AWID Resource Net Announcements / Issue 335
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) AWID: Feminist Movements and Organisations Manager
2) AWID: HIV/AIDS Manager
3) The Center for Reproductive Rights: Launch of Voice 4 Choice Website for
Landmark Case, Gonzales v. Carhart
4) British Academy/ ESRC: Visiting Fellowships for South Asia and the
Middle East
 
EVENTS
5) An International Human Rights Education Institute: "Women's Human
Rights: Building a Peaceful World in an Era of Globalization"
6) International Conference on Actions to Strengthen Linkages between
Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
 
CALLS FOR PROPOSALS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
7) Call for proposals: The Poverty and Economic Policy (PEP) Research
Network research proposals
8) Call for Editorial Team Proposals: Politics and Gender
 
RESOURCES
9) A New Report: International Conference: "Developing International
Cooperation on Counter-Trafficking in Tajikistan"
10) A New Guide: "Incorporating gender into your NGO"
11) A New Resource: "Of War, Siege, and Lebanon: Women's voices from the
Middle East and South Asia"
12) A New Resource: Edited DVD of Offshore Outsourcing Conference: "New
Global Realities: Winners and Losers from Offshore Outsourcing"
13) A New Book: "From Thought to Action: Building Strategies on Violence
Against Women"
 
URGENT ACTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS
14) Take Action: Colombian Activists Targeted by Government Assassination
Plot
15) Take Action: Join CIVICUS in condemning closure of Russian Human Rights
Group
 
NEWS        
16) First woman wins Bahrain parliament seat
17) Sudan: Women Hope to Affect Khartoum Peace Talks
18) Ukraine: Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities
19) Blair calls veils "a mark of separation"
20) Southern Africa: Women Activists Determined To Continue Struggle
Against Patriarchy
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
_______________________________________________________________________
 
1) AWID: Feminist Movements and Organisations Manager
 
Source: AWID
 
October 17, 2006
 
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), an international
feminist organisation, works to strengthen the voice, impact and influence
of women's rights advocates, organisations and movements worldwide. As part
of restructuring and integral to an ambitious new strategic plan, AWID is
hiring a manager to lead AWID's ongoing Feminist Movements and
Organizations initiative.   The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the
capacity and impact of movements and feminist organizations to advance
women's rights.  
 
The new Manager is a content expert who will lead the strategic initiative
and successfully coordinate efforts with other AWID staff and AWID members
around the world.  The new Manager brings extensive knowledge of the
current situation and challenges faced by feminist and women's movements
around the world and demonstrates experience in advocating for women's
rights regionally and internationally.
 
Key tasks include: facilitating the development of new frameworks to
conceptualize the linkages between movement building and organizational
strengthening with an interdisciplinary group of experienced people in this
field, producing new tools to build organisational and movement capacity,
including electronic resources, publications and hands-on tools, and
producing training methodologies and materials on this field.
 
AWID encourages applications from the Global South and Central and Eastern
Europe.  The Manager should be able to travel and ideally will lead this
initiative from Mexico City
 
Necessary Qualifications and Experience:
 
- Depth and breadth of knowledge of women's human rights and/or gender and
development movements and organizations
- At least three years experience in organizational strengthening
implementation, education and/or research
- Experience with women's organizations and movements globally and/or
regionally
- Experience in engaging in intermovement work
- Demonstrated experience in building and sustaining strong networks and
movements
- Experience in designing and implementing training and capacity building
programs
- At least three years experience in project management (led at least one
major project from start to completion, with minimal supervision)
- University degree or related experience with a focus on women's rights
and/or gender and development and or organizational and movement building
- Proven writing and editing skills
- Strong organisational skills; effective leadership, ability to work in
teams with tight deadlines and under pressure
- Written and spoken fluency in English and Spanish or French.  A
trilingual candidate in English, Spanish and French a definite asset
 
Please send a cover letter, latest CV and a written response in English to
the following questions (not to exceed 4 written pages, doubled spaced
Times Roman 12 font):
 
- There is a lack of conceptual work or useful frameworks which clearly
link organisational strengthening processes and movement building from a
feminist perspective.  From your view, what should such a conceptual
framework include?
 
- What are the key challenges to strengthening women's and feminist
movements in your region?  How could your position as the Manager of
Feminist Movements and Organizations address these challenges?
 
Please send all documents to Sarah Rosenhek at: srosenhek@awid.org by
November 20, 2006.  No calls please. We thank all those who apply, but only
those candidates who are short listed will be contacted.
 
For more information please visit www.awid.org
_______________________________________________________________________
 
2) AWID: HIV/AIDS Manager
 
Source: AWID
 
October 17, 2006
 
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), an international
feminist organization, works to strengthen the voice, impact and influence
of women's rights advocates, organizations and movements worldwide. As part
of an ambitious new strategic plan, AWID is hiring a manager to lead AWID's
new HIV/AIDS strategic initiative with the working name, "Feminist
Responses to HIV/AIDS."  The aim of this initiative is to support women's
rights advocates and movements to address the challenges of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic.
 
The new HIV/AIDS Manager is a content expert who will lead the initiative
and successfully coordinate efforts with other AWID staff, members and
partner organizations around the world.  The new Manager brings extensive
knowledge of the current situation of HIV/AIDS for women and girls
worldwide, as well as an understanding of the most effective responses to
the pandemic.  
 
