Womens Economic Rights> Re: e-CIVICUS - Number 133 - Connecting civil society worldwide

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> e-CIVICUS  Connecting civil society worldwide - 
Number 133
> 14 September, 2001
>
> CONTENTS
>
> A. From the desk of the CIVICUS Secretary General
> B. General news about civil society and citizen action
> C. International conferences/workshops/meetings/fairs 
and exhibitions
> D. Training courses
> E. New publications
> F. Internet news and websites
> G. Scholarly support and awards
> H. From the Reader
> I. Funders and donors profile
>
> A. FROM THE DESK OF THE CIVICUS SECRETARY GENERAL
>
> TRAGEDY IN THE UNITED STATES POSES ENORMOUS CHALLENGE 
FOR CIVIL SOCIETY 
> WORLDWIDE
>
> It is with great shock and sadness that people around 
the world
> witnessed 
> the tragic events in the United States of America 
this week. On behalf
> of 
> the CIVICUS Board, its members and staff, we extend 
our deepest
> condolences>  
> to all those who have lost loved ones and to the 
millions of people around>  
> the world who have been affected by these heinous 
acts.
>
> During this time of collective grief, CIVICUS wishes 
to honour those 
> citizens and civil society organizations whose acts 
of kindness,
> heroism, 
> and volunteerism have saved lives from the wreckage, 
while reminding us of>  
> our common humanity. In particular, we wish to 
acknowledge:
>
> - Volunteer and professional rescue workers who are 
still working to
> find 
> survivors;
> - Religious organizations and other secular non-
profit organizations who 
> have helped people to mourn and support their 
neighbours;
> - Women and men who have donated blood;
> - Women and men preparing food and providing other 
forms of support for 
> relief workers;
> - Volunteer and professional emergency medical 
personnel;
> - Messages of support and solidarity from individuals 
and organizations
> all>  
> over the world;
> - School children sending cards and teddy bears to 
school children in
> New 
> York as well as to victims in hospitals;
> - Those contributing money to families of victims;
> - Peace activists organizing vigils and teach-ins 
denouncing all violence
> - All individuals who are finding their own ways and 
gestures to express 
> support and grief
>
> We join civil society organizations around the globe 
in strongly 
> condemning  all forms of violence and terrorism. As 
Amnesty
> International 
> stated : ?The violent attacks in the USA represent 
the gravest violation>  of 
> most basic of human rights. The perpetrators must be 
brought to justice. 
> But in seeking justice for victims of this terrible 
crime, the world
> must 
> exercise the highest respect for the rights of all 
individuals. 
> International solidarity with the victims is not 
about seeking revenge but>  
> about co-operating within the rule of law to bring 
those responsible to 
> justice. Scapegoating individuals or communities will 
achieve nothing.?
>
> In the aftermath of this tragedy, we wish to denounce 
guilt by association>  
> that targets Arabs, Arab-Americans and our Muslim 
friends and
> neighbours. 
> This is the time to come together as a global, human 
community
> determined 
> to end the cycle of violence. In the coming days, 
civil society 
> organizations must send out a powerful message to 
governments that
> violence>  
> is not the answer to violence. The time has come to 
reflect on what is 
> happening in the world that leads to such a hideous 
event; civic 
> organizations can and should play a leading role in 
fostering such 
> reflection, and promoting the appropriate kinds of 
education and
> cultures 
> of dialogue and conflict resolution.
>
> Christian Aid, a UK-based development organisation, 
and others have
> urged 
> the United States and its allies to carefully assess 
the potential
> impact 
> any proposed military action might have on the poor, 
the innocent and
> the 
> voiceless. In view  of speculation of an imminent 
attack on Afghanistan, 
> foreign aid workers there who are being evacuated 
have pointed out that
> the>  
> vast majority of Afghan citizens do not support the 
atrocities carried out>  
> this week, they are in fact unaware of what has 
happened since most do not>  
> have access to media.
>
> We urge political leaders to act with calm and 
restraint  to ensure that 
> any actions taken respect human rights, international 
treaties and the
> rule>  
> of law. We cannot permit this tragedy to translate 
into war on whatever>  scale.
