CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation A Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter Promoting Civic Existence, Expression & Engagement

15 December 2006 ISSUE No. 318 PUBLISHER CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kumi Naidoo MANAGING EDITOR Eric Muragana COPY EDITOR Julie Middleton EDITORIAL TEAM Henri Valot John Treat Vicente García-Delgado, Esq     OCCASIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Bert Verstappen Diana Eltahawy Faisal Yousaf Fernando A. Iglesias Helen Duigan   Laura Mapp Prof. Dr. Sri Krishna Soul Beat Victor Paa Kwesi Mensah ABOUT e-CIVICUS  The CIVICUS weekly electronic publication is keeping tens of thousands of people informed of the developments taking place in civil society, the factors that are affecting them and the impact they are having on creating an informed and knowledgeable civil society.  e-CIVICUS WELCOMES CONTRIBUTIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY NEWS e-CIVICUS offers a useful channel through which you and your organisation can share your news, publicise your events and articulate the issues you face. Please send us your contributions no later than Tuesday for publication in the coming week to editor@civicus.org. All contributions must focus on civil society issues or have a civil society angle. To read the contribution guidelines, please visit www.civicus.org/new/content/ e-civicuseditorialguidelines-finalDraft.htm REPRODUCTION OF ARTICLES Readers are welcome to reproduce, in part or in full, all sections of this newsletter, however please request permission to do so first. When reproducing or retransmitting content, please credit sources and authors. The content of this newsletter can be translated into another language and reproduced in other publications, as long as due acknowledgment is made to CIVICUS. CONTACT US P.O. Box 933 Southdale, 2135  South Africa  Tel: +27 11 833 5959 Fax:+27 11 833 7997 1112 16th Street NW, Suite 540  Washington D.C.  20036 USA Tel: +202 331-8518 Fax: +202 331-8774 Websites: www.civicus.org www.civilsocietywatch.org www.civicusassembly.org To subscribe or unsubscribe: email eric@civicus.org TELL A FRIEND Do you have a friend who works for a more just world? Would you like to share this newsletter with them? Please forward their e-mail address to news@civicus.org We value your comments, suggestions and contributions. Speak to us at editor@civicus.org Support CIVICUS You can make an on-line donation at www.civicus.org/new/donatev2.html Join CIVICUS Join or renew your CIVICUS Membership on-line now at www.civicus.org/new/joinv2.html Civil Society Watch Monthly Bulletin The CIVICUS e-newsletter Civil Society Watch Monthly Bulletin  is an action-oriented newsletter distributed to over 7,400 people around the world, featuring insightful interviews, updates on threats to civil society, and analyses of current situations. Read more at www.civilsocietywatch.org   7th CIVICUS World Assembly: Acting Together For a Just World Visit our website for updates on: Conference Registration, Conference Programme, Call for Workshop Proposals, Exhibitor Opportunities, News, and Discussion Board at www.civicusassembly.org CIVICUS blog What do you think? Have your say on the CIVICUS Blog! CIVICUS seeks to amplify the voices and opinions of ordinary people and give expression to the enormous creative energy within civil society. Our recently launched blog gives you the opportunity to use your voice and engage with the rest of civil society. Have your say by visiting http://civicus.civiblog.org

Reminder - Deadline Approaching: Call for CIVICUS World Assembly workshop proposals Application deadline: 20 December 2006 There’s only five days left to submit a workshop proposal for the 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly! Interested individuals and organisations from civil society, donor organisations, governments, business and media are invited to submit proposals for workshops to be presented at the CIVICUS World Assembly, 23 - 27 May 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. The overall theme for the 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly is ‘Acting Together for a Just World,’ which will be explored through the focus theme - ‘Accountability: Delivering Results.’ Workshops must be designed around this theme. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/CallforWA-WorkshopsProposals.doc or  www.civicus.org/new/media/CallforProposals2007WAEng.PDF. The call for workshop proposals is also available in French (www.civicus.org/new/media/CallforProposals2007WAFrench.pdf) and Spanish (www.civicus.org/new/media/CallforProposals2007WASpanish.pdf)  FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL Civil society taking centre stage on accountability By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary-General Dear e-CIVICUS Subscriber, We in CIVICUS join the United Nations in paying tribute to outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and in welcoming Ban Ki-moon. I would like to thank all those individuals who have challenged and inspired the work of civil society in 2006. Throughout this past year, civil society has continued to attract growing levels of scrutiny in its role as a major public actor. It has been forced to grapple with both external and internal challenges, from those who are seeking to make civil society stronger and more credible, as well as from those who question its right to play certain roles. In this week’s column, I would like to share with you the thoughts of Diana Eltahawy, CIVICUS Civil Society Networks Coordinator, on why civil society has taken centre stage on accountability? Warmest regards, Kumi. International Advocacy NGO Accountability Charter: Walking the talk By Diana Eltahawy, CIVICUS Civil Society Networks Coordinator In recent years, debates around the concept of accountability have increasingly resonated throughout academic, policy-making, business, government and civil society circles. While there is no consensus on the meaning of accountability, there exists a common agreement that those who wield power or influence need to account for their actions and for the consequences of those actions. As the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has evolved from embryonic actors to key players in the defence and promotion of public goods such as sustainable development, environmental protection, human rights, poverty eradication and security; the issue of NGO accountability has taken centre stage both internally and externally. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/content/deskofthesecretarygeneral50.htm CIVICUS Poll Questions Each week, a new question is posted on the CIVICUS website. Let us know what you think. If you have any questions you would like to ask, please email editor@civicus.org. This week’s question: Do you think that the United Nations remains best avenue for achieving the key goals of international relations? Answer the question at www.civicus.org/new/poll.asp?c=048451 Previous question: In light of 9 December, International Anti-Corruption Day, do you think that national governments are doing enough to fight corruption? Results: Yes - 14%, No - 83%, Don’t Know - 3% e-CIVICUS DIALOGUES In this section, we publish comments we receive from readers. Please send your comments and questions to the editors at editor@civicus.org.  Comments on CIVICUS World Assembly Website By Victor Paa Kwesi Mensah, Abusua Foundation Dear Friends, I have browsed your organisational website in some hurry. Basically, one looks for the information required and logs out without second thoughts. I have, however, come to enjoy the new face of the CIVICUS World Assembly website, not just for the information it might (and shall) provide, but for the simplicity and ease of use, its colourful scheme, excellent display of the menus and sub menus - it is just the expression of Beauty in Simplicity. I cannot finish this letter of appreciation without thanking the designers for the new look and functionality of the forum page. The new forum page is a perfect space for discussions by and for ALL civil society activists, and people who believe in any cause. As a CIVICUS member, all these developments make me proud and give me more confidence to inform others of the need to be part of the World Assembly and CIVICUS. Thank you for your help in building this website, those that are maintaining it, the organising team for the World Assembly and all friends. See you next May, in Glasgow! Visit the CIVICUS World Assembly Forum at www.civicusassembly.org CIVIL SOCIETY NEWS Please send your comments and suggestions on these stories to editor@civicus.org. Civil society celebrate as Bushmen win landmark legal case in Botswana Bushman spokesman Roy Sesana said outside the court, 'Today is the happiest day for us Bushmen. We have been crying for so long, but today we are crying with happiness. Finally we have been set free. The evictions have been very, very painful for my people. I hope that now we can go home to our land.' Survival International's director Stephen Corry said, 'The court's ruling is a victory for the Bushmen and for indigenous peoples everywhere in Africa. It is also a victory for Botswana. If the government quickly enacts the court ruling, then the campaign will end and the country really will have something to be proud of.’ For more information, see www.survival-international.org/bushmenpresspack Civil society urged to promote good governance in South Sudan A southern Sudanese lawmaker has urged civil society organisations to play their watchdog role and to promote good governance and the rule of law, the Sudan Radio service reported. Chairperson of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly education committee, Natsio Loluke Manir, called on civil society not to shy away from their watchdog role of ensuring that the government promotes good governance, social-economic development and rule of law. He further said that “civil society organisations should work closely with the government of southern Sudan to educate the public about the Comprehensive Peace Agreement”. For more information, see www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article19273 IPS, global civil society news agency to honour Kofi Annan Inter Press Service (IPS), the Rome-based global civil society news agency, will honour outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan with its annual International Achievement Award for 2006. IPS Director-General Mario Lubetkin said the Board of Directors had decided last July to give its 2006 award to Annan for his lasting contributions to peace, security, development, gender empowerment and human rights. He said IPS, a 42-year-old news agency which has promoted the cause of developing nations, also recognises the commitment by Annan to help the world's poorer nations in their fight to reduce extreme poverty and hunger, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and battle environmental degradation. Last year’s International Achievement Award was given to the Global Call to Action against Poverty which was represented by CIVICUS Secretary General in his capacity as the chairperson of GCAP. For more information, see www.ipsterraviva.net/Europe/article.aspx?id=4164 Civil society under attack in Belarus The authorities in Belarus should immediately halt their attempts to close down