Key tasks of the new manager will include: supporting current feminist
approaches and work done in the field of HIV/AIDS, facilitating dialogue
between key players, building capacity, developing feminist strategies and
monitoring them, generating relevant information for a wide range of
actors, convening opportunities for debate and discussion, and evaluating
outcomes.
 
AWID encourages applications from the Global South, Central and Eastern
Europe. AWID encourages applications from HIV+ applicants. The Manager
should be able to travel and will ideally lead this initiative from
Africa.
 
Necessary Qualifications and Experience:
 
- Depth and breadth of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and women's human rights
and/or gender and development
- At least three years experience in HIV/AIDS advocacy and/or research
- Experience with women's organizations and movements globally and/or
regionally in the HIV/AIDS area
- Demonstrated experience in building and sustaining networks or movements
- At least three years experience in action research (led at least one
major project from start to completion, with minimal supervision)
- University degree or related experience with a focus on women's rights
and/or gender and development and/or HIV/AIDS
- Proven writing and editing skills in English
- Strong organizational skills, effective leadership, ability to work in
teams with tight deadlines and pressure
- Written and spoken fluency in English is required; another language
preferred and a trilingual candidate in English, Spanish and French a
definite asset.
 
Please send a cover letter, latest CV and a written response in English to
the following questions (not to exceed 4 written pages, doubled spaced
Times Roman 12 font):
 
- In your region or part of the world, what are the challenges faced by
women's rights advocates, organizations and movements in addressing the
HIV/AIDS pandemic?
 
- The debates about and programs regarding the global HIV/AIDS pandemic do
not provide a strong gender analysis nor focus on the rights of women and
girls. What are some key strategies you envision to change this?
 
- Who do you think are some of current key actors from women's rights
movements who are working on HIV/AIDS?
 
Please send all documents to Sarah Rosenhek at: srosenhek@awid.org by
November 20, 2006.  No calls please. We thank all those who apply, but only
those candidates who are short listed will be contacted.
 
For more information please visit www.awid.org
_______________________________________________________________________
 
3) The Center for Reproductive Rights: Launch of Voice 4 Choice Website for
Landmark Case, Gonzales v. Carhart
 
Source: The Center for Reproductive Rights
 
On November 8, the Center for Reproductive Rights will stand before the
Supreme Court to preserve the right to a safe and legal abortion and to
protect the fundamental reproductive freedoms guaranteed to all women under
Roe v. Wade.
 
The Center has launched the Voice 4 Choice website
 www.voice4choice.org so that you can read
about the case, make your voice heard, and become involved in this Must-win
battle to save a woman's right to choose.
 
For more information please visit http://www.reproductiverights.org/
_______________________________________________________________________
 
4) British Academy/ ESRC: Visiting Fellowships for South Asia and the
Middle East
 
Source: The British Academy
 
The British Academy (BA) and the Economic and Social Research Council
(ESRC) have launched a new scheme of Visiting Fellowships for early-career
academics from South Asia and the Middle East.  Early-career scholars from
South Asia and the Middle East may apply directly to the Academy, in
conjunction with their UK hosts, for research visits to the UK of at least
two months. The main purpose of the visit should be to enable the visitor
to pursue research and to develop ideas likely to lead to a collaborative
research proposal between the UK and South Asia or the Middle East in the
near future.
 
Funding is available to support approximately 8 to 10 Fellowships from each
region.
 
The UK host must be resident in the UK, and must undertake to make all the
necessary practical and administrative arrangements for the visit. The
Academy grants the title of BA/ESRC Visiting Fellow and awards funding for
the visit.
 
Financial basis of the scheme: The scheme is covered under the Full
Economic Costing (FEC) regime. The BA/ESRC will contribute 80% of the Full
Economic Costs of the visit. If an award is offered, the host institution
must ensure that any part of the Full Economic Costs of the project not
funded by the BA/ESRC grant is committed to the project before it starts.
The maximum grant under the scheme is £12,000 (i.e., the Full Economic
Costs of the visit are £15,000).
 
Closing date: 15 November 2006 for visits to take place during the
financial year 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008.
 
Eligibility: BA/ESRC Fellowships are designed for early-career postdoctoral
scholars. Applicants must have obtained their doctorates after 1 January
2001. (Academics without a PhD must demonstrate equivalent status.)
 
Any topic in the humanities and/ or social sciences will be considered. For
an indication of the range of topics previously supported under the British
Academy general Visiting Fellowship scheme, see awards made in 2006
(http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/awards/intl/vf06pastawards.html).
 
For further information and to view the notes for applicants, please go to
http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/guide/intl/vfsame.html
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
EVENTS
_______________________________________________________________________
 
5) An International Human Rights Education Institute: "Women's Human
Rights: Building a Peaceful World in an Era of Globalization"
 
Source: Centre for Women's Studies in Education (at the Ontario Institute
for Studies in Education, University of Toronto)
 
May 22 to June 29, 2007
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto, Canada
 
Director: Alda Facio
With Peggy Antrobus, Angela Miles and Mònica Muñoz-Vargas
 
The Institute brings feminist perspectives and an activist orientation to
the inextricably related issues of peace, human rights and life-sustaining
development. Participants will gain an understanding of the global
economic, ecological, legal, cultural and political contexts of this work,
as well as of the groundbreaking work that is currently being done and has
been done over decades by women and men around the world.
 
