World Alliance for Citizen Participation

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04 July 2007 ISSUE No. 346 PUBLISHER CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Micha Hollestelle COPY EDITOR Cardinal Uwishaka MANAGING EDITOR Eric Muragana OCCASIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Carol Baloyi Caroline Nenguke Fernanda Polacow Margaret Fish Tselane Moleba Paulina Kubiak and UN Legal Empowerment Commission team Roberta Giaconi Sev Ozdowski Vicente García-Delgado Inter Press Agency 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/media/ e-civicuseditorialguidelines-finalDraft.doc REPRODUCTION OF e-CIVICUS 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.  e-CIVICUS DISCLAIMER Although CIVICUS makes all reasonable efforts to obtain prima-facie reliable content for e-CIVICUS , CIVICUS cannot guarantee the accuracy of the reports, views or opinions of third-party content providers, nor does CIVICUS necessarily endorse the views reflected therein. Similarly, links provided in e-CIVICUS may point to Internet sites that may be of interest to our readers; however CIVICUS does not take responsibility for, nor necessarily endorse their content. Stories are provided for information purposes only, and readers who intend to rely on information provided through such stories are strongly recommended to double-check its accuracy by reference to other sources first. Opinions expressed by contributors to e-CIVICUS are solely those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CIVICUS, its Board of Directors, managers or staff, or any CIVICUS members or partners. Please do send your comments and suggestions to editor@civicus.org .  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 subscriptions@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 subscriptions@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

FROM THE DESK OF CIVICUS' SECRETARY-GENERAL Send your comments and contributions to editor@civicus.org. Towards the Legal Empowerment of the Poor By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary-General Dear e-CIVICUS Subscriber, Since early 2006, I have been serving on the Board of Advisors of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor, one of Kofi Annan’s last initiatives before he left as Secretary General of the United Nations (UN). It is a relatively new, global initiative that sets out to “make legal protection and economic opportunity not the privilege of few, but the right of all”. The Legal Empowerment Commission held various consultative workshops at the CIVICUS World Assembly in Glasgow as it reaches out to build a broad-based platform of advocacy and support. The gap between rich and poor is expanding at an alarming rate. In poor and even in many middle-income countries, an empowered elite captures the benefits of globalisation and economic growth while the majority of the population lack basic rights and opportunities. In fact, over three billion people around the world live and work in a shadow economy, often without even a birth certificate or other legal document that recognises their existence. To read more on the column, please see www.civicus.org/new/content/deskofthesecretarygeneral71.htm Kumi Naidoo meets the press to report on MDG progress, July 9th, ohannesburg Kumi Naidoo, in his capacity as chair and spokesperson of the Global Campaign for Action against Poverty (GCAP) will meet with South African and International press on Monday 9 July, in Johannesburg. All will start at 9am and at the Melville Grill, 7th street Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa Kumi Nadioo will comment on the findings of the recent yearly UN report on the progress made in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG, see also below in the MDG section of e-CIVICUS), and on the inexcusable lack of progress on reaching the Goals. The meeting is co-organised by the South African Foreign Correspondents’ Association. To further mobilise international support for the MDG’s, at the meeting Kumi Naidoo will launch the 100 days countdown to October 17th campaign (www.standagainstpovery.org). Besides numerous rallies and other actions, October 17th will witness a new world record on mobilisation when people around the world will literally stand up against poverty, thus beatingthe former record set by GCAP in 2006 (23,5 million). While the meeting aims to brief reporters of all media to discuss critically the progress on the MDG’s, the meeting is open to all others interested. For meeting reports and interview request, please call Micha Hollestelle +27 (0)76633 8525, or mail to micha.hollestelle@civicus.org.  