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January, 2005

Peacebuilding and Development Summer Institute 2005

American University
Washington, DC

The Peacebuilding and Development Institute provides knowledge, practical experience and skills for scholars and practitioners involved in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance and development. There are two components to the institute: one is the summer professional training program and the other is the year-round practical training, capacity building, and curriculum development programs in conflict areas.

The Summer Professional Training Institute focuses on various approaches to mediation, negotiation, facilitation, reconciliation and dialogue, particularly in conflict-torn and developing regions. Participants will explore innovative methods of promoting cultural diversity with respect to; public policy, community and religion, war and post-conflict environments, while expanding their knowledge and skills in a participatory and interactive learning environment. Participants in the summer institute will be exposed to leading national and international professionals in the fields of public policy, conflict resolution, and development.

International Peace and Conflict Resolution Program

The International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) Program, housed within the School of International Service at American University, is designed for students and faculty who want to better understand the causes of war and violence and the conditions for constructing peace. IPCR’s philosophy is based on four underlying principles: the impact of culture on political activity, examination of social and economic justice issues, environmental balance, and a value explicit approach that favors peace and nonviolent conflict resolution.

School of International Service at American University

American University is a nationally and internationally recognized university. The School of International Service (SIS) is the largest school of international relations in the United States. SIS aims to foster knowledge and cooperation through teaching, research and public dialogue. Through a carefully designed combination of scholarly breadth and concrete experience, faculty challenges their students to care about the moral, philosophical, and practical implications of an interdependent world.
The Summer Institute

The Summer Institute is a unique training program designed to give foreign aid workers, government officials, and conflict resolution and development practitioners, practical skills to complement their daily work in conflict affected areas. The Peacebuilding and Development Summer Institute is one of the first academic programs specifically organized to bridge the two issues of peacebuilding and development. The Summer 2004 institute welcomed 170 participants from 27 countries that spanned all continents and many conflict areas. The participants came from varying backgrounds ranging from international agencies such as the UN, CARE, USAID, World Vision, Mercy Corps, teachers, and small non-governmental organizations. They were joined by master-s degree students from the International Peace & Conflict Resolution and the International Development programs at the School of International Service at American University.

The summer institute engages participants in a wide variety of social and academic events in Washington, DC, bridging cultural gaps and establishing a dynamic community in the process. Last year-s summer institute provided the opportunity for participants to get involved with some extracurricular activities such as: a networking reception, 4th of July celebrations, a grant writing workshop, storytelling, panel discussions, and dinner/social gatherings.  The participant evaluations have expressed their appreciation of the cultural and intellectual diversity in the classroom.

Certificate in Peacebuilding

Participants in the Summer Institute may also register to complete a 15 credit hour graduate Certificate in Peacebuilding, with concentrations in Conflict Resolution, Conflict and Development, or Human Rights, which is designed to illuminate the interfaces among these important fields of professional practice. Please visit the Institute website for additional information about this exciting opportunity.

SUMMER 2005 Courses

Week I: June 27-July 1, 2005

Course 1: Religion & Culture in Conflict Resolution

This course focuses on the impact of cultural and religious factors in peacebuilding processes. Participants explore the role of cultural and religious identities in peacebuilding, and gain concrete skills and approaches to integrate with their ongoing work.

Course 2: Applied Conflict Analysis and Resolution
This interactive course provides an overview of 1) useful conceptual tools (models, concepts, theories) for understanding violent and protracted conflict between racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and other identity groups, and 2) constructive methods (negotiation, mediation, consultation, dialogue) for addressing such conflicts.  Through a combination of lecture/discussions, analytical exercises, role plays and simulations, participants will come to appreciate the dynamics of destructive conflict and learn practical approaches for its de-escalation and resolution.

Week II: July 5-July 9, 2005

Course 1: Training for Trainers in Peacebuilding & Development 
This course utilizes training approaches and explores their practical applications in peacebuilding and development contexts. It focuses on skills and approaches for designing, implementing, and evaluating effective training courses in conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, and democracy and governance.

Course 2: Development in Conflict: Practical Approaches to Recovery
This course is designed specifically for the individual and organization working in conflict-affected and structurally violent developing countries. It is aimed at those interested in acquiring analytical and practical skills in helping countries overcome the social, physical, and economic destruction of violence. With an emphasis on practical application supported by conceptual and theoretical foundations, it centers on operational considerations and approaches, strategy and goal development, program design methods and skills, and various types of analyses. It will include such conceptual approaches as community-driven development, do no harm, human security, and conflict impact mapping as well as draw on the practical experience of both the participants and the professor.

Course 3: Linking Human Rights with Conflict Resolution & Development
This workshop builds the participants' understanding of human rights as it relates to conflict intervention and international development. Participants are introduced to the values, norms, techniques and processes used by practitioners in these three fields, and have an opportunity to reflect on what each field can contribute to the other.