Important milestones such as the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms, The African Protocol on Women's Rights, the
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of
Violence Against Women, Security Council Resolution 1325, the Beijing
Platform for Action, and Women's Action Agenda 21, will be featured.
Women's historical struggles for their adoption, their potential as
resources for social change, and effective ways of using them as tools for
education and practice will be explored.
 
Please note: Application due date for guaranteed consideration is February
15, 2007. Early Bird Special Tuition until December 1, 2006.
 
For more information and to apply, please visit
www1.oise.utoronto.ca/cwse/humanrights_07.htm or send an e-mail to
humanrights@oise.utoronto.ca
_______________________________________________________________________
 
6) International Conference on Actions to Strengthen Linkages between
Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
 
Source: National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (Indian
Council of Medical Research)
 
4-8 February, 2007
Mumbai, India
 
This conference is being organised by the National Institute for Research
in Reproductive Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, the
UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and
Research Training in Human Reproduction and the Indian Society for the
Study of Reproduction and Fertility, together with other partners.
 
The objectives of the conference are to: review global and region-specific
research that has contributed to understanding the synergies between sexual
and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS; identify successful approaches and
challenges from case studies; highlight outstanding research gaps; and
recommend specific policy and programmatic actions that could strengthen
the linkages in order to better respond to the needs and realities of
people living with HIV.
 
The conference will provide an international forum for researchers,
programme managers, policy-makers, networks of people living with HIV/AIDS,
women's, men's and youth health groups, and non-governmental organizations
to share experiences and challenges in strengthening the linkages between
sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.
 
For further information please go to
http://www.icmr.nic.in/icmrnews/HIV_%20Conference.pdf
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
CALL FOR PROPOSALS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
_______________________________________________________________________
 
7) Call for proposals: The Poverty and Economic Policy (PEP) Research
Network research proposals
 
Source: Eldis
 
The Poverty and Economic Policy (PEP) Research Network invites researchers
originating from and residing in developing countries to submit research
proposals. The PEP network provides financial (roughly 15 $CAN 20,000
research grants per year) and scientific support to member researchers, as
well as funding to participate in training workshops, PEP meetings,
international conferences, study visits and other activities. A shortlist
of teams will be invited to present their proposals. Proposals may be
submitted at any time.
 
Please note: The submission deadline for the 2007 meeting (to be held in
Peru in May or June 2007) is November 30, 2006.
 
For more details and to download the grants manual, please go to
http://www.eldis.org/cf/search/disp/DocDisplay.cfm?Doc=DOC22638&Resource=f1
or
http://132.203.59.36/NEW-PEP/Group/proposals/PEP%20Call%20for%20Proposals%202007.pdf
_______________________________________________________________________
 
8) Call for Editorial Team Proposals: Politics and Gender
 
Source: The American Political Science Association
 
Overview
 
On July 1, 2007, Karen Beckwith and Lisa Baldez will complete their terms
as editor of Politics and Gender.  The Women and Politics Research Section
of the American Political Science Association's peer-reviewed journal,
Politics and Gender is published by Cambridge University Press and
currently in its second year of publication. The journal has already
established a reputation as an agenda-setting journal that publishes the
highest quality scholarship on gender and/or women and politics. The
section actively seeks applications for a new Politics and Gender editorial
team, to be composed of three to five faculty members in this research area,
most preferably holding a tenured or tenure-stream position at a college or
university anywhere in the world. The term of the editorial team will be
three years, with a possible extension by the section for one additional
three-year term.
 
Editorial Team
 
The editorial team for Politics and Gender will need to continue the
tradition of rigorous standards in publishing and of attracting top quality
research of interest to all the subfields intersecting with research in
gender and women and politics. All proposals must identify a managing
editor, responsible for ongoing journal administration, working in
cooperation with Cambridge University Press. Proposals should also identify
an editorial team of three to five members.  The editorial team will be
responsible for managing and administering the day-to-day operations of the
journal, selecting and appointing the Politics and Gender editorial board of
20 to 35 members (which exercises general oversight), and presenting an
editorial report to the annual business meeting of the Women and Politics
Research Section.  
 
Criteria
 
The Editorial Selection Committee empowered by the research section will
adjudicate proposals based on four key criteria:
 
-  Comprehensive vision of the journal. Proposals should spell out a clear
and compelling vision for the journal that will help the selection
committee - and eventually, readers and potential authors -- understand the
intended contributions of this journal to scholarship, and how the editors
will continue Politics and Gender's record of excellence and centrality to
advancing research on gender and politics. Proposals might include
assessment of the journal's current strengths and weaknesses, suggesting
major lines of continuity and change through the next administration.
 
-  Demonstrated breadth and balance in the sub-field. It is essential that
the journal, and therefore the editorial team, represents breadth and
balance of areas and approaches in the broad and interdisciplinary field of
gender politics. The team as a whole could be drawn from one institution,
department, or center or from multiple places, but the team should
individually and collectively demonstrate a record of breadth of scholarly
interest (including interdisciplinarity), sustained intellectual balance
and judiciousness, and an active interest in tolerating and learning from
approaches different from their own.
 