The World in 2007: It’s time for empowerment Madeleine Albright, former US secretary of state, argues that not just aid but ideas, in particular the idea of legal rights, will be crucial for reducing poverty Every year is crucial for the 3 billion people who are entrapped by poverty. Society must work to build momentum for a sustained and multi-faceted international effort. In recent times, the anti-poverty struggle has edged its way up the global policymaking agenda. Gains were made both in 2000 and in 2005 on debt relief for the poorest countries. In 2007, the G8 countries have issued ambitious statements and pledged to increase aid dollars, euros and yen. For more information, see www.undp.org/legalempowerment/pdf/ALBRIGHT.pdf Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi talks about poverty, legal empowerment and what it takes to change the world Shirin Ebadi was the first female judge in Iran in the 1970s. With the onset of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, such positions were deemed inappropriate for women and she was demoted to a clerk. In 2003, she became the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting human rights. She is credited with being a driving force behind the reform of divorce and inheritance laws in Iran. Today, she heads the Association for Support of Children's Rights in Iran , with 5000 members. For more information on her interview, see www.undp.org/legalempowerment/press/Interviews_Ebadi.html CIVICUS Poll Questions Each week, a new question is posted on the CIVICUS website. Let us know what you think. If you have a poll question you would like to ask, please email editor@civicus.org. This week’s question: Do you agree that the poor are willingly and unwillingly obstructed in accessing their legal rights and entitlements? Answer the question at www.civicus.org/new/poll.asp?c=048451 Previous question: Do you think actions like ‘the international day of solidarity for Daniel and Netsanet’ have any lasting effect? Results: Yes - 28%, No - 61%, Don’t Know - 11% e-CIVICUS DIALOGUES Interfaith dialogue for peace and development in China By Komaruddin Hidayat, rector of State Islamic University, Jakarta Religious pluralism has become a new phenomenon since the world has become increasingly smaller and people and nations have become closer due to developments in transportation and communications technology. The fast flow of visitors and migrants to other countries is increasingly enriching global diversity and religious pluralism. It has to be accepted intellectually, morally and politically, and needs to be protected by law and acknowledged by each compartment of global society. For more information, see www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20070703.F04&irec=3 Zimbabwean mediation talks must aim for common good By Webster Zambara, The Zimbabwean Standard The mediation process between the main political parties, the Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC ) that is being brokered by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa has sparked debate not only among ordinary men and women but at very important global forums as well. It is a process whose outcome will claim a place in global geo-politics, with special reference to Africa as a continent and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in particular. This article contributes to the body of knowledge around a mediation process, the challenges that the process faces as well as the role that civil society can play as the process unfolds. For more information, see http://allafrica.com/stories/200707021106.html CIVIL SOCIETY NEWS Civil society - window dressing for the UN  Is global governance the sole domain of governments or are they willing to share what has traditionally been their preserve? Has civil society finally inched its way into the United Nations (UN) system and made its presence felt? Not quite, says Jo E. Butler, from the Intergovernmental Affairs and Outreach Service of the UN Council for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). She believes the participation and presence of civil society remains elusive and restricted to ‘’the margins and corridors.’’ For more information, see www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38366 Ethiopian civil society leaders treason trial continues In a resounding call for justice and human rights in Ethiopia, organisations and individuals in more than 10 countries on Thursday (28 June 2007) stood in solidarity with two civil society leaders on trial for treason in Ethiopia. Through letters, rallies and vigils they called for the acquittal of Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, coordinators of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia as part of an International Day of Solidarity, organised by CIVICUS and GCAP. The global expressions of support for Daniel and Netsanet culminated Friday evening with a candlelight vigil at 7pm at the Freedom Centre in Accra, Ghana. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/PRESSUPDATE-EthiopianTreasonTrial.doc NGOs call on EU to keep Official Development Assistance (ODA) promises Alison Marshall, Advocacy Manager at BOND, said: “ Europe is so important in the worldwide battle against global poverty. EU countries currently provide 52% of all development aid. Europe is also the world’s largest trade block, so is pivotal to efforts to make trade fair and just for developing countries.” In 2005, European and G8 governments pledged to increase aid dramatically, particularly to Africa, and 80% of this new aid was to come from the EU. Yet overall aid increases have been very slow, and aid volumes to Africa have been static since 2004. For more information, see www.dgroups.org/groups/cool/index.cfm?op=dsp_resource_details&resource_id=41473&cat_id=6325  Civil society blocked from participation at the OAS in Venezuela The Venezuelan government intervened in the official process for participation by Transparencia Venezuela at the Organisation of American States (OAS) with the aim of silencing a report on