VOICES RISING
YEAR III - VOL 3. Nº124
March 03, 2005
CONTENT
1.- BEIJING + 10
2.- AN URGENT REQUEST FOR YOUR HELP FROM THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION / ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL
3.- APPEAL FOR SEPTEMBER 10TH 2005
4.- WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONGRESS
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1.- BEIJING + 10
New York, February 27th, 2005
1st . Report
by Fanny Gómez and Alejandra Scampini
REPEM
With cold weather and snow on the streets, women from all ages, but few of them young, many gloves, scarves, boots and warm clothes, in Barnard College, we started the first day of a series of activities that shall be held from March 12 to 27, within the framework of the 49th. Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
The objective of this session is the revision of the implementation of the World Action Platform and the documents arising from the special session of the General Assembly, called: 2005 Women: gender equity, development and peace for the 21st. Century and the identification of the present challenges and perspectives for the advancement and empowerment of women and girls.
More than 750 women attended today the NGO Consultation: "From Mexico City to Beijing and beyond. Realizing the vision".
Out of a high number of women from the
After the formal greetings, we had the opportunity to listen to Ms. Kyung-Wha Kay, Chair of the CSW from
She highlighted that ECOSOC encouraged UN members to be present at the CSW. More than 80 ministers shall be here during these two weeks, ministers with other portfolios, apart from women's ministries. There has been a major opening to NGO's accreditation. Each delegation has between 20 and 50 representatives. More than 6000 registered organizations. This data shows the dimension of this Beijing+10 event.
Within the framework of the revision and evaluation of Beijing, it is adequate to have delegations with such level and profile.
The key aspects of these activities shall be the High Level Plenary where governments will share experiences in the implementation of the World Action Platform and progressing and less progressing spheres will be identified; the High Level Round Table is also important because it will be a governments' dialogue on the innovations of the mechanisms for women's advancement.
Afterwards she shared her views about 7 interactive panels on the most relevant issues:
1. Relationship between Beijing and Millennium Development Goals. The objective of the CSW is to contribute to the MDG process.
2. Women's Human Rights. Discuss the synergy between CEDAW and Beijing.
3. Gender perspective from young people's view.
4. Relevant data and statistics. This issue is still a challenge for the promotion of gender equity.
5. Five Regional Commissions. The intention is to create a space where UN regional commissions may present their revisions.
6. Gender perspective and macroeconomy
7. International Women's Day. A panel shall be held for celebration, special guests, Peace Nobel prices, women who were in Nairobi, Beijing, etc.
The issue of women's political participation could be surprising but she explained that this issue will be tackled next year. Following the line of the future, the CSW informed that its function will go on being the evaluation, follow-up and control of the platform. It is going to decide which will be the multiannual work programme based on the outcome of this debate during these two weeks. The objective is also to make the CSW really effective in the ECOSOC process. Another mandate of the Communication Working Group is to detect models and trends in women's discriminations and to see recommendations. In terms of statistics, the challenge is to have enough number of cases so as to detect these models and trends. Thus, she encouraged to document cases and report them.
This presentation provided lots of logistic data, about the history of the process but no evidence about the governments' position and the political scenario that we shall face during these two weeks.
The first panel was an interesting review from Mexico 75 to Beijing 2005. Panelists were remarkable leaders of each region, who brought their reflections about progress and challenges.
Bene Madunagu, General Coordinator of DAWN, from Nigeria,
"WE HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO SHOW THAT WE CAN ADVANCE"
She remarked that lots of things have been done and there is still much to do, but she emphasizes on the need to underline that lots of things have been done to show that it is possible. Among the advancements, she remarks the protocol of the African Union on sexual and reproductive rights, signed by all the countries except one. The debate about the act against women's genital mutilation and trafficking.
From India, Devaki Jain
"WE HAVE TO MOVE FROM A MONITORING MODEL TO A REELABORATION MODEL"
She reflected based on her experience as activist from 1975 to 2005 and gave arguments in favour of the Resistence in several senses. Her arguments are that the value of the UN Conferences is that it constitutes a tool available for women. She called for an analysis of our own articulations and how these can transform the UN. She believes it is necessary and urgent to examine the UN and to prepare our ideas regarding how we would like the UN to be.
The 6000 NGOs present must join synergies so as to avoid losing ground due to the United States threat.
From Central Europe, Wanda Nowick
BEIJING IS NOT ONLY AN ACTION PLATFORM, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOLIDARITY, ENERGY, COLLABORATION AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG WOMEN"
Wanda makes the first political statement, by saying that presidential elections in the
Mildred Persinger
AT PRESENT, WOMEN ARE IN THE UN STRUCTURE AND THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE UN AND THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT ARE IMPORTANT".
