December 2005: Determined, Dedicated and Diverse Dimensions to Direct Action For Justice, Human Rights and Equality
Release Date: 25 October 2005
By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary General and chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)
In just ten weeks, the fifth year of the new millennium will be behind us, and what a year it has been! We have seen environmental tragedy and the world’s political leaders failing to act decisively, but we have also seen determined and dedicated action by campaigners focused on ending global poverty, by those desperately concerned by impending environmental disasters and by those who want to live in a world where gender equality is not an empty expression but one that is given real meaning and turned into reality.
Perhaps history will remember this year as a time when diverse civil society organisations, notwithstanding their tactical and strategic differences, chose to focus on the considerable commonalities they share and to unite their efforts to make the world a more just, democratic and safe place for current and future generations.
We have seen unprecedented mobilisations around the G8 and UN Summits. Sadly, the outcomes have been spectacularly disappointing for most, leading The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) (www.whiteband.org) to conclude that citizens have roared and that political leaders, particularly those from the most powerful nations on earth, have merely whispered. Yet, the limited progress that has been made - increasing the quantity of aid, the small steps to write off the debt of 18 countries and the fact that trade justice has never before received so much attention - would probably not have been possible without citizen pressure. This is particularly true, given that political leaders and powerful entities such as the G8 have shown a terrible lack of political will and courage.
Some might be disillusioned by the limited progress we have seen so far this year, given that we entered 2005 with so much optimism. However, we all have the opportunity to contribute towards a final push for justice before the end of the year. Many different civil society efforts are underway to ensure that the message of justice is heard loud and clear and that a strong foundation is laid for further citizen action next year, effectively building upon the momentum created in 2005.
On 25 November, we will see the start of the 16 Days of Activism for gender equality and for a halt to violence against women. This has now become a yearly event, uniting activists working to end gender-based violence around the world (see www.awid.org and www.unifem.org). Please get involved in these efforts and if there are no organised programmes in your area, please consider organising activities yourself. Leading women’s activists note that violence against women is traumatic to the body, mind and spirit and can prevent women from being fully active participants at home and in the world. This year's 16 Days campaign theme, as a continuation from 2004, emphasizes the connections between women's human rights, violence against women and women's health, and the detrimental consequences violence against women has on the well-being of the world as a whole.
Addressing the connections between violence against women and the HIV/AIDS pandemic remains imperative. Violence limits women's ability to protect against infection and can compromise access to a range of critical health information and services, including testing and treatment. Falling within the 16 days campaign on 1 December, World Aids Day (www.worldaidsday.org/) provides another opportunity for action. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is decimating developing countries, particularly in Africa where 6000 people die every day, due, amongst other things, to the lack of affordable life-saving drugs. This tragedy is the equivalent of twice the loss of life that we witnessed on the tragic day when terror struck the United States on 11 September 2001…every single day. This year, the theme of the UNAIDS World AIDS Campaign is 'Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.' The campaign demands governments to keep their policy commitments related to HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day provides an ideal opportunity to remind governments that in order to keep their promises on HIV/AIDS, they also need to fulfill their commitments on violence against women.
On World AIDS Day, the Global Movement for Children will engage millions of children through their ‘Lessons for Life’ campaign - a 'lesson' on HIV, AIDS and the effect of the crisis on children. In 2004, 4.3 million people in 67 countries around the world took part in the ‘lesson’ run by coalitions of organisations ranging from National AIDS Trusts to international and local NGOs. From schools to youth centres, sports clubs and village squares, the Lesson for Life involved everyone, everywhere. Be that great generation - click on www.gmfc.org and find out how to get involved in the 2005 lesson, and to see ideas from the Lesson for Life in 2004. If you are a teacher or a parent, learn more about this and use the opportunity to educate young people about the serious impact of HIV/AIDS.
The 16 Days of Activism will culminate on International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2005, which has also been declared the third White Band Day when the symbol of GCAP, a simple white band, is worn by millions of people across the planet. Coming just before the World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong, White Band Day 3 provides an excellent opportunity to focus on the connections between trade justice and human rights. Events are currently being planned by GCAP national coalitions around the world (visit www.whiteband.org to find out how to contact the coalition in your country). Please get involved and build upon the momentum of the last two White Band Days to make our voices even louder on Day 3!.
Please send your comments and suggestions to e-mail kumi@civicus.org