that country's compliance with the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. The censored report is based on official governmental information and shows that no steps have been taken to fulfil the Convention and the sixty recommendations made to Venezuela in 2004. Transparencia Venezuela and Transparency International (TI), the international Secretariat, urge that the OAS recognise this violation and defend civil society's right to participate in the legitimate process to follow up on countries' commitments. For more information, see www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2007/2007_06_27_venezuela_oas_en Civil society called to oppose curbs on press freedom in Pakistan The Media Commission Pakistan (MCP) President IA Rehman has called upon the media and civil society organisations to conduct a countrywide campaign to defend press freedom and oppose the government’s measures to curb freedom of expression. In consultation with various media and civil society organisations, Rehman has asked the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, the All-Pakistan Newspapers Society, the Council of Pakistan Editors, the Pakistan Bar Association and the South Asia Free Media Association to get the Islamabad Declaration endorsed by their executive bodies promptly, so that a joint meeting could be convened in Lahore in the second week of July. For more information, see www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C06%5C28%5Cstory_28-6-2007_pg7_16 Civil society group rises against child labour in Nigeria The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has reiterated its commitment to eliminating street trading among school-age children. Briefing journalists during its Global Action Week (GAW) 2007, held in Lagos, the focal representative of the group, Dr. Chudi Ihenacho, explained that it would achieve this feat by providing an opportunity for education activists around the country to mobilise and advocate for education as a human right. During the week, Ihenacho said the group, in collaboration with member organisations, would discuss issues that hinder rights to education, free primary education, hidden costs of education and out of school children, among other issues, which would form part of collated dossiers. For more information, see www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=82630 BBC's Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston released British Broadcasting Cooperation ( BBC ) correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in the Gaza Strip after 114 days in captivity. Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to armed men in Gaza City. He said his ordeal was like "being buried alive" but it was "fantastic" to be free. Rallies worldwide had called for Mr Johnston's release. An online petition was signed by 200,000 people. Johnston described his experience of captivity as "appalling" and "occasionally quite terrifying". "It became quite hard to imagine normal life again," he said. For more information, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6267928.stm Human Rights Watch warns on war violations in Jerusalem Qassam rocket attacks by Palestinian militants into Israel and Israeli artillery strikes landing near populated areas in Gaza are serious violations of the laws of war, according to a report by the US-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW). The claim follows an investigation into Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli artillery strikes into Gaza between September 2005 and May 2007, when four Israeli civilians and at least 59 Palestinians were killed. The HRW report is unsparing in its analysis of attacks from both sides. For more information, see http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2727844.ece International Medical Corps raises security concerns in Somalia The International Medical Corps (IMC) has condemned the killing of one of its staff by unknown gunmen in the Somali town of El-Berde, 420km northwest of the capital Mogadishu. Mohamed Muse Ali, 40, a doctor, and his driver, Lel Idris, were killed on 27 June when two men attacked their vehicle. "International Medical Corps mourns the loss of both victims and condemns the violence that claimed their lives," the medical charity said in a statement. The agency said it was concerned about the deteriorating security environment in the area and urged the international community to address the situation as a matter of urgency. For more information, see www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=72980 ACCOUNTABILITY AccountAbility to launch the Responsible Competitiveness Index 2007 at the UN Global Compact Summit On 6 July 2007, AccountAbility will launch a new report entitled “The State of Responsible Competitiveness 2007”, at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit, during a session to be attended by more than 25 Ministers from different countries in Geneva. The report includes the Responsible Competitiveness Index which covers 108 countries (that account for 96% of global economic activity) and assesses their progress in advancing responsible business practices. Al Gore who wrote the foreword for the report described it as “the definitive guide for policy makers and business leaders to understand how markets are reshaped to reward competitiveness for the 