-  Editorial and administrative experience. Members of the editorial team
should be familiar with the highest standards of scholarly assessment and
publication, whether as the authors of refereed journal articles and books,
as scholarly journal and book editors, or as members of university press
editorial boards. The managing editor, especially, should have
administrative experience that demonstrated appropriate levels of
management, organizational, and communication skills.
 
-  Effective organizational plans and financial /institutional support.
Submissions should provide logistical information and clear lines of
administrative responsibility and coordination, showing how the proposed
team is planning to handle and divide up the varied managerial and
logistical demands of editorial work.  Submissions should indicate where
the editorial office will be located and describe the facilities and
staffing that will be available. Submissions should also include a proposed
budget that specifies how the Cambridge University Press subsidy of
US$14,000 per annum will be allocated, and specifies the contributions from
the editors' home institutions including faculty release time, graduate or
undergraduate student assistance, office staff personnel, editorial team
office space, and other contributions.  
 
Deadline for Submissions
 
All editorial team proposals should reach Lee Ann Banaszak, chair of the
search committee, by January 15, 2007.  The Editorial Selection Committee
expects to appoint the editorial team by April 1, 2007.
 
For more detailed information, please visit
http://www.apsanet.org/content_33868.cfm
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
RESOURCES
_______________________________________________________________________
 
9) A New Report: International Conference: "Developing International
Cooperation on counter-trafficking in Tajikistan"
 
Source: WUNRN
 
Please note: This is a report on the International Conference held
September 15-16, 2006 in Tajikistan. The original report has been prepared
by Afsona Kadyrova- attorney of the Angel Coalition. The summary below has
been adapted from the report and shortened to fit the format of the
Resource Net Announcements.
 
The goal of the international conference is to contribute into the fight
against trafficking in human beings, to establish cooperation between the
countries of origin and transit, to support rights and interests of the
victims of trafficking.
 
The tasks of the conference were among others:
 
- To consider the scale, causes and instruments, available to fight against
trafficking in human beings in Tajikistan
- To strengthen the opportunities of target group, consisting of state
bodies and nongovernmental organizations, to make use of the international
experience on how to fight the trafficking in human beings
- To give the opportunity for state bodies, public organizations,
international experts, working on this problem, to share and exchange their
experience, to improve cooperation between them.
 
Speeches and presentations, delivered to the audience, are being
distributed around the whole region in printed form. The Memorandum on
cooperation between the countries of origin and destination, which is
signed by participants, allows to plan and schedule the further measures to
prevent and combat trafficking in Tajikistan.
 
Important impact of the international conference is that it brings to the
common floor state bodies, NGOs, mass media, and, together with
international experts in this area, allows to elaborate strategy against
human trafficking, which would be common for countries of origin, transit
and destination. This is especially important to fulfil today, as the rate
of development still can be suppressed.
 
For further information and to read the report, please go to
http://www.un-instraw.org/revista/hypermail/alltickers/es/0608.html or
http://www.un-instraw.org/revista/hypermail/alltickers/es/att-0608/Tajikistan_International_Trafficking_Conference_Report.pdf
_______________________________________________________________________
 
10) A New Guide: "Incorporating gender into your NGO"
 
Source: Eldis
 
By: Nicolien Wassenaar
Edited and published by: Network Learning
Published: May 2006  
 
This guide provides support for NGOs or community based organisations
seeking to mainstream gender into their work. It also presents the argument
for the need for gender mainstreaming, and tackles issues of constraints.
The guide argues that incorporating gender into an organisation is most
successful where the importance of and need for change are recognised and
internalised, and where members share the definitions of and goals for
change.  
 
The paper begins by giving an overview of key concepts and definitions of
gender, gender roles, and gender divisions of labour and practical and
strategic gender needs. The guide then goes on to cover in detail the steps
and considerations that organisations must incorporate in order to
effectively mainstream gender into their NGO. Topics covered include:
 
- the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) test
- strategy examples
- strategies for reaching a gender balance
- monitoring and evaluation
- the principles of monitoring.
 
For further details and to download the paper, please go to
http://www.eldis.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eldis.org%2Fsearch.htm&TN=a1&SN=AUTO5435&SE=1864&RN=2&MR=20&RF=s1&DF=f1&RL=0&DL=0&NP=3&ID=&MF=eldismsg.ini&MQ=&TI=0
_______________________________________________________________________
 
11) A New Resource: "Of War, Siege, and Lebanon: Women's voices from the
Middle East and South Asia"
 
Source: Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR) – New Ways
 
Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies
 
Published: September 2006
Texts by: Evelyne Accad, Pinar Ilkkaracan, Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Dina
M. Siddiqi, Zeina Zaatiri
Edited by: Liz Erçevik Amado
Layout by: Erdir Zat
Compiled by: Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR) - New Ways
 
Of War, Siege and Lebanon: Women's voices from the Middle East and South
Asia is a collective online publication of leading women activists,
academicians and writers in the Middle East and South Asia, depicting their
reactions to the wars and the increasing militarism in the Middle East as
well as their analysis of their impact on women activists' efforts to
promote gender equality, human rights and democracy. The attack on Lebanon
-called the July war-,only a last link in the chain of militarism and
violence unleashed in the name of the "global war on terror" in the region,
has quickly disappeared from the international public agenda. Yet women and
human rights activists in the region are still struggling with its long
term impacts, as well as the ongoing violence and militarism, such as the
increasing the right wing conservative ideologies, religious
fundamentalisms and the tightening spaces for human rights and democracy.
 
