Electronic Discussion (E-Discussion) Contest on Democracy Promotion

Introduction

The Rights & Democracy Network invites its members to join the online discussion (E-Discussion) of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) on Democracy Promotion.

Prizes include collections of:

• DVDs;
• 1 year subscription to an international publication related to human rights, democracy and foreign affairs;
• an invitation to attend the Rights & Democracy Network National Event to be held in Montreal in March 2007.

Special prize for professors :

• Professors whose class participates in the Rights & Democracy Network Contest will be eligible for a draw for the attribution of a 1st Prize Collection (See description below).

Participation:

Students can participate in two formats:

• as a representative of their class /student team
• as an individual

1st Format (Classroom/ student TEAM)

Position paper - see DFAIT’s Classroom Engagement page for details: http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/current_discussions/
classroomparticipation-en.asp.

Topic: Democracy Promotion - see DFAIT website for more information at: http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/current_discussions/
democracy-en.asp

Length: 750-1,000 words

Submisions: Participants should submit their papers to:

• DFAIT at sarah.macleod@international.gc.ca and cc Rights & Democracy at network@dd-rd.ca
• The subject of the e-mail should be "POLICY POSITION PAPER – DEMOCRACY PROMOTION".
• The e-mail should include contact information, presented as follows:

name | programme | university | e-mail | telephone.

2nd Format (Individual)

Post a reply to the eDiscussion: http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/current_discussions/
group-en.asp?topic_id=42

Topic: Democracy Promotion - see DFAIT website for more information at: http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/current_discussions/
democracy-en.asp

Length: 750-1,000 words

submisions: Submissions should be posted to the eDiscussion on DFAIT’s Website here: http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/current_discussions/
group-en.asp?topic_id=42

• Participants should send proof of their contribution(s), including the submission date, to the eDiscussion to the Rights & Democracy Network by email only at network@dd-rd.ca;
• The subject of the e-mail should be EDISCUSSION – DEMOCRACY PROMOTION.
• The e-mail should include contact information, presented as follows:

name | programme | university | e-mail | telephone.

Eligibility:

To be eligible to the contest, participants should:

• be students in a Canadian university
• be members of the Rights & Democracy Network at the date of submission of their contribution to the DFAIT eDiscussion ( to become a member:

http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/en/membres/
devenez_membre.htm).

Deadline :

The deadline for submissions is March 11, 2007

Criteria :

Rights & Democracy will select the final policy position papers on the following criteria:

• the pertinence of the paper in relation to the theme;
• the originality of the proposals;
• the quality of the writing
• Rights & Democracy will favour positions papers written in collaboration (2 students or more)
• Winners of prizes in category 1 are not eligible to prizes in category 2
• In the case where a group paper submission is selected under prizes of category 1, a draw will be made among the contributors to the selected paper.
• Winners of the prizes should have a postal address in Canada where the prize will be sent
• Travel to come to the R&D Network National Event for the winner of the Top Prize will be covered only within Canada.

Prizes - Category 1 (Policy Position Papers)

TOP PRIZE : Invitation to Attend The R&D Network National Event in Montreal, March 21st to 24th, 2007*.

* Rights & Democracy will cover the travel and accommodation expenses

Attribution:

One student participant who will have contributed to the best paper (In case of a group paper a draw will be made among the contributors)

1st Prize: A collection of an approximative value of $300 including:

• A 1 year subscription to one of the following publications:
  • Human Rights Quarterly
    http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/human_rights_quarterly
  • Journal of Democracy
    http://www.journalofdemocracy.org
  • Foreign Affairs
    https://www.foreignaffairs.org/olsa/subscriptions/
    ?ban=070101cover
  • Manière de voir
    http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/mav

• 2 DVDs related to democracy promotion

• 1 copy of the book: Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, & Adams Eddie. (2000). Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World. New York : Crown Publishers, 2000. (http://www.speaktruthtopower.org).

• 1 T-shirt of the Rights & Democracy Network 2007 fashion collection

Attribution :

To one participant who will have contributed to the best paper (In case of a group paper, a draw will be made among the contributors).

2nd prize: A collection of an approximative value of $200 including:

• A 1 year subscription to one of the publications described for the 1st Prize:

• 1 copy of the book: Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, & Adams Eddie. (2000). Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World. New York : Crown Publishers, 2000. (http://www.speaktruthtopower.org ) .

• 1 T-shirt of the Rights & Democracy Network 2007 fashion collection)

Attribution:

To one participant who will have contributed to the 2nd best paper (In case of a group paper, a draw will be made among the contributors).

3rd prize: A collection of an approximative value of $100 including:

• 1 copy of the book: Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, & Adams Eddie. (2000). Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World. New York: Crown Publishers, 2000. (http://www.speaktruthtopower.org).

• 1 T-shirt of the Rights & Democracy Network 2007 fashion collection

Attribution:

To one participant who will have contributed to the 3rd best paper (In case of a group paper, a draw will be made among the contributors).

Prizes - Category 2 (individual Contributions to the e-discussion)

• t-shirts of the rights & democracy network 2007 fashion collection

Attribution:

To 10 participants who will have participated in the E-Discussion

Special prize for university professors:

1st Prize (See description above)

Attribution:

A draw will be made among all the professors in Canadian universities who have a minimum of 10 students in their class participate in the Rights & Democracy Network Contest. These student contributions (whether individual or in group(s)) should be submitted together. The professor should also provide a list of participants in his or her class.