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September 2001
CONTENTS
NEWS and PUBLICATIONS
1. U Maung Maung Named Recipient of Human Rights Award
2. FDL-AP Young Leaders' Workshop Held in South Korea
3. Publication: The Global Divergence of Democracies
4. Publication: China E-Weekly
5. Publication: Model Freedom of Information Law
6. Publication: World Report on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom
7. Publication: Human Rights in Chad - January through July 2001
8. Publication: How to Write More Effective E-mail Petitions
EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
9. Asian Human Rights Training, Bangkok, Thailand, October 7-27, 2001
10. Forum of Federations Conferences in Nigeria and Mexico
11. Course for Young Human Rights Defenders, Warsaw, November 1-5, 2001
12. Conflict Transformation Program
13. Educating for Democracy Program
14. Internet Communications Prize
15. Freedom of Expression Network in Central Asia/Caucasus
16. Democracy ICT Web Site and E-mail List
NEWS ON THE WORLD MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY
17. Update on the World Movement
NEWS and PUBLICATIONS
1. U Maung Maung Named Recipient of Human Rights Award
The AFL-CIO 2001 George Meany - Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award was presented to U Maung Maung for bringing the plight of Burmese workers to the attention of the world. U Maung Maung's trade union activism brought him to the pro-democracy movement, but when he was elected president of the Ministry of Mines Union, he was forced to flee Burma. U Maung Maung helped to form the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB). He thereby mobilized other exiled workers to come together to protect basic worker rights, while simultaneously acting to restore democracy in Burma. Beginning with virtually no resources, U Maung Maung has built an effective grassroots organization. Now based in Bangkok, the FTUB is the only effective voice for the over 1.5 million Burmese migrants working in Thailand and has successfully organized underground unions inside Burma.
Contact:
AFL-CIO - International Programs
815 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006 USA
202-637-5061
2. FDL-AP Young Leaders' Workshop Held in South Korea
Forty young political and social leaders from twenty countries in the Asia-Pacific region assembled in South Korea from August 19-24, 2001, for the 6th Young Leaders' Workshop, organized by the Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia-Pacific (FDL-AP) and co-sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. FDL-AP was set up in 1994 by Kim Dae-jung with the aim of promoting democracy and human rights in the Asia-Pacific region. From the very outset the Naumann Foundation has worked together with FDL-AP in promoting these common goals. This year's workshop was titled: "Young Asia - A Network for a Democratic Future", and provided a forum for discussion of the political, strategic, and practical issues of establishing and sustaining a democratic network.
For a hard copy of the discussion, please send an e-mail to fnfkorea@fnfkorea.org.
3. Publication: The Global Divergence of Democracies
The Global Divergence of Democracies, edited by Marc F. Plattner and Larry Diamond, (Johns Hopkins University Press: Washington, DC, forthcoming, September 2001) is drawn from articles published in the Journal of Democracy and presents several examples of the accumulating evidence in favor of the universality of democratic principles and their basic compatibility with diverse religious and cultural traditions. Some of the key building blocks of successful democracy are also examined, including political party systems, elections, federalism, the rule of law, a market economy, an independent judiciary, and civilian control of the military. The volume concludes with a series of appraisals of the divergent paths that democracy is taking in various regions and countries.
For more information on the publication, go to:
http://www.press.jhu.edu/press/books/titles/f01/f01digl.htm
4. Publication: China E-Weekly
The China E-Weekly is an electronic publication to promote constitutional democracy in China by the Foundation for China in the 21st Century.
