The 11th Annual Global Linking & Learning Programme: Human Rights in Development was held on 1-10 December 2012 in Malaysia. The training program aimed to enable the participants to understand and apply the key elements of human rights-based development. More specifically, it was meant to enable participants among others to:
a. Link specific development issues to international human rights standards;
b. Understand the nature of human rights obligations of state and non-state actors and be able to apply the knowledge gained to enhance human rights advocacy;
c. Understand the importance of "accountability", transparency and the right to information in human rights and be able to use accountability and redress mechanisms at different levels;
d. Understand the fundamental principle of "non-discrimination" and how human rights can help tackle deep-rooted structures of discrimination that perpetuate humiliation and poverty;
e. Understand and appreciate "participation" as a human right and that realization of human rights requires participation. Additionally, participants will be able to develop new ideas and skills to encourage meaningful participation of struggling communities in development work;
f. Comprehend how human rights empower people and steps that can be taken to encourage grassroots "empowerment";
g. Understand the difference between human rights and non-human rights strategies; and
h. Improve on/transform existing development strategies into human rights strategies.
People involved with grassroots, national and international development non-governmental organizations attended the workshop.
For further information, please contact: Dignity International. A-2-7 Pusat Perdagangan Seksyen 8, Jalan Sg Jernih 8/1, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 46050 Malaysia; ph 603 7931 0741, 7931 0741; e-mail: 11thGlobalHRD@dignityinternational.org ; www.dignityinternational.org.
The Short Course on Refugees and Statelessness was held in December 2012 in Bangkok and Maesot. The Short Course on Refugees and Statelessness aimed to strengthen participants' capacity, expertise, and knowledge on refugee and statelessness issues in the region. The course was an interdisciplinary overview on refugees and statelessness, including political, legal, social, and economic aspects. It examined responses by civil society, government, and intergovernmental organizations, and developed an understanding on how to better promote and protect the rights of stateless people and refugees.
The course was intended for individuals already working on refugee issues, whether through academic research or non-governmental organization (NGO) activity. The participants were NGO workers, policymakers, lawyers, paralegals, caseworkers, researchers, post-graduate students and refugees themselves.
The course was supported by leading experts working on refugee issues in the region, including academics, activists, pro-bono lawyers, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR) representatives, and NGO workers.
The course was a joint initiative between the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation (TCR), the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRPS) at Mahidol University, and the UNHCR.
For further information, please contact: Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, 7th floor, 81 Ploy Mitr building, Sukhumvit soi 2 Bangkok; ph/fax (66 2) 252 66 54; e-mail : anoop@aprrn.info; www.aprrn.org.
The Ewha Global Empowerment Program (EGEP) 2012 Winter was held on 9-22 January 2013 in Seoul. It aimed to empower women working in non-governmental public sectors and to nourish the next generation of women leaders in Asia and Africa. EGEP 2012 Winter is designed for women activists in non-governmental public sectors in Asia, with the theme: "Transnational Feminisms and Women's Activism." It has the following goals:
- To improve their theoretical knowledge and practical capacities from a gender perspective;
- To broaden t heir understanding of women's lives, women's issues, and women's rights in Asian context; and
- To strengthen their leadership capacities to build women's solidarity and cooperation in local, national, and transnational contexts.
With the minimum three years of experience, women activists working in international and national non-governmental public sectors in Asia, such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profit organizations (NPOs), civil society organizations, including individuals working independently are encouraged to apply for this program.
EGEP is a two-week program that takes place twice a year (January and July). EGEP is a two-week residential educational program that takes place twice a year (January and July) offered by Ewha Womans University. The university provides funding to cover fees for the tuition, dormitory, and a two-week allowance for all the participants. Funds for airfare are awarded only to participants from ODA beneficiary countries. EGEP 2013 Summer will be held from July 3 to 16, 2013.
For further information, please contact: Asian Center for Women's Studies, Ewha Womans University, Yeonghak-gwan, 11-1 Daehyun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-750 South Korea; ph (82-2) 3277-3613; fax (82-2) 3277-2577; e-mail : egep@ewha.ac.kr; http://acws.ewha.ac.kr.
Asia Catalyst is organizing the Health Rights Advocacy Training 2013 for up to twenty health rights advocates from organizations working with communities directly affected by HIV/AIDS. The training program will include support in gathering documentation and planning advocacy strategies, monthly coaching, and opportunities to collaborate with peer organizations. Participants will convene in May in Thailand for an intensive weeklong retreat where they will receive training on creating advocacy plans that will further their organization's goals. Starting in June, a team of experts will conduct individualized monthly coaching via Skype for all participants, and make several site visits. Participants will reconvene for one day in November around the International Congress on HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) to report back to one another about their work and develop a plan to continue collaborating with one another at ICAAP and when other regional opportunities arise.
For more information, please contact: ASIA CATALYST, 39 West 32nd Street, Suite 1602 New York, New York 10001 U.S.A., ph 1-212-967-2123; e-mail: info@asiacatalyst.org;www.asiacatalyst.org.