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Network Newsletter  Rights and Democracy Network Number 13 September 25, 2007 Newsletter Sections |
The Rights & Democracy Network’s International Retreat
Innovation - Action - Change
Representatives from 24 Rights & Democracy Delegations across Canada, as well as a representative from Université Mohammed V in Morocco, will come together for a training and capacity-building retreat in the peaceful surroundings of Notre-Dame de l’Ile Perrot, just outside Montreal, from September 27-30, 2007.
Some alumnae members from the Mount Allison, Laval, Sherbrooke, and Malaspina University Delegations will also attend, in order to pass on what they have learned while building their Delegations, and organizing projects on their campuses.
Presenters include Shirley Sarna of the Quebec Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights, Frédéric Hareau from Equitas, as well as Anyle Côté and Anne-Marie Lavoie from Rights & Democracy.
The Network will also welcome Commissioner Tom Nyanduga from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights for a special event on human rights and refugees in Africa. Commissioner Nyanduga is the Special Rapporteur for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants.
After the retreat, participants will return to their campuses and organize information sessions in order to share what they learned and discussed at this year’s Retreat with the rest of their Delegation.
For more information: http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/en/reseau/nouvelles/2007-08-29.htm
Is your Delegation Standing Up and Speaking Out?
Between October 16 and 17, Rights & Democracy Delegations and other student groups all over Canada will mobilize for STAND UP and SPEAK OUT. Together we will demand that our government keep its promise to end poverty and meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Seven years have passed since our leaders committed to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Yet, every day, 50,000 people die as a result of extreme poverty, and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.
Stand up and speak out to make governments honour their commitments to give better and more aid, to cancel the debts of developing countries, and to make international trade more just –this will not happen without all of us taking a stand.
Last year, more than 23 million people around the world took part in STAND UP and SPEAK OUT and set a new Guinness World Record. This year, let’s break this record so the message is even louder. Every person counts!
To download the Campus Organizing Guide (PDF Version)
Contact Elana Wright at ewright@dd-rd.ca to find out more about how to participate in this international event.
STAND UP and SPEAK OUT is a joint initiative of the United Nations Millennium Campaign, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), and their national partners all over the world, like 8 Goals for a Better World and Make Poverty History in Canada.
Commissioner Reine Gansou to visit the Delegations at Université Laval and York’s Glendon College
The Rights & Democracy Delegations at Université Laval and at York University’s Glendon College present their first events of the year with a visit to their university by Commissioner Reine Alapini Gansou of the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights. Commissioner Gansou, who is also the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, will give a presentation in French on "African Challenges? African Responses: Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Africa". At Université Laval in Quebec City, the event will be held on September 25 from 3:30 pm until 5 pm in the Pavillon De Koninck, local 3244. At Glendon College in Toronto, this event will be held in the Glendon Hall Ballroom on Wednesday September 26, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.
For more information on the Glendon College event, visit: http://dd-rd.net/cms/spip.php?rubrique90.
On the Refugees’ Path 2007 is launched at the Université du Québec à Montréal
The UQÀM Delegation launched the 2007 On the Refugee Path project with a an event on September 20 which explored the realities of refugees and displaced people around the world, as well as the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Montreal.
Hosted by Hélène Piquet, a law professor at UQAM, the launch included two training elements, one on international humanitarian law offered by Sophie Rondeau, Coordinator of Humanitarian issues at the Quebec Division of the Canadian Red Cross, and another by Denise Otis, a Legal Advisor of the UN High Commission on Refugees.
A round table on “Refugee Integration in Montreal: the Role of Local NGOs” featured Tania Ghanem, Director of the Downtown YMCA’s Jardin Couvert refugee assistance program, Sylvain Thibault, Coordinator of the Montreal Community Mission’s Refuge Project, and Anne-Marie Kabongo, Coordinator of the Refuge Juan Moreno, a residence for refugees.
