DemocracyNews
Monthly Electronic Newsletter of the World Movement for Democracy

January 2008

CONTENTS

DEMOCRACY ALERTS/APPEALS
1. Prisoners of Conscience in Syria
2. Democracy Activists Arrested at Peaceful Protest in Kyrgyzstan
3. Released Iranian Women Activists Create Fund to Support Female Prisoners
4. Democracy Groups Condemn Kenyan Violence

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
5. World Movement Launches Web Site for Fifth Assembly
6. Defending Civil Society: A Regional Report on the Middle East/North Africa
7. Human Rights & Justice Group International Offers Certificate Course on Gender Development
8. Peres Center for Peace Announces Women’s Media Network for Palestinians and Israelis
9. European Foundation for Democracy Established
10. Tenth Global Leadership Forum to be Held in Russia in June

CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING
11. CIVICUS Seeks Input for Its Civil Society Index Study

ECONOMIC REFORM AND THE BUSINESS SECTOR
12. Center for International Private Enterprise Shares Strategies for Policy Reform

ELECTIONS
13. Human Rights House (HRH) Issues Special Edition Newsletter on the Elections in Kenya

GENDER ISSUES AND SEXUAL MINORITY RIGHTS
14. The Centre for Development and Population Activities Announces Latest Publication

GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
15. USBF Launches New Program to Support Baltic NGOs Promoting Good Governance

HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
16. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies Wins French Republic Human Rights Award
17. Chronicles of Persecution to Monitor Repression in Russia

MEDIA, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
18. Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Releases Report on Media Freedom in Uganda

YOUNG PEOPLE’S POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION
19. World Youth Movement for Democracy Issues December 2007 Newsletter
20. Center for International Private Enterprise Announces Youth Essay Winners

21. WORLD MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING NETWORKS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE

DEMOCRACY ALERTS/APPEALS

1. Prisoners of Conscience in Syria
Coalition Democratic Syria reports that on January 3, writer and peaceful reform advocate, Fayez Sarah was arrested and is now being held incommunicado without charge at the State Security branch in Damascus. His detention brings the number of recently arrested political activists currently being held by State Security to eight. Amnesty International considers these individuals to be possible prisoners of conscience, detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and association.

On December 1, 2007, Mr. Sarah participated in a meeting of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change (DDDNC), an unauthorized umbrella grouping comprising opposition and pro-democracy groups in Syria. Mr. Sarah is believed to have been arrested for defending the remaining DDDNC detainees and denouncing the Syrian authorities’ latest arrest campaign on January 1. More than 40 DDDNC members were arrested; 33 were released within a few days.

The other seven possible prisoners of conscience, Walid al-Bunni, Yasser al-‘Eiti, Feda’a al-Horani, Akram al-Bunni, Ahmad To’meh, Jabr al-Shoufi , and ‘Ali al-‘Abdullah remain in detention. The Syrian authorities have given no reasons for their imprisonment and, reportedly, they do not have access to legal counsel or contact with their families. There is increasing concern that they could be subject to torture or other ill-treatment.

Coalition Democratic Syria recommends that concerned individuals express concern about the arrest of Fayez Sarah and that Feda' al-Horani, Akram al-Bunni, Ahmad To’meh, Jabr al-Shoufi, ‘Ali al-‘Abdullah, Walid al-Bunni, Yasser al-‘Eiti and Fayez Sarah are being held incommunicado, apparently because of the peaceful exercise of their human rights; call on the authorities to guarantee that the eight will not be tortured or ill-treated and will be given immediate access to their relatives, lawyers and any medical treatment they may need; and call on the authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally if they are prisoners of conscience held solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions, or else to bring them to trial promptly and fairly on recognizably criminal charges.

Appeals should be sent to:

President
His Excellency Bashar al-Assad
Presidential Palace
al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: (00963) 11 332 3410
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Defence
His Excellency General Hassan Ali Turkmani
Ministry of Defence
Omayyad Square
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: (00963) 11 223 7842
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice
His Excellency Muhammad al-Ghafari
Ministry of Justice
Al-Nasr Street, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: (00963) 11 666 2460
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Walid Mu’allim
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
al-Rashid Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Fax: (00963) 11 3327620
Salutation: Your Excellency

For more information from Amnesty International, go to: www.amnesty.org/en/report/info/MDE24/002/2008