Course 4: Media and Peacebuilding: Concepts, Actors and Challenges
This course will delve into the destructive role media has played in many conflicts such as in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.  NGOs are realizing the crucial role media plays in peacebuilding and understands that the potential is present for them to influence the outcome. The course aims to present a clear picture on the concepts; provide an overview of the strategies applied by different actors; and highlight the actual trends and future challenges of the media-s involvement in
conflict resolution.

Week 3: July 11- July 15, 2005.

Course 1: Arts Approaches to Peacebuilding & Development
In what ways can we accentuate the power of art to transform conflicts and enrich peacebuilding work? How can the arts contribute to social justice, healing and dialogue? This course explores various arts approaches to peacebuilding, drawing from a variety of traditions. Emphasis is given to integrating Story-Telling, Photography, Image Theater and Forum Theater. Participants will engage in skills practice to enhance imagination and creativity in exploring arts approaches to peacebuilding.

Course 2: Positive Approaches to Peacebuilding & Development
This interactive and practical course is for participants who enjoy a creative learning environment that encourages ?out of the box¦ thinking and experimentation. The course will introduce participants to some of the most innovative approaches for change of our times that have application for both peacebuilders and development practitioners. It will draw on the newly released book: Positive Approaches to Peacebuilding: A Resource for Innovators. Positive approaches are having success in building a common vision among diverse stakeholders, mobilizing elements of a community, building improbable partnerships, eliciting cooperation where none has existed before, and focusing participants on the ability of positive change existing within every human system.

Course 3: Design, Monitoring and Evaluation for Peacebuilding and Coflict-Sensitive Development
This introductory level course combines presentations and interactive, experiential learning methods.  The major themes to be covered include: project design, monitoring & evaluation, theories of change, indicators, evaluation criteria, methods of data collection, working with external evaluators and the newest thinking on effectiveness in peacebuilding.  There will be an opportunity to apply learning to participant-s current programming.

Tuition and Fees
Non-credit Tuition: $735 per course.
Credit Tuition (2 Credit): $1,860 per course.

International Participants
Participants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are responsible for obtaining necessary visas. For more information, please contact the
Program Administrator at pcrinst@american.edu

Housing
On-campus housing is available on a limited basis. Sign up early to take advantage of the on-campus housing option. The applicants are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements. For more information, please contact the Summer
Housing Office directly at (202) 885-3370, or email: summerhousing@american.edu 
For the most complete information available for housing, please see the website located at:http://www.american.edu/ocl/reslife/summer_housing_conferences/intern_housing.cfm

Financial Aid
There are four need-based tuition scholarships available. The scholarship will pay for one week of tuition, and you will be responsible for paying for the second week, at least. The Scholarship deadline is Thursday, March 31st 2005. For more information, please contact the Program Administrator at pcrinst@american.edu

To apply for the Summer Peacebuilding & Development Institute go
On-line at: www.american.edu/sis/peacebuilding

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, APRIL 29th 2005

Mailing address:
Peacebuilding and Development Summer Institute 2004
School of International Service
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016-8071
USA


Development Gateway Award

The Development Gateway Foundation is seeking nominations for the second Development Gateway Award. The $100,000 award will recognize outstanding achievement in using information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve people's lives in developing countries.

ICT has become an increasingly important tool for development. The field is young, however, and the promise of using ICT has yet to be realized in much of the developing world. In launching the 2005 competition, the Development Gateway aims to help advance the use of ICT for development by recognizing leaders and innovative initiatives in the field.

The 2004 award, then called the Petersberg Prize, was given to Grameen Bank-Village Phone, through which women entrepreneurs can start a business providing wireless payphone service in rural areas of Bangladesh. Grameen was chosen from over 200 nominations for its significant impact in creating a new class of women entrepreneurs who have raised themselves from poverty while serving their communities.

An international panel of independent jurors will review and select the finalists and winner, who will be announced by June. For information, rules, and to access the online nomination forms, please go to www.developmentgateway.org/award. The
deadline for submission is February 28, 2005.


CHARITY FOCUS

CharityFocus is run by volunteers who want to increase the charity in their lives. We use our skills to empower other nonprofits by implementing web solutions for their individual needs. We are interested in helping others help others and not in making money; consequently, a nonprofit can get a website organized, designed, and marketed for FREE!  Our main packages include (more off our detailed services page):

Standard Webpack:       
Our volunteer team will help you organize your content, build a custom web site to meet your needs, set up email and hosting, submit the site to search engines, integrate online donation and more, like teach you to update your site! This package is completely free except for third party costs.

PledgePage                
Our most recent addition, PledgePage is a simple, free way for everyday heroes to put their personal fundraising causes online. Volunteers can create their own fundraising site in minutes, manage outreach activities with email and contact management tools, and post photos, diary entries, and other information about their fundraising efforts.