 
For more information please write to newways3@wwhr.org or to download the
publication, please visit http://www.wwhr.org/id_922
_______________________________________________________________________
 
12) A New Resource: Edited DVD of Offshore Outsourcing Conference: "New
Global Realities: Winners and Losers from Offshore Outsourcing"
 
Source: The Global Development and Environment Institute
 
Please note: The Global Development And Environment Institute was not
involved with the production of this DVD
 
Co-sponsored by Center for Global Initiatives at Mount Holyoke College,the
New York Times Knowledge Network, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund
 
The rapid expansion of offshore outsourcing is the key characteristic of
the current process of economic globalization. As production processes
become increasingly fragmented and globalized, companies source abroad
parts, components, and services they used to produce in-house, at home.
 
The ramifications of globalized production are the subject of intense
debate. On the one hand, the globalization of production offers new
opportunities for economic growth, development, and human well-being.
 
But, on the other hand, it poses fundamental challenges, as some countries
and groups of people will benefit more than others, some will benefit at
the expense of others, and some may simply lose out.
 
The conference brought together leading scholars and practitioners on
different sides of the debate, from different backgrounds and with
different analytical entry points to analyze who are the winners and losers
in this great transformation, and set out the policies needed to harness the
benefits of globalized production for more people and countries. The
speakers include Richard Freeman (Harvard University), Catherine Mann
(Institute for International Economics), Will Milberg (New School
University), Vivien Ann Schmidt (Boston University), Hans-Peter Martin
(European Parliament), Bart Kaminski (World Bank), Gary Jefferson (Brandeis
University), Luis Abugattas (UNCTAD), Louis Uchitelle (New York Times), Hugh
Dyar (Accenture), Guy Standing (ILO), Jerry Epstein (University of
Massachusetts).
 
For more information and for a copy of the DVD, please go to
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/programs/global/conferences/2006conf_dvd.html
_______________________________________________________________________
 
13) A New Book: "From Thought to Action: Building Strategies on Violence
Against Women"
 
Source: KRITI
 
By: Aanchal Kapur, Sanjay Muttoo and Suman Bisht
Published by: 'KRITI: a development research, praxis and communication
team', New Delhi
 
This book presents a comprehensive conceptual framework within which to
understand gender-based violence, especially physical violence. It also
suggests strategies that can be used by NGO fieldworkers/activists to
prevent and eliminate this form of violence at home, at workplaces, on the
streets and society in general.
 
Based on exhaustive research over two years, including detailed interviews
with individuals, communities and institutions, spread over eight states of
India, the book interrogates the ways in which women themselves, local
communities, NGOs and institutions of the State (police, health centres,
educational institutes) and community institutions (panchayats, youth
groups, men and women's groups, SHGs), understand and respond to violence
against women.
 
The book argues that violence has usually been understood only in its
manifest forms, as an 'act' (its more extreme forms like murder, severe
physical abuse and rape) and not as a `process'. This has led to a
`normalising' of many other forms of violence that women face daily. This
perception, in turn, determines the kind of interventions that are made by
different institutions, some of which are usually reactive to a 'case' and
not responsive to the context, continuity and consequence of the act.
 
It is argued in the book, that while immediate relief to women facing
violence in the form of shelters, legal aid and counselling are crucial
interventions, a more proactive approach is required to prevent violence
from happening in the first place. This essentially implies that gendered
attitudes, behaviours and practices of society are challenged not only by
the victims and perpetrators of violence but also the passive spectators to
violence. It shows that, above all else the community must have a stake in
preventing this violence. The book outlines strategies of mobilization,
networking and advocacy to effect such changes.
 
The book also contains some important information on organizations and
institutions working in this area, existing laws on the issue and some
myths/ facts about issues of violence that would be very useful for
fieldworkers/ activists/students. An annexure of questionnaires and
information on the methodology used could benefit researchers working on
the issue.
 
For more information please contact Davinder Kaur at
Kinfoplace@krititeam.org/ krititeam@bol.net.in
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
URGENT ACTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS
_______________________________________________________________________
 
14) Take Action: Colombian Activists Targeted by Government Assassination
Plot
 
Source: Human Rights First
 
October 2006
 
Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a human
rights defender.
 
Colombian human rights defender, Berenice Celeyta Alayon, recently obtained
leaked secret government documents describing a plot targeting her and 12
other human rights activists.  
 
The government falsely accuses the activists as being part of a
narco-terrorist network and of having ties to guerrillas.  
 
Ms. Celeyta is not a terrorist. Rather, she defends the human rights of
workers, Afro-Colombians, internally displaced people and poor communities.
She won a prestigious international human rights award in 1998 in
recognition of her work.  
 
You can help to ensure that Ms. Celeyta, and other Colombian human rights
activists do not become victims of these plans to harm them. Please urge
the Colombian government to protect these activists and to investigate
those involved in plotting to assassinate them.
 
For more detailed information and to send a letter, please go to
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/Celeyta
_______________________________________________________________________
 
15) Take Action: Join CIVICUS in condemning closure of Russian Human Rights
Group
 
Source: CIVICUS
 
Please note: This press release and call for action is from October 13,
2006.
 
