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Network Newsletter  Rights and Democracy Network Number 26 March 27, 2009 Newsletter Sections |
Regional Events a success from East to West!
The Delegations at Mount Allison, Vancouver Island and Laurentian Universities hosted their Regional Events in February and March, and succeeded with flying colours! Bringing together representatives from the Delegations across each region, the events offered the opportunity to focus in-depth on a human rights issue, and to meet other students from their region who are as passionate as they are about social change. From the refugee camp simulation at Mount Allison, to the sweatshop simulation with child workers on Vancouver Island, to the workshop on taking a rights-based approach to journalism, the Regional Events shone new light the issues, and set the bar high for next year!
The Network’s Eastern Regional Event:
“Silver Spoons and AK47s: How Youth Understand Conflict Around the World”
February 5-8, 2009 – Mt. Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick
The Network’s Western Regional Event: 
“Fair Trade vs. Free Trade”
February 19-22, 2009 – Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC
The Network’s Ontario Regional Event:
“The Rights and Responsibilities of Journalists in Conflict Situations in Developing Countries”
March 6 to 8, 2009 – Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario
The Network’s National Event to be held April 30 to May 3 in Montreal
Representatives from each of the Network’s Delegations across Canada will meet in Montreal from April 30-May 3, 2009 for this year’s Annual Event. The theme this year is youth participation in democracies, and the Network will put this theme into action by holding a consultation with its members to plan our strategy for the next five years. The National Event is also an opportunity to share and be inspired by our experiences with our Delegations this year.
Call for applications coming soon!
To learn about previous Network national events, visit: http://www.dd-rd.net/cms/site/en/aboutus.
Electoral observation mission to El Salvador
Members of the Rights & Democracy Delegation at the Université de Montréal were in El Salvador as electoral observers during the Presidential elections which were held March 15, 2009. With their Salvadoran civil society partners, Rose-Anne Saint-Paul and Rocio Delmonte-Palomares closely monitored the elections from the capital, San Salvador. The presence of international electoral observers on the ground places pressure on the government to ensure that the elections are held democratically, peacefully, and with transparency.
To allow them to go on this mission, the members of the Delegation held a fund-raising campaign which included the sale of fair trade products and of Salvadoran items during a fund-raiser as well as ticket for dance parties.
To hear an interview with Rose-Anne about her experience, visit (in French): http://www.radio-canada.ca/audio-video/index.shtml#urlMedia=http://www.radio-canada.ca/Medianet/2009/CBF/ADOSradio200903171933.asx&pos=0
(Note: the interview starts at about 2 minutes 30 seconds in the broadcast)
McGill University Delegation presents "Books Across Borders: A Fundraiser for the Students at the University of Zimbabwe"
Inspired by the presentation on their campus by 2008 John Humphrey Freedom Award winners Irene Petras and Andrew Makoni from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the McGill Delegation has organized a fundraiser and book drive for their peers at the University of Zimbabwe, who do not have access to supplies that we take for granted, from stationary to textbooks. The event on March 26th includes a screening of “The Interpreter” starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, testimonials about life and learning in Zimbabwe from law students in Zimbabwe and from Rights & Democracy’s Africa Regional Officer Karim Laz.
For more information, visit the McGill Delegation’s page at www.dd-rd.net/mcgill.
The University of Manitoba delegation’s Human Rights Over Coffee series featured former Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy
As part of their infamous “Get a buzz, save the world” coffee series, the U of Manitoba Delegation welcomed Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, current President of the University of Winnipeg to discuss Human Rights and International Justice, which is a timely topic considering the recent activity of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the situation in Darfur.
To see this event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55803131181.
University of Vancouver Island presents the 5th annual Student Film Award at Nanaimo Global Film Festival
For the 5th consecutive year, the University of Vancouver Island Delegation presented the Student Film Award, in conjunction with the Nanaimo Global Film Fest and Vancouver Island University’s Media Studies Department. The award, given to a Vancouver Island University student interested in creating a film on a human rights issue, includes a media mentor, $1000 for the production of the film, and the necessary equipment to produce it. The film then has its premiere at the following Nanaimo Global Film Fest that will take place a year later.