>
> In solidarity,
>
> Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General
>
> www.amnesty.org
> www.christian-aid.org.uk
> www.oneworld.org
>
> B. GENERAL NEWS ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY AND CITIZEN ACTION
>
> SEPTEMBER 11TH FUND - SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
>
> In the wake of the tragic events of Tuesday, many of 
you may be
> considering>  
> making special grants, establishing designated funds 
or guiding your
> donors>  
> who want to contribute to relief efforts in New York, 
Washington or
> other 
> affected communities.
>
> The Council on Foundations and United Way of America 
have worked with
> the 
> New York Community Trust and the United Way of New 
York City to coordinate>  
> that process. The New York Community Trust and United 
Way of New York City>  
> have set up a single, common relief fund-The 
September 11th Fund-to 
> mobilize financial resources to respond to the 
pressing needs of the 
> victims and their families and all those affected by 
the tragedy in any 
> community within the United States. We are using 
Council resources to 
> extend outreach to the many people worldwide who are 
looking for a way
> to 
> participate in an accountable and effective manner.
>
> The September 11th Fund was created to receive tax-
deductible donations 
> from any location.  The New York Community Trust and 
the United Way of New>  
> York City will administer the funds and will form a 
distribution committee>  
> to ensure that resources are deployed effectively in 
New York and other 
> cities affected by these terrible events. Donors may 
specify the community>  
> where they would like their contributions to be used.
>
> The fund will provide immediate support to 
established emergency
> assistance>  
> agencies, such as the American Red Cross. It will 
also bring together
> the 
> resources of other nonprofit health and human service 
agencies.
>
> Anyone wishing to contribute to The September 11th 
Fund may send donations
> in care of United Way of New York City, 2 Park 
Avenue, New York, NY 10016.
> Contributions also are being accepted on United Way 
of New York City's Web
> site at www.uwnyc.org.
>
> TWO-YEAR PROJECT FINDS CITIZEN PARTICPATION AN 
INCREASING STABILITY FACTOR>  
> AND ENHANCEMENT TOOL TO DEMOCRATIC THINKING IN ROMANIA
>
> For almost two years a USAID funded project in 
Romania, implemented by the>  
> Research Triangle Institute, on citizen participation 
revealed some 
> experiences and local practices that can make an 
external auditor
> believe 
> that Romania is on the right way to democracy.
>
> The project aimed at introducing citizen 
participation techniques 
> especially in raising the attention of local 
governments to be more open
> to>  
> its citizens. The programme was conducted through 
training sessions, 
> workshops where issues of budget transparency, 
citizen involvement in 
> preparing and carrying out local governments? action 
plans were raised.
>
> A result of the project was the publication of ?A 
Practical Guide to 
> Citizen Participation in Local Government in 
Romania?, a
> state-of-the-art>  
> guide with a strong emphasis on practical advice and 
featuring extensive 
> illustrations from US and Romanian local governments. 
The guide
> concludes 
> with chapters on CP in budgeting, financial 
management and local
> economic 
> development. The last three chapters also form the 
basis for separate 
> ?component mini-manuals,? already available in 
Romanian. The manual is>  
> available on the Internet: www.lga.ro .
>
> The project found that some local governments are 
receptive to change
> and 
> are ready to adopt new tools for closer communication 
with citizens,
> such 
> as: citizen advisory groups, public information 
campaigns, and ways of 
> assessing public opinion through surveys, focus 
groups, etc.
>
> Some rural communities have a history of citizen 
participation and 
> voluntary community organization that were crushed 
under the heavily 
> centralized former regime.  Reviving such 
institutions can be the first 
> step to more vital local government.  Example: 
cooperative management of 
> common pastures.
>
> A Citizen Participation program in a limited 
geographic area that 
> deliberately set out to unite the two communities 
around a common 
> participatory goal would well serve the objective of 
increasing
> stability 
> and enhancing the growth of democratic ways of 
thinking in western
> Romania.>  
> Such a program could be organized within a single 
county or group of 
> communes. Perhaps the most promising theme might be 
an environmental 
> project, which would draw on both communities? strong 
sense of place.
