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Posts Tagged ‘NGO’
NGO convinces EU to pay particular attention to the situation of HRDs in Zimbabwe
April 11, 2013Interesting example of how NGO pressure can have effect on the EU: last December, FIDH organised a round of advocacy with its Vice-President and Laureate of the MEA 2006, Arnold Tsunga, to convey to the European Union its concerns around the ongoing risks for human rights defenders in the context of political deadlock and pre-electoral period [“Zimbabwe: Ongoing risks for human rights defenders in the context of political deadlock and pre-electoral period”, report of the Observatory for the protection of human rights defenders published in November 2012.] FIDH’s objective was to gear up the EU’s attention to ensure early warning and appropriate reaction in case of human rights violations taking place in the electoral cycle staring with the upcoming referendum on the new Constitution before the holding of Presidential elections in the summer of this year. FIDH’s advocacy was reflected in the European Parliament’s prompt reaction to the arrest of Okay Machisa, National Executive Director of ZimRights, and two other ZimRights members Leo Chamahwinya, Dorcas Shereni through an urgent resolution adopted on 7 February, which also relays the Observatory report recommendations. In addition, the EU Delegation and Heads of Missions in Harare issued a Statement on 22 February to indicate the EU’s particular concern around the pattern of incidents of harassment against civil society organisations and to call on the authorities to demonstrate impartiality in their relation to civil society. 
via Zimbabwe : UE pays particular attention to the situation of … – FIDH.
Related articles
- Zimbabwe: Human Rights Defenders hunted through the criminal process in run up to referendum (thoolen.wordpress.com)
Vacancy announcement for Coordinator of Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition
April 10, 2013 The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC) is a resource and advocacy network for the protection and support of women human rights defenders worldwide, which is looking to recruit a full-time Coordinator to liaise with members, represent the Coalition, carry out fundraising activities and facilitate and steer the WHRD IC in meeting its strategic objectives. The position will be primarily based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Salary and conditions will be commensurate with skills, experience and cost of living in the host country (with current funding until the end of 2013). Deadline for applications: 23rd April
To apply: send CV and a letter of interest to: whrd@apwld.org (with the names and contact details of two referees who will not be contacted without permission).
For more information on the WHRD- IC and its work: http://www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org/index.php
Imam and Human Rights Defender Baba Leigh still missing after two months in the Gambia
February 16, 2013
More than two months after his arrest, the whereabouts of human rights defender and religious leader Imam Baba Leigh continues to remain unknown. Imam Baba Leigh was taken from his home on 3 December 2012 by two men believed to be part of the Gambia‘s National Intelligence Agency. Imam Baba Leigh is a religious leader and an active human rights defender. He serves as a religious advisor for The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP), an organisation working in the area of sexual and reproductive health and the rights of women and children. He is known as an outspoken campaigner who has aptly used his religious status to advocate for human rights and social reform. Read the rest of this entry »
Urgent Appeals in theory and practice by the Asian Human Rights Commission; with examples from India and Pakistan
February 2, 2013Under the title “Urgent Appeals, theory and practice“, the NGO ‘Asian Human Rights Commission‘ reflects on the need and increasing practicality (especially thanks to IT) of conducting urgent appeals. The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations and it now concludes that “Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies. The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region”.
for the full text of the reflection go to: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals
To illustrate the point the AHRC comes at the same time with a call for action against what it calls a “witch hunt” by the Indian authorities against human rights defender Madhuri Krishnaswami of the Jagrat Dalit Adivasi Sangthan. In the most recent attack, the District Magistrate has written a letter to the Divisional Commissioner that found its way to Chief Secretary accusing the organisation to have links with Maoists and have demanded an inquiry into the issue. The attack is not a stray one but comes high on heels of an externment notice served on her by the same district administration in May, 2012 and subsequent attack on a JADS rally by the local goon with the administration looking away. Interestingly, the charge has been refuted by the police with the Inspector General of Police, categorically denying the presence of any Maoists activities in the reason.[The administration, evidently, is working on the behest of deeply entrenched vested interests whose corruption Madhuri and the organisation have continuously been exposing. The current attack, too, is an attempt to divert attention from the massive scam in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in the area tipped to be worth more than 150 crore INR.]
A more elaborate case narrative can be found on: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-009-2013/?searchterm=None
At the same time the AHCR expresses great concern over the abduction of 4 human rights defenders in Pakistan by (probably) members of an outlawed religious organization. The unknown armed persons abducted six workers of a NGO including, two lady workers. However, after some time they threw the two women out of the vehicle. It is feared that the abducted workers would be assassinated as has happened in the past. Many health workers and human rights defenders have been killed after their abduction by such ‘religious groups’. The NGO, ‘HAND’, works under the UN programme. The abducted persons and female workers who were working in the Noor Mohammad Village Goth, Mauripur, Karachi, where they have been distributing medicines and rations to the residents for some time. The male abductees were Engineer Amjad Ali Siyal, Mohammad Ashfaq, dispenser, Khurram Ahmad Abbas, dispenser and driver Humayun Ahmad, driver. The released women, Miss. Shakila and Miss. Rashida told police that the kidnappers had taken the four abducted workers in a car towards Balochistan. The police claim that they were abducted by one of the banned Muslim extremist groups who are opposed to the polio vaccination programme and this incident due to the campaign against NGO volunteers. It is believed that the abductors are convinced that they are working for the interests of America or the West.
for more information, see: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-033-2013
Human Rights Watch Report 2012 full of information on Human Rights Defenders
February 1, 2013Human Rights Watch (HRW) – one of the world’s leading NGOs and a member of the MEA Jury – just published its 23rd annual Report. In 655 pages it summarizes human rights conditions in more than 90 countries worldwide in 2012. It reflects the extensive investigative work that Human Rights Watch staff has undertaken during the year, often in close partnership with domestic human rights defenders.
