*
** Dear friends and colleagues,
*Durban Review Conference*
Statement delivered by Renate Bloem
Civicus, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, a movement of civil
society with members and partners in over 110 countries, welcomes the
opportunity to address the Durban Review Conference. We offer our
support to this UN gathering united in the battle against racism.. All
the more we deplore the absence of some countries, in particular the
boycott of the US delegation. Having affirmed a new spirit and
commitment to deal with the world's problems, we see this as a missed
opportunity for the Obama administration to demonstrate its support for
the UN and its multilateral processes. Walking away from the table does
not benefit the United Nations whose cause would be best served if all
UN member states remain engaged in the process. We are reminded of the
words of a member of the US delegation who after 9/11 and Durban I said:
"Durban teaches us that there is a high price to pay when we disengage
from global diplomacy".
Read more <http://www.civicus.org/desk-of-secretary-general>...
With gratitude, faith and solidarity,
Ingrid Srinath
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*Letters to the Editor*
e-CIVICUS publishes selected correspondence from its readers - and
visitors to the CIVICUS website - in a new section called 'Letters to
the Editor'. Please keep such letters short (preferred length of 50 to
200 words) and mention 'Letters to the Editor' in your message or
heading. These may be sent to editor@civicus.org
<mailto:editor@civicus.org>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*CIVICUS Poll Question*
*
This week's question:*
The launch of the French edition of e-CIVICUS later this month would be
a. Super
b. Useful
c. I don't understand French
To answer the question, /click here/ <http://www.civicus.org>.*
*
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*JOIN **e-CIVICUS* *- BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR
*e-CIVICUS keeps tens of thousands of people and organisations informed
of the many developments taking place in civil society around the world.
This e-publication seeks to encourage and amplify the voices of those
struggling for a more just world. As a subscriber, you know the value
e-CIVICUS can bring to your work.
Why don't you suggest to your friends to register for a free
subscription? They can send an email to subscriptions@civicus.org
<mailto:subscriptions@civicus.org> or fill out the subscription form
here <http://www.civicus.org/content/ecivicussubscription.htm>.
Alternatively, please forward their email addresses to us and we'll
contact them on your behalf. Please send your contributions by Monday
every week to editor@civicus.org <mailto:editor@civicus.org>. All
contributions must be focused on civil society issues or have a civil
society angle.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*CIVIL SOCIETY NEWS*
*UN anti-racism conference winds down amid NGO expulsions for bad behaviour*
Source: Human Rights Education Associates (HREA)
The ongoing United Nations anti-racism conference in Geneva concluded
its general debate today after hearing statements on new forms of racist
discrimination and expelling three non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
for disruptive behaviour. A number of the UN agencies spoke at the
five-day Durban Review Conference, which comes to a close tomorrow,
including the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which warned that
saying no to racism in the work is key to promoting respect, tolerance
and inclusiveness. /For details, click here
<http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=2&language_id=1&headline_id=9078>/.
*ECOPOLIS Graduate Research and Design Awards (formerly known as Agropolis)*
Source: International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
The ECOPOLIS Graduate Research and Design Awards promote research and
design projects that help lighten the environmental problems borne by
the urban poor and enhance their financial, human, resource, and social
and political assets. Awards will be granted to cover expenses related
to master's or doctorate-level research projects in developing countries
where the researcher has formed a partnership with organisations such as
local research institutions, NGOs, national and/or international
organisations, and city governments. In principle, IDRC supports
research on all parts of the developing regions of the world. At this
time, the Ecopolis Graduate Research and Design Awards Program is not
supporting awards which involve research in Burma, Cuba, Iran, Iraq,
Eastern Europe or Central Asia. /For details, click here
<http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-101266-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html>/.