>
> For further information:
> CONTACT: Daniel Serban, Citizen Participation Program 
Manager, Research 
> Triangle Institute, Romania
> E-MAIL: dserban@xxxxxxx
> INTERNET: www.lga.ro
>
> INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY CONFERENCE IN KOREA 
PUSHES THE KOREAN 
> RECONCILIATION AND REUNIFICATION PROCESS FROM BELOW
> [Focus on Security]
>
> On 13-14 August, 2001 participants from Korea, the 
Asia-Pacific, Europe
> and>  
> North America attended an historic gathering at 
Yonsei University in
> Seoul,>  
> Korea: The International Conference on Korean 
Reconciliation and 
> Reunification for Global Peace. This was a landmark 
effort to globalize
> the>  
> struggle to overcome the division of Korea by 
bringing together the energy>  
> of Korean and international civil society movements 
and organizations.
>
> Just a little over a year ago, on June 15, 2000, the 
historic summit
> held 
> by the leaders of the two Koreas captured the 
imagination of the world, 
> offering the hope of dismantling the structures of 
military
> confrontation 
> and hostility on the Korean peninsula and of 
overcoming Korea?s
> division.>  
> At the time of the gathering, though, this historic 
process of 
> reconciliation and reunification was in grave danger. 
The Bush 
> administrations? cool attitude towards the 
reconciliation process,>  combined 
> with its shift in global military policy towards the 
Asia-Pacific region 
> has emerged as key obstacles towards moving torwards 
Korean reconciliation>  
> and reunification. The meeting in Seoul, by brining 
together 
> representatives from Korean and international civil 
society and
> follow-up 
> efforts, holds out the promise of giving the 
reconciliation and 
> reunification process a much needed push from below.
>
> Leading scholars, activists, elected representatives 
and diplomats came 
> together to engage in a broad dialogue about the 
progress towards 
> reconciliation and reunification, the obstacles to be 
overcome, the
> hopes 
> of moving forward and the need for international 
solidarity to support 
> these efforts. The two-day conference ended with the 
adoption of a 
> declaration by the participants and the related 
formation of a Global
> Forum>  
> for Korean Reconciliation and Reunification: Working 
for Korean Unity
> and 
> Global Peace.
>
> The conference could mark a significant leap forward 
in the
> ?globalization>  
> of movements for overcoming Korea?s division system,? 
to borrow from
> the>  
> title of a paper delivered at the conference. The 
Global Forum for
> Korean 
> Reconciliation and Reunification plans to build on 
efforts such as
> these, 
> supporting transnational movements working for Korean 
reconciliation and 
> reunification as part of the larger struggle for 
global peace and
> justice 
> in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the globe.
>
>
> C. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, 
FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS
> (Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are 
appearing in this
> newsletter 
> for the first time)
>
> GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY YEARBOOK 2001 LAUNCH IN NEW YORK 
(*)
>
> The Global Civil Society Yearbook will be launched on 
September 17th at
> a 
> champagne reception and buffet lunch. The book is 
published by Oxford 
> University Press.  The book launch and press 
conference are co-sponsored
> by>  
> the United Nations and the London School of Economics 
Foundation and 
> Centennial Fund.  The launch will be held from 12-
2:00 p.m. in the UN 
> Private Dining Room 6.  A press conference will 
immediately follow.
>
> Global Civil Society 2001 is the first edition of an 
annual series 
> thatwilldiscuss and clarify the concept of a 'global 
civil society', 
> attempt to map and measure it, and examine each year 
how it is 
> evolving.  The Yearbook gives a voice to civil 
society in the
> process of globalisation, helping to humanise and 
democratise this 
> process.  It serves as a tool for participants in 
global civil society
> by 
> shedding light on their strengths and weakenesses, 
and an aid in 
> agenda-setting.