the last remaining human rights organisation registered in the country, Human Rights Watch said. Last week the office of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, founded in 1995, was entered by bailiffs of the Minsk Economic Court, who seized office equipment from the Minsk-based human rights group. Human Rights Watch calls on the authorities to return the confiscated equipment immediately. "In its campaign to eradicate civil society, the Belarusian government has trumped up tax-evasion charges against the country's last registered human rights group," said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. For more information, see http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20061214193822962  Palestinian civil society threatens to boycott the UN's Register of Damages The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organisation’s Network has sent an open letter to Mr. Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the United Nations, voicing Palestinian civil society's various concerns about the UN's Register of Damage regarding Israel's continued construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory. In particular, the organisations question the real purpose of the Register, the vagueness of registering claims, the eligibility criteria for claiming damages, the limited scope of the Register in terms of damages, and the reasons for locating the Register far from the location of the wall and its ensuing problems. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/Palestinian-civil-society-organizations.doc Pontiff exhorts political leaders to listen to civil society Pope Benedict XVI is convinced that leaders of nations will avoid conflicts and wars if they listen to civil society and respond to its needs. However, the Pope pointed out, this calls for understanding political commitment as "a service to persons" and not as a way of guaranteeing privileges and power to a few. Pope Benedict XVI explained this recently, in a joint address in French, to the new ambassadors to the Holy See from Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Mozambique, Uganda, Syria and Lesotho. For more information, see www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=5097 Anti-terrorism regulations suppress civil society activities in Sri Lanka In a recent statement, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) expressed its concern with a newly introduced anti-terrorism law - the Emergency (Prevention of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities) Regulations of December 2006. The CPA pointed out that several of the new provisions are "overbroad, drafted in very broad language allowing for the possible criminalisation of a range of legitimate activities of civil society." The provisions give sweeping discretionary power to the government over the activities that promote peace, humanitarian assistance and freedom of expression. For more information, see www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=20597 UN adopts treaty on the rights of the disabled The UN General Assembly has adopted a landmark disability convention, the first human rights treaty of the twenty-first century and one that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said represents the "dawn of a new era" for around 650 million people worldwide living with disabilities. Mr. Annan, along with Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa and other UN officials, as well as members of civil society that lobbied for the pact, urged all 192 Member States to quickly ratify the convention, which covers rights to education, health, work and a raft of other protective measures for people with disabilities. For more information, see www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10797.doc.htm  Canadian NGO calls for national plan on child trafficking Save the Children Canada congratulates Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for her initiative in presenting a Private member's Bill in the House of Commons to develop a national strategy to combat human trafficking and protecting victims of trafficking, most of whom are young women and children. "This is a positive step." said David Morley, President and CEO of Save the Children Canada. "All effort must be made to ensure that this human tragedy is eliminated from within our borders and beyond." Save the Children Canada hopes that the government will look favourably upon this private member's bill and develop a national strategy to combat trafficking in persons both in Canada and beyond. For more information, see www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2006/14/c7344.html MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION AGAINST POVERTY PERSPECTIVES A brief history of water issues and MDGs The UN Millennium Summit, held from 6-8 September 2000 in New York, adopted the Millennium Declaration, which includes a number of international development goals. Two of these goals relate directly to water and human settlements, namely, the goals to halve by 2015 the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water, and to achieve by 2020 a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. The safe drinking water and human settlements goals appear as “targets” under Goal 7 on ensuring environmental sustainability. For more information, see www.un.org/millennium/declaration/ares552e.htm “MDGs are only for poor Africans” IPS explored the level of knowledge and attitudes towards the United Nations MDGs by conducting random interviews with people on the streets of the capital, Port Louis, Mauritius and in villages in the north of the island. There are eight goals, ranging from "eradicating extreme poverty and hunger" to developing "a global partnership for development". The year 2015 has been set as the target date for fulfilment of many of the goals. For more information, see www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=35843 CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISM ON GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS This section provides updates and analyses of civil society’s growing role at the global level. Please send your comments and questions to editor@civicus.org.  