VOICES RISING
YEAR III - VOL 3. Nบ138
May 6, 2005
CONTENT
1.- GLOBAL ACTION WEEK - APRIL 24-30, 2005
2.- GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION AGAINST POVERTY
3.- MDG INTERNSHIP POSITIONS AT CIVICUS
4.- GREAT GOOD NEWS FROM
5.- WHAT WORKS WELL FOR LEARNERS AND PRACTITIONERS? SKILLS FOR LIFE CONFERENCE FROM NIACE AND NATFHE
6.-"RADICAL PACIFISM, GENDER, AND GANDHIAN NON-COOPERATION: JESSIE WALLACE HUGHAN AND THE WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE IN 20TH CENTURY
7.- CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SOCIAL FORUM
8.- WHERE'S THE MONEY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS WORK?
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1.- GLOBAL ACTION WEEK - APRIL 24-30, 2005
Message from Paul Belanger, president of ICAE, read during the closing ceremony of the Global Action Week in Melo,
The right to education is a fundamental right. For ICAE, GEO and REPEM it It is a question of human dignity. However, since 1995 when all world leaders committed themselves agreed to give equality of access between girls and boys into school, this girls education goal has not been achieved as promised.
The Global Action Campaign, which ICAE and REPEM have joined, invites all leaders to renew their pledge to this absolute priority and ask all citizens of our small planet to claim without fear their fundamental their right to learn.
We at REPEM and ICAE strongly believe that the universal right to education will only be fully implemented when both young and adult people, both girls and women, boys and men, children and parents will be able to exercise their right to learn and create active learning and participatory communities.
At the end of this week, inspired by all the initiatives taken worldwide, we at the Global Campaign against poverty and for Education are finding the inspiration we need to go on and raise the awareness of political and economic leaders as well as the United Nations family.
Paul B้langer
President of ICAE
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- ACTIVITIES
GLOBAL ACTION WEEK IN
The Gender and Education Office of the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) and the Popular Education Network of Women from Latin America and the Caribbean (REPEM) have worked intensively in the Global Action Week, linking it to the Global Call for Action Against Poverty because education, especially for girls and women, is the best way to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. During that week, millions of young people, adults and children all over the world made cut-out "friends" that symbolize those who have not or do not get an education with the purpose of reminding politicians of their promise to send all of our friends to school.
In
This year, the impact of the Global Action Week in
This is just a brief summary of the activities that were carried out in some of the provinces of
Montevideo: On April 21 the Mayor of Montevideo, Mr. Adolfo Perez Piera, received us in the Town Hall where he signed the pledge and confirmed his will to join our Campaign. School boys and school girls from a state school located in an impoverished neighborhood and members of a literacy group from another needy area had the opportunity to read the stories depicted in the cut-out friends they had made. Representatives of NGOs related to education and afro-descendants and community centers, as well as from ICAE and REPEMs office, were also present.
On the same day, the President of the Chamber of Representatives, Nora Castro, received an even larger delegation, composed of several students from a school in Montevideo, representatives of an afro-descendants NGO, from the National Follow-up Commission and the Network of Rural Women, as well as representatives from the provinces of Colonia, Maldonado and San Jos้ and of course of ICAE and REPEMs office.
In Montevideo, a literacy group from a needy neighborhood also carried out this activity and elaborated a cut-out friend that carried a small notebook where they wrote their own stories. Likewise, a similar activity was carried out, on April 22nd., with the group of women who lead income-generating projects.
Information was widely disseminated through press releases and representatives of REPEM and ICAE held interviews in radio programmes such as Rompiendo Barreras (Breaking Barriers April 4), Nunca en Domingo (Never on Sunday April 26), Primera Voz (First Voice April 28).
Maldonado: Three social organizations that work with children are carrying out this proposal: Rescatando Sonrisas, Dionisio Diaz and Intersocial.