In a very moving way, she talked about her role in Bucarest in 1974, when she participated in the preparation of the declaration of the conference on population where the word "women" appeared only in one phrase, regarding her role in fertility. She referred to her active work to make the debate go beyond the reproduction issue and she told how she called for more women to join this process. We realized, by the accomplice looks and laughter, that many of those who were there had been part of this story.
In order to close the panel, our dear Gina Vargas from Latin America said:
"THE WORLD ACTION PLATFORM IS STILL A POWERFUL WAY BUT THE CONTEXT IS HIGHLY THREATENED BY ALL FORMS OF NEOLIBERALISM, MILITARISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM "
She remarked that we arrived to Beijing + 10 with backward movements in terms of rights, justice and democracy, with blunt discriminations, global neoliberal forces, militarisms and fundamentalisms. She said that we arrived with a weakened UN, with Millennium Development Goals that were not consulted with civil society and without taking into account women's empowerment and equity between men and women as a starting point. She ended saying that the return to Beijing 10 is important, but different, due to the requirements, from the acknowledgement that the World Action Platform will not be useful with the United States, with a weak UN, without a radical change of global architecture, without the participation of civil society, without the defence of the secular state and the Vatican as observer.
But this return to Beijing 10 is also marked by other world horizons such as the WSF that proposes a new international architecture, a shift towards other possible worlds without neoliberalism, militarism or fundamentalisms.
PANEL 2 REPORT FROM REGIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES AND GAPS
Carolyn Hannan, DAW's Director mentioned that after 30 years of UN efforts to promote gender equity, at present, we have to take this opportunity to dialogue, exchange experiences and demand the reaffirmation of the World Action Platform and its whole implementation. Revision.
Not much has been achieved and the progress is not even, there are obstacles in all spheres, discrimination is still present, and is expressed in low political participation, segregation, salary differences, more poverty among women because they have not gained access and control over resources, more sexual and domestic violence in countries suffering armed conflicts, high mortality rates and AIDS prevalence among women, women's trafficking, attitude towards women in decision-making jobs have not changed. There is lack of statistics to assess processes. Low allocation of resources.
In terms of achievements, the common points to all regions were:
Legislative developments, although they have not always become true, practical facts.
Taboo issues that have been raised in public debates
Many countries have ratified the CEDAW
The critical role of the NGOs
Higher participation of women at political level, although there is still much to be done, particularly in cultural aspects by accepting their participation at decision-making levels.
Provide more attention to HIV.
Gender violence has been dealt with, but without enough levels of enforcement and access to justice.
Regarding gaps, the following was mentioned
Limited political will
Gap in the implementation and availability of resources
HIV pandemia
Increased gender violence
International Cooperation fatigue
Women's human rights agenda, opposed to gender mainstreaming
Gaps in the women's trafficking field, that Nilza Iraci remarked as the cause of the increase in xenophobia.
Education is not related to better women's income.
The issue of gender discourse has been coopted so as to search resources for men.
In terms of challenges, the following were posed:
Globalization in its negative aspects because poor women are the most affected ones.
It is necessary to see, in a critical way, methodologies and gender mainstreaming.
Fundamentalisms, terrorism and natural disasters.
We particularly remark Nilza Iraci's proposals from Latin America, who contributed with the voice of the Follow-up Committee by affirming the importance of the work of networks, campaigns and articulations in the follow-up process, as a unique experience from the region and with relation to other regions. We have contributed with the acknowledgment of diversity in the Follow-up Committee itself and evaluation. The World Action Platform was used as a framework in the definition of political strategies. She highlights the resistence of governments to assume more important commitments in the application of the World Action Platform; there is no integrality, depth and sustaintability in the political implementation.
Likewise, she remarks the growth of religious fundamentalist groups (catholics and evangelists) that have hindered the advancement of the fight for a secular state. There is no political will in terms of sexual and reproductive rights.
Debt payment hinders poverty reduction. She finally claims that the World Action Platform be implemented, free of racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. She claimed for more resources and said that, rather than the goals, we want the whole platform.
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KOFI ANNAN'S REMARKS
New York, 28 February 2005 - Secretary-General's remarks at the opening of the session of the Commission on the Status of Women Marking Beijing + 10
Thank you very much, Madame President,
I am delighted to be with you as you open this milestone session of the Commission on the Status of Women a session at which you mark the ten-year review of the Beijing Conference and Platform for Action.
Ten years ago, women gathered in Beijing and took a giant step forward.