2. Democracy Activists Arrested at Peaceful Protest in Kyrgyzstan
The Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) strongly condemns the arrest of 20 young activists and civil society leaders, including Tolekan Ismailova, director of the Human Rights Center/Citizens Against Corruption and World Movement participant.  The activists were arrested outside the Parliament on December 18 while peacefully protesting irregularities in the December 16 parliamentary elections.  Following the arrests, militia members did not permit lawyers to see or speak to the arrested individuals, who were required to make written statements without the presence of lawyers. The activists were charged with violating the established order and holding assemblies, meetings, street processions, and demonstrations (under Article 392 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility).  They were released, but a second wave of arrests took place on December 20 when 31 activists from youth and opposition movements continued their protests.  Ms. Ismailova is one of the activists re-arrested and she remains detained.  It is reported that a trial took place on December 20, behind closed doors, that lasted until midnight.  Ms. Ismailova was sentenced to 7 days and 7 nights.  An appeal was submitted after which, according to the law, detainees should be released until a decision is made on the appeal.  However, authorities refused to release the activists.

Go to: www.learningpartnership.org/en/advocacy/alerts/kyrgyz1207

3. Released Iranian Women Activists Create Fund to Support Female Prisoners
On January 7, the Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) reported that Maryam Hosseinkhah and Jelve Javaheri, Iranian women’s rights activists and members of the One Million Signatures campaign, were released from prison on January 2.  Ms. Hosseinkhah spent six weeks in prison and Ms. Javaheri spent one month in prison due to their activities and writings in support of the campaign, which demands an end to discriminatory laws against women.  While in prison, the two women’s rights activists set up a fund to support female prisoners and contributed 60 books to the women’s library in Evin prison.  They also wrote about conditions in the female ward and the women who committed violent crimes because they had no other alternative.

Go to: www.learningpartnership.org/advocacy/alerts/iranwomenarrests0307

4. Democracy Groups Condemn Kenyan Violence
Democracy groups around the world, including World Movement participating organization, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, have raised concern over recent developments in Kenya.  According to the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), human rights defender Anthony Njui, a former Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) National Secretary was reportedly murdered in the ongoing tribal killings following President Mwai Kibaki’s re-election. Another human rights defender, Nahashon Gachihi, working with IMLU is now displaced, having been forced to move out of Huruma Estate under similar circumstances.  The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network’s chairperson Hassan Shire Sheikh urges concerned parties to work together with diplomatic missions, human rights organizations, and international observers to find an immediate and lasting solution to the current political and humanitarian.

Go to: www.yorku.ca/crs/AHRDP/index.html

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

5. World Movement Launches Web Site for Fifth Assembly
The World Movement for Democracy recently launched a Web site for its Fifth Assembly, which will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 6-9, 2008.  The Web site includes information on the Assembly agenda; workshops; local partner organization, the Europe XXI Foundation; the host country and city; and the venue.  The Web site also offers a section with current news from Ukraine.  Under the theme, “Making Democracy Work: From Principles to Performance,” the Fifth Assembly will address the practical needs of democracy and human rights activists, practitioners, and scholars, and will provide an opportunity for the participants to initiate new strategies for democracy-promotion work.  Please note that participation is by invitation only.

Go to: www.wmd.org/fifth/Index.html

6. Defending Civil Society: A Regional Report on the Middle East/North Africa
The World Movement for Democracy has just published “Defending Civil Society: A Regional Report on Middle East/North Africa,” which focuses on the legal environment for civil society in 10 countries in the region and the ways in which democracy, human rights, and other civil society groups are hindered from carrying out their work.  The country reports—on Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Yemen—were mainly prepared by civil society leaders, some of whom have requested anonymity due to the circumstances in which they work.  The idea for producing this regional report, which is currently only available in Arabic, grew out of a regional consultation held in Casablanca, Morocco, in May 2007, one of several held around the world to help prepare a global report on the same subject that will be published shortly in six languages.  The World Movement secretariat will be asking organizations throughout the Middle East/North Africa region to post the regional report on their Web sites and to initiate discussions of its contents.  (To request a free hard copy of the report, write to: world@ned.org.)  An English version of the report is in preparation.

Go to: www.wmd.org/documents/DSCReportArabicJan08.pdf

7. Human Rights & Justice Group International Offers Certificate Course on Gender Development
Human Rights & Justice Group International (HRAJGI) has announced a call for applications for their forthcoming “Online Certificate Course on Gender Development,” which will take place on February 17 – March 29, 2008. The overall purpose of the training program is to enhance the gender-responsive planning of organizations and the management skills of their employees so they can more effectively play their part in implementing gender-sensitive development policies, as well as mainstreaming gender in their activities, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.  The course tuition fee is US$200. There is a limited number of partial scholarships available for this course for applicants from developing countries.  The deadline for application is February 14, 2008.  Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Go to: http://justicegroup.org/training/application.htm