CIVICUS condemned today's closure of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society
(RCFS), a prominent human rights organisation based in Russia. CIVICUS fears
that this is a chilling example of how the recently introduced law affecting
NGOs can be used to restrict freedom of association.
 
"Is this part of a wave of attempts to silence dissenting voices in
Russia?" asked Clare Doube, Manager of CIVICUS' Civil Society Watch
programme. "The regular harassment against members of the organisation, and
its actual liquidation, appear to be part of a clear pattern of
intimidation. Civil society groups such as RCFS play a crucial and
legitimate role in society and it is a tragedy that their work is being
restricted, rather than celebrated and supported."
 
RCFS has been critical of government policy in Chechnya and published
reports alleging torture, abductions and murder of civilians by government
forces.
 
This morning, a court in Nizhny Novgorod ruled that RCFS be shut down. The
court liquidated the organisation on the grounds that it had violated the
recently amended Federal Law on Public Associations under which it is
illegal for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to be headed by a person
with a criminal record. The director of RCFS, Stanislav Dmitrievskii, was
handed a two-year suspended sentence in February after he was found guilty
of inciting ethnic hatred. The charge was condemned by rights groups as
politically motivated.
 
The courts also accused RCFS of changing addresses without notifying the
appropriate authorities, holding an unsanctioned march in April and
refusing to remove the word "Russian," from its name. The organisation had
successfully fought off a previous attempt at closure last year.
 
The widely criticised Federal Law 18-FZ, which was introduced earlier this
year, imposes stringent government oversight of NGO work and financing.
Officials also now have the authority to close down groups whose activities
are perceived to contradict their stated goals or harm state interests. The
law amended various other laws affecting NGOs, including the Federal Law on
Public Associations under which RCFS was liquidated. The new law will take
full effect next week.
 
"The new law has restricted the space for civil society to operate in
Russia," said Doube. "President Putin has consistently stated that the new
measures will not be used to silence NGOs, but unfortunately, cases such as
this demonstrate an apparent - and highly disturbing - lack of genuine
commitment to international human rights standards."
 
Since the introduction of the law, both local and international human
rights groups have noted increased government pressure on their activities.
 
 
In a letter to President Vladimir Putin, CIVICUS condemned the closure of
RCFS, and urged that the organisation's right to appeal be respected.
CIVICUS reminded President Putin that Russia is obligated under Article 11
of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and other international
instruments to protect the right to association.
 
To read the appeal and to send a letter, please go to
http://www.civicus.org/csw/default.asp
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
NEWS
_______________________________________________________________________
 
16) First woman wins Bahrain parliament seat
 
Source: SeattlePi
 
October 17, 2006 - A British-educated civil servant has become the
first-ever female to serve as an elected member of Bahrain's parliament,
the Gulf kingdom said Tuesday.
 
Eighteen women are among 221 candidates vying for seats in the 40-member
assembly in the Nov. 25 vote. But Lateefa al-Geood was the only candidate
who registered to run in her region, meaning she has already technically
won a seat, Bahrain's official news agency said.
 
"I'm very proud as a Bahraini woman to reach this point, and I hope more
than one female candidate reaches the parliament," al-Geood told The
Associated Press on Tuesday.
 
Thirty-one women ran in municipal and parliamentary elections in 2002, but
failed to win any seats. Bahraini women won the right to vote a year
earlier as part of a national referendum that turned the small Gulf state
into a constitutional monarchy.
 
"I hope all Gulf states take Bahrain's example in giving women political
rights and the right to participate in political activities," al-Geood
said.
 
Six women already serve in Bahrain's upper chamber of parliament, but they
were appointed, not elected. Under Bahraini law, al-Geood's uncontested
candidacy amounts to an electoral victory.
 
Al-Geood holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Helwan
University in Egypt, and a master's degree in financial management from the
University of Nottingham in England. She currently works in Bahrain's
Ministry of Finance, as the head of the human resources department.
 
To access the complete article, please go to
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Bahrain_Election.html
_______________________________________________________________________
 
17) Sudan: Women Hope to Affect Khartoum Peace Talks
 
Source: AllAfrica.com
 
October 16, 2006 -  The women of Somalia have a critical role to play in
laying the foundation for sustainable peace in their war-torn nation by
acting as a bridge between rival political movements and clans, says Asha
Elmi, a member of Parliament of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
    
 
Elmi says she plans to "vigorously pursue" that objective if the TFG adds
her to the delegation headed for a third round of peace talks set to begin
in Khartoum October 30. Somalia has been in civil conflict since the
government of President Siad Barre was ousted in 1991.
 
The Somali lawmaker spoke at an October 13 luncheon sponsored by the
National Democratic Institute (NDI), which operates special
U.S.-government-funded programs aimed at improving the parliamentary skills
of the 23 women legislators in the TFG Parliament.
 
Somalia has no national government at present, according to State
Department background notes.  
 
However, it does have a transitional government, the components of which
are known as the Somalia Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs). The TFIs
include a transitional parliament, known as the Transitional Federal
Assembly, and the TFG, which includes a transitional president, prime
minister and a Cabinet.
 
The TFG, recognized by the United States and the United Nations, was the
product of a political compromise by Somalis meeting in Yemen in January.
 
 
However, its authority never extended much beyond the provincial capital of
Baidoa. The former national capital of Mogadishu and its surrounding area
remained under the sway of clan warlords.
 