As a result, the world recognized explicitly that gender equality is critical to the development and peace of every nation.
Ten years on, women are not only more aware of their rights: they are more able to exercise them.
Over this decade, we have seen tangible progress on many fronts. Life expectancy and fertility rates have improved. More girls are enrolled in primary education. More women are earning an income than ever before.
We have also seen new challenges emerge. Consider the trafficking of women and children an odious but increasingly common practice. Or the terrifying growth of HIV/AIDS among women especially young women.
Yet as we look back on the past decade, one thing stands out above all else: we have learnt that the challenges facing women are not problems without solutions. We have learnt what works and what doesn't work.
If we are to change the historical legacy that puts women at a disadvantage in most societies, we must implement what we have learnt on a larger scale.
We must take specific, targeted action on a number of fronts.
The report of the Millennium Project Task Force on Education and Gender Equality outlines seven strategic priorities for doing just that.
They represent seven specific investments and policies that can be applied readily over the coming decade, on a scale large enough to make a real difference.
First, strengthen girl's access to secondary as well as primary education. Education holds the key to unlocking most of the obstacles facing girls and women from being forced into early marriage, to vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Second, guarantee sexual and reproductive health and rights. How can we achieve real equality when half a million women die of pregnancy-related causes every year causes that are entirely preventable?
Third, invest in infrastructure to reduce women's and girls' time burdens. What are the prospects for girls and women who are forced to spend half of every day gathering water, fuel and other necessities for their families?
Fourth, guarantee women's and girls' property and inheritance rights. How can women climb out of poverty without access to land and housing? And without that security, how can they protect themselves against the impact of HIV/AIDS?
The same goes for the fifth priority -- eliminating gender inequality in employment. And a good job is also a woman's best protection against falling prey to trafficking.
Sixth, increase women's share of seats in national parliaments and local government. Equality of opportunity in policy-making is not only a human right; it is a prerequisite for good governance.
And seventh, redouble efforts to combat violence against girls and women. That means leadership in showing, by example, that when it comes to violence against women and girls, there are no grounds for tolerance and no tolerable excuses.
Friends,
As you recommit yourselves to the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, I hope you will consider these seven priorities as guideposts that can help shape national programmes.
Above all, I would urge the entire international community to remember that promoting gender equality is not only women's responsibility it is the responsibility of all of us.
Sixty years have passed since the founders of the United Nations inscribed, on the first page of our Charter, the equal rights of men and women.
Since then, study after study has taught us that there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.
No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, or to reduce infant and maternal mortality.
No other policy is as sure to improve nutrition and promote health -- including the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
No other policy is as powerful in increasing the chances of education for the next generation.
And I would also venture that no policy is more important in preventing conflict, or in achieving reconciliation after a conflict has ended.
But whatever the very real benefits of investing in women, the most important fact remains: women themselves have the right to live in dignity, in freedom from want and from fear.
When the world's leaders gather here in September to review progress in implementing the Millennium Declaration, I hope they will be able to take urgent action accordingly.
And I hope that all of you will keep up the good fight, and steer them in the right direction.
I thank every one of you for your commitment, and I wish you a most
productive session.
Thank you very much.
This message has been sent through the International Sexual and Reproductive Rights Coalition (ISRRC) list-serve. If you wish to unsubscribe from this list please visit http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/isrrc-l
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NGO STATEMENT ON THE
The purpose of this Session of the CSW—the UN body charged specifically with advancing the status of women—is to reaffirm the Beijing Platform for Action, not to move backward or undermine it.
We, representatives of civil society organizations from all regions of the world, celebrate the historic achievement for women’s human rights that the Platform represents. We strongly applaud the statement by Secretary General Kofi Annan that the Platform adopted in 1995 was “a giant step forward” and “that gender equality is critical to the development and peace of every nation,” and we affirm his call for specific targeted actions to realize women’s rights in ALL areas. In this light, we urge government delegations to oppose unequivocally the amendment to the Draft Declaration proposed by the
POSITION DES ONGs SUR LA MODIFICATION PROPOSEE PAR LES ETATS-UNIS
A LA DECLARATION POLITIQUE DE LA 49E SESSION DE LA COMMISSION SUR LE STATUT DE LA FEMME
Le but de cette session de la Commission sur le Statut de la Femme – l’organe des Nations-Unies chargé spécifiquement de promouvoir l’autonomisation des femmes – est de réaffirmer la Plateforme d’action de Beijing, et non pas de régresser ou de miner celle-ci.