8. Peres Center for Peace Announces Women’s Media Network for Palestinians and Israelis
The Peres Center for Peace – a nongovernmental, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting peaceful relations between Arabs and Israelis – has recently launched the initiative “Wo.Me.N. – The Women's Media Network.”  The Peres Center, together with its Palestinian partner, the International Peace & Cooperation Center (IPCC), held an inaugural workshop for Palestinian and Israeli female journalists, with the support and coordination of Spanish host, Tres Culturas.  To create a joint Palestinian-Israeli network for female journalists, 14 eminent journalists came together for three days to share their perspectives and discuss common obstacles facing them as women reporting from within a conflict region. The Palestinian-Israeli group met with award-winning Spanish journalist, Ms. Lola Banon, who specializes in reporting on Middle East affairs. Her speech highlighted the need to focus on the human aspect underlying the conflict.  Further activities will be held to nurture the Palestinian-Israeli network for female journalists.

Go to: www.peres-center.org/SectionProject.asp?cc=01110209

9. European Foundation for Democracy Established
After careful preparations in 2006 and 2007, the European Foundation for Democracy through Partnership (EFDP) will be established in 2008.  On March 1, the EFDP will open its offices in Brussels, and on April 15, the EFDP will be officially launched in Brussels in the presence of EU Commission president Mr. José Manuel Barroso and EFDP president of Council of Patrons, Mr. Václav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic.  The new independent EFDP is part of an effort to enhance Europe’s profile and identity in democracy assistance.  The EFDP will act as a portal to Europe for those engaged in democratic reform processes outside Europe, who wish to access European knowledge and resources to enhance the impact of their efforts.  The EFDP aims to become a European knowledge hub in the complex field of democracy building.  Finally, the EFDP has the potential to function as a catalyst for the EU in meeting the challenges of the often messy democratization processes and in increasing the coherence between democracy assistance, development and security in the envisioned EU foreign policy.

Go to: www.efdp

10. Tenth Global Leadership Forum to be Held in Russia in June
The Tenth Global Leadership Forum will be held in Novosibirsk, Russia, on June 18-23, 2008.  The Forum is open to nongovernmental organizations, youth organizations, and educational institutions.  The Global Leadership Forum emphasizes an inclusive approach to leadership in the public policy arena, the private sector, NGOs, educational institutions, and citizen’s organizations.  This year’s keynote speaker will be Steve Mosely, president of the Academy for Educational Development.

Go to: www.glforum.org

CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING

11. CIVICUS Seeks Input for Its Civil Society Index Study
The CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) team has announced an open call for statements of interest to implement the CSI around the world.  This call refers to becoming the implementing partner of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index - a participatory action-research tool. The Civil Society Watch Programme aims to protect the existing space for civil society and citizen participation in countries around the world by mobilizing quick, public responses to situations where the right to freedom of civic association is threatened.

Go to: www.civilsocietyindex.org

ECONOMIC REFORM AND THE BUSINESS SECTOR

12. Center for International Private Enterprise Shares Strategies for Policy Reform
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has launched “Strategies for Policy Reform: Experiences from around the World,” a selection of case studies highlighting CIPE’s programmatic achievements worldwide. The studies range from Hernando de Soto’s work with the informal sector in Peru to the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association’s wide-reaching business radio programming. They reveal how local reformers are transforming their countries to advance democratic governance and free market economies. These accomplishments give hope to reformers elsewhere and illuminate innovative strategies for building a better future.

Go to: www.cipe.org/publications/papers/pdf/PolicyReform_2007.pdf

ELECTIONS

13. Human Rights House Issues Special Edition Newsletter on the Elections in Kenya
Human Rights House has put out a special edition of its electronic newsletter outlining many of the worrying events taking place in Kenya following the disputed election result on December 27.  Some of the issues covered include the electoral commissioner chairman Kivuitu admitting to having been under pressure, the reaction around the world to the crisis, and stories of the ongoing violence, along with expert assessment and testimonials on the crisis. 

Go to: www.humanrightshouse.org

GENDER ISSUES AND SEXUAL MINORITY RIGHTS

14. The Centre for Development and Population Activities Announces Latest Publication
“WomenLead in Peace and Stability” is the newest edition of the Centre for Development’s (CEDPA) “WomenLead” series.  This edition includes stories from an extraordinary group of women who are mediating conflict, caring for refugees, restoring communities and building more responsive governments. These 15 leaders came together for CEDPA’s “WomenLead in Promoting Peace and Stability” workshop, held on October 23 - November 17, 2006 in Washington, D.C.  Each woman has a powerful story to tell about the conflict in her country, and how women are building lasting peace by rewriting constitutions, negotiating human rights protections, securing access to land and water, and changing mindsets that limit women’s roles in their communities.  Recommendations to increase women’s leadership in peace and stability efforts are included.