Other Resources                    
Please take a look at our resources page for additional information that you may find useful. It includes general information on nonprofit services, as well as information on technical assistance from our affiliates.

Costs
To reiterate, we really provide these services to increase the charity in our lives; we have no paid staff and feel fortunate to be of service to the nonprofit community. We charge for some of the custom features, not to make money but to ensure that volunteer efforts are used appropriately and to maintain our focus on helping smaller nonprofits with their basic needs.
Website: www.charityfocus.org


Global Health Council Invites Nominations for Award for Best Practices in Global Health

  Deadline: February 28, 2005

The Global Health Council offers the Award for Best Practices in Global Health to celebrate and highlight the efforts of people dedicated to improving the health of disadvantaged and disenfranchised populations -- particularly children -- and to recognize programs that effectively demonstrate the link between health, poverty, and development and that have made a significant contribution to the field.

Both individuals and organizations may be nominated for the award.

In reviewing the nominees, the following criteria will be considered and evaluated: the program must address a critical global health issue; the program must be community-based, sustainable, and replicable; there must be measurable outcomes to show the success of the program; the individual or organization must have the ability and expertise to share, inspire, and instruct, and/or partner with others in best practices for improving health; the program demonstrates growing political commitment to assure health for all; the potential for receipt of this award to raise the profile of the award itself; and the program effectively demonstrates the link between health, poverty, and development.

The award will be presented on June 2, 2005, in Washington, D.C., at the Global Health Council's Annual International Conference.

Complete program information and nomination guidelines are available at the Global Health Council Web site: http://globalhealth.org/conference/view_top.php3?id=235

For additional RFPs in Health, visit: http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_health.jhtml


"Indigenous Women and Feminism: Culture, Activism, Politics" is
a conference at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, taking place August 25-28, 2005. Organized by Jean Barman, Shari Huhndorf, Jeanne Perrault and Cheryl Suzack, the event will explore increasingly important questions about indigenous women and their work on behalf of civil rights and sovereignty. For details, contact: Jean Barman (email: Jean.Barman@ubc.ca) or Shari Huhndorf (email: sharih@darkwing.uoregon.edu) or Jeanne Perrault (email: perraul@ucalgary.ca) or Cheryl Suzack (email: csuzack@ualberta.ca).


13th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION

"Engaging The OTHER"

NOW MORE THAN EVER - a time for new thinking, new vision, new understanding, and new ways of relating in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent global community.

May 12 - 22, 2005     St. Petersburg, Russia
(Formal conference program May 13-18)

Sponsored by Common Bond Institute (USA) & HARMONY Institute (RUSSIA),
in cooperation with Association for Humanistic Psychology

~ Continuing Education Credits available ~

A Multi-disciplinary, Multi-cultural conference that has received support from Former President Clinton, Former President Yeltsin, St. Petersburg Governor Jakovlev, and is endorsed by over 75 leading-edge organizations and universities internationally. Part of the Hague Appeal for Peace Civil Society Calendar.  - OPEN TO ALL.

This joint US/Russian sponsored event FOCUSES ON all aspects of conflict resolution and transformation, from the intrapersonal - to the interpersonal - to relationships between groups, organizations, cultures, religious traditions, and societies - and ultimately between us and other species.

PRESENTATIONS explore conflict resolution within diverse contexts, including: arts/creativity, cross-cultural/ethnic, ecology/environment, economics/business, education, gender, global/regional conflict, health/healing arts, human rights, organizational/community, psychology/psychotherapy, and transpersonal/spiritual.

The 2005 PROGRAM is currently being developed and presentations are being accepted. This year's conference examines fear-based belief systems, negative stereotypes, prejudice, scapegoating, revenge, victim/perpetrator identity, and justified violence for a deeper understanding of how these become embodied in our concepts of "The Other." Among the variety of related topics being addressed are dynamics of Terrorism throughout the world, Trauma, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, and issues in the Middle East and South Asia.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING during this years ICR Conference: "Catastrophic Trauma Recovery (CTR) Project:" providing trauma treatment training to relief workers from regions of conflict assisting victims of war, violence, and natural disaster. Immediately following the ICR Conference we will again be holding an intensive training in trauma treatment for a number of these relief workers. * Our web site also offers Information on the other efforts of CBI and it's partners.

PRESENTERS REPRESENT DIVERSE DISCIPLINES AS WELL AS CULTURES,
including psychology, education, ecology & environmental sciences, peace activism, social work, sociology, medical & healing arts, organizational and community development, civil service, spirituality, philosophy, diplomacy, government, journalism, business & economics, law, the physical sciences, and the arts.