Colonia: In this city, cut-out friends were displayed in the different shop windows to sensitize and mobilize people.
Cerro Largo: Different activities were articulated throughout this province, at different levels, from night schools, to special schools, NGOs, private schools. The closing ceremony was held in the city of Melo on April 29th. at 10:30 a.m. in Constituci๓n Square, where the cut-out friends were displayed and handed in to the politicians and celebrities who attended the ceremony and signed the pledges to take specific actions to achieve the objectives proposed. Politicians such as the Director of Human Rights of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Counselor of the National Education Board, the President of the Secondary Education Council, and different national representatives were present at this closing ceremony. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Education and Culture organized, on the same day, an activity to celebrate the Iberoamerican Year of Reading with book stalls and a tent where national and local writers read their works. Likewise, theater and music groups performed plays.
In terms of rural areas, the Network of Rural Women was also convened and informed about this campaign. Their 20 representatives disseminated the information throughout their areas, and a positive response was immediately noticed. A high number of cut-out friends were made with messages that express the different problems faced by children, young people and adults who wish to have access to quality education.
Paysand๚: In Paysand๚ very creative cut-out friends were done. Politicians visited one of the schools to receive the friends and sign the pledges, expressing their support to the campaign.
San Jos้: Several NGOs as well as the Rural Women's Network showed great interest in the activity and joined the campaign, coordinating an activity within their respective organizations. The President of the Local Government Council of this Province gathered with NGOs, schools, childcare centers on April 25th. where cut-out friends were handed in and several pledges were signed by representatives and members of this Council at the last Extraordinary Session. Information has been widely disseminated by a local programme called Todays Women.
Salto: The closing ceremony in Salto took place on April 27, in the main square of the city, where around 300 people gathered from schools, high-schools, education institutions, training centers, and also education and local authorities. Several pledges were signed.
Soriano: Different activities were articulated with the Teachers Training Institute and childcare centers, as well as schools and high schools from the cities of Rodd Mercedes. Different talks and discussions on poverty were held in class with the participation of school girls and school boys, as well as parents. Besides, a special open lecture was organized under the title: Educate to end poverty
The Womens Organization from Soriano also coordinated activities and convened several politicians on April 29, to sensitize them and make them sign pledges.
..
GCE E-News - May 3
Global Campaign for Education
web@campaignforeducation.org
After a tireless week of campaigning, the Global Action Week for education came to an end, leaving the corridors of power resounding with the call to Send my Friend to School. Children and young people in over 100 countries have shown their passion in demanding the basic right of every child to receive a quality education. Politicians have responded to their calls by making firm commitments and pledges on education in countries across the globe.
The Global Campaign for Education would like to send congratulations to all groups who helped to make the week such a success. Meanwhile, the Director General of UNESCO, Koiro Matsuura, sent a message of support and congratulations to GCE campaigners involved in the Action Week: "I congratulate you for reaching out simultaneously to people in villages and politicians at the highest level through civil society coalitions around the world... UNESCO warmly joins the chorus of voices rising around the world to guarantee a place in school to every 'friend' currently denied his or her right".
Below are the latest country highlights - with more to follow in the next few days. Pictures of events and more country highlights can be found on the GCE website - www.campaignforeducation.org
Ireland - Development Minister signs pledge to increase aid to education
The Irish Development Minister signed a pledge to ensure that the Irish government meets its commitment to increase Overseas Development Aid to 0.7% of GNP, in line with UN recommendations, and to increase it's spending on education accordingly. The pledge was a result of months of lobbying by the Irish GCE coalition.