*Durban Review Conference: Civicus statement*
By Renate Bloem
Civicus, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, a movement of civil
society with members and partners in over 110 countries, welcomes the
opportunity to address the Durban Review Conference. We offer our
support to this UN gathering united in the battle against racism.. All
the more we deplore the absence of some countries, in particular the
boycott of the US delegation. Having affirmed a new spirit and
commitment to deal with the world's problems, we see this as a missed
opportunity for the Obama administration to demonstrate its support for
the UN and its multilateral processes. Walking away from the table does
not benefit the United Nations whose cause would be best served if all
UN member states remain engaged in the process. We are reminded of the
words of a member of the US delegation who after 9/11 and Durban I said:
"Durban teaches us that there is a high price to pay when we disengage
from global diplomacy". /For details, click here
<http://www.civicus.org/media/Durban_Review_Conference_CIVICUS_Statement.pdf>/.
*The World Organisation Against Torture*
Source: SOS-Torture Network
The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) welcomes the decision of
President Barak Obama to declassify and release information confirming
that senior officials in the Bush Administration authorized extreme
interrogation techniques, including water-boarding, on suspected
terrorists in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and calls for a full
investigation of these facts and prosecution of those suspected of
having committed or otherwise participated in, or authorised, whether
expressly or tacitly, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment. /For details, click here
<http://www.civicus.org/media/PressRelease-SOS-Torture-Network.pdf>/.
*Obama at 100 days — Assessments of government transparency and
regulatory reform efforts*
Source: OMB Watch
In November 2008, OMB Watch, together with a diverse set of
organisations and individuals, presented Barack Obama (who was then
President-elect) and Congress with recommendations on how to improve
government transparency, advance Americans' right to know, reform the
regulatory process, and ensure that federal agencies are working to
advance the public interest. The recommendations were included in two
separate reports, Moving Toward a 21st Century Right-to-Know Agenda and
Advancing the Public Interest through Regulatory Reform. Both reports
included actions for President Obama to undertake within the first 100
days of his presidency. /For details, click here
<http://www.ombwatch.org/obamaat100days>/.
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*GET* *INVOLVED!
**The CIVICUS Civil Society Index Blog is now online! *
Keep abreast of recent activities within the CSI team and program. Visit
http://civilsocietyindex.wordpress.com
<http://civilsocietyindex.wordpress.com/> and share the link with your
colleagues, networks and stakeholders. This new blog will provide CSI
partners as well as interested parties all over the world a more
informal and interactive way of giving and getting updates during this
implementation phase, and will serve as a hub of information for you to
disseminate, access and interact with throughout the project. /For
details, click here <http://civilsocietyindex.wordpress.com/>/.
Read more <http://www.civicus.org/ecivicus-newsletter/getinvolved>...
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***GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS UPDATE
**UN's new development chief aims to cut poverty despite crises*
Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The new administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
vowed today to sharpen her agency's focus on cutting poverty despite the
multiple crises currently facing the world. "A new deal for the world
economy and a new deal for the environment should also be capable of
tackling poverty, including tackling energy poverty and providing a low
carbon footprint route to development," Helen Clark said as she was
welcomed to the UN's New York Headquarters in a Maori ceremony of her
native New Zealand, for which she formerly served as Prime Minister.
/For details, click here
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30624&Cr=undp&Cr1=>/.
*ITUC May Day Declaration, 2009*
Source: International Trade Union Confederation (ITCU)
The world is facing its gravest economic crisis in over 60 years. Tens
of millions of jobs are being lost due to the greed, plunder and
incompetence which have, through decades of free market deregulation,
led the world into deep recession. Global poverty and inequality are
increasing fast, and working women and men everywhere face levels of
insecurity unprecedented in recent times. Trade unions demand
far-reaching, urgent and coordinated action to pull the world out of
recession. Governments must act to keep people in work and create new
jobs, to avoid an even deeper and longer-lasting crisis. These actions
are essential, but alone they are not sufficient. /For details, click
here <http://www.ituc-csi.org/spip.php?article3514>/.
Read more <http://www.civicus.org/ecivicus-newsletter/civilactivism>...