In June, a movement called the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) seized control of
Mogadishu and ousted those warlords. A major armed clash between the TFG and
the ICU was averted when the Arab League intervened and brought the parties
together to discuss political power-sharing in talks at Khartoum, Sudan.
 
Elmi, who played an instrumental role in the formation of the TFG and as a
negotiator with the ICU, said, "Our main mission now must be to make the
Khartoum talks fruitful."
 
Women increasingly are playing a greater role in public life in Somalia,
Elmi said, because "as in all civil conflicts, women and children have been
the first victims." Since men have been doing the fighting for the past 15
years, women have become more involved in commerce and political affairs.
"Now, we want to play a vital role in promoting peace and political
participation," she said.
 
Elmi and other Somali women carved out a role for themselves in the talks
leading to the agreement creating the TFG and its parliament. To break the
logjam of inter-clan conflict, she said, "we used the women to be a bridge
among the warring clans; to promote a culture of peace and a spirit of
reconciliation."
 
Thus, "Somali women became 'ambassadors of peace,' " Elmi said. This
important status, she added, enabled the establishment of a single Somali
women's voice and the formation of the "Somali Women's Clan" or, as it is
sometimes called, "The Sixth Clan." Somalia has five, mainly male-dominated
traditional clans.
 
This was a "notable and historic achievement," Elmi said, because previous
peace talks had always involved just armed parties. But inclusion of the
Sixth Clan meant that civil society also became a part of the peace
process.
 
A direct result of the Sixth Clan's influence in the negotiations leading
up to the TFG was the establishment of a quota of 12 percent of
parliamentary representation for women and the establishment of a Ministry
of Women. Later after the TFG was formed, the Sixth Clan also became a
lobbying force for women's and children's causes in the TFG.
Asked if she believed she could duplicate the success of the women's
movement in negotiations with the traditionally Islamic ICU movement, Elmi
said that when she had earlier contacts with their leaders, "they treated
me well.
 
"I am not sure what their political and social agenda is. I will take a
wait-and-see attitude," she said. One thing she was sure of, Elmi said, is
that "we are sick and tired of warlordism."
 
To access the complete article, please go to
http://allafrica.com/stories/200610170096.html
_______________________________________________________________________
 
18) Ukraine: Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities
 
Source: NEWW Polska
Original Source: NEWW Focal Point Ukraine  
 
October 16, 2006 - Ministry of Justice of Ukraine accepts proposals
concerning implementing in Ukraine principle of ensuring equal rights and
opportunities of women and men. It was announced by Olena Toporova,
Director of the Department of the social, labour and humanitarian
legislation.
 
Ministry accepts proposals from people, entrepreneurships, institutions and
organizations of all property forms, as well as governmental bodies and
self-governments till December 1, 2006.
 
Ministry of Justice will develop plan of conducting gender-legal expertise
of legal acts for 2007 based on the proposals received. Gender- legal
expertise of the legislation will be conducted to implement Decree N504
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On Gender-Legal Expertise".
 
November 21, 2006 Parliament hearings "Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities
in Ukraine: Realities and Perspectives" will take place at the Parliament of
Ukraine, according to the Resolution of Parliament of Ukraine N148-V
September 14, 2006.
 
Parliament hearings will be organized by the Parliament Committee of Human
Rights, national minorities and international relations.
 
Members of the Government, representatives of the central and local
governmental bodies, self-governments, NGO, scientists, will be invited to
participation.
 
November 21, 2006 Parliament hearings "Present Conditions and Actual
Objectives in the Field of Gender Violence" will take place at the
Parliament of Ukraine, according to the Resolution of Parliament of Ukraine
N147-V September 14, 2006.
 
Parliament Hearings devoted to the International Day against Violence
against Women. Parliament hearings will be organized by the Parliament
Committee of Human Rights, national minorities and international relations.
 
 
Members of the Government, representatives of the central and local
governmental bodies, self-governments, NGO, scientists, representatives of
Parliaments of European Countries will be invited to participation.  
 
To view this article, please go to
http://www.neww.org.pl/en.php/news/news/1.html?&nw=2968&re=2
_______________________________________________________________________
 
19) Blair calls veils "a mark of separation"
 
Source: Reuters UK
 
October 17, 2006 - Prime Minister Tony Blair stepped into the debate over
the integration of Muslims into British society on Tuesday, calling the
full veil worn by some Muslim women "a mark of separation".
 
The use of the veil has prompted a lively debate over social inclusion with
some leaders of Britain's 1.8 million Muslims accusing the government of
stirring up Islamophobia.
 
The radicalisation of some young British Muslims, rammed home in July last
year when British-born Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people on London
transport, has raised doubts over whether enough has been done to integrate
Muslims.
 
Blair, who has until now encouraged the debate on integration without
expressing an opinion on veils, came the closest he has to taking sides.
 
Asked if a woman who wore the veil could make a full contribution to
society, Blair said: "It is a mark of separation and that's why it makes
other people from outside the community feel uncomfortable."
 
"No one wants to say that people don't have the right to do it -- that's to
take it too far -- but I think we do need to confront this issue about how
we integrate people properly with our society and all the evidence is when
people do integrate more they achieve more as well.
 