Irish school children have been making cut-out 'friends' since November 2004. The Irish cut-out 'friends' are all being collected during the Action Week to be shipped to the G8 Summit as part of the million 'friends' event. Meanwhile, local politicians have been going 'back to school' through out the Action Week
Pakistan - March by 4,000 children and teachers is followed by an address from the Education Minister
On April 28, 4,000 schoolchildren and their teachers participated in a march to the parliament. They were also joined by the Minister of Education and Minister of State for Education, with an address from the Education Minister given at the end of the event, where he pledged the governments commitment to education. Meanwhile, across regions throughout
Burkina Faso - March with 'friends' to Parliament to hand over declaration to Prime Minister
In Burkina Faso, a march by children was followed by the presentation of a statement on education to the Prime Minister on April 30. Government and education authorities were also brought together in 44 provinces to attend similar events.
Cambodia - Pledge event sees Deputy Minister re-affirm the governments' commitment to education
During a national pledge event on April 26, 3000 children and young people, flanked by their cut-out 'friends', demanded that the Government take immediate actions to enable their 'friends' as well as other children could go to school. Both the Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Sok, and Minister of Education responded to the children's pleas by pledging to reduce poverty and push forward with increased commitment and urgency in their education plan.
The event was also attended by; the Coordinator for Education For All, Minister of Information, Municipality Governor, Secretary of State, NGOs, ambassadors, donors and other senior Government officials.
Bangladesh - Meet the 'Law-Makers' event sees children questioning key political figures
On April 26, children had a question-answer session with law makers of the Bangladeshi National Parliament. The session started with a meeting with the Chief Whip of the Parliament in his office premises in the Parliament. The State Minister of Law and Justice chaired the session, with the Chief Whip of Opposition party of the parliament, the General Secretary of all parties Parliamentarian Caucus on Education also took part in the session.
April 27 - 28 saw parliamentarians across Delhi,
April 29 saw a public performance, with cut-out 'friends', collected from different parts of
On April 29, MPs across
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2.- GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION AGAINST POVERTY
Dear friends,
The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) has continued to grow, both broadening the number of countries involved and deepening the alliances in countries where campaigns are already established. The regional GCAP meetings allow national coalitions to meet and exchange ideas, plans and strategies. Regional settings are being defined, creativity is being unleashed, and mass mobilization is being organized. I would like to thank all the participants from the Regional GCAP Meetings as they are giving their time, their souls and their intelligence to our Global Call. At CIVICUS we are strengthening our small team; Oxfam-UK has been doing tremendous work,as well as several other members of GCAP and we at CIVICUS are ready now to roll up our sleeves and play the role of the GCAP global secretariat.
Our common advocacy
Recent reference to advocacy defines it as "the process of using information strategically to change policies that affect the lives of disadvantaged people (Bond). Because of the scale of the problems addressed, NGOs in the last decade scaled up their programmes through advocacy. They have been targeting decision makers, international organisations and individuals to scale up impact, to build strong partnerships and to alter policies and behaviour towards development issues. Our experience in advocacy is now crucial and should be fully engaged to make the White Band Days successful.
Regional GCAP Meetings
Representatives from national, continental and international organisations and coalitions working from all the regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America met to review global, regional and national progress on GCAP mobilization during 2005. The following fruitful Regional meetings were held very recently:
The Africa Regional GCAP Meeting was held on 30-31st March 2005 in Nairobi,
The Asia Regional GCAP Meeting on 5-6th April 2005 in Bangkok,
The European GCAP Regional meeting on 21-22 April in Brussels,
The GCAP Latin America Regional Meeting in Managua, Nicaragua, on 23 - 26th April
African stakeholders are collectively planning for white band mobilization on the Day of the African Child on June 16th as well as the 3 globally agreed days on July 1st before the G8 and African Union summits, September 10th preceding the UN Millennium Summit and 10th December before the WTO ministerial. On the 31st of March Get on Board, the epic journey of a small African bus began in Johannesburg. The Get on Board team are from Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and the UK, and they will be driving 12,000 miles from Johannesburg, South Africa and through Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. People from these countries will be getting on board as the bus travels through. The bus will board a ship at Mombasa, and from there will sail up the north east coast of Africa, through the Suez Canal, and across the Mediterranean to Marseille,
Asian stakeholders are planning a Peoples Caravan for rights and justice, which will travel all over Asia from July 1st to Dec 10th and will end up in Hong Kong.