Go to: www.cedpa.org

GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION

15. USBF Launches New Program to Support Baltic NGOs Promoting Good Governance
On Friday, December 21, 2007, U.S.- Baltic Foundation (USBF) Executive Director Linas J. Kojelis announced the launch of the Baltic Good Governance Initiative (BGGI). Through the BGGI, USBF will work to raise funds and awareness in the United States to support Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian nongovernmental organizations that promote policies of clean and transparent government.  While many positive measures have been taken by the Baltic States to promote clean government since independence, the issue of corruption is once again becoming vital in the region.  According to Transparency International’s September 2007 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), progress toward promoting clean government has slowed or stopped in the Baltic States in recent years.  The recent protests in Riga that prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Kalvitis further demonstrate the importance of this issue and its potential implications for the future success of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. 

Go to: www.usbaltic.org/good_governance.php

HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

16. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies Wins French Republic Human Rights Award
The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) was awarded the 2007 French Republic Human Rights Award. CIHRS was awarded the prize in recognition of its activities in the domain of freedom of opinion and expression and the dialogue between cultures. Mr. Bahey El Din Hassan, Director of CIHRS, accepted the award at a celebration organized by the French government on December 10, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. Rama Yade, French State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, delivered the award, "Freedom – Equality – Fraternity," which is offered annually by the National Advisory Commission for Human rights to honor field activities and projects dealing with the protection and effective promotion of human rights in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Go to: www.wmd.org/documents/jan08demnews16.pdf

17. Chronicles of Persecution to Monitor Repression in Russia
The Nizhny Novgorod-based Foundation to Support Tolerance and members of the Other Russia coalition have launched a new information portal, Chronicles of Persecution.  The portal will collect information about acts of repression against Russian political and civic activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.  Several civic activists were subjected to various forms of harassment this year.  There have been cases of people being killed, assaulted, taken into custody under false charges, being subjected to enforced psychiatric treatment with unlawful detentions, and subject to searches as routine practice. Chronicles of Persecution aims to attract attention both to particular cases and repression against dissidents in Russia in general.

Go to: www.hroniki.info

MEDIA, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

18. Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Releases Report on Media Freedom in Uganda
On December 10, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) released its report, “Freedom of Expression: In Defense of Media Freedom in Uganda.”  The report examines the origin of freedom of expression, its legislative framework, and impediments to exercising the right to free speech.  The report also makes practical proposals for reform.  Beyond examining media freedom in Uganda, the report also establishes that during the period under review there was increased openness; a high sense of optimism, despite isolated incidents of political harassment; high incidences of mob justice; and an extremely low level of disaster preparedness in view of recent floods and Ebola and cholera outbreaks.

Go to: www.wmd.org/documents/jan08demnews18.pdf

YOUNG PEOPLE’S POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

19. World Youth Movement for Democracy Issues December 2007 Newsletter
The World Youth Movement for Democracy (WYMD) issued the December edition of its newsletter –a source of information and a forum for participants to exchange experiences, opinions, and information.  The newsletter offers toolkits or articles on youth participation in democracy promotion, news of upcoming events or opportunities, and shared experiences related to issues of youth participation, democracy, and human rights.

Go to: www.ymd.youthlink.org/ymd/index.html

20. Center for International Private Enterprise Announces Youth Essay Winners
In 2007, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) launched its first annual international youth essay competition. Young people aged 18-30 were asked to share their ideas about citizenship, democratic and market-oriented reform, and youth leadership.  In response, CIPE received 445 essays from 72 countries.  CIPE has begun to publish the winning essays as bi-weekly Economic Reform Feature Service articles.  Thus far, CIPE has featured Mladen Joksic’s reflections on citizenship in Serbia; Caroline McDermott’s essay on educational reform in the U.S.; Pie-Pacifique Kabalira-Uwase’s essay on responsible citizenship in Rwanda; and David Musiime’s paper on entrepreneurship in Uganda.  The rest of the winning essays will be published throughout 2008.

Go to: www.cipe.org/publications/fs

21. WORLD MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING NETWORKS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE

• Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) – www.learningpartnership.org
• East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defender Network –www.yorku.ca/crs/AHRDP/about.html
• Europe XXI Foundation – www.europexxi.kiev.ua/?&lang=eng
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation – www.civicus.org
• Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) – www.cipe.org
• Human Rights House – www.humanrightshouse.org
• Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) – www.cihrs.org
• Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) – www.fhri.or.ug
• World Youth Movement for Democracy (WYMD) – www.ymd.youthlink.org
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