initiative, a continuation of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI), generously supported by USAID and the Black Sea Trust. While Counterpart Armenia is implementing the CSI in Armenia, TUSEV is carrying it out in Turkey. The goal of the Cross-Border project is to compare Turkish and Armenian civil societies, find similarities and differences, and create future opportunities for cooperation between organisations on the two sides of the border.Read more from: on the CSI blog ( http://civilsocietyindex.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/creating-space-for-cooperation-counterpart-armenia-heads-to-turkey/ )See video report on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSYMpI4Sic4&feature=player_embedded

Available for download: The Compendium of International Legal Instruments and Other Intergovernmental Commitments Concerning Core Civil Society Rights

Source: Civil Society Watch programme, CIVICUS

For the first time ever, CIVICUS has brought together all the commitments made by national governments to protect the rights of citizens and organizations to exist and take an active part in shaping policies and practices of governments and institutions of their country. The Compendium of International Legal Instruments and Other Intergovernmental Commitments Concerning Core Civil Society Rights, is a dynamic tool to help protect the rights of civil society. Read more from: http://www.civicus.org/component/content/article/1251-revealed-what-your-government-should-be-doing-to-protect-civil-society and download a copy of the compendium pdf here ( http://www.civicus.org/content/Compendium_Jan2010_small.pdf ).

[h3News

Cambodia's proposed NGO law stirs suspicion and concern

Source: AlertNet

A proposed law regulating non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Cambodia is raising concerns among advocacy and aid groups that it will be used by the government to restrict their activities in the impoverished Southeast Asian country. During a ceremony in November to mark 30 years of NGO-government cooperation, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said a law governing the non-profit sector would be next on the agenda after the enactment of an anti-corruption bill.Read more from: http://www.alertnet.org/db/an_art/52132/2010/02/5-155332-1.htm

Internet access is 'a fundamental right'

Source: BBC

A survey - of more than 27,000 adults across 26 countries - found strong support for net access on both sides of the digital divide. Countries such as Finland and Estonia have already ruled that internet access is a human right for their citizens. International bodies such as the UN are also pushing for universal net access.Read more from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8548190.stm

Universal ratification campaign for the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Source: Coalition for International Criminal Court

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) is calling on the Republic of Moldova to take the necessary steps to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Increased ratifications of the Statute in the region will further strengthen the global voice at the Court and result in a more robust and meaningful participation in the global struggle to establish a truly fair, effective and independent ICC.Read more from: http://www.coalitionfortheicc.org/index.php?mod=urc0310

Survivors shiver in Turkey after quake

Source: Yahoo News

Hundreds of earthquake survivors huddled in aid tents and around bonfires Monday in eastern Turkey, seeking relief from the winter cold after a strong temblor knocked down stone and mud-brick houses in five villages, killing 51 people. The damage appeared worst in the Kurdish village of Okcular, which was almost razed. At least 15 of the village's 900 residents were killed, the Elazig governor's office said, and the air was thick with dust from crumpled homes and barns.Read more from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_earthquake

UN honours Gates Foundation and Asian Law makersโ€™ group with Population Award

Source: UN News

The United Nations is recognising the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development with this yearโ€™s Population Award. Established by the General Assembly in 1981, the UN Population Award is given annually to individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions to population concerns and their solutions.Read more from: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34029&Cr=population&Cr1.

SACCORD deregistration saddens TIZ

Source:The Post Online

TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwell Lungu yesterday stated that the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance in Zambia has reached a crossroad. Reacting to the High Court judgment on the deregistration of Southern Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD), Lungu stated that the ruling added impetus to the continued victimisation of Civil Society Organisations particularly governance NGOs which constructively criticised the government for non-performance or poor prioritisation of national development issues.Read more from: http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=6864.

Resources

Virtual knowledge centre to end violence against women and girls

Source: Womenโ€™s UN Report Network (WURN)

An online resource, in English, French and Spanish, has been developed to serve the needs of policymakers, programme implementers and other practitioners dedicated to addressing violence against women and girls. The Centre is an initiative of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), bringing together the valuable contributions of expert organisations and individuals, governments, United Nations sister agencies, and a wide range of relevant actors. Part of the overall effort is encouraging shared ownership of the site and ongoing partnership-building for its continuous development and sustainability.Read more from: http://www.endvawnow.org/?internalpage=7 Visit the website http://www.endvawnow.org/

Africa Education Watch: Good governance lessons for primary education

Source: Transparency International

This report shows that despite ten years of efforts to increase school enrolment through the Education for All initiative and the Millennium Development Goals, deficient or non-existent governance systems and practices are limiting progress. Download report

Opportunities

Spend 3 weeks living, working and learning in Tanzania? (application deadline:19 March, 2010)

Source: Development Perspectives

Development Perspectives is an eight month long development education programme that aims to explore some of the fundamental development issues and challenges that face us all - sustainability, equality and justice, poverty and over-consumption, environmental issues and human rights. Itโ€™s a unique opportunity that involves a 3 week study and work visit to Tanzania. The project is now in its 5th year and there are 30 places on offer for our 2010 programmes.Read more from: http:/www.activelink.ie/node/1488

2010 African Women in Agricultural R & D (AWARD) Fellowship (application deadline: 22 March 2010)

Source: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)

African women working in agricultural research and development from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia who have completed a bachelorโ€™s, masterโ€™s or doctoral degree in selected disciplines are invited to apply. Applicants must be nationals of the above listed countries and be available in Africa throughout the fellowship period.Read more from: http://www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org/resource/award.asp

Call for nominations, The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize (application deadline: 30 April, 2010)

Source: Peace and Collaborative Development Network

The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize is the worldโ€™s largest humanitarian award established by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in 1996. It carries an award of $1.5 million annually and it is considered to be โ€œone of the largest monetary prizes in any category โ€“ equal to the Nobel Prize. The award honours a charitable organisation or an NGO which has made โ€œextraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering anywhere in the world. โ€œThe Prize is not only intended to recognise and advance the efforts of the recipient organisation, but also to call attention to the worldwide need for humanitarian aid and encourage others to expand their support.โ€Read more from: http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/forum/topic/show?id=780588%3ATopic%3A228243&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_topic

Events

CIVICUS World Assembly 2010

Date: 20-23 August 2010

The CIVICUS World Assembly is the primary venue where civil society, donors, government, business and media convene to act collaboratively towards strengthening the rights of every individual to Exist, Express and Engage! The 2010 edition will be held in partnership with Institut du Nouveau Monde in Montreal Canada between 20-23 August 2010. To participate, click here to register nowhttp://www.civicusassembly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=58&Itemid=67&lang=en.

Restoring trust: Global action for transparency

Source: Transparency International

Join leading experts from civil society, the public, and the private sectors at the 14th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) from 10 โ€“ 13 November 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. At the 14th IACC, participants from the global community will produce strategies and recommendations to reset the global governance agenda for a sustainable future. Read more from: http://www.14iacc.org

Source: www.civicus.org

By: EDITORS Jessica Hume Oluwakorede Asuni COPY EDITOR Margaret Fish
When: 7/2/2014

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