The African and the Asian groups strongly expressed the wish to work in solidarity. We hope that a common global solidarity between our regional groups will be strengthened through the various regional meetings.
The European GCAP group reviewed extensively the calendar leading to White Band Days, and lobbying opportunities towards the European Commission.
Reports on all of the Regional meetings are available at www.whiteband.org.
Finally, the Arab States GCAP Regional meeting will be held in Cairo,
The International Facilitation Group meeting in Padua,
The IFG is meeting on May 6th-8th in Padua,
Our campaign on TV
The click-ads Make Poverty History (UK), Make Poverty History (
The Millennium Campaign is also producing a series of spots, titled Its only with your voice with a call for change. Those spots include many celebrities including: Michael Douglas, Lenny Kravitz, AR Rahman, Vijai Amritraj. They will be internationally broadcasted soon.
GCAP Ambassadors
Eminent persons have already joined our common call, such as Nelson Mandela in Trafalgar Square in London. We are in the process of identifying many other GCAP Ambassadors to support our voice. Please send your proposals and submissions to: gcap@civicus.org
GCAP/MDG Team at Civicus: World Alliance For Citizen Participation
Thanks to Oxfam, Novib, and the Millennium Campaign, we are now in a position to build a small team of dedicated people to serve the GCAP. We are staffing four positions, based at Civicus House, in Johannesburg,
I can also always be contacted at the following new email address: kumi_gcap@civicus.org
As our colleague John Samuel said at the GCAP Regional meeting in Bangkok; GCAP was a possibility and an idea to being an action last time we met, and next time we meet it should be a movement that will outlive us all and make some of us expendable. The next 2 or 3 months are crucial to make July 1st and beyond successful. So it is essential to work on alliance building to broaden and deepen the campaign and to develop mobilization strategies. This is not only our voice; it is essentially our common action that will bring about the changes.
With my best wishes,
Kumi Naidoo
On behalf of GCAP-International Facilitation Group
The GCAP demands that in 2005 world leaders:
Immediately end dumping and rich country subsidies that keep people in poverty.
Enact measures to protect public services from enforced liberalisation and privatisation, secure the right to food and affordable access to essential drugs and strengthen corporate accountability
Increase accountability and transparency of governments and international organizations in the formulation of international trade rules and national trade policies.
Give more, untied and better aid now to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Meet the agreed target of 0.7% of national income in aid.
Ensure aid is directed towards achieving development objectives.
Cancel debt - rich countries, the World Bank and the IMF, should cancel 100% of the debt of the poorest countries in order to reach the Millennium Goals.
National efforts to eliminate poverty and to reach the Millennium Goals that are developed and implemented in a way that is democratic, transparent and accountable to citizens.
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3.- MDG INTERNSHIP POSITIONS AT CIVICUS
Johannesburg,
Eric Muragana
eric@civicus.org
CIVICUS is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. It was established in 1993 to nurture the foundation, growth and protection of citizen action throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens freedom of association are threatened. A key role of the organisation is to unite members of civil society in joint efforts to achieve these objectives.
The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) is a growing alliance of international organisations, networks and national campaigns committed to eradicating extreme poverty. In this context, CIVICUS is putting together a small team of dedicated people to act as the global secretariat of the Global Campaign.
Throughout 2005, members of the GCAP will be working together to insist that world leaders tackle the causes of poverty and meet and exceed their own promises on the MDGs.
