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The World Movement for Democracy is a global network of democrats, including activists, practitioners, academics, policy makers, and funders, who have come together to develop new forms of cooperation to promote the development of democracy. View previous issues of DemocracyNews.

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October 2004

CONTENTS

DEMOCRACY ALERTS/ APPEALS
1. World Movement Participant Receives 4-Year Prison Sentence in Sierra Leone
2. Urgent Appeal to Release Bahrain Human Rights Activist, Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja
3. UPDATE: S.K. Pradhan Released from Prison

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
4. Call for Applications: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowships
5. Call for Applications: Five-year Governance and Democracy at the University of Leeds, UK
6. Conference: "Deliberative Democracy and Chinese Practice of Participatory and Deliberative Institutions," November 18-21, 2004

CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING
7. Kenya Launches Centre for Multiparty Democracy

CONFLICT RESOLUTION
8. New Issue Available Online: South Africa Reconciliation Barometer
9. Call for Short Essays on Cultural Rights
10. Conference: King Prajadhipok's Institute Congress VI "Peace-building and Sustainable Democracy," November 5-7, 2004

DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
11. New Publication: CRAFTING DEMOCRACY: HOW NOVGOROD HAS COPED WITH RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE

ECONOMIC REFORM AND THE BUSINESS SECTOR
12. "The Brasilia Consensus: A New Model of Development?"

ELECTIONS
13. Urgent Call for Collaboration: Ukrainian Public Opinion Research Organization Requests Support

HUMAN RIGHTS
14. The Humanitarian Law Center Issues its First Newsletter
15. Call for Applications: 15th Annual Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Training Program
16. Call for Applications: The Patrick Stewart Human Rights Scholarship
17. Stop Child Trafficking Conference, Osnabruck, Germany, November 2-4, 2004

POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH
18. International Antifascism and Tolerance Graphics Contest: "Unauthorized Persons are Welcome"

RULE OF LAW
19. "Developing Democracy under a New Constitution in Thailand: A Pluralist Solution"

WOMEN'S ISSUES
20. Call for Applications: Online Course on Leadership Development for Persian Speakers
21. Small Grants for African Women's Groups
22. New Online Publications on Political Participation of Women in Latin America
23. WORLD MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING NETWORKS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE


DEMOCRACY ALERTS

1. World Movement Participant Receives 4-Year Prison Sentence in Sierra Leone
The World Movement for Democracy would like to express its grave concern upon the conviction of World Movement for Democracy participant Paul Kamara, editor of the Sierra Leone paper For Di People. On October 5th, Mr. Kamara received a four years prison sentence for criminally libeling Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. Paul Kamara was also convicted of criminal libel and served a six month prison for defaming a judge in 2002. Both sentences have received strong criticism from international and local media groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and the Sierra Leone Associations of Journalists.

For information on Paul Kamara's arrest, go to: http://www.wmd.org/democracyalert/oct0804.html

2. Urgent Appeal to Release Bahrain Human Rights Activist
Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) issued an appeal for the immediate release of its Executive Director and prominent human rights activist, Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja. Mr. Al-Khawaja was summoned to a police station and detained on Saturday, September 25, after criticizing Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Al Khalifa one day earlier for the country's current economic problems and past human rights abuses at a symposium on economic rights and poverty in Bahrain. Following his arrest, Mr. Al-Khawaja delivered a speech and began a hunger strike. The BCHR calls on democracy activists around the world to appeal to the authorities of Bahrain to urge for the protection of the rights and well being of the detainee and his immediate release. In the meantime, the government ordered closure of the BCHR on September 30.