21st century”. CIVICUS Secretary-General, Kumi Naidoo, together with Senior Researcher Lorenzo Fioramonti contributed to the report, with the essay “Civil Society and Responsible Competitiveness”. The full report will be downloadable next week within AccountAbility website (www.accountability21.net). For more information, see press release at www.civicus.org/new/media/Pressrelease_StateResponsibleCompetitiveness.doc State firms should be more responsible in China Corporate social responsibility (CSR) should be taken into consideration when appointing and appraising the heads of State-owned-enterprises (SOEs), a business leader said yesterday. "The ability to perform CSR should be one of the major factors in the selection and appraisal of leaders of SOEs," said Wang Jiming, executive vice-president of the China Enterprise Confederation. "A business leader who only cares about profit margins and neglects social responsibility will drive high consumption of energy and heavy pollution.” For more information, see www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-07/03/content_908384.htm GET INVOLVED! URGENT APPEAL: Defund the War and Declare Peace Campaign! Between now and 21 September 2007, around the International Day of Peace, The Declaration of Peace is calling on people everywhere to move Congress to end funding for the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq and to establish a comprehensive peace plan. Called “A Nationwide Campaign to Defund the War and Establish a Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq”, people can sign the Declaration of Peace and take powerful action for Peace! To get involved, see https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/declaration/sign-the-declaration.jsp PERSPECTIVES ON THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND THE GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION AGAINST POVERTY Anti-poverty Campaigners rally to mark inexcusable lack of progress on MDG’s Millennium Development Goals reach Mid-Point on July 7th 2007 (777) July 3rd 2007-  Anti-poverty campaigners around the world are organising a broad range of events around July 7th to mark the midway point for the UN Millennium Development Goals and to hold their governments to account.  Part of the growing Global Call to Action Against Poverty ( GCAP ), the July 7th events will focus on how governments’ efforts to meet these goals are insufficient and to highlight the growing threat of climate change on the poor and marginalised. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/GCAP-EventsJuly7th-mondayjuly3version3-.doc Tackle eco-degradation to achieve MDGs Launch of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) 07-07-07 action in Spain The Spanish Alliance Against Poverty launched its plans to mark the halfway point for reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals. Highlighting the powerful link between increased migration from Africa as a result of environmental degradation and the increasing levels of energy consumption in Spain, the alliance called for Spanish people to mobilise in Madrid on the 7th of July. Reducing consumption in the North is a matter of political will and raising public awareness of how it affects the entire planet and impoverishes millions of people is a collective responsibility, said speakers from the Alliance. For more information, see www.whiteband.org/Action/news/gcapnews.2007-06-28.1660876644 2007 Millennium Development Goals Report Meeting 2015 Goals Requires Concerted and Sustained Action Developing countries are making clear progress toward lifting millions of people out of extreme poverty, the 2007 Millennium Development Goals Report has found. The report details eight targeted goals that virtually every nation has pledged to meet over the course of a 15-year period ending in 2015. The mid-term report shows that the percentage of people worldwide living on the equivalent of a dollar a day or less has dropped from 32 percent in 1990 to 19 percent in 2004. Overall, the number dropped from 1.25 billion to 980 million. "The world wants no new promises," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the report. "It is imperative that all stakeholders meet, in their entirety, the commitments already made." For more information, see www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/mdg2007.pdf Asia shows 'impressive' drop in poverty, but inequality rises Asia has made impressive strides in reducing its rates of extreme poverty on the heels of rapid economic growth, but it is also facing rising inequalities within countries, according to an annual U.N. report. The greatest gains were reported in Eastern Asia , where the number of people living in extreme poverty dropped from 33 percent in 1990 to 9.9 percent in 2004. In Southeast Asia , the percentage was down to 6.8 percent in 2004 from 20.8 percent in 1990. For more information, see http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070701/kyodo/d8q423gg2.html Chances of achieving MDGs 'slim' without civil society in Africa Global civil society leaders called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to use both international channels and their muscle on the ground to apply pressure on governments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Civil Society Development Forum heard that the global picture