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*PROFILES
MEMBER: Health Action International Bolivia (AIS Bolivia) Bolivian
Committee for Consumer's Rights Protection (CODEDCO Bolivia)*
Working since 1988 AIS-CODEDCO Bolivia are non-profit NGOs and that
together form a human right and social development organisation. The
mission of AIS-CODEDCO Bolivia is to promote the exercise of human
rights, public health, access to health care and medicines, rational use
of medicines, patients and consumer rights and respond mainly to
deprived population's interests. AIS - CODEDCO Bolivia keep good
channels of collaboration with similar organisations around the world
and are part of the Global Call Against Poverty (GCAP), working on
issues such as North-South political and trade relationships, Millennium
Development Goals, poverty eradication, influencing public policies,
fair trade, and other related. AIS-CODEDCO Bolivia are members of the
Bolivian Oversight Mechanism, the Bolivian Human Rights Chapter and the
Permanent Bolivian Human Rights Assembly.
AIS-CODEDCO Bolivia is quite interested in strengthening collaboration
with similar organisations, working on analogous issues, with similar
philosophy, strategies, perspectives and genuine commitment to promote
human rights. The organisation offers independent and updated
information and education and tries to raise public awareness trough
lobby, advocacy and mobilization of groups (at community level, trade
unions, professionals associations and universities) and cooperation
with other institutions activities and actions. These organisations
ensure follow-up to national health and trade policies and international
health regulations and trade agreements, advocating for the right to
health for all and to put first health than trade interests. /For more
information, please contact Oscar Lanza Van den Berghe at
aisbol@entelnet.bo <mailto:aisbol@entelnet.bo>/.
Read more profiles <http://www.civicus.org/memberships/member-profiles>...
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*BOOKS, REPORTS & RESOURCES*
**Knowledge To Policy - Making the most of development research**
Source: International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Does research influence public policy and decision-making and, if so,
how? This book is the most recent to address this question,
investigating the effects of research in the field of international
development. It starts from a sophisticated understanding about how
research influences public policy and decision-making. It shows how
research can contribute to better governance in at least three ways: by
encouraging open inquiry and debate, by empowering people with the
knowledge to hold governments accountable, and by enlarging the array of
policy options and solutions available to the policy process.
Knowledge to Policy examines the consequences of 23 research projects
funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre. Key
findings and case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America are
presented in a reader-friendly, journalistic style, giving the reader a
deeper grasp and understanding of approaches, contexts, relationships,
and events. /For details, click here
<http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-135779-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html>/.
**UN Anti-Racism Conference closes its Geneva Chapter**
By Renate Bloem
After a rich and exhaustive week, bouncing between despair and hope, the
final curtain came down last Friday on this Review Conference, dubbed
Durban II, when 182 member States unanimously adopted the Conference
Report which contained the by now famous Outcome document. Moments of
deep emotion following the acclamation saw literally high Diplomats in
quite unusual embrace with each other or with civil society
representatives. This spirit of unity will hopefully remain as the
Geneva legacy to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance – the full name of the conference - after a long and
thorny preparatory process. /For details, click here
<http://www.civicus.org/media/Durban_Review_Conference_report.pdf>/.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*CONFERENCES & EVENTS *
**Evening Debate: "Free movement of persons in the recession period"**
11 May 2009, Brussels
This debate is the first part of the event. It will address a number of
questions concerning the impact of the economic crisis on mobility as
well as preventing protectionism and xenophobic reactions to the free
movement of persons. We hope the Commissioner for Employment, Social
Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Vladimír Špidla will deliver a
keynote speech. Given the profile of the speakers, we expect to attract
around 200 participants. /For details, click here
<http://www.ecas-citizens.eu/component/option,com_alphacontent/section,20/cat,909/task,view/id,192/Itemid,113/>/.
**"Who is responsible for the vulnerable intra-EU migrants and how does
the current economic crisis affect them?"**
12 May 2009, Brussels
The conference will be held at the European Economic and Social
Committee. It opens with a Citizen's Group as the first item on the
agenda and closes with a summary of conclusions and recommendations. We
hope to have a wide range of professional groups in attendance,
including European and national level decision makers, local
authorities, various non–government organisations and academics. /For
details, click here
<http://www.ecas-citizens.eu/component/option,com_alphacontent/section,20/cat,909/task,view/id,192/Itemid,113/>/.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*WORKSHOPS AND COURSES*
**Making Governance Gender Responsive (MGGR)**
23-30 July, 2009 - Asian Institute of Management Conference Center
Manila (ACCM)
"Making Governance Gender Responsive (MGGR)" is a generic course that
can be adapted and modified to suit the needs of the different countries
in Asia-Pacific. Content-wise, the course starts with the conceptual
definition of gender and governance. The training module will also have
inputs on key aspects of governance (domains and exercise of authority)
as well as the attributes of gender-responsive governance. The course
also introduces the tools for identifying and analyzing the gender
biases in governance. /For details, click here
<http://www.capwip.org/training/mggr.htm>/.