Ban Ki-moon vows to maintain high ethical standards at the UN The incoming UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who took his oath of office before the 192-member General Assembly on Thursday, vowed to set "the highest ethical standards" in a world body which has come under fire for mismanagement, waste and malfeasance. "The good name of the United Nations is one of its most valuable assets -- but also one of its most vulnerable," the 62-year-old former South Korean foreign minister told delegates. He said one of his core tasks would be to "breathe new life and inject renewed confidence into the sometimes weary (UN) secretariat." For more information, see www.ipsterraviva.net/Europe/article.aspx?id=4182 Civil society urged to help safeguard world’s mountains The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) called for a global alliance to safeguard the world’s mountains as a vital source of both agricultural and wild biodiversity. “The intensive use of resources by humans puts this unique biological and cultural heritage at risk of extinction,” FAO Forest Resources Division Director José Antonio Prado said in a statement marking International Mountain Day 2006. “Safeguarding and managing mountain biodiversity requires a global alliance of international organisations, national governments, civil society, the private sector and, most importantly, mountain populations as stewards and beneficiaries of biodiversity in mountains,” he added. For more information, see www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000460/index.html  Donors called upon to make up for shortfall in UN funds for Palestinian refugees Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on international donors to make up “the current, worrying shortfall” in the budget of the United Nations agency that tends to the needs of millions of Palestinian refugees, with an operational deficit of over $100 million already looming. “Such efforts merit strong support from the international community,” he said in a message delivered by UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Kevin Kennedy to the second annual meeting of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) host authorities and donor governments in Amman, Jordan. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/ANNAN-CALLS-ON-DONORS.doc   CAPACITY BUILDING Introduction to Conflict Management African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) has for over ten years been active throughout the African continent building capacity in government, business and civil society to transform destructive conflicts and build security. This ACCORD training manual on Conflict Management gives insight into understanding conflict, how to respond to conflict and offers skills and techniques for dealing with conflict. For more information, see www.comminit.com/africa/materials/ma2006/materials-3028.html (Submitted Soul Beat) DONOR PROFILE Compton Foundation In a world that is increasingly interrelated, the Compton Foundation seeks to foster human and ecological security by addressing contemporary threats to these inalienable rights. The Foundation support responsible stewardship that respects the rights of future generations to a balanced and healthy ecology, both personal and global, allowing for the full richness of human experience. The Foundation envisions a world in which humans live in harmony with each other, and in sustainable balance with the earth. For more info on the Compton Foundation, see www.comptonfoundation.org MEMBER PROFILE Sri Lanka-United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO) Sri Lanka-United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO) is a non-political, non-racial and non-sectarian organisation working towards peace, harmony and well-being of mankind according to the principles of the UN. SUNFO projects are in the fields of tsunami relief, poverty, peace, prison welfare, human rights, youth & children development, MDGs, women’s empowerment, migrant issues, environment, value development, HIV/AIDS, drug rehabilitation, international understanding, elderly care, and training and education. SUNFO hosts the Global Call to Action Against Poverty’s activities in Sri Lanka . For more information, see www.sunfo.org RESOURCES ChangingThePresent.org: Changing the World. One gift at a time ChangingThePresent.org is a new website for charitable giving which features gifts and donation opportunities from across a full spectrum of causes, all in one place. Established in the belief that there is a limit to how many scarves, ties, tools, figurines, bottles of cologne, electric gadgets or pen and pencil sets that any of us really needs; it offers the opportunity for individuals to give gifts that express and share their own values and interests. It is possible to search the site by cause or to look for a particular organisation. The site also encourages personal expression and engagement in giving through personal pages and wish lists. ChangingThePresent is a project of ImportantGifts, a nonprofit organisations registered in the USA. For further details, see www.changingthepresent.org Declaration of Principles: Global Democracy Movement for a South American and a World Parliament Given that humanity is facing worldwide challenges that affect the lives of each and every one of the inhabitants of the planet; and seeing that the existing crisis can be observed on multiple levels, be it as ecological, economic and demographic crises, or as a loss of control over technology and the monopoly of violence on the part of nation-states. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/Declaration-of-principles.doc   (Submitted by Fernando A. Iglesias) South African developers use law to silence objectors South African developers appear to be following their American counterparts in using legal mechanisms to try and silence critics and whistleblowers. Two years ago, the development company, Wraypex, started construction of a golf estate with 330 up market houses without the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities. The estate borders the Rhenosterspruit Conservancy, situated 45 km from Johannesburg, South Africa. The Conservancy blew the whistle on this development and alerted the authorities who halted construction at that stage. In response, the Wraypex issued summonses totaling almost 30 million USD against five members of the Conservancy. For more information, see www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=272116&area=/insight/insight__editorials (Submitted by Helen Duigan, Chairperson, Rhenosterspruit Conservancy, Johannesburg, South Africa) Social Watch Report: Impossible Architecture The 2006 Report, "Impossible Architecture", focuses on the urgent need to reform the current international financial structure in order to ensure the means to meet these commitments, and provides new perspectives and ideas for a viable blueprint for action. Social Watch is a coalition comprising more than 400 non-governmental organisations in more than 60 countries. Its annual report is the world's most highly recognised independent study on social development. For more information, see www.socialwatch.org/en/press/index.html The State of the World’s Children 2007 The State of the World’s Children 2007 examines the discrimination and disempowerment women face throughout their lives and outlines what must be done to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls. It looks at the status of women today, discusses how gender equality will move all the Millennium Development Goals forward, and shows how investment in women’s rights will ultimately produce a double dividend: advancing the rights of both women and children. For more information, see www.unicef.org/sowc07/report/full_report.php or www.unicef.org/sowc07/docs/sowc07.pdf (Submitted by Faisal Yousaf) HuriSearch, the human rights search engine HuriSearch is a very useful resource for human rights researchers and advocates, academic staff and students, journalists, diplomats and staff of international organisations. HuriSearch searches the content of over 3000 human rights websites, with a total of more than 2.6 million pages. HuriSearch makes it possible to focus searches on information published in a particular country, by a particular type of organisation, a specific organisation, or in a specific language. The HuriSearch website is available in seven languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese. HuriSearch allows searching information in 77 languages. For more information, see www.hurisearch.org (Submitted by Bert Verstappen) Non-profits spend billions to reach consumers Never has the world of brands and consumer culture been more closely aligned with philanthropy - and the human desire to change the world for the better. World leaders, captains of industry, rock stars and mega-athletes. They’re all embracing philanthropy in the 21st century, bringing a “win now” mentality to the marketplace, and vowing to see to it that their dollars really do bring about change. Consumer-oriented philanthropic messages are everywhere. For more information, see www.onphilanthropy.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6863&JServSessionIdr011=nzd7cptwm1.app6b CONFERENCES AND EVENTS Strategic human resources management in a global context 7 February 2007, Geneva, Switzerland Aimed at senior managers with responsibility for people management, this one day conference will cover issues such as resourcing, management and learning, addressing both the humanitarian-emergency and development-focused perspectives. For more information, see www.peopleinaid.org/events/default.aspx  2007 Non-profit Technology Conference 4-6 April 2007, Washington, USA Each year the Non-profit Technology Conference brings together over 1,000 people for three days of connecting, learning, educating, and fun. Collaborators in the non-profit and technology sectors will have the opportunity to share resources and learn about what works, what doesn't work, and what new technology will help make the world a better place. The conference will address common issues faced by non-profit leaders, programme staff, development professionals, information technology staff and technology support providers. For more information, see www.nten.org/ntc FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 2007 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship Application Deadline: 10 January 2007 By submitting your entry and taking part in this competition, your project will be exposed to a number of funders that are interested in social innovations. Twelve finalists will have the opportunity to attend the "2007 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship" in Oxford , England in March 2007. If you become a finalist of this competition you could win USD 5000 for your innovation work. For more