Nous, répresentants des organisations de la société civile de toutes les régions du monde, célébrons la victoire historique pour les droits des femmes que représente la Plateforme. Nous nous félicitons de la déclaration faite hier par le Secrétaire-Général de l’ONU que la Plateforme adoptée en 1995 est « un immense pas en avant » et « que l’égalité entre les sexes est une composante vitale pour le développement et la paix de toutes les nations. » Nous réaffirmons par ailleurs l’appel du Secrétaire-Général à des actions spécifiques et bien ciblées pour réaliser les droits des femmes dans TOUS les domaines. Dans ce contexte, nous pressons les délégations gouvernementales ici réuinies de s’opposer catégoriquement à la modification proposée par les Etats-Unis. Réaffirmons la Plateforme dans son entièreté, et passons à l’action !
Servicios Integrales para la Mujer, SI MUJER (Nicaragua); Red de Género y Economía (México); Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres (México); Red de Género y Medio Ambiente (México); Las Dignas (El Salvador); Red Siempre (Puerto Rico); Articulación Feminista Marcosur, Red de Educación Popular Entre Mujeres de América Latina y el Caribe (REPEM); Coordinadora Política Juvenil (Ecuador); Red por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos DDSER (México); Red Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Jóvenes por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (REDLAC); DECIDIR (Bolivia); INGTA/LAC; Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad (México); Foro de Mujeres y Políticas de Población (México); Centro de la Mujer Peruana Flora Tristán (Perú); Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir América Latina; Equidad de Género, Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia (México); Themis Asesoría Jurídica y Estudios de Género (Brazil); Academia de Derechos Humanos (México); Red Nacional de Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (Ecuador); Mujer y Medio Ambiente (México); Salud Integral para la Mujer SIPAM (México); Agencia de Derechos Humanos (Brazil); Elige-Red de Jóvenes por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (México); Red de Monitoreo de Políticas de Género (Argentina); ADEUEM (Argentina); Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir (Argentina); Feministas en Acción (Argentina); CTA (Argentina); Fundación Mujer, (Argentina); Foro de Derechos Reproductivos (Argentina); Action Canada for Population and Development ACPD (Canada); Articulacion Feminista Mercosur; AHIP (Nigeria); ALVF (Cameroun); Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas; Amnesty International; ARROW (Malaysia); Red Internacional de Género y Comercio; Red Nacional de Mujeres Periodistas (México); Red Latinoamericana Mujer y Habitat; Articulación de Mujeres Brasileñas; Red de Jóvenes (Brasil); DECIDIR (Uruguay); Red de Mujeres Negras (Brazil); Red de Salud de las Mujeres de Latinoamericana y el Caribe; El Closet de Sor Juana (México); Red de Mujeres Afrocaribeñas y Afrolatinoamericanas; Campaña por una Convención Interamericana de Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos; Asociación de Lucha por la Identidad Travesti y Transexual (Argentina); Internacional Lesbian and Gay Associacion – LAC (ILGALAC); Articulação de ONGs de Mulheres Negras Brasileiras; Asia Pacific Women’s Watch; Red de Violencia contra las Mujeres de Centroamérica; Artemisa-Grupo Interdisciplinario en Género, Sexualidad, Salud y Derechos Humanos (Mexico); Association Tunisienne de Femmes Démocrates; Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID); Banulacht (Ireland); Caribbean Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA); Campaña Latinoamericana y Caribeña 28 de Septiembre; Caribbean Women’s Health Network; Catholics for a Free Choice; Centre for Global Women’s Leadership (USA); Centre for Reproductive Rights (USA); CHOICE (USA); CIPAF (Dominican Republic); Comité de América Latina y el Caribe por los Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres (CLADEM); Casa de Mujer de la Unión (Uruguay) ; Cotidiano Mujer (Uruguay); Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN); Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights; Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice; International Council of Jewish Women, Movimiento Manuela Ramos (Peru); Eve and the Snake (USA); FAFIA (Canada); Family Care International; Fundación para el Estudio y la Investigación de la Mujer-FEIM (Argentina); Filipina (Philippines); New Zealand Family Planning Association; Instituto da Mulher Negra GELEDES (Brazil); Grupo de Información para la Reproducción Elegida GIRE (México); Girls Power Initiative (Nigeria); Human Rights Watch (USA); International Conservation Union (IUCN); International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Comisión (LHRC); INCRESE (Nigeria); INFORM (Sri Lanka); Iniciativa Centroamericana de Seguimiento a Beijing (Honduras); IPAS (USA); Instituto Mujer y Sociedad (Uruguay); International Women’s Health Coalition; International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF); JOICP (Japan); Las Dignas (El Salvador); Lebanese Family Planning Association; Lentswe La Rona; MADRE (USA); Mujer y Salud (Uruguay); Network of Asia-Pacific Youth NAPY; NWRC (Egypt); Population Action International PAI (USA); Pilipina Legal Resources Center (Philippines); SAF (Yemen); Sexuality Information and Education Council – SIECUS (USA); Women’s Environment and Development Organization; Women in Development Europe (WIDE); WILDAF; Women in HIV/AIDS Leadership Initiative; Women’s Front (Norway); Women’s Health Foundation; Women for Women Human Rights WWHR– New Ways (Turkey); European Youth Network YouACT; Youth Coalition; Family Planning Association of Lebanon; Women’s International Coalition for Economic Justice – WICEJ; Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (Lithuania); The Netherlands Council of Women; Women’s Edge (USA); Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), USA; Jóvenes por los Derechos Sexuales; Association of Women Journalists (Russia); Equality Now (USA); Center for Creative Progress (Georgia); Feminist League (Kazakhstan); European Roma Rights Center; Roma Women’s Initiative (Romania); B.a.B.e. Women’s Human Rights Groups (Croatia); ASTRA Central and Eastern European Women’s Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights; Polish Federation for Women and Family Planning; Network for East-West Women; Slovak-Czech Women’s Fund; Organization of Women of the City of Skopje (Macedonia); Association of Citizens Akcija Zdruzhenska (Macedonia); Kosovar Gender Studies Center (Kosova); World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women; Oxfam (U.K.); Youth Network for Gender Equality CEE/CIS (Georgia); Institute of Social and Gender Policy, Russia; Network of East-West Women/Polska; Interdisciplinary Gender Studies Group (Poland); Center for Women’s Social Policy (Bulgaria); Gender Advocacy Program (South Africa); FEMNET Africa; Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance; Réseau des Femmes Africaines Economistes (Mali); Women Alliance for Development (Bulgaria); Karat Coalition – Network of NGOs of Eastern and Central Europe; Forum of Women’s NGOs (Kyrgyzstan); Rural Women’s NGO “Alga” (Kyrgyzstan); Liberal Society Institute (Ukraine); Ukrainian Women’s Fund; European Women’s Lobby; St. Petersburg Center “Strategy” (Russia); Women’s Health and Family Planning (Ukraine); Gender Education Research and Technologies (Bulgaria); Center for Equality Advancement (Lithuania); New Woman Foundation (Egypt); Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (Egypt); Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (Middle East, North Africa and South-East Asia); Association des Femmes Tunisiennes pour la Recherche et le Developpement (Tunisia).
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2.- AN URGENT REQUEST FOR YOUR HELP FROM THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION / ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL
CONSULTATION PROCESS FOR UNESCO / EFA GLOBAL MONITORING REPORT
In most countries youth and adult literacy have suffered from years of under-investment. Yet there is growing recognition that the realization of a wide range of poverty reduction and development goals depends on countries making significant progress towards adult literacy of all.
The benchmarks that are set out below are designed to facilitate a more rigorous policy debate about literacy, especially with governments, funding agencies and practitioners. They have been developed by experts in adult literacy from around the world and are based on responses to a global survey of effective adult literacy programmes. We expect them to have a significant global impact on future policy and practice in adult literacy.
Now we need your help as one of a select group of respondents. Please type agree or disagree after each of the 20 proposed benchmarks below (which are organized under 7 headings). Please also add your personal comments / amendments. If at all possible please press reply to this e-mail immediately and respond instantly. If that is not possible please respond at the latest by 4th March. Please forward this message immediately to anyone else you feel would be in a good position to respond.
This process should take between 10 and 30 minutes depending on the extent of your comments.
Your organisation ...................................................
Your country ...........................................................
