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Network News Rights & Democracy Network Issue 6 April 12 , 2006 |
NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
Network members from across Canada attend Network national event on Canadian foreign policy in Montreal
Network members from 33 Rights & Democracy Delegations came together in Montreal on March 23 and 24 to participate in policy dialogue on Canada ’s efforts to promote human rights and democracy, to share their own experiences and ideas about initiatives on their campuses, and to build their relationships in their regions and at the national level. Nine provinces were represented, and a representative from the Network’s first international Delegation at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso was also in attendance.
The two day event, which included a mingler on Thursday night where Network members from the Montreal , Quebec , Sherbrooke and Ottawa areas joined with the other delegates, was successful in its goal of strengthening ties, generating ideas, and learning how students can play an active role in Canada ’s foreign policy. Network members suggested several new ideas to be implemented in 2006-2007, including a national magazine, a “Human Rights for Dummies” book, simultaneous intercultural events on UN international days, a regional contest on corporate social responsibility, and a Delegation theme song.
Would you like to know more about these new projects? Do you have ideas you want to share with other Network members? The Network team will continue to work over the summer with members who would like to continue to be involved in brainstorming and planning activities for the fall. Please get in touch with us at network@dd-rd.ca.
For more information about the national event, visit: http://www.droitsdemocratie.net/en/reseau/nouvelles/2006-03-23-mingler.htm
DELEGATION NEWS
Second edition of the Université Laval Delegation award-winning project Sur la piste des réfugiés ; Delegations at the Université Laval and the Université de Sherbrooke recreate 24 hours in a refugee camp
After the success of last year’s event, Sur la piste des réfugiés 2006 (On the Path of Refugees) took place from April 6-8, 2006 again on the Université Laval campus. This project, organized by the Laval Delegation, included:
- An information forum where organizations which work with refugee and displaced persons had information kiosks;
- Presentations and personal testimonies by refugees, displaced persons, as well as representatives of organizations working closely with them, which allowed the public to increase their knowledge about their issues and realities;
- An artistic component, which offered a real vision of the lived experience of refugees, through the presentation of a play by playwright Jeannine Valignat, a photographic exhibition, as well as documentary film screenings, which also showed the realities of victims of conflict;
- The interactive experience of “24 hours in the life of a refugee”, which allowed a group of 40 participants to experience some of the difficult realities of living in a refugee or displaced persons camp. The Canadian Armed Forces supported this experience on the university campus through their equipment and logistics.
This year, the Université de Sherbrooke Delegation worked with members of the founding team and this year’s Université Laval Delegation to recreate the Sur la piste des réfugiés project on their own campus from May 1-3, 2006 .
For more information about these projects, visit: http://www.droitsdemocratie.net/
surlapistedesrefugies2006 (in French only).
RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY NEWS
Discover the Rights & Democracy’s Documentation Centre at the Montreal office
Source: Rights and Democracy
Since its creation in 1988, Rights and Democracy’s Documentation Centre has amassed a wide collection of over 20,000 documents 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. The collection, which includes documents on Rights & Democracy’s four thematic areas (democratic development, the rights of indigenous peoples, women’s rights, and globalization), includes:
- Research studies and specialized magazines
- Reports and bulletins from:
- National human rights commissions
- The United Nations and other international organizations
- NGOs working in the field around the world
- A multitude of conferences and symposia
- Training manuals and other educational tools
- A collection of over 300 documentary films.
Wireless access available on site.
Rights & Democracy's Documentation Centre is located at:
Suite 1100, 1001 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East, Montreal, Quebec
Berri-UQAM Metro
To consult the resources, simply call to make an appointment! (514) 283-6073, extension 263 or by email at document@dd-rd.ca
For more info, visit: http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/documentation/index.php?lang=en
United Nations Human Rights Council: International Resolve Needed to Consolidate Reforms
Source : UN Photo
The establishment of the United Nations Human Rights Council is an important step forward for human rights that must be consolidated by firm international resolve to ensure its members reflect and uphold the values at its core, says Rights & Democracy. The Human Rights Council represents an important opportunity to both build on the strengths of its predecessor, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, while addressing the Commission’s weaknesses, notably its tolerance of members known for their human rights abuses...
To read more: http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/media/index.php?lang=en&subsection=news&id=1707
HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS
Colombia’s indigenous communities face extinction, UN agency warns
4 April – A humanitarian emergency is looming among Colombia’s indigenous communities, with some threatened with extinction in the South American country’s decades-long civil conflict, as irregular armed groups encroach upon their land, even torturing and killing their leaders, the United Nations refugee agency warned today. (Source : UN News)
INTERNATIONAL DAYS & YEARS
World Health Day: Working together for health
April 7, 2006
Source : World Health Organisation
Celebrate World Health Day 2006
Health workers - the people who provide health care to those who need it - are the heart of health systems. But around the world, the health workforce is in crisis - a crisis to which no country is entirely immune. The results are evident: clinics with no health workers, hospitals that cannot recruit or keep key staff.
More : http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2006/tm_speech/en/index.html
JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
The Network’s on-line forum announces job and internship opportunities in Canada and around the world.
- Six-month internships for ten young Canadian professionals are offered by Rights & Democracy.
- Coming soon: summer jobs at the Rights & Democracy Network in Montreal.
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.
The Network Team:
Coordinator: Cynthia Gervais
Liaison Officer: Elana Wright
Webmaster: Sylvain Aubé
Administrative Assistant: Diane Migneault
Rights & Democracy Network
1001, boul. de Maisonneuve E., Suite 1100
Montréal, Québec H2L 4P9 CANADA
Phone: (514) 283-6073 #259
Toll-free: 1-877-736-3833
Fax: (514) 283-3792
network@dd-rd.ca
www.rightsdemocracy.net
Past issues :
Issue 05 (March 21, 2006)
Issue 04 (March 1, 2006)
Issue 03 (February 16, 2006)
Issue 02 (January 31, 2006)
Issue 01 (January 17, 2006)
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