On September 25 also at UQAM, Commissioner Bahame Tom Nyanduga will offer a short presentation on his work and on refugees and migrants in Africa, entitled "African Challenges? African Responses: Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Africa". The Delegation will present their On the Refugee Path project, and Commissioner Nyanduga will comment on this project, bringing his expertise on the subject. You’re invited to this event to be held September 25 at 9 am in room A-2615 at UQAM.
For more information, visit the UQAM Delegation's webpages at: http://dd-rd.net/cms/spip.php?article101. (French only)
New section of the Network website: Stories from the Field
Network members around the world
Featuring Ayesha Harji (Dalhousie) cycling across Africa, Marion Viau (Université du Québec à Montréal) in Gabon at the Francophone Youth Parliament, John Wires (Glendon College, York University) in El Salvador, and Angelique Myles (Memorial University) in China: http://www.dd-rd.net/en/reseau/storiesfromthefield.htm.
Do you have an experience overseas to share? Submit your Story from the Field to network@dd-rd.ca.
The Rights & Democracy On-line Documentation Centre
Your Reference Source for Human Rights
Since its creation in 1988, Rights & Democracy’s Documentation Centre has amassed a wide collection on international human rights. This unique collection has been built up over the years through research carried out by our staff and activities in the field. Documents found through our online search engine are available for consultation on-site. In addition, more than 1000 documents are currently accessible in PDF format. The on-line catalogue is here: http://www.dd-rd.ca/documentation/.
Network members are invited to the launch of the new on-line catalogue on September 26 from 5 to 7 pm at our Montreal offices at 1001 de Maisonneuve est (Métro Berri-UQAM), 10th floor. As well as discovering this new tool, you will be able to get familiar with our Documentation Centre, and the work of Rights & Democracy.
Adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Joint Statement by International Non-Governmental Organizations
New York – September 13, 2007 – International human rights organizations welcomed today’s decision by the United Nations General Assembly to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Declaration provides guidance on basic measures needed to ensure the dignity, survival and well-being of some of the worlds most impoverished and marginalized peoples... more
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
October 17
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since
1993, when the General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.
At the Millennium Summit, world leaders committed themselves to cutting by half by the year 2015 the number of people living in extreme poverty - people whose income is less than one dollar a day.
For more info: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/intldays/IntlDay/2007intlday.html
Source: United Nations
The Network’s on-line forum announces job and internship opportunities in Canada and around the world. To access the forum, you must be a member of the Rights & Democracy Network. Become a member by signing up here: http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/en/membres/devenez_membre.htm
If you are already a member, visit the Forum’s jobs and internships section by clicking here: http://www.droitsdemocratie.net/network-forum/index.php?login_lang=en
Network News is a bi-weekly newsletter published by the Rights & Democracy Network.
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Liaison Officer: Elana Wright
Liaison Officer - International: Mireille Ouellet
Webmaster: Sylvain Aubé
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Available issues :
Issue 31 (June 1st, 2010)
Issue 30 (March 16, 2010)
Issue 29 (November 9,2009)
Issue 28 (September 25, 2009)
Issue 27 (July 28, 2009)
Issue 26 (March 27, 2009)
Issue 25 (January 29, 2009)
Issue 24 (December 9, 2008)
Issue 23 (October 29, 2008)
Issue 22 (August 27, 2008)
Issue 21 (July 23, 2008)
Issue 20 (April 24, 2008)
Issue 19 (March 27, 2008)
Issue 18 (January 24, 2008)
Issue 17 (December 20, 2007)
Issue 16 (November 27, 2007)
Issue 15 (November 6, 2007)
Issue 14 (October 18, 2007)
Issue 13 (September 25, 2007)
Issue 12 (September 11, 2007)
Issue 11 (Summer 2007)
Issue 10 (April 13, 2007)
Issue 9 (November 2006)
Issue 8 (August 2006)
Issue 7 (May 4, 2006)
Issue 6 (April 12, 2006)
Issue 5 (March 21, 2006)
Issue 4 (March 1, 2006)
Issue 3 (February 16, 2006)
Issue 2 (January 31, 2006)
Issue 1 (January 17, 2006)