For information on how to subscribe or contribute articles, contact:
Foundation for China in the 21st Century
658 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02446 USA
617-735-9166
Fax: 617-735-9177
tina@china21century.org or info@chinaeweekly.com
http://www.ChinaEweekly.com
5. Publication: Model Freedom of Information Law
A Model Freedom of Information Law was drafted by Article 19, a London-based organization working on freedom of expression. The right to information is guaranteed in international law, including under the guarantee of freedom of expression in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (after which the organization is named). Many countries around the world are now giving legal effect to this right, by including access to information as a right in their constitutions and by adopting laws, which give practical effect to it. The Model Freedom of Information Law provides for an enforceable legal right to access information held by public bodies upon submission of a request and for a more limited right to access information held by private bodies, where this is necessary for the exercise or protection of any right.
Go to: http://www.article19.org/docimages/1112.htm or write to ilana@article19.org.
Article 19
Lancaster House, 33 Islington High Street
London N1 9LH, United Kingdom
44-20-7278-9292
Fax: 44-20-7713-1356
info@article19.org
http://www.article19.org.
6. Publication: World Report on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom
The World Report on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom was published by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) on August 22, 2001. According to IFLA president, Christine Deschamps, "Libraries... are an essential tool for the achievement of democracy and social development... and must reflect the plurality and diversity of society, opposing all forms of censorship without being influenced by any political, moral, or religious opinions." This World Report is a first attempt to provide a picture on the status of libraries and intellectual freedom throughout the world.
For a copy of the report on, contact:
Alex Byrne, Chair, IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression
University of Technology
Sydney, Australia
61-2-9514-3332
Fax: 61-2-9514-3331
alex.byrne@uts.edu.au
Susanne Seidelin
Director, IFLA FAIFE Office
Copenhagen, Denmark
45-3258-6066 ext. 532
Fax: 45-3284-0201
susanne.seidelin@ifla.org or faife@ifla.org
http://www.ifla.org
7. Publication: Human Rights in Chad - January through July 2001
The Chadian League of Human Rights released its report on Human Rights in Chad - January through July 2001. The report compiles information on summary executions, torture and cruel treatment and other gross human rights abuses in Chad, as well as civil society activities to stop these abuses.
Contact:
Chadian League of Human Rights
rue Mogrom, No. 164
BP 2037 N'djamena, Chad
Tel/Fax: 235-51-9109
ltdh@intnet.td
8. Publication: How to Write More Effective E-mail Petitions
E-mail petitions can often be out of date, unspecific, and of little use to the causes they are meant to support. There are, however, ways to increase their effectiveness.
Go to:
Kabissa
info@kabissa.org
http://www.kabissa.org
http://www.e-petitions.org
http://www.kabissa.org/wougnet/Support/TechTips/techtip_4.html
If you know of other resources on writing effective e-mail petitions, please send us a message to world@ned.org.
EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
9. Asian Human Rights Training, Bangkok, Thailand, October 7-27, 2001
FORUM-ASIA will hold its 5th annual Asian human rights training and study session in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 7-27, 2001.
Contact:
FORUM-ASIA
109 Suthisarnwinichai Road
Samsennok, Huaykang
Bangkok 10320 Thailand
Tel: 66-2-276-98467
Fax: 66-2-693-4939
training@forumasia.org
http://www.forumasia.org
10. Forum of Federations Conferences in Nigeria and Mexico
The Canada-based Forum of Federations, in partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs and the International Association of Centers of Federal Studies, is organizing an international conference on federalism in Abuja, Nigeria, Oct. 16-19, 2001. The primary goal is for Nigerian practitioners to learn how federal systems can function. Delegates will share experiences and exchange best practices.
Contact: Paul King, Canada,
Tel: 613-244-3360 ext. 214
king@forumfed.org
The Forum of Federations, in partnership with the Mexican government, is organizing an international conference on Mexican federalism to take place in Veracruz, Mexico, Nov. 14-17, 2001. The conference will assess federal practice in Mexico and seeks to improve this practice by assembling an international network of practitioners and exchanging best practices. Representatives of other federal states will participate.