>
> If you would like to attend
> CONTACT: Patty O'Grady at the
> TEL.: (1-212) 851-2994
> E-MAIL: p.o'grady@xxxxxxxxx
>
> INTERNATIONAL VENTURE PHILANTHROPY FORUM :
> Exploring New Capital Models for the Nonprofit Sector
>
> The Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-Sustainability Team 
(NESsT) invites
> you 
> to join over 150 corporate and foundation leaders, 
fund managers,
> venture 
> capitalists, private investors and policymakers in 
this first
> international>  
> gathering designed to provide greater international 
attention and 
> definition to the field of venture philanthropy. 
Participants from
> around 
> the world will critically evaluate the experience of 
venture
> philanthropy 
> investors, and will consider strategies for fostering 
venture philanthropy>  
> in the emerging economies of Central Europe and Latin 
America.
>
> This important event is less than  a month away!  
Visit the new Forum link>  
> on the NESsT website for updated agenda, speakers, 
etc.
>
> DATE: 1-3 October, 2001
> VENUE: Budapest, HUNGARY
> CONTACT: Forum Co-ordinator, NESsT
> TEL.: (56-2) 222-5190
> FAX: (56-2) 634-2599
> E-MAIL: forum@xxxxxx
> INTERNET: www.nesst.org
>
> INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VOLUNTEERING
>
> the International Conference on Volunteering will be 
held in November this>  
> jear in this year in Beijing. The conference is 
jointly sponsored by the 
> China National Committee for IYV 2001, UNDP/UNV, etc. 
in conjunction
> with 
> the International Year of Volunteers (IYV2001).
>
> The Chinese Government actively responded to the 
initiative of the UN by 
> establishing the China National Committee for IYV 
2001 in early March
> 2001.>  
> The International Conference on Volunteering is one 
of the major events 
> organized by the Committee during IYV 2001.The theme 
of the Conference
> is 
> Volunteering towards A Caring Society: Recognition, 
Facilitation and 
> Development. For more information about the 
Conference visit
> www.civa.org.cn>  .
>
> The Beijing International Volunteers Association is 
appointed as the 
> Secretariat of the Organizing Committee of the 
International Conference on>  
> Volunteering and invites organizations to participate 
in the Conference
> and>  
> the Exhibition.
>
> THEME: Volunteering Towards a Caring Society: 
Recognition, Facilitation
> and>  
> Development
> DATE: 7-9 November, 2001
> VENUE: Beijing, CHINA
> CONTACT: Wang Xin, Program Officer, Beijing 
International Volunteers 
> Association (BIVA), China International Center for 
Economic and
> Technical 
> Exchanges (CICETE)
> TEL.: 10-62016342
> FAX: 10-62380927
> E-MAIL: wangxin@xxxxxxxxxxx, 2001icv@xxxxxxxxxxx
> INTERNET: www.civa.org.cn, www.chinaiva.org
>
> DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE ­ 
COMMUNITY>  MULTIMEDIA 
> CENTRES (*)
>
> The regional seminar will be held by UNESCO in 
Bucharest, Romania on 12-16>  
> November 2001. International development partners are 
invited to the 
> November 16 session on project co-operation. For 
further information,
> see 
> www.unesco.org/webworld/bucharest.html .
>
> This meeting comes within the framework of UNESCO?s 
international 
> initiative for Community Multimedia Centres (CMCs), 
which aims to
> promote 
> community empowerment and to address the digital 
divide by combining 
> community broadcasting with Internet and related 
technologies. The 
> Bucharest meeting follows a successful seminar on the 
same theme in 
> Kothmale (Sri Lanka), 22-27 January, 2001. See: 
> www.unesco.org/webworld/public_domain/kothmale.shtml .
>
> UNESCO will invite 30 project managers from radio 
stations, community 
> telecentres and networked associations throughout 
Eastern Europe to
> explore>  
> the potential of convergence between these two types 
of facilities in a 
> four-day workshop (12-15 November). Professionals 
active in the field
> are 
> welcome to participate in the workshop as observers, 
at their own expense.