1: Understanding Literacy
Literacy is about the acquisition and use of reading, writing and numeracy skills, and thereby the development of active citizenship, improved livelihoods and gender equality. The goals of literacy programmes should reflect this understanding.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Literacy should be seen as a continuous process that requires sustained learning and practice. There are no magic lines to cross from illiteracy into literacy. All policies and programmes should be designed to encourage sustained participation and celebrate progressive achievement rather than focusing on one-off provision with a single end point.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
2: Governing Literacy
Governments have the lead responsibility in meeting the right to literacy and in providing leadership and resources for adult literacy.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Governments should ensure cross-ministerial collaboration on adult literacy, linking the budgets and programmes of different sectors and relevant government agencies.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Governments should work in systematic collaboration with experienced civil society organizations at all stages from strategic planning to implementation and evaluation.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Governments should ensure linkages between all these governmental and non governmental agencies at all administrative levels (from national to local), prioritizing strong coordination at the local level through empowered and transparent inter-agency committees.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Governments should promote the decentralisation of budgets and decision-making for activities such as adapting the curricula, methods and materials (to ensure they are relevant to local issues / contexts), and linking literacy with other development programmes etc.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
3: Organizing and Evaluating Literacy Programmes
The most successful adult literacy programmes are ones where timetables flexibly respond to the daily lives of learners but which provide contact at least twice a week for at least two years, with opportunities for further learning accessible to everyone.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Literacy programmes should invest in developing ongoing internal feedback and evaluation mechanisms, involving all stakeholders, in order to closely track implementation, generate learning and improve practice. This should be complemented by the continuous systematization of data, external evaluation and strategic research.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
The focus of all evaluations should be on the practical application of what has been learnt and the impact on active citizenship, improved livelihoods and gender equality. Any assessment of graduated progress in reading, writing and numeracy skills should always be linked to assessing the effective use of these skills in people s daily lives.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
4: Facilitators, Supervisors and Trainers
Facilitators should be local people from a similar socio-economic background as the learners, with strong commitment and a reasonable level of literacy themselves. They should be recruited in a collaborative process between the implementing organisation and the local community.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
To retain facilitators it is important that they should be paid at least the equivalent of the minimum wage of a primary school teacher for all hours worked (including time for training, preparation and follow-up). They should also receive public recognition and certification for their work.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Governments should put in place a framework for the professional development of the adult literacy sector, especially for trainers / supervisors - with opportunities for facilitators to access this through distance education.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Facilitators should receive at least 14 days initial training and regular refresher training, as well as having ongoing opportunities for exchanges with other facilitators.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
The roles of training and supervision should be integrated into one person and reflected in training curricula. There should be a ratio of one trainer/ supervisor to 15 learner groups (1 to 10 in remote areas), ensuring a minimum of one support visit per month.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
5: Teaching and Learning
In multi-lingual contexts it is important at all stages to balance the use of the mother tongue (as this accelerates initial learning and respects the dignity/identity of learners) and the use of the official / national language (which is often key to sustaining motivation and the practical use of literacy). Active efforts are needed to sustain bilingual learning so that the mother tongue is not just exploited as an entry point.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
A wide range of participatory methods should be used in the learning process to ensure active engagement of learners and relevance to their lives. These same participatory methods and processes should be used at all levels of training of trainers and facilitators.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
6: Creating relevant texts and a literate environment
Governments should take responsibility to stimulate the production and distribution of a wide variety of materials suitable for new readers, for example working with publishers / newspaper producers. They should balance this with funding for local production of materials, especially by learners, facilitators and trainer-supervisors.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
7: Financing Literacy
* A good quality literacy programme that respects all these benchmarks is likely to cost between US$50 and US$100 per learner per year for at least three years (two years initial learning + ensuring further learning opportunities are available for all)
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
* Governments should dedicate at least 3% of their national education sector budgets to adult literacy programmes as conceived in these benchmarks - with additional contributions being made from other relevant ministries (e.g. gender / women, community or rural development, agriculture, health etc). Where governments deliver on this level of commitment international donors (e.g. through the Fast Track Initiative) should fill any remaining resource gaps in line with the pledge made at the World Education Forum in Dakar.
Agree / Disagree:
Comment:
Overall Comments:
Thank you for your response! Please send to yaikah.jeng@actionaid.org
ActionAid's vision is a world without poverty in which every person can exercise their right to a life of dignity. Registered Charity No. 274467
www.actionaid.org.uk
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3.- APPEAL FOR SEPTEMBER 10TH 2005
GLOBAL DAY OF MOBILISATION FOR A NEW WORLD ORDER AGAINST POVERTY, WAR AND UNILATERALISM
Dear friends,
we invite you to endorse the Global Day of Mobilisation For a New World Order Against Poverty, War and Unilateralism that will take place on September 10th 2005, at the eve of the UN Head of States meeting in New York of September 14-16 2005.
The Appeal for mobilisation we are sending you was launched on January 28th 2005 in Porto Alegre (Brasil) at the World Social Forum 2005, with the support of 140 organisations that took part in the Reclaim our UN international seminar.
The mobilisation has been decided after a long discussion process developed within the WSF International Council during the last year, which involved hundreds of civil society organisations and international networks from all over the world.
As underlined in the Appeal, 2005 will be a crucial year for the future of international democracy and of the United Nations.
The UN that was established sixty years ago to ban war, eradicate poverty and social injustice is now under attack, weakened and marginalised diminishing its historical role for peace, development, social and international justice in world governance.