**Impact assessment**
06 - 08 May 2009, Oxford
With increased pressures on delivery and accountability, the need has
never been greater for civil society and other development organisations
to assess the long-term impact of their work. In three fruitful days you
will explore the current state of the debate about impact assessment as
well as reviewing current practice and methodologies. Learn to assess
the effectiveness of your work. /For details, click here
<http://www.intrac.org/training.php?id=115>/.
**Workshop series for NGOs "Opportunities in Challenging Times"**
22-23 May 2009, YMCA International (18, YMCA Road, Mumbai Central)
Do you think organisations like yours would be affected by the economic
downturn, and other significant changes in the income tax provisions,
FCRA and funding trends? Do you need to know of the opportunities and
challenges not just to cope with it but also to play a more influencing
role? If YES, here's an opportunity for YOU. CSO Partners is presenting
"Opportunities in Challenging Times – A Workshop for NGOs" a series of
workshops in six cities across India. The workshop will comprise panel
discussion with participants from corporate and social sector, group
discussions and one-on-one clinics with experts in social sector. /For
details, click here <http://csopartners.org.in/cso-workshop.pdf>/.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*CALL FOR PAPERS, SUBMISSIONS, SURVEYS & NOMINATIONS*
*University for peace–IDRC doctoral research awards and full study PhD
fellowships*
Deadline: May 31, 2009
The University for Peace Africa Programme and the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC) are jointly supporting doctoral
research awards and full study PhD fellowships in peace research and
related fields. This funding will be strictly allocated to African
students studying at African institutions. This awards program is part
of CTAP's Southern Junior Researchers Awards Program. /For details,
click here <http://www.africa.upeace.org>/.
*The Atkin Fellowship for Arab-Israeli dialogue*
Deadline: 08 June 2009
Thanks to the generosity of the Atkin Foundation, ICSR is offering young
leaders from Israel and the Arab world the opportunity to come to London
for a period of four months. The purpose of the fellowship is to provide
young leaders from Israel and the Arab world with an opportunity to
develop their ideas on how to further peace and understanding in the
Middle East through research, debate and constructive dialogue in a
neutral political environment. The Atkin Fellowship is aimed at
promoting new thinking among young leaders - typically from government,
business, academia, and the media - who occupy positions from they can
shape politics and public opinion in Israel and the Arab world. /For
details, click here <http://www.icsr.info/project.php?id=4>/.
Read more <http://www.civicus.org/callforpapers>...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*APPOINTMENTS
*This week, new* *civil/ /society job openings have been added to the
CIVICUS website. Please click here
<http://civicus.org/vacanciesandinternships>.
Should you wish to publish a *New Vacancy*, please click on Add job
<http://www.civicus.org/vacanciesandinternships/25/242-add-job-listing>.
Please add an expiry date for applications.
*JOBS OF THE WEEK
*
*Participatory Governance Programme Manager *
Application Deadline: 22 May 2009
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
/For details, click here
<http://www.civicus.org/civicusvacancies/1054-participatory-governance-programme-manager>/.
*Civil Society Index Programme Officer *
Application Deadline: 08 May 2009
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
/For details, click here
<http://www.civicus.org/vacanciesandinternships/1047-civil-society-index-programme-officer>/.
*Civil Society Watch Programme Officer *
Application Deadline: 08 May 2009
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
/For details, click here
<http://www.civicus.org/civicusvacancies/1050-civil-society-watch-programme-officer>/.
*Civil Society Watch Programme Manager *
Application Deadline: 08 May 2009
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
/For details, click here
<http://www.civicus.org/civicusvacancies/1049-civil-society-watch-programme-manager>/.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*CONTACT** **e-CIVICUS*
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