"I'm not saying anyone should be forced to do anything," he told his
monthly news conference.
Blair also said he fully supported the way a local education authority had
handled the case of a Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for
wearing a veil.  
 
Aishah Azmi, 24, said the veil, which left just her eyes exposed, had never
been a problem for pupils at the school in northern England where she
taught.
The school told Azmi she could wear the veil in corridors but must remove
it when teaching, but she refused. Her case is currently before an
employment tribunal.
 
The issue of veils was thrust into the spotlight this month when former
foreign secretary Jack Straw said Muslim women who wore full veils made
community relations difficult.
 
Blair called for a debate on how the Muslim community integrates into
British society and on how Islam comes to terms with the modern world.
 
To access the complete article, please go to
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-10-17T142205Z_01_L17815398_RTRUKOC_0_UK-RELIGION-BRITAIN.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=∩=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1
_______________________________________________________________________
 
20) Southern Africa: Women Activists Determined To Continue Struggle
Against Patriarchy
 
Source: AllAfrica.com
 
October 16, 2006 - Women rights activists from Southern Africa emerged as
determined as ever to continue with the struggle against patriarchy during
a three-day conference held in Johannesburg last week. Participants noted
that patriarchy is at the core of women's subordination and must be
challenged in both the public and private spheres.
 
The activists spoke with one voice in their resolution to develop a road
map towards reinvigorating the women's movement and working further to
eradicate poverty, mitigating conflicts and addressing HIV/AIDS
holistically.
 
The meeting which was reminiscent of the 1995 Beijing Conference,
deliberated on reinvigorating and sustaining a vibrant women's movement in
the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.
 
The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) organised the
meeting whose theme was "reinvigorating the women's movement in Southern
Africa". The round table meeting brought together 100 stakeholders from
national, sub regional and regional levels, individual activists, NGO
coalitions, government gender machineries, funding organisations, UN
agencies, academics amongst others in the SADC region and beyond.
 
Botswana delegates at the meeting included the President of Emang Basadi,
Joyce Anderson, Elsie Alexander who is an executive member of Women, Law
and Development in Africa, Onneetse Makhumalo of the Women and Law in
Southern Africa (WLSA) and Lorato Moalusi-Sakufiwa of the Women's Shelter
Project and a representative of the Maun-based Women Against Rape (WAR).
 
Speaking in an interview, Alexander said she felt that the round table
meeting was very important as it gave the participants an opportunity to
take stock of their organisations. She said what was significant was that
countries in the region have similar situations.
 
Alexander said the women's movements in the region have become weak
compared to a decade ago. She attributed this to economic factors, adding
that global issues also affected the region.
The veteran feminism activist said following this meeting, they intend to
rebuild their movements to make them strong. She added that they would also
mobilise for funds.
 
She indicated that they are determined to claim women's rights and that
they had emerged from the meeting strong and committed to moving forward.
 
In a communique issued after the meeting, the participants acknowledged the
contributions made by the women's movement in the region and internationally
and the diverse efforts deployed to ensure better representation of women in
positions of decision-making, within the public sphere.
 
The participants noted that the women's movement is confronted with a
number of key emerging challenges, which include conceptual and ideological
issues, structural and institutional barriers as well as the mounting
politics of resistance by certain segments of the society.
 
The participants committed themselves to developing a critical mass of
women to demand good governance and accountability. They also intend to
transform patriarchal and oppressive cultures, and consolidate efforts
towards making Africa an HIV/AIDS free continent.
 
Other resolutions include providing space and giving voice to young women
with a view of promoting equitable development and building broad-based
alliances with relevant stakeholders, including women at the grassroots
level to provide cohesion.
The participants also undertook to support women who are in positions of
decision-making to advance the feminist agenda.
 
Commenting about the meeting, one of the participants, Seodi White, the
Coordinator of Women and Law in Malawi, said she felt that the purpose of
reinvigorating women's movement was achieved. "It gave meaning and purpose
of the issues that matter to us as women in Southern Africa. I feel happy
about it," she said about the meeting.
 
To access the complete article, please go to
http://allafrica.com/stories/200610161202.html
 
 
 
 
 
---------------------
RESOURCE NET is brought to you by The Association for Women's Rights in
Development (AWID). Announcements posted on this discussion list do not
necessarily reflect the opinion of AWID, but are meant to provoke thought,
generate solutions and inspire action.
-
This list is only open to members of AWID. You can become a member at
www.awid.org/members. To remove yourself from this list, send an email with
your request to membership@awid.org. AWID produces e-lists in English,
Spanish and French. If you are a member of AWID and would like to subscribe
to the Spanish or French lists, please email your request to
membership@awid.org.
-
To contribute to Resource Net write to contribute@awid.org.
-
You are free to replicate AWID's information in other formats, and use it
in your advocacy, provided you give credit to the Association.
-
AWID is an international membership organization committed to gender
equality and a just and sustainable development process. AWID facilitates
an open exchange among researchers, practitioners, policymakers and others
in order to develop effective and transformative approaches for improving
the lives of women and girls worldwide. If you are not already a member of
AWID, please visit our web site at www.awid.org to find out more.
-
The Association for Women's Rights in Development
215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 150
Toronto, ON M5T 2C7
CANADA
Tel: 416-594-3773
Fax: 416-594-0330
Email: awid@awid.org
Web: www.awid.org