Many opportunities are offered for hands-on practical skills training, sharing of programs and curriculums, intensive dialogues on theory and perceptions of conflict and resolution, networking and collaboration, and a powerful intentional community experience. Participants have come from over 65 countries and all continents, providing excellent opportunities for important networking contacts with representatives of many organizations and societies. The program attracts individuals in key positions in their respective societies who can model and teach these skills to many others.

6 DAYS of all-day institutes, workshops, roundtables, lectures, and community meetings. 55 day-program sessions, and a full slate of evening activities and social / cultural events. The official conference languages are English and Russian.

4 DAYS of pre- and post-conference cultural events, tours, and professional visits and meetings, in St. Petersburg.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, we invite you to join us in endorsing non-violence in the world and sharing the methods to achieve it.

~ CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS ~
Submissions requested by: 3-10-2005 (Early submission is recommended for best choice of sessions. Submissions after this date are considered for evening or replacement sessions as space permits)

For information, proposal and registration forms, CONTACT:
COMMON BOND INSTITUTE (USA),
Steve Olweean, Coordinator
12170 S. Pine Ayr Drive, Climax, Michigan 49034
Ph/Fax: 269-665-9393   E-mail: solweean@aol.com
Full details available at WEB SITE: http://ahpweb.org/cbi


"Make a difference" One-Minute Video Contest

From the UNICEF Voices of Youth website http://www.unicef.org/voy 
 
Deadline for submission: 1 March 2005

Looking for a way to make a difference?
Create a one-minute video telling the world how young people are speaking out, taking action and making a difference.

Videos will be reviewed by a global panel of media professionals and displayed on the main UNICEF website. The winning video will be the official Voices of Youth public service announcement, receive prizes, and will be made available for broadcast around the world on The International Children's Day of Broadcasting.

Criteria

• Videos must show how young people can and are taking action to make the world -- and their own communities -- a better place.
• Videos must capture the mission of Voices of Youth - to promote and protect every child’s right to know more, say more and do more about the world they live in. 
• All videos must be exactly 1 minute long
• Participants must be below 25 years of age
• Submissions can be either by an individual or a group, and can be sponsored by an organization or corporation
• Each individual or group is limited to one submission
• All videos should be free of copyright materials

How to submit your video
Each video should be submitted with: your name(s), age(s), postal address, an email address (if possible), telephone number and title of the video.

Videos must be submitted as compressed mpeg, avi or mov files via email to: cschuepp@unicef.org. 

February, 2005

Alcan Prize for Sustainability 2005
For organisations addressing sustainability issues

Deadline: March 31 2005

This USD $1 million Prize is awarded each year to any not-for-profit, civil society or non-governmental organisation based anywhere in the world for their contributions to addressing and progressing economic, environmental and / or social sustainability. The Prize recognises past performance and helps winning organisations continue to contribute to and impact on sustainability through their ongoing activities.

Created in 2004 in association with the International Business Leaders Forum IBLF), Prize recipients will be selected based on an evaluation by independent assessors and an international panel of adjudicators.

In addition to the USD $1 million Prize, the adjudication panel will have the opportunity to recognise non-winning finalists by awarding Alcan Grants, redeemable for a suitably qualified senior member of staff to attend the University of Cambridge Program for Industry in England and earn a Post Graduate Certificate in Cross Sector Partnership. The Grants will be awarded on merit and at the discretion of the adjudication panel.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging, as well as aluminum recycling. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs 73,000 people and has operating facilities in 56 countries and regions.

For more information or contact the Alcan Prize team at IBLF on +44 (0) 20 8543 8524 or +44 (0) 20 7467 3600 or by email alcanprize@iblf.org 

Contact:
Leesa Muirhead
Manager, Alcan Prize for Sustainability
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8543 8524
SWITCH: +44 (0) 20 7467 3600
Mobile: +44 (0) 7901 510 701
15-16 Cornwall Terrace
London NW1 4QP, United Kingdom
alcanprize@iblf.org
Prize website: http://www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com/2005/index.html


New Publication! Annotated Directory of NGOs in Central Asia

IOM TCC is pleased to announce the first edition of the (annotated) Directory of Non-governmental Organizations in Central Asia focusing on Human, Migrant and Refugee Rights. 

In addition to contact information, the Directory features an overview of an organization’s objectives, partnerships, base of operations, past projects and future perspectives in a concise two-page format.  Information on 152 organizations is categorized by country (with country tabs for easy reference), city or region and organization name.  This structure allows organizations to be easily added to the files in up-dated future editions.  TCC is planning to produce bi-annual print inserts.

The Directory is designed to be a comprehensive, easily accessible and easily up-dated resource on civil society actors in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.  As such, it provides a close and systematic look at civil society initiatives in the area of human, migrant and refugee rights. The staff at IOM TCC believe that it will serve as a valuable tool for all stakeholders working to promote civil society and to strengthen human, migrant and refugee rights in Central Asia. 

The Directory project