CIVICUS is now seeking applications to fill four internship positions to be based in Johannesburg,
Qualifications
A Master s degree in Development, Social Science or any other relevant subject or relevant work experience
Primary Responsibilities and Tasks
Support the work of the GCAP Working Groups (WG);
Arrange and participate in conference calls of the WG;
Assist in developing the agenda for WG meetings;
Take minutes of WG meetings and effect timely distribution following the meetings;
Assist in implementation of decisions taken by the WG;
Manage and maintain the WG list-serv;
Liaise with the MDG Campaign Manager, and other CIVICUS staff and, where necessary, other GCAP supporters, in order to maximise opportunities to advance GCAP / MDG Campaign goals and objectives;
Liaise with other CIVICUS departments and staff as appropriate to further GCAP / MDG Campaign goals and objectives;
Other duties as assigned.
Experience, Skills and Competencies
Required:
Excellent writing skills
Excellent planning, organisational and inter-personal skills;
Excellent attention to detail even under significant time-pressure;
Highly proficient in English;
Able to work in a multi-cultural environment;
Familiar with software applications and working electronically;
Background in media and / or communications;
Desirable:
Proficiency in additional languages (especially other UN languages, as well as Portuguese)
Applications
Applications should be emailed to humanresources@civicus.org.
Deadline for applications is Friday 13 May 2005 or until vacancies are filled.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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4.- GREAT GOOD NEWS FROM
Sonia Correa
scorrea@abiaids.org.br
Dear friends,
In this hard times I have two great good news from
The first is that the Supreme Court has accepted the anencephaly case two days ago.
This means that one critical juridical stage has been overcome in the path to decriminilizing
the procedure in this case. The court will make a final decision later in the year.
But in the voting of April 27th six of the eleven judges have manifested their open support
to consider anencephaly a condition allowing for abortion or for anticipation of delivery ( this is the term used in the case presented to the court last year).
But the really great news is that the Brazilian government has broken the agreement with USAID because of the prostitution clause recently attached to US HIV-AIDS funds. The decision was staken yesterday in the meeting of the National Commission on HIV-AIDS in which civil society is
represented. This representation includes the national organizations of sex-workers and of travestites and transgender (that often do sex work).
Pedro Chequer the coordinator said they had been able to negotiate the abstinence clause but that USAID was unmovable in regerd to "prostitution".
What is also interesting is that this was decided the day after Condi visit to Brasilia, where I muts say she has really charmed lots of people!
I thank those who have sent messages to the Supreme Court and plea that you send a message of congratulation and support to the national Coordinator of HIV_AIDS.
His name is doctor Pedro Chequer at pchequer@aids.gov.br.
Best
Sonia
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5.- WHAT WORKS WELL FOR LEARNERS AND PRACTITIONERS? SKILLS FOR LIFE CONFERENCE FROM NIACE AND NATFHE
Ed Melia
Ed.Melia@niace.org.uk
PRESS RELEASE
5th May 2005
WHAT WORKS WELL FOR LEARNERS AND PRACTITIONERS? SKILLS FOR LIFE CONFERENCE FROM NIACE AND NATFHE
The Governments Skills for Life target requires providers to improve the literacy, language and numeracy levels of 1.5 million adults by 2007. As a preview to this years Adult Learners Week (21 to 27 May 2005), a conference from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) will make an important contribution towards the debate surrounding the delivery of this target.
The Skills for Life: what works well for your learners and you? conference will be held on Thursday 19th May 2005, at the Britannia Street Conference Centre in London. It will address how providers can work towards attracting more of the harder to reach groups of adults with literacy, language and numeracy needs and give practitioners the opportunity to talk about their own plans and priorities.
Rachel Davies, a Development Officer from NIACEs Literacy, Language and Numeracy Team, said, Hundreds of thousands of learners have so far achieved Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in literacy, language and numeracy. But the big issue now facing practitioners at the moment is how to engage adults with the most challenging needs and that is not simply going to be a mopping-up exercise. However this conference will give adult learning practitioners the chance to spend a day thinking about what matters most around teaching and learning, to share strategies for engaging learners and get new ideas from colleagues.