>
> The workshop will be followed by a roundtable on 16 
November attended by 
> international development partners to discuss project 
support. This is 
> expected to provide the impetus for a new 
international co-operative 
> initiative to empower and network communities in the 
region,
> particularly 
> disadvantaged or marginalised communities, by 
reinforcing existing 
> facilities, creating and networking CMCs.
>
> Development partners are invited to attend all or 
part of the workshop 
> preceding the roundtable.
>
> For further information visit 
www.unesco.org/webworld/bucharest.html or
>
> CONTACT: Stella Hughes or Rosa Gonzalez
> E-MAIL: s.hughes@xxxxxxxxxx or r.gonzalez@xxxxxxxxxx
>
>
> D. TRAINING COURSES
>
> BUSINESS PLANNING AND FINANCIAL MODELING FOR 
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
> 10-14 December 2001, Washington DC
>
> This five-day course introduces participants to a 
systematic business 
> planning framework and a sophisticated financial 
projections model 
> (Microfin) currently used by hundreds of MFIs around 
the world. The 
> workshop is lead by Chuck Waterfield and Tony 
Sheldon, the authors of
> the 
> tools, and provides extensive hands-on computer work.
>
> For further information:
> CONTACT:  Chuck Waterfield
> TEL.:  (1-717) 295-9292
> E-MAIL:  waterfield@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> INTERNET:  www.microfin.com
>
>
> E. NEW PUBLICATIONS
>
> ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: A GLOBAL ACTION AND 
REFLECTION GUIDE
> By David Cohen, Rosa de la Vega, and Gabrielle Watson
>
> Available September 2001, 368 pages, ISBN 1-56549-131-
9, US$ 49.95 spiral>  bound
>
> * The essential guide for advocacy practitioners, 
trainers, activists
> and 
> researchers.
> * The first comprehensive worldwide guide to advocacy 
skills and 
> organizations.
>
> Drawing on Oxfam America's and the Advocacy 
Institute's experience as 
> progressive social change organizations, Advocacy for 
Social Justice
> offers>  
> a framework for understanding advocacy in today's 
globalizing world.
>
> Above all, Advocacy for Social Justice celebrates the 
innovative and 
> inspirational advocacy efforts that are already 
creating change in so many>  
> countries, in both the North and the South.
>
> Intended for the advocacy practitioner and trainer 
alike, Advocacy for 
> Social Justice explores the elements of advocacy and 
offers a toolkit
> for 
> taking action, comprehensive case studies, and 
hundreds of resource 
> listings for hungry activists around the world.
>
> About the authors
>
> - David Cohen is a co-founder and co-Director of the 
Advocacy Institute,
> who
> has spent his adult life working as an advocate, 
organizer, lobbyist and
> strategist on major social justice and political 
reform issues in the USA.
>
> - Rosa de la Vega worked  as Coordinator of Capacity 
Building Programs at
> the Advocacy Institute for five years. She is now 
Program Coordinator with
> YouthBuild in New Mexico.
>
> - Gabrielle Watson works at the Centro de Derechos 
Economicos y Sociales,
> Quito, Ecuador. Previously, she worked as a 
researcher in the Policy
> Department at Oxfam America, and worked for five 
years researching and
> writing about social movements and community 
participation in urban
> services
> throughout Latin America.
>
> To order this book please visit the Kumarian website 
at www.kpbooks.com or:
>
> CONTACT: Guy Bentham, Editor and Associate Publisher, 
Kumarian Press Inc.
> TEL.: (1-860) 243-2098
> FAX: (1-860) 243-2867
> E-MAIL: GBenthamKPBooks@xxxxxxx
> INTERNET: www.kpbooks.com
>
> ENDEARING MYTHS, ENDURING MYTHS, ENDURING TRUTHS: 
ENABLING PARTNERSHIP 
> BETWEEN BUSINESS, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR
>
> Business Partners for Development has published a new 
report entitled
> 'Endearing Myths, Enduring Truths: Enabling 
Partnerships Between Business,>  
> Civil
> Society and the Public Sector. The report provides an 
insight into the>  emerging
> lessons from BPD's four Clusters. It can be viewed on 
line at 
> www.bpdweb.org/krg
> where you can also register to get on BPD's general 
mailing list.