information, see www.skollfoundation.org/skollcentre/skoll_forum.asp Women’s Leadership Scholarship Programme Application Deadline: 23 March 2007 The Women’s Leadership Scholarship (WLS) programme (formerly the Native Leadership Scholarship) creates educational opportunities for women who are grassroots leaders, organisers and activists from the global south and/or from indigenous groups. WLS invests in women's leadership by supporting non-doctoral graduate education in human rights, sustainable development, and public health. The awards help the recipients meet the costs of tuition, fees, books, educational supplies, housing, maintenance, and travel to and from the home country and the educational institution. More information is available in English, Spanish and French at www.nativeleaders.org/index.html (Submitted by Laura Mapp) BBC Africa Radio Awards Application Deadline: 31 December 2006 The BBC Africa Radio Awards, supported by the British Council, are looking for radio output that is exciting, innovative and highlights the work that stations and individual broadcasters have done to earn their audiences' respect. These awards are meant to give African broadcasters the opportunity to show the rest of the continent what they have been able to achieve and to celebrate their excellence. For more information, see www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1318_africa_radio_aw/page5.shtml COURSES/WORKSHOPS  National Meditation Center for World Peace Provides free training Master Hughes a well known activist, antiviolence specialist and well known community leader has been involved in humanitarian work for 20 years and is presently working to provide health safety and security services for victim services and antiterrorism. He has developed a traumatic stress training CD in power point for agencies working with war victims, disaster victims, or victims of violence and slave trafficking. The cd provides training necessary to train staff in the basics of handling trauma in victims. For more information e-mail at nmc@nationalmeditation.org or visit www.nationalmeditation.org Working with Conflict course 23 April - 29 June 2007, Birmingham, UK An intensive, practical and participatory course for practitioners working for peace and justice in situations of instability and conflict, the overall aim of this course is to provide participants with a broad understanding on a variety of issues and topics relevant to their work and situation, thereby contributing to the capacity of organisations and communities to work for positive change.  For more information, see www.respond.org/wwc.asp  CALL FOR PAPERS/SUBMISSIONS/PROPOSALS/NOMINATIONS Call for Proposals to Host the 9th CIVICUS World Assembly Application Deadline: 10 January 2007 CIVICUS is inviting bids from interested organisations to partner with CIVICUS in hosting the 9th World Assembly, a global meeting of civil society leaders and activists, concerned business leaders, government representatives, donors and media. The CIVICUS World Assembly was, until most recently, organised as a biennial event, in a different city on each occasion. In 2006, when the event moved to Glasgow city, it was changed to an annual event in a fixed location for three years as a pilot project. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/WorldAssemblyCall-HostEng.doc or www.civicus.org/new/media/WorldAssemblyCall-HostEng.pdf. The proposals are also available in French (www.civicus.org/new/media/WorldAssemblyCalltoHostFrench.doc or www.civicus.org/new/media/WorldAssemblyCalltoHostFrench.pdf) and Spanish (www.civicus.org/new/media/WorldAssemblyCalltoHostSpanish.doc or www.civicus.org/new/media/WorldAssemblyCalltoHostSpanish.pdf) Call for papers: International Year Book of Human Rights and Refugee Law Application Deadline: before April 2007 Inviting submissions from all sections of the society for the forthcoming issue of “International Year Book of Human Rights and Refugee Law”, an international standard research journal, which focuses on various kinds of human rights related to refugee law and broad rights issues. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/CallforPapers-Human Rights-RefugeeLaw.doc   (Submitted by Prof. Dr. Sri Krishna) APPOINTMENTS  Supporter Recruitment and Retention Manager Application Deadline: 15 January 2007 Christian Aid Location: London, UK For more information, see www.globalcharityjobs.com/s-Jobs_information?form_id=12409 Country Director Application Deadline: 12 January 2007 ActionAid International Location: Johannesburg, South Africa For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/Job advert-ActionAidInternational-SouthAfrica.doc   Human Rights Project Officers Application Deadline: Open Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Location: New Delhi, India For more information, see www.globalcharityjobs.com/s-Jobs_information?form_id=1608 TELL A FRIEND Do you have a friend who works for a more just world?  Would you like to share this newsletter with them? Please forward their e-mail address to news@civicus.org CONTACT e-CIVICUS We value your comments, suggestions and contributions. Please send these to Editorial Team at editor@civicus.org  e-CIVICUS is a free weekly online publication keeping tens of thousands of people, organisations and programmes informed of the many developments that are taking place in civil society organisations around the world, the many factors that are affecting the impact of civil society on creating a more just world. NOTE: For a free subscription to e-CIVICUS, please fill out the form at www.civicus.org/new/content/ecivicussubscription.htm. To unsubscribe your mailing address, please contact: eric@civicus.org