To learn more about this award, visit: http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/viu.
The Université Laval Delegation marks Refugee Rights Day with a weekend of activities April 3 and 4
The Université Laval Delegation maintains its commitment to the issue of refugees by organizing a weekend of activities during Canadian Refugee Rights Day, which takes place every year on April 4. The events include: a presentation by Karim Laz, Regional Officer for Africa at Rights & Democracy, about Zimbabween exiles in South Africa; “Under the Blue Sky”, a multi-media installation exploring the experiences of refugees presented by Projet refuge, which is part of the Mission communautaire de Montréal; and
“African Rhythms” on Saturday night featuring les Batteurs Atomiques and a Tam Tam Jam open to all! For more information, visit the Delegation’s page at: http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/ulaval (in French).
Ghana: Left with More Questions than Answers
By Kelly O’Connor
July 8, 2008: It is a hot, dusty day as I sit scrunched in my tiny plastic chair, lap overflowing with binders, papers and pencils. My Ghanaian research partner, Sandra, is seated in an equally elementary school-sized chair, occasionally fanning herself with extra interview guides. It is our first day of conducting interviews in an elementary school fairly bursting at the seams with screaming children in northern Ghana through the World University Service of Canada’s (WUSC) 2008 International Seminar, trying to divine the local challenges that were causing a disproportionate number of these pupils to drop out of school.
Read all Stories from the Field
Call for Nominations:
Rights & Democracy's John Humphrey Freedom Award 2009
Rights & Democracy presents the John Humphrey Award each year to an organization or individual from any region of the world, including Canada, for outstanding achievement in the promotion of human rights and democratic development. The Award consists of a grant of $30,000, and a speaking tour of Canadian cities to help increase awareness of the recipient’s human rights work. It is named in honour of the late John Peters Humphrey, the Canadian human rights law professor who prepared the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For more information about the award, and how to submit a nomination, visit: http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/humphrey_award/index.php?lang=en.
Colombia’s indigenous must be protected, UN says amid ongoing displacement
March 17, 2009 – The United Nations refugee agency today voiced concern over the ongoing displacement of indigenous communities in Colombia and called for investigations into credible reports of abuses.
In the latest incident, some 2,000 indigenous Embera people have been displaced this month from their collective territories in different areas along the Baudó River in the Colombian department of Chocó as a result of threats and conflict between two illegal armed groups, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
To read more: http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/49bfd6732.html
Strengthen action to end use of child soldiers:
Ex-child soldiers and other youth appeal to Secretary-General on Treaty anniversary
February 12, 2009 - Former child soldiers and other youth representing a grassroots campaign from around the world have present thousands of symbolic "red hands" to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today to demand stronger action by international leaders to end the use of child soldiers.
A UN treaty prohibiting the forced recruitment or use of children under the age of 18 in armed conflict, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, has been ratified by 126 countries and entered into force on February 12, 2002, a date commemorated annually as "Red Hand Day". But child soldiers are still being used in 15 countries or territories, including some that have ratified the treaty.
Video about the campaign: www.redhandday.org.
April 7, 2009: World Health Day
Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies
World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Health centres and staff are critical life-lines for vulnerable people in disasters - treating injuries, preventing illnesses and caring for people's health needs.
They are cornerstones for primary health care in communities – meeting everyday needs, such as safe childbirth services, immunizations and chronic disease care that must continue in emergencies. Often, already fragile health systems are unable to keep functioning through a disaster, with immediate and future public health consequences. To read more:
http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2009/en/index.html
May 3, 2009: World Press Freedom Day
Throughout the world, May 3 now serves as an occasion to inform the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and as a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to bring people their daily news.
http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/press.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.dd-rd.net/members/
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
The Network Team:
Coordinator: Sophie Rondeau
Liaison Officer: Elana Wright
Administrative Assistant: Diane Migneault
Webmaster: Sylvain Aubé
Rights & Democracy Network
1001, boul. de Maisonneuve E., Suite 1100
Montréal, Québec H2L 4P9 CANADA
Phone: (514 283-6073)
Toll-free: 1-877-736-3833
Fax: (514) 283-3792
network@dd-rd.ca
www.rightsdemocracy.net
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)