On September 14-16 all heads of States of the world will be called to decide on the reform of the UN and to reaffirm and implement their commitments to eradicate poverty and to achieve, at least, the MDGs.
We believe that this agenda is too important to leave it completely in the hands of governments, themselves mostly responsible for the current critical situation of humanity and for the terrible crisis of the UN.
For this we hope you will be among the supporters of the September 10th global mobilisation, and will co-promote and coordinate with us and a growing number of international organisations the mobilisation.
Please send us an e-mail with your decision on supporting the Appeal and complete references of your organisation at: international@peacepoint.org
In peace,
Flavio Lotti
Italian Peace Roundtable National Coordinator
For contacts:
Tavola della Pace / Peace Roundtable, Via della Viola 1, 06122 Perugia, Italy; Tel. +39 075 5736890 fax +39 075 5739337; e-mail: flavio@perlapace.it - www.peacepoint.org
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At the eve of the head of States meeting at the UN
Global day of mobilisation against poverty, war and unilateralism
We, representatives of global civil society meeting in Porto Alegre at the 5th World Social Forum, are launching an urgent appeal to democratize and strengthen the United Nations and build a new just, peaceful and democratic world order.
Poverty is growing. Wars and conflicts are constantly occurring. The gap between the rich and poor is increasing. Fundamental human rights and international laws are often ignored. Use of military power is again the basis of international relations. Militarist national security doctrines continue to dominate, despite universal support for human security that encompasses the economic, social and political needs of the people. People do not believe anymore in the capacity of the market to solve social problems, but it continues to be promoted by unaccountable institutions.
The UN that was established sixty years ago to ban war, eradicate poverty and social injustice is now under attack, weakened and marginalised diminishing its historical role for peace, development, social and international justice in world governance.
Strong unilateralism and uncontrolled neo-liberal globalisation are sidelining the only common house of humanity. The macro-economic functions of the UN have been taken away by the Bretton Woods institutions. A radical change of the IMF, World Bank, WTO and associated institutions, and their incorporation in the UN system is imperative.
The UN that we want is a UN of Peoples, not a UN of states. Only a comprehensive, radical and transparent reform of the UN will enable this system to fulfil its historical role for peace, development and international democratization.
The future of the UN should be everybodys concern. In an increasingly interdependent world we cannot expect to find solutions for our problems that are not global solutions. There are no human rights without international institutions able to enforce them.
A sustained mobilisation including the enforcing of the accountability and transparency of our governments and member states of the UN, is absolutely crucial. This should be a constituent process involving all possible actors in civil society, local authorities and parliaments. Priority must be given to ensure due representation of region, race, class, gender and all social pluralities in this process.
2005 will be a crucial year for the future of international democracy and of the United Nations. On September 14-16 all heads of States of the world will be called to decide on the reform of the UN and to reaffirm and implement their commitments to eradicate poverty and to achieve, at least, the Mdgs. This agenda is too important to leave it completely in the hands of governments, themselves mostly responsible for the current critical situation of humanity and for the terrible crisis of the UN.
As a first step, we invite all women and men, all movements, all civil society organisations, to mobilise to resolve this critical situation, and to organise on September 10th 2005 at the eve of the head of States meeting at the UN together with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, a major Global Day of Mobilisation For a New World Order Against Poverty, War and Unilateralism, For Economic and Social Justice, Peace and Democracy.
In order to build an open, just, peaceful and democratic world order we commit ourselves to raise public awareness, to address our governments and to continue networking and promoting an open debate towards the realization of specific common goals.