Annette Zera, the conferences facilitator, said, The NIACE & NATFHE Basic Skills conference has a reputation as one of the most invigorating events of the year. This years' conference will be no different. There will be many opportunities for people to talk to each other on the issues that really matter. And instead of speaking on platforms, policy makers will work alongside practitioners in groups so it is a real opportunity to influence what happens in the future.
-ends-
Media Contacts
Ed Melia, NIACE Press Officer, on 0116 204 4248 or 07795 358 870.
Notes to Editors
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6.-"RADICAL PACIFISM, GENDER, AND GANDHIAN NON-COOPERATION: JESSIE WALLACE HUGHAN AND THE WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE IN 20TH CENTURY
First Announcement
You are invited to a lecture
"Radical Pacifism, Gender, and Gandhian Non-cooperation: Jessie Wallace Hughan and the War Resisters League In 20th Century
By Dr. Scott Bennett
Assistant Professor of History, Georgian Court University
9:00 - 11:30 am. May 20, 2005 Miriam College
Sponsors: Miriam College - Women and Gender Institute / DAWN - South East Asia
Books by Dr. Scott Bennett:
Army GI, Pacifist CO: The World War II Letters of Frank and Albert Dietrich, ed. with extensive Introduction (New York: Fordham Univ. Press, 2005).
Radical Pacifism: The War Resisters League and Gandhian Nonviolence in
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7.- CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SOCIAL FORUM
Activitats Ciemen
activitats@ciemen.org
This is the last call for applications for artists, creators, youngsters, man and women to claim together for a Mediterranean, an space for creation, expression and transformation into a culture based in peace, respect of diversity, intercultural dialogue and mutual support.
Those cultural and artistic activities will happen during all the days of the Mediterranean Social Forum ( 16-17-18 of june) and will be located inside and outside the concrete space of the Mediterranean Social Forum. There will be concerts, theatre, poetry sessions, street spectacles, workshops, expositions, installations, audiovisual projections ( documentaries, short movies...etc) during all the days, following the axes and criterias of the Medsf.
We you inform that we have extended the term of inscipcion until May 10 for the strictly artistic offers that want to take part in the Medsf.
If you are interested in collaborating with the cultural and artistic activities of the FSMED, refill the inscription that is hung on the web and make us come your material (model, CD, dossier ...) by e-mail fsmedcultura@fsmed.info. To all those that have an exhibition that follows the criteria and axes of the Medsf and need a physical space to exhibit, also contact you for e-mail to fsmedcultura@fsmed.info until May 10.
Check our web side for further information www.fsmed.info or send us directly an e-mail to fsmedcultura@fsmed.info
Please, forward this mail to those who might be interested.
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8.- WHERE'S THE MONEY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS WORK?
The Association for Womens Rights in Development (AWID) is sponsoring an action-research project that will explore and analyze key trends in funding for women's rights work over the last 10 years. We will explore the causes and impacts of these trends and use this information to answer a fundamental question: What strategies will mobilize more resources for women's rights in the years to come?
A critical part of the research is a brief survey that will help us understand your experiences and the funding trends that have affected your organization. Please take a few minutes before May 13 to complete this survey by going to http://surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=324481014000
As an incentive to complete the survey, AWID will randomly select one survey respondent to receive an economy class round-trip plane ticket to Bangkok for the AWID 10th International Forum. Just be sure to include your name and email when prompted at the end of the survey and respond by the deadline. We'll announce the winner of the free ticket by June 15th.
Only people who receive this invitation are asked to complete the survey, although you may ask someone else to complete the survey on your behalf.
The final research report will be available at the Forum in October. In the meantime, if you have any questions, or would like additional information on this project, please contact Lydia Alpizar at
lalpizar@awid.org
Thanks!
The International Gender and Education Office (GEO) of ICAE creates
VOICES RISING
Email: voicesrising@icae.org.uy
Web: www.icae.org.uy
Tel/fax: 00 5982 401 00 06
Address: Acevedo Diaz 1600 / 1002.
11200 Montevideo,