>
>
> F. INTERNET NEWS AND WEBSITES
>
> CONECCS DATABASE
>
> The database for Consultation, the European 
Commission and Civil Society 
> (CONECCS) is part of the Commission's commitment to 
provide better 
> information about its consultation processes. Here 
you can find
> information>  
> about the Commission's formal or structured civil 
society consultation 
> bodies and search a directory of pan-European civil 
society
> organisations 
> representing a wide range of interests in Europe.
> INTERNET: 
europa.eu.int/comm/civil_society/coneccs/index_en.htm
>
> VOICES OF THE POOR AND SOCIAL CAPITAL WEBSITES IN 
SPANISH
>
> The PovertyNet team is striving to offer more 
materials in languages other>  
> than English and has just launched two new websites 
in Spanish:
> Voices of the Poor, at 
www.worldbank.org/poverty/spanish/voices/index.htm
> and Social Capital, at 
www.worldbank.org/poverty/spanish/scapital/index.htm
>
>
> G. SCHOLARLY SUPPORT AND AWARDS
>
> The College Board of Trustees has recently 
established a special 
> International Department Scholarship Fund (IDSF) 
through which we can
> grant>  
> scholarships to qualified participants from African 
Countries. At the same>  
> time, and in order to broader our scope of 
activities, they opened 2 new 
> departments, one for French speaking countries and 
the second for 
> Portuguese countries in Africa.
>
> The College cooperates in a number of higher 
education networks in
> Europe 
> and the Mediterranean area, mainly through the Med 
Campus and 
> other  Programmes (initiated and co-sponsored by the 
EU). A number of
> our 
> partners are Dutch universities and management 
schools. Please visit their>  
> web site which lists the networks in which the 
College participates. The 
> College is also a member of the European Association 
of International 
> Education (EAIE) and the European Health Management 
Association (EHMA).
>
> For further information:
> CONTACT: Dr. Joseph Shevel, President, Galillee 
College, Tivon, Israel
> E-MAIL: 
> 
<mailto:international_department@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>internat
ional_department@gal> ilcol.ac.il
> INTERNET: 
<http://www.galilcol.ac.il>www.galilcol.ac.il
> <mailto:jshevel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> H. FROM THE READER
>
> Dear CIVICUS World Assembly Organisers,
>
> I feel that I benefited most from the CIVICUS 4th 
World Assembly in the 
> areas of networking and cross-border cooperation. I 
hope to work with
> Mihai>  
> lisetchi from AID-ONG Romania on future projects. I 
attended the youth 
> workshop on the final day of the World Assembly and 
made good contacts and>  
> exchanges.
>
> The European regional meeting was also useful and 
enabled me to meet for 
> the first time or renew contacts with members in my 
region. This will 
> enable future cooperation.
>
> I want to sincerely thank the Participation Fund for 
the scholarship which>  
> afforded me this valuable experience. I would not 
have been able to make 
> such a long trip without it and I promise to make the 
best use possible of>  
> everything that I have gained by my presence at the 
Vancouver World>  Assembly.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Alicja Derkowska, Educational Society for Malopolska, 
Poland
>
> I. ABOUT CIVICUS
>
> CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is 
an international 
> alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action 
and civil society 
> throughout the world.
>
> e-CIVICUS is produced weekly, and distributed to 
thousands of
> subscribers 
> world-wide. If you would like to comment on a past 
issue of e-CIVICUS or 
> request that appropriate information about your 
organisation be included
> in>  
> a future issue of e-CIVICUS, please contact the 
CIVICUS Newsletter
> Office 
> at the following e-mail address: news@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Due to space restrictions, we may not be able to 
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>
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>
> Co-ordinator of e-CIVICUS:
> Miklos Barabas, Programme and Communications Director
> TEL.: (36-1) 356-8440 FAX: (36-1) 356-8499
> E-MAIL: news@xxxxxxxxxxx
> INTERNET: www.civicus.org