For more information, contact: abuoman2000@hotmail.com or go to:
www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/09/29/bahrai9413.htm

3. UPDATE: S.K. Pradhan Released from Prison We are happy to announce that S.K. Pradhan, Secretary General of the Bhutan-based People's Forum for Human Rights and Development (PFHRD), was released from prison on September 20, 2004. Mr. Pradhan has informed the World Movement for Democracy that he has been reunited with his wife and daughter after enduring physical and mental suffering during his three years of imprisonment and has returned to PFHRD's office, which was destroyed during his absence. Mr. Pradhan, who has suffered on behalf of democracy and human rights for the people of Bhutan, would like to express his gratitude for the outpouring of concern, support, and solidarity. He states "I have been made to suffer for a crime not committed by me. I have been subjected to a punishment for a crime in which I am neither involved nor related. I request you to kindly initiate actions to find out the truth. I need justice from the international community."

For background on S.K. Pradhan's situation, go to: http://www.wmd.org/democracyalert/feb502.html


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

4. Call for Applications: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowships
The Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund provides fellowships for scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries. Through these fellowships, scholars may find temporary refuge at universities and colleges anywhere in the world, which enables them to continue their research and share their knowledge with students, colleagues, and the community at large. Once conditions at home improve, scholars will return to help rebuild universities and societies ravaged by fear, conflict, and repression. Academics, researchers, and independent scholars from any country, field or discipline may qualify as fellows. Universities, colleges and research centers in any country may apply to serve as hosts. Institutions interested in hosting a particular scholar should submit a letter with the scholar's application. Non-emergency applications are reviewed in September, January, and April each year. Emergency applications may be reviewed on a more frequent basis.

For more information, visit: www.ned.org/forum/R-FApplication.pdf or contact: fellowships@ned.org

5. Call for Applications:
Five-year Governance and Democracy at the University of Leeds, UK The University of Leeds in the United Kingdom announces an opening for a fellowship position in Governance and Democracy. The five-year research fellowship will lead to a permanent academic position. The University welcomes applications from candidates with postdoctoral (or equivalent) experience and an established track record of achievement in high quality research projects. Research topics may focus on any aspect of democracy and democratization, and/or muli-level governance in developing and transitional countries.

For further information and details on how to apply, go to www.leeds.ac.uk (click on jobs), or e-mail af@leed.ac.uk

6. Conference: "Deliberative Democracy and Chinese Practice of Participatory and Deliberative Institutions," November 18-21, 2004
The University of Tasmania, Australia, and Zhejiang University are co-organizing a conference on "Deliberative Democracy and Chinese Practice of Participatory and Deliberative Institutions." The conference is scheduled to take place on November 18-21, 2004, at West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

For more details contact: Dr. Baogang He at b.he@utas.edu.au


CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING

7. Kenya Launches Centre for Multiparty Democracy
The Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMPD) held an opening ceremony on September 16-18 to launch the Kenyan Center for Multiparty Democracy (MPD). Over 500 participants attended the ceremony that merged the Kenyan Center for Multiparty Democracy with Kenyan political society. During the visit, IMPD representatives discussed the structure and content of the programs for 2005 with their Kenyan partners.

Go to: www.nimd.nl/default.aspx?menuid=0&type=newsitem&contentid=198&special=>


CONFLICT RESOLUTION

8. New Issue Available Online:
South Africa Reconciliation Barometer The latest issue of the South African Reconciliation Barometer focuses on various dimensions of land disputes in South Africa. The Reconciliation Barometer was established by the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation to contribute to the monitoring of the reconciliation process in South Africa. The Barometer includes regular audits of social, political, and economic transformation; biannual public opinion surveys; and ongoing analysis of socio political trends.

To view the latest issue, go to: www.ijr.org.za/baro.html

9. Call for Short Essays on Cultural Rights
Human Rights Dialogue, a semiannual publication of the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, is seeking short essays for its spring 2005 issue. This issue will focus on the importance of cultural rights, explain their potential range of application, and explore the tensions between cultural rights and other rights. Submissions should be in electronic form and should include no more than 1200 words in English. Authors whose work is published will receive $100 Honorarium. The submission deadline is November 30, 2004. Individuals are encouraged to submit an abstract or detailed outline as soon as possible.

