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Network Newsletter  Rights and Democracy Network Number 15 November 6, 2007 Newsletter Sections |
Stand Up and Speak Out beats its own Guinness World Record
Over 43.7 million people, in 127 countries have broken the Guinness World Record – set last year at 23.5 million - for the largest number of people to “Stand Up Against Poverty” in 24 hours. The “Stand Up and Speak Out” record took place from October 16th to 17th and was jointly organised by the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) with a wide range of other partners, including Canada’s 8 Goals Coalition, of which the Rights & Democracy Network is a member. The challenge saw millions of people physically and intentionally standing up against poverty, inequality and in support of the Millennium Development Goals. They spoke out to demand a more urgent political response to the growing crisis of global poverty.
To read more: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/pressrelease/oct-18-2007.
To see photos of the Dalhousie University Delegation Stand Up event, as well as photos of events around the world, visit: http://standagainstpoverty.org/photos-map or http://8goals.ca/site/node/183.
Meet new and old friends from the Network in your city!
The launch of a series of activities for the Network's young professionals
On November 15, 2007, alumni of the Rights & Democracy Network are invited to join together in several cities across Canada to share experiences of life after university, and to support each other as they begin their careers. These get-togethers, to be held concurrently in Nanaimo, Edmonton, Montreal, and Quebec, and possibly in Ottawa and Halifax, are being organized by Network alumni in each of these cities, and will officially launch the new Network Young Professionals initiative, and will be the first activity in a series.
This initiative was developed to respond to requests by graduating members of the Network to maintain the ties they have built within the Network, as they begin their professional lives. The objectives of the program include offering the chance to share experiences (travels, internships, jobs) and job opportunities, and to become mentors for current students.
If you have graduated and wish to stay in touch with other young professionals who are interested in human rights and democratic development, you can attend the event closest to you. If you wish to organize an event in your city this November 15, get in touch with Mireille Ouellet, Network Liaison Officer - International, at mouellet@dd-rd.ca. Visit the news page of the Network website next week for details of an event close to you: http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/en/reseau/accueil_reseau.htm.
Roundtable on Religion and Human Rights: A Student Perspective
By Ayesha Harji, University of Dalhousie Delegation
I had the privilege to attend the Rights and Democracy Roundtable on Religions and Human Rights in Ottawa on October 23, 2007. Human rights scholars and specialists came together from across the country, as well as from countries around the world, to discuss this timely and controversial issue. I observed four thematic discussions over the course of the day, and each presented a different lens through which individuals could examine the interaction between human rights and religion.
The day's first discussion, on freedom of religion and/vs. freedom of expression, was highlighted by the presence of Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Miss Jahangir stressed the lack of condemnation that exists at the international level for discrimination that occurs in many countries. Particularly interesting for me, as a student of Public Administration, was the general agreement on the part of the members of the Roundtable that legislation was perhaps not the best solution to dealing with religious intolerance.
The day's second discussion focused on discrimination against minorities as well as issues related to the citizenship of these individuals. The discussion tried to address the problem that exists because it is possible to violate the rights of a group or individual, but that the rights of philosophy or a body of ideas cannot be violated. In addition, they highlighted the role of national governments in violating rights and how these bodies can perpetuate existing discrimination.
The third panel was concerned with the issue of education and tolerance of different religions. This issue has always been important because there is a push to move beyond the notion of tolerance of religions to one of acceptance, where religious diversity is celebrated and embraced. Simple tolerance sets the bar too low, according to the panelists.
Finally, the part of the day that I thought was particularly pertinent was the day's last session, which focused on policy options and possibilities for further action. This session meant that the day's discussions would not be forgotten, but could be formulated into concrete action. So often, discussions are held but no plan is made to formalize the findings. This was not the case at the Rights and Democracy Roundtable, and in fact, members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade were present to record the options and ideas suggested.
All in all, I thought the day was informative and an excellent opportunity to interact with religious and human rights leaders. Rights and Democracy provided me with a chance to learn more about a subject I already was interested in and also allowed me to participate in a session that I could not have accessed on my own. I was very happy to participate in this educational and current debate and hear what human rights and religious advocates with varying perspectives had to say on the issue of religions in a human rights context.