Contact: David Parks, Canada
Tel: 613-244-3360, ext. 226
parks@forumfed.org
Forum of Federations
P.O. Box 1258, Stn. B
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5R3 Canada
613-244-3360
Fax: 613-244-3372
forum@forumfed.org
http://www.forumoffederations.org
11. Course for Young Human Rights Defenders, Warsaw, November 1-5, 2001
The Youth Resource Center for Human Rights, Amnesty International (Poland), and the Youth Human Rights Group of Kyrgyzstan will hold a human rights training program for young human rights defenders from Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States in Warsaw, November 1-5, 2001. The working language is French. Interested participants should be involved in a human rights organization, be between 18-30 years old, and have a good knowledge of the French language.
To apply, contact (by September 20, 2001):
Youth Human Rights Group
P.O. Box 1893
Bishkek 720000, Kyrgyzstan
Tel: 996-312-681370
Fax: 996-312-681091
youth@elcat.kg
http://www.yhrg.elcat.kg
12. Conflict Transformation Program
The School for International Training accepts applications for the Conflict Transformation Across Cultures (CONTACT) training program. CONTACT gives peace builders the skills and practical tools for analyzing and responding to conflict in inter-group, communal and public life.
Contact:
School for International Training
Kipling Road, PO Box 676
Battleboro, VT 05302-0676 USA
Tel: 802-258-3339
Fax: 802-258-3248
cspid@sit.edu
http://www.sit.edu
13. Educating for Democracy Program
The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) offers a program in the design of curricula for democracy educators. This program offers participants the opportunity to explore how education for democracy, human rights, and citizenship can play a role in building a strong democratic culture in civil society.
Contact: Charlene@eisa.org.za or go to http://www.kabissa.org/kfn/newsletter.php?id=2676
14. Internet Communications Prize
The 2001 Association for Progressive Communications's Betinho Prize, in the amount of $7,500 USD, is offered to non-profit organizations, community-based groups, coalitions, working groups or social movements anywhere in the world that have successfully used information and communication technologies (ICTs) as an essential ingredient in their social justice and development work. Nominations will be accepted until September 24, 2001 in English and Spanish.
For application details, contact:
Association for Progressive Communications
Betinho Prize
Presidio Building 1012
Torney Avenue P.O. Box 29904
San Francisco, CA 94129 USA
416-516-8138
Fax: 416-516-0131
http://www.apc.org
15. Freedom of Expression Network in Central Asia/Caucasus
The Central Asia and South Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network (CASCFEN) was launched on September 4, 2001. It will coordinate activities on freedom of expression and the press, support for independent media, and the rights of journalists.
Contact:
CASCFEN
cascfen@juhiaz.org
http://www.juhiaz.org
16. Democracy ICT Web Site and E-mail List
The Democracy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) group of the World Movement for Democracy invites participants to visit its Web site located at: www.wmd.org/dict/index.html. A working group, initiated as an outcome of the São Paulo Assembly workshop on the Internet, Democracy ICT is made up of individuals interested in sharing their expertise and ideas on the practical aspects of information and communication technology. The site includes a guide to many practical resources including:
- how to get started on the Internet;
- finding technical assistance and funding for technology;
- Internet tutorials and training resources;
- help in setting up Web sites and e-mail lists; and
- a starting place for finding information on Internet-related policy issues.
NEWS ON THE WORLD MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY
17. Update on the World Movement
The World Movement provided an information booth at the American Political Science Association's annual conference in San Francisco in early September. The response indicated strong interest in the World Movement and its activities, especially in its regional and functional networks. The World Movement will soon have Web site sections devoted to every region of the world. The Web site also includes functional networks in various areas of democracy promotion. These networks will allow participants to share and exchange information, learn from one another, and to be in contact and cooperation on various activities in their work.
Go to: http://www.wmd.org
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.
c/o National Endowment for Democracy
1025 F Street, NW, Suite 800,
Washington, DC 20004 USA
Tel: (202) 378-9700
Fax: (202) 378-9889
http://www.wmd.org
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