for progress towards the MDGs is uneven, with sub-Saharan Africa and western Asia set to miss most of the targets despite the availability of resources to achieve these goals. "Without civil society as the driving force behind the MDGs, the chances are very slim that we will reach the MDGs," said CONGO President Renate Bloem in her opening address. For more information, see http://allafrica.com/stories/200706280859.html or www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38375 When it comes to aid, all power to the people Inter Press Agency (IPS) Interview with Francisco Martínez Frutos, head of food security for Intervida World Alliance (INWA) of Spain Aid to the developing world is effective when it empowers the community and the government of the recipient country, and they have learned to design a strong development strategy. Otherwise the effort is in vain, and hunger and exclusion only become more deeply rooted, say activists who will be attending the development forum. That is the key to making the most of resources from donor countries in regions like Latin America, where aid should have a positive influence on the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Francisco Martínez Frutos told Inter Press Agency ( IPS ).For more information, see www.worldpress.org/link.cfm?http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38375 NGOs demand human rights approach to poverty A major civil society meeting was clear on what has been missing so far in the development dialogue -- a ‘human rights approach’ to poverty and hunger. Through the June 28-30 Conference of NGOs accredited with the UN (CONGO) at the Civil Society Development Forum held in Geneva, co-hosted by the UN Millennium Campaign, the sense was that only a ‘global partnership’ could eradicate poverty and hunger by 2015 as targeted. "We want full involvement of civil society in the current and ongoing round of consultations and preparatory processes leading up to the Doha 2008 Review Conference on Financing for Development" was the strongest recommendation at the forum’s conclusion. Others called for reform of international financial institutions and for debt cancellation and humanitarian relief not to be included in the definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA). For more information, see www.worldpress.org/link.cfm?http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38375 CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISM ON GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS Global Compact fails to stop corporate human rights violations, says ActionAid The UN flagship initiative on corporate responsibility - the Global Compact - is failing to stop corporate human rights violations, says ActionAid ahead of a UN summit on corporate responsibly in Geneva this week. “These companies are trampling over the lives of thousands of poor people, locking women and children into a vicious cycle of hunger,” said Aftab Alam Khan, Head of Trade from ActionAid during the launch-week of ActionAid’s HungerFREE campaign.  World leaders and global business chiefs will convene for the Global Compact Leaders Summit (5-6 July) to assess progress on the seven-year-old voluntary initiative aimed at promoting human rights standards for corporate operations. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/GlobalCompact-humanrightsviolations-ActionAid.doc Global Compact expands, impact still hazy The upcoming Global Compact Leaders Summit 5-6 July in Geneva seems to be getting more attention from various stakeholders in the global community than ever before. When the Global Compact was launched in 2000 at United Nations headquarters in New York, it had 47 business, government, civil society and labour stakeholders. Today the number has soared to more than 4,000 participants, expected at the Geneva meeting. "It is about trust building, it is about networking opportunities within the global context, it is also about collective learning on how to tackle these issues," Georg Kell, executive director of the Global Compact, told Inter Press Agency (IPS). For more information, see www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38411 State of World Population : Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth The 30th edition of the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) annual report, State of World Population, this year turns its focus on urban growth. It notes that in 2008, for the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population, 3.3 billion people will be living in urban areas. This number is expected to swell to almost 5 billion by 2030. In Africa and Asia, the urban population will double between 2000 and 2030, requiring pre-emptive action to prepare for future urban growth. The report makes two underlying observations: poor people will make up a large part of urban growth; and most urban growth comes from natural increase rather than migration. For more information, see www.unfpa.org/swp UK NGOs urge government to open IMF selection process after Rato UK NGOs including Oxfam, ActionAid, Christian Aid, the new economics foundation and the Bretton Woods Project have called on the new UK government and its European partners to end the 63-year-old "gentlemen's agreement" that allows European governments to appoint the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and