Due to recent events and the declared state of emergency in Pakistan, Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, has been put under house arrest for the next 90 days. See the Human Rights News section of this issue for more details about the current situation, Asma Jahangir's house arrest, and the position of the United Nations.
Russian Adventures
by Jean-Philippe Deschamps-Laporte
Jean-Philippe Deschamps-Laporte has been a member of the Network for 4 years. He went to Russia for one semester as an exchange student, as part of his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Applied Economics at the École des Hautes études commerciales (HEC) in Montréal.
Life is full of surprising twists and turns. I would have never believed that my interest for Russia and my passion for its fantastic history would take me there one day.
I was the first exchange student from my program to visit Russia. This has its advantages but also its disadvantages. Right from the start, as I was choosing my courses, I began to see that Russians do things differently. This impression was continually reconfirmed to me over the months following my arrival.
Two things made my exchange trip a success: firstly, my long-time Saint Petersburg friend, Оксана Девочкина, and secondly, my knowledge of the Russian language. After taking some intensive courses at Université de Montréal and having my mistakes literally drummed out of my head by my Ukrainian teacher, I was good to go.
To read more, click here.
2007 John Humphrey Freedom Award recipient on tour across Canada
Akbar Ganji in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa
Akbar Ganji, the celebrated Iranian journalist and dissident who spent six years in prison for exposing rights abuses committed by Iran’s Fundamentalist regime, is the winner of Rights & Democracy’s 2007 John Humphrey Freedom Award. Network members are invited to attend a series of public speaking events featuring Mr. Ganji, which will be held in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa from November 19 to December 5. For more information about Mr. Ganji and the details of the events, visit:
http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/humphrey_award/index.php.
New Publication: Governing Diversity - Democratic Solutions in Multicultural Societies
How to democratically govern multi-ethnic, multi-national, and multi-religious societies remains a major challenge for political leaders and policy makers throughout the world. This book, containing ten policy papers, draws on the expertise of Canadian and international specialists to highlight some of the key issues and challenges, as well as to provide certain policy suggestions.
More info: http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/publications/index.php
UNICEF appeals for prohibition on deadly cluster munitions
5 November 2007 – Marking the first-ever Global Day of Action Cluster Munitions, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today urged governments to create a legally binding international pact banning the deadly arms which pose a great threat to civilians, especially children.
Children are disproportionately impacted by these weapons, according to UNICEF. One third of cluster munitions casualties in Afghanistan were children, while during the Kosovo war, more children were hurt by cluster munitions than by anti-personnel landmines, which are just as indiscriminate and have been prohibited by many nations.
“Too many tragic stories show that cluster munitions cannot be used in populated areas without jeopardizing a child's right to life, to health, to play and to a safe environment,” the agency said in a press release.
To read more, visit: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24538&Cr=cluster&Cr1=munitions
Source: UN News Centre
Ban Ki-moon urges Pakistan to release detained, return to democratic rule
5 November 2007 – Reacting to the imposition of a state of emergency in Pakistan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the country’s authorities to release those who have been detained, including a United Nations human rights expert, and to take steps for a return to democratic rule.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General expressed his “strong dismay at the detention of hundreds of human rights and opposition activists, including the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief,” Asma Jahangir.
He urged the authorities to immediately release those detained, to lift restrictions on the media and to take early steps for a return to democratic rule, and appealed to the Government of Pakistan to hold the Parliamentary elections as scheduled.
To read more: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24527&Cr=Pakistan&Cr1=
Source: UN News Centre
November 20: National Child Day
National Child Day commemorates the day on which both the Declaration on the Rights of the Child (1959) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) were adopted. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes children’s basic human rights and gives them additional rights to protect them from harm. The Convention's 54 articles cover everything from a child's right to be free from exploitation, to the right to his or her own opinion and the right to education, health care, and economic opportunity.
More info: http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/children1.asp.
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 newsletter published by the Rights & Democracy Network.
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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)