For details, go to: www.cceia.org/page.php/prmID/114

10. Conference: King Prajadhipok's Institute Congress VI "Peace-building and Sustainable
Democracy," November 5-7, 2004 King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI), an academic institution committed to promoting democracy for sustainable peace, is holding this conference at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok to create a forum to exchange knowledge and ideas about peace in solving problems and to promote the ideas of public participation, public hearings, mediation, and unanimity-building process in Thailand. The conference, "Peace-building and Sustainable Democracy," will include nearly 500 participants, including members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, policy makers, state officials, NGOs, academics, representatives of international agencies, secondary and post-secondary students, and interested members of the general public.

For the detailed agenda go to: www.wmd.org/documents/kpicongress.doc


DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

11. New Publication: CRAFTING DEMOCRACY: HOW NOVGOROD HAS COPED WITH RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE
Written by Nicolai N. Petro, Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island, the book describes how elites in the city of Novgorod, Russia used local cultural myths and symbols to build an environment receptive to democratic reforms. A Russian edition, distributed by the Center for Information, Science, and Education (www.ino-center.ru) in Moscow, will be available next month.

Go to: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/cup_catalog.taf?_function=detail&Title_ID=4181


ECONOMIC REFORM AND THE BUSINESS SECTOR

12. Recent Publication: "The Business Case for Democracy -- A Retrospective of CIPE's Accomplishments 1983-2000"
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) released its latest annual report, which takes a retrospective look at the 20 years of CIPE's efforts in promoting democratic reforms around the world. The report is divided into several chapters that focus on a particular topic: the Business Case for Democracy, Business Associations, Advocacy for Reform, Women and Youth Participation, Access to Information, Property Rights and the Informal Sector, Combating Corruption, Corporate Governance, and Democratic Governance. Each section also features an essay written by a prominent expert in the field.

One of the essays featured in the report, "Local Knowledge and Institutional Reform," was written by Nobel Prize-winning economist Douglass North. In this article, Douglass North claims that in order to design effective reform policies that would lead to economic growth, it is essential to understand the cultural heritage and historical background of a country and employ the local knowledge in developing local institutions, including property rights and legal system.

To read the report, go to: www.cipe.org/about/report/


ELECTIONS

13. Urgent Call for Collaboration: Ukrainian Public Opinion Research Organization Requests Support
The Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF) of Ukraine is looking for experts in public opinion polling and election monitoring to assist the DIF during the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for October 31 and November 21, 2004. Funding is available for up to 15 experts.

For further details, contact Ilko Kucheriv of the Democratic Initiatives Foundation at dif@ln.ua


HUMAN RIGHTS

14. The Humanitarian Law Center Issues its First Newsletter
The Humanitarian Law Center (HLC), a non-governmental human rights and humanitarian law center based in Belgrade, Serbia, launched its first newsletter to report on recent activities. The newsletter includes information on projects, events, conferences, and publications dealing with issues of justice, accountability and reconciliation. This issue includes a report on a conference held by the HLC on "Dealing with the Past in the Former Yugoslavia."

Go to: www.hlc.org.yu/storage/docs/23b7ad2977f07e918825409db7d49f81.pdf

For more information about the Humanitarian Law Center, go to: www.hlc.org.yu/english/index.php

15. Call for Applications: 15th Annual Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Training Program
The Diplomacy Training Program, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales, Australia, is calling for applications for its 15th Annual Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Training program. The training program will be held in cooperation with the Peace and Democracy Foundation of East Timor on February 7-25, 2005. The 15th Annual Training will include sessions on: economic, social and cultural rights; civil and political rights; a human rights based approach to development; developing advocacy strategies; reconciliation and transitional justice; an introduction to human rights fact-finding and investigation; children's rights, women's rights and the rights of migrant workers; and corporate accountability and human rights and the environment and human rights. Individuals working on human rights and people's diplomacy for non-government and community-based organizations in Asia- Pacific countries and Indigenous Australia are encouraged to apply.