the United States government to appoint the President of the World Bank. Reacting to the announcement that IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato plans to resign in October, Peter Chowla, policy and advocacy officer at the Bretton Woods Project said: "European countries are now being given a second chance to lead the reform of international financial institutions." For more information, see http://brettonwoodsproject.org/primfmd ICT can flatten hierarchies IPS Interview with Sarbuland Khan, executive coordinator of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) under the United Nations Inform ation and Communication Technology (ICT) offers the best hope of rapidly empowering the poor and involving civil society in the development process. Sarbuland Khan urged that bureaucracies and governments are too reluctant to share either information or power. Khan told IPS correspondent Zofeen Ebrahim on the sidelines of the June 28-30 meeting of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) that information is a public good in the same way as water, health, food and sanitation. For more information, see www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38387 PROFILES DONOR - Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media (GFEM) is an association of grantmakers committed to advancing the field of media arts and public interest media funding. GFEM serves as a resource for grantmakers who fund media content, infrastructure and policy, those who employ media to further their programme goals as well as a collaborative network for funders who wish to learn more about media. GFEM seeks to increase the amount and effectiveness of media funding by foundations and other funders, to increase the use of media in grantmakers' and grantees' work, and to raise the broader foundation community's understanding of current media policy and trends as they affect funders' work in the larger grant making community. For more information, see www.gfem.org MEMBER - Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Centre (ACRPC) NGO The Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Centre (ACRPC) was founded in 1988 and is a leading Human Rights Education NGO in Armenia. Since 2002 ACRPC has been associated with the UN Department of Public Inform ation and is also a member of several national and international networks and coalitions, in particular the Civil Society Partnership Network, Global Campaign for Education, Global Call to Action against Poverty and some others. So far, ACRPC has followed the policies adopted at its inception and has been guided by its mission: To contribute to the development of legal culture in Armenia through scientific activity, education, information dissemination and advocacy. For more information, see www.acrpc.am BOOK REVIEWS Networking: Towards a Better Tomorrow Review by Professor Alan Fowler, co-founder of INTRAC Authors: Anil Singh and Robin Steve ns. Preface by Kumi Naidoo "Networks both co-determine the structure of power in the world and appear as a distinctive feature in civil society. Surprising, therefore, that study on this way of relating is poorly represented in today’s literature on development. This shortcoming makes Networking by Anil Singh and Robin Stevens a critical resource, particularly for those interested in understanding and improving the ways in which networking roles and responsibilities are variously undertaken." For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/Networkingforweb-final.pdf   The Green Agenda The book is recommended to those who seek to be introduced to the mechanics of the global efforts to combat environmental problems and the success or failure of these efforts. The message of the book is clear; the environment is too serious a business to be left to the total care of governments. Civil society should make its voice heard, and heard loudly and clearly. For more information, see www.hindu.com/br/2007/07/03/stories/2007070350051600.htm RESOURCES The State of the World's Children 2007 This publication examines the discrimination and disempowerment women face throughout children’s lives and outlines what must be done to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls. This pocked-sized Executive Summary provides an overview of the report and includes summary indicators that provide economic and social data on all of the world's regions. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/TheStateWorldChildren2007.pdf  Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (CPCS) is an integral part of The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. The Center studies philanthropic activities, volunteerism and nonprofit entrepreneurship by individual donors, foundations and corporations in the United States and around the world. CPCS has worked to highlight the philanthropic activities of different institutions and groups, with a particular emphasis on multiculturalism - the patterns of giving and voluntarism by different religious, ethnic, racial, gender and economic groups. As reflected in its partnership in the Coalition for New Philanthropy, CPCS is committed to linking academic approaches with practitioner needs." For more information see www.philanthropy.org/publications/online_publications.html Reclaiming rights and resources: Women, Poverty and Environment