The full report can be downloaded from:
Job Opportunity : Protection International is looking for an Executive Director | | Protection InternationalProtection International
January 23, 2013PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL IS LOOKING FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
UN Watch: simply anti UN and anti Pillay – NGOs should Watch Out
January 23, 2013Today’s post, praising the Office of the High commissioner for Human Rights, lead a reader to draw my attention to the continuing attacks by UN Watch. In a recent post (9 January this year) I had already urged Human Rights Watch to take more and more publicly distance from this other NGO, but reading the website of UN Watch I realize that in fact all human rights organizations should take distance instead of being lured into signing up for an ad-hoc critical statement that suits them at that moment.
As an example I refer to the statement by UN Watch in May 2012 criticizing the extension of Mrs Pillay’s mandate. In an effort to make it sound as if a whole range of NGOs share UN Watch’s horror of this excellent High Commissioner it makes the assertion that “UN Watch is among more than 38 human rights groups that have “questioned Pillay’s record in taking on the most powerful blocs and repressive regimes“. In fact the questioning was done by a group of mostly unknown groups and – worse – the criticism only related to the High Commissioner’s (admittedly disappointing) decision not to attend the reception in Oslo for Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo back in 2010. I have severe doubts that all of the NGOs agreed with the sweeping statement regarding Pillay’s record!
To get an idea of who the groups in question are I have reproduced the far from impressive the list below. If any feel that they do not want to be associated with this rabid and manipulating anti-UN NGO they should stand up and be counted! The prevalence of pro-Israel and anti-Cuba groups is remarkable in itself.
Hillel C. Neuer
Executive Director
United Nations Watch
Switzerland
Art Kaufman
Director
World Movement for Democracy
United States
Tashi Albertini
President
Associazone TicinoTibet
Switzerland
Abdurashid Abdulle Abikar
Chairman
Center for Youth and Democracy
Somalia
Nguyên Lê Nhân Quyên
Vietnamese League for Human Rights in Switzerland
Ted Brooks
Executive Director
Committee for Peace and Development Advocacy
Liberia
Benjamin Abtan
SOS Racisme
Bernard Schalscha
Secrétaire général
Collectif Urgence Darfour
Ulrich Delius
Asia Desk
Society for Threatened Peoples
Germany
Shomik Chaudhuri
Vice President
Institute of International Social Development
India
Carlos E. Tinoco
Consorcio Desarrollo y Justicia, A.C.
Venezuela
Peter Hesse
Director, Fondation Peter Hesse (www.solidarity.org)
Germany
Logan Maurer
Regional manager
International Christian Concern (www.persecution.org)
United States
Dr. Theodor Rathgeber
Forum Human Rights
Germany
Rene Wadlow
Representative to the UN, Geneva
Association of World Citizens
Switzerland
Natalia Taubina
Director
Public Verdict Foundation
Russia
Sylvia G. Iriondo
President
Mothers and Women against Repression (MAR por Cuba)
Nataliya Gourjii
Executive Director
Charitable Foundation ROKADA
Ukraine
Elena Bevilacqua
Director of Headquarters
International Union of Notaries (U.I.N.L.)
John Suarez
International Secretary
Directorio Democratico Cubano
Omar Lopez
Human Rights Director
The Cuban American National Foundation
United States
Klaus Netter
Main Representative, UN Office in Geneva
Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations
Switzerland
Volodymyr Yavorskyy
Executive Director
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
Jean Stoner
NGO Representative
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
United States
Zohra Yusuf
Council Member
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
Heng-Hao (Leo) Chang
Secretary General
International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
Sharon Gustafson
President
International Council of Jewish Women
Dr. Yael Danieli
Senior Representative to the United Nations
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Thomas Leys
President
International Federation of Liberal Youth
Do Hoang Diem
Chairman
Viet Tan
Vietnam
Alim A. Seytoff
Vice-President
Uyghur American Association
Bhawani Shanker Kusum
Secretary and Executive Director
Gram Bharati Samiti
India
Francois Garaï
Representative
World Union of Progressive Judaism
Mamadi Kaba
President
RADDHO
Guinee
Dieudonné Zognong
Fondation Humanus
Cameroon
Dickson Ntwiga
Executive Director
Solidarity House International
Amina Bouayach
President
Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH)
Amaya Valcarcel
International Advocacy Coordinator
Jesuit Refugee Service
Italy
The website of UN Watch – quite smart, well-organised and with plenty of videos – is there for all to see: http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/category/navi-pillay/
Related articles
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: a real human rights actor (thoolen.wordpress.com)
The NGO ‘Russian Justice Initiative” another example of backdoor repression of HRDs
March 13, 2012Further example of what I tried to say in my previous post about the indirect way in which governments try to silence HRDs: Scandal with russian justice initiative: Voice of Russia.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 