World Social Forum - Porto Alegre
January 28, 2005
This Appeal has been discussed and approved by 140 organisations that attended the Reclaim Our UN seminary on January 28 2005 in Porto Alegre during the V World Social Forum
Provisional list (Last Updated 9/2/2005)
Peace Roundtable (Italy), Assembly of the Peoples UN, Ubuntu, Instituto Ethos (Brasil), IPS - InterPress Service, IBASE - Instituto Brasileiro de Analises Sociais e Economicas (Brasil), WSF Indian Organising Committee (India), IDEAS (Spain), Action for Economic Reforms (Philippines), Africa Peace Point (Kenya), AIDC - Alternative information and Development Center (South Africa), Alianza por un Mundo Responsable y Solidario (Peru), ANND - Arab NGO Network for Development, Articulacion Feminista MARCOSUR, Attac (Brasil), Attac (France), Bangla Praxis (Bangladesh), BGRF - Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation (Bulgaria), CAFOR (Cameroon), Centro de Investigacion para la Paz (Spain), CETRI - Centre Tricontinental (Belgium), CND Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (England), Comunidad de Paz San Jose de Apartadolombia), Conseu / CIEMEN - Centre Internacional Escarrer a Minories 贮iques i les Nacions, DAWN Developing Alternatives for Women, DION - Development Indian Ocean Network, Djazairouna - des familles victimes du terrorisme (Algeria), FAL - Foro de Autoridades Locales de Porto Alegre, FAMSI - Fondo Andaluz de Municipios por la solidariedad internacional (Spain), Fride (Spain), Front SIWA LIMA RMS (The Moluccas), Fundacir la Pau (Spain), Helsinki Process on Globalisation and Democracy, IPB - International Peace Bureau, IPS - Institute for Policies Studies (United States), Japan Network on Dept & Poverty (Japan), Jubileo Per (Peru), Le Mouvement de la Paix / French Peace Movement (France), Peace Boat, Red Estrategia ACAA - Andina-Centroamericana-Amaza, REPEM, Rodheci (Democratic Republic of Congo), SID Society for International Development, Social Watch, Solidar, Transnational Institute, , UFPJ - United For Peace and Justice (United States), Umoja As One Kenya (Kenya), Universidad Autonoma di Santo Domingo - Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Sociales (Republica Dominicana), WCL- World Confederation of Labour, WIDE - Women in Development Europe, World Federalist Movement, WSF Argentini(ReclaimOurUn) September 10th G.ems an Organising Committee (Argentina), All India Peace & Solidarity Organisation (India), Brasilian Commission Justitia et Pax (Brazil), Citizen for a UN Peoples Assembly (United States), Citizen Network (France), Citizens Initiative for the Europe of the Citizens (Germany), Cives - Associa硯 Brasileira de Empresarios pela Cidadania (Brazil), Coalition for a World Parliament and Global Democracy (United States), CGIL (Italy), CIDSE, European Federalist Movement (Italy), FIM CISL (Italy), FIOM CGIL ( Italy), Jubilee South - South America, MONU - Modelo da Organiza硯 das Na篥s Unidas (Brazil), Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (Brazil), PDHRE - Peoples Movement for Human Rights Learning (United States / India), Peter Hesse Foundation Solidarity in Partnership for One World in Diversity (Germany), Revolutionary Committees Movement - Libyan Jamahiriya (Libya), Tebtebba Foundation (Philippines), Tierra Vida (Per), Viva la Ciudadania (Colombia)
A lot of other organisations have already announced their support to the appeal. We apologise for any omission or mistakes. The complete list of organisations supporting the appeal will be published and updated on a web site we are about to open.
Please contact us to subscribe to this appeal at the following address: international@peacepoint.org www.peacepoint.org
Tavola della Pace, Via della Viola,1, 06122 Perugia -
Tel. +39 075 5736890 fax +39 075 5739337
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4.- WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONGRESS
2 - 6 October, Turin,
http://www.medies.net/article.php?story=20050119114421259
The dates of the 3rd World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) have been finalised: the Congress will take place on 2 - 6 October 2005 in Turin,
The basic objectives of the Congress are: to exchange observations and best practices at a worldwide level; to develop the main themes of the international agenda on Environmental Education, to jointly discuss and explore the ideas and proposals presented in the contributions and posters from around the world, and to contribute to the success of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014.
Utmost attention will be given to discussions / workshops about practical issues such as: experiences, case studies, field research and acceptable practices.
The poster space will provide with the opportunity for further communication and networking.
For registering and more information you may visit the congress website: www.3weec.org
The presentation deadline has been postponed to 31 May 2005.
The steps to register are the same: if you want to present papers or posters you have to complete the form on line (www.3weec.org) on the home page and on the "Registration and Proposals" page as well.
After that, you will receive a login and a password to fill in the on line form, on the "Registration and Proposals" page (max 300 words).
If you need to have your proposal accepted to attain funds from your Institution, you can contact info@3weec.org to have a provisional password to fill the form for abstract presentation. Soon after evaluation you will be notified of the results, requiring you to register once the proposal has been accepted.
The authors of the abstracts will be notified of the results by 30th June 2005. If they are selected, they will also be informed about how the presentations should be made.
The posters should preferably be in English or French.
Videos in other languages should have English or French subtitles if possible.
The maximum length for each paper is 20 minutes, except for certain general reports that can last from 30 to 40 minutes.
Two extremes should be avoided as much as possible: talks that are too theoretical and abstract and those that are merely simple comments. The papers should present case studies, best practices, tools, methods, field research, etc. They should also be concrete, while providing a stimulus for discussion at the same time.
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5.- JOBS
AWID Resource NetJobs - Issue 252
Monday, February 28, 2005