By Professor Wangari Maathai, M.P., Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 2004 “I see our trees as soldiers. A soldier’s job is to guard our land from invasion from hostile forces. Here in Africa, we often ignore our most stealthy, creeping and damaging enemy: desertification. If neighboring countries took as much land from us as desertification does, then we’d deploy all our troops at the border, and order them to fight hard to prevent further damage. Instead, chunks of land are lost annually to this mighty adversary and we help the process along with shortsighted policies. Without investing in our ‘soldiers’, particularly indigenous forests, we continue to harm our precious natural resources”. For more information, see http://care.ca/downloads/publ/Reclaimin-Rights-07.pdf The 2006 NGO Sustainability Index Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the 10th edition of the NGO Sustainability Index, a key ana lytical tool that measures the progress of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Europe and Eurasia (E&E) region. “The NGO Sustainability Index is an important tool for USAID and the donor community in that it allows us to focus resources and efforts to areas of civil society reform most in need of attention,” said Doug Menarchik, USAID’s acting assistant administrator for the E & E Bureau. For more information, see www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/dem_gov/ngoindex/2006/index.htm  Empowering communities to fight HIV in India CARE 's SAKSHAM programme has been empowering communities for two years. The effort strengthens awareness, knowledge and skills for HIV/AIDS m ana gement amongst non-governmental organisations in India . The programme's mantra is community based structural interventions leading to holistic empowerment, and a reduction in HIV transmission. For more information, see http://careindia.org/ManageProgramKey/VisitProgramDetail.aspx?ProgramKeyID=43 The European Social Charter The European Social Charter (revised) of 1996 (ETS No. 163) embodies in one instrument all rights guaranteed by the Charter of 1961 (ETS No. 035), its additional Protocol of 1988 (ETS No. 128) and adds new rights and amendments adopted by the Parties. It is gradually replacing the initial 1961 treaty. The European Social Charter (revised) guaranteed fundamental social and economic rights of all individuals in their daily lives. It takes account of the evolution which has occurred in Europe since the Charter was adopted in 1961. 39 of the Council of Europe's 47 member States are bound by the European Social Charter, and 23 of those countries have ratified the Revised Social Charter. For more information, see http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=163&CM=8&DF=&CL=ENG Tactical Tech and Women’s Net launch the Base Edition of NGO-in-a-box? Tactical Tech and Women's Net are pleased to announce the web launch of the latest edition of NGO-in-a-box, the BaseBox. The BaseBox is a collection of tools for the day to day running of small to medium sized NGOs. Produced by Tactical Tech in association with Women's Net, the BaseBox aims to make it easier to set up base, find the right software and learn how to use it. It target primarily activist and advocacy organisations in developing countries. The Box contains a set of peer-reviewed Free and Open Source Software tools, with associated guides and tutorials. For more information, see http://base.ngoinabox.org CONFERENCES & EVENTS  The Sustainable Finance Summit 2007 18-19 September, London, UK This event is specific to investors and financiers and will help participants to anticipate the impacts of climate change - physical, social and political. This summit agenda has been designed to help participants to adapt their day to day operations and long-term investments to ensure that their business model is sustainable. The event will help participants to recognise physical, financial and reputational risks and show them how they can take advantage of emerging opportunities in 'environmental finance'. For more information, see www.ethicalcorp.com/climatefinance2007 SANGONeT "ICTs for Civil Society" Conference 2007 17-18 July 2007, Johannesburg, South Africa The 2007 Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) conference coincides with our twentieth anniversary, and will reflect on the progress that South African NGOs have made over the past 20 years in adopting and integrating ICTs in their work. The theme of this year’s event is "Applications for the Development Sector". The conference will cover various strategic ICT issues relevant to the work of the NGO sector, including online fundraising, monitoring and evaluation, building online communities, open source migration, open content, mobile applications, ICTs and HIV/AIDS, business systems for NGOs, ICT procurement, and community access to ICTs. For more information, see www.sangonet.org.za/conference2007 Corporate Responsibility Reporting & Communications Conference 13-14 November 2007, London, UK Corporate Responsibility reporting is a topic that is continuing to gather speed throughout corporate Europe. This is no wonder considering stakeholders’ ever increasing demands for information on organisations’ sustainability performance. For more information, see www.ethicalcorp.com/reporting FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES  2007 International ePhilanthropy Awards Deadline extended to 16 July 2007 Self Nominations Encouraged. The goal of the International ePhilanthropy Awards is to honour those individuals, organisations and companies working in the ePhilanthropy field who have demonstrated extraordinary talent, creativity and insight in drawing the public’s attention to the important use of the Internet for philanthropic purposes and/or have created services or strategies that support this effort. For more information, see www.imakenews.com/ephilanthropy/e_article000851668.cfm?x=b9PJbl4,b5MJK9Lp Southern Africa Drivers of Change Award Application Deadline: 6 July 2007 The Drivers of Change award sponsored by Southern African Trust recognises individuals or organisations from across the southern Africa region that are making a real impact, especially in developing effective public policies and strategies to overcome poverty. It is awarded in three categories: civil society, government and business. The award has been established to hold up living examples of innovative practices, inclusive attitudes and effective processes that build social trust and create the best conditions to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/DriversChangeawardnominations-EntryForm.doc International Human Rights Internship Programme Application Deadline: 31 August/December 2007 The International Human Rights Internship Programme's (IHRIP) mission and work are based on the belief that human rights activists have knowledge and skills, as a result of their day-to-day work, that are important to the success not only of their own work, but the work of other activists and organisations, whether in their own or in other countries and regions. The human rights movement in specific countries, regions and internationally is strengthened through the exchange of knowledge, experience and expertise. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/InternationalHumanRightsInternshipProgramme.doc SPI - MAP HIV and AIDS and Gender Media Awards Application Deadline: 03 August 2007 The Sol Plaatje Institute ( SPI ) and Gender Links (GL) announce the SPI - MAP HIV and AIDS and Gender Media Awards to be presented at the Highway Africa Conference in Grahamstown, South Africa in September 2007. The partners SPI, which was established in 2002 and is associated with the Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies is an innovative project that seeks to play a key role in the success and quality of African media that meets and contributes to global journalism standards and information flow through providing courses for present and future media leaders to improve their editorial and business skills.”. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/SPI-HIVandAIDS-GenderMediaAwards.doc COURSES AND WORKSHOPS Facilitating Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues 25-29 September 2007, Berlin, Germany The integration of different stakeholders in sustainable development processes, company feedback and standard development is becoming more and more important for both the private and the public sector. Multi-Stakeholder-Dialogues, Round Tables and Public-Private-Partnerships have become key elements for finding solutions for our local and global challenges. In dialogue processes and round table forums stakeholders with very different interests come together. Multi-Stakeholder-Dialogues are successful when the different and sometimes contrary positions and interests are joined behind a common goal. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/Dialogic_facilitation_Germany_0708.pdf CALL FOR PAPERS/SUBMISSIONS/NOMINATIONS Call for Papers: Access, Inclusion and Success Conference 3-4 September 2007, Sydney, Australia The University of Western Sydney is calling for proposals to deliver a conference paper or present at a workshop at the Muslim Students - Access, Inclusion and Success Conference. The conference is for government, university and TAFE leaders and administrators, student support services, academics, overseas student education providers and agencies, education departments as well as local high school principals and representatives of the Muslim community. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/UniversityWesternSydney-MEDIARELEASE.doc  Fourth Call for Proposals for the Presidency Fund Application Deadline: 31 July 2007 (Until 30 September 2007) The Fourth Call for Proposals for the Presidency Fund is now open! The Presidency Fund came into operation to stimulate the capacity of civil society in the ten (2004) New Member States (NMS) to engage effectively in dialogue over the EU Development Policy. Eligible are NGOs from the 10 New Member States that joined the EU in 2004. For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/media/call_for_proposals_PresidencyFund.pdf APPOINTMENTS This week 6 new civil society job openings have been added to the CIVICUS website. Please visit www.civicus.org/new/jobs.asp JOB OF THE WEEK Membership Outreach Associate Application Deadline: 13 July 2007 CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation Johannesburg, South Africa For more information, see www.civicus.org/new/jobs_info.asp?id=1044 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 subscriptions@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: subscriptions@civicus.org