For further information, go to: www.dtp.unsw.edu.au, or email the Diplomacy Training Program at: dtp@unsw.edu.au

16. Call for Applications: The Patrick Stewart Human Rights Scholarship
The Patrick Stewart Human Rights Scholarship provides opportunities for students to gain direct, hands-on experience in the human rights field. Amnesty International USA awards these scholarships to student activists for summer internships or other individually planned human rights projects. Ranging from $600 to $1,800, scholarships can be used for travel, materials, and other expenses. Projects typically last from six weeks to four months. The Scholarship is open to students of any nationality studying at a United States high school, college, or graduate school and to United States citizens who are studying abroad. Any eligible student interested in hands-on, practical human rights experience can apply. Applications for 2005 projects will be available in mid-November and due the following February.

Go to: www.amnestyusa.org/patrickstewart/

17. Stop Child Trafficking Conference, Osnabruck, Germany, November 2-4, 2004
The International Conference Against Child Trafficking aims to facilitate an action- oriented dialogue between national and international specialists to serve as a forum for knowledge exchange and a space to develop effective strategies to combat child trafficking. The registration deadline is October 15, 2004.

Go to: www.stopchildtrafficking.org/site/index.php?id=163


POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH

18. International Antifascism and Tolerance Graphics Contest: "Unauthorized Persons are Welcome"
As part of its Antifascism and Tolerance campaign, the Youth Human Rights Movement (YHRM) in Russia is holding an international graphics contest. The YHRM welcomes submissions of graphics that can be printed or posted on the Internet. The theme for the competition focuses on antifascism, peace making, tolerance, non-violence, and intercultural cooperation. The winner of the competition will have his or her work published in thousands of copies of the YHRM information materials and spread around Europe.

Go to: www.antifa.ynnet.org/


RULE OF LAW

19. "Developing Democracy under a New Constitution in Thailand: A Pluralist Solution"
The article by Robert B. Albritton and Thawilwadee Bureekul analyzes the implementation of Thailand's 1997 Constitution focusing in particular on the Constitutional Court, the Electoral Commission and the National Counter Corruption Commission. The study examines the level of public satisfaction with Thailand's new democratic political landscape and found a 72.6 percent satisfaction rate. The study also examined urban/rural distinctions in evaluating candidates. This article was originally written for King Prajadhipok's Institute and was featured in the latest newsletter of the Center for Democratic Institutions (CDI).

Go to: www.kpi.ac.th/download/DEVELOPING%20DEMOCRACY.pdf


WOMEN'S ISSUES

20. Call for Applications: Online Course on Leadership Development for Persian Speakers
The Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) announces a Persian online distance learning course on developing participatory leadership skills. The course is offered over an eight-week period (January 10 - March 7, 2005) and is geared toward women living in Iran and Afghanistan, especially women activists working to promote human rights and democratic principles in their communities. The primary text used in the course will be the Persian edition of Leading to Choices: A Leadership Training Handbook for Women (Women's Learning Partnership, 2001). The application deadline is October 15, 2004.

For more information and for the application form for the course, go to: www.learningpartnership.org/projects/distancelearning/05leadershipper.phtml

21. Small Grants for African Women's Groups
Mama Cash, a small grant making organization based in the Netherlands, is accepting proposals from African women's groups that contribute to advancing women's rights within peace and security and economic justice issues in Africa. Applications can be submitted in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic. The submission deadline is November 1, 2004. All final decisions will be communicated within three months after the deadline.

Go to: www.mamacash.nl/proposal_africa.html

22. New Online Publications on Political Participation of Women in Latin America
International IDEA and its Peruvian local partner, Asociación Civil Transparencia, presented three books on Political Participation of Women in Latin America" to some 130 representatives of political parties and civil society groups in July as part of its work on gender and political parties. Additionally, they released a report containing statistics on the political participation of women in Peru. All of the materials are available online in English and Spanish.

To read more about their research and to access the online publications, go to: www.idea.int/newsletters/2004/July_Sep04/gender.htm


23.WORLD MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING NETWORKS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE
Please Note: Readers of DemocracyNews will often be referred to Web sites for further information. If you are interested in a particular item, but are unable to access the World Wide Web, please contact the or fax at (202) 378-9889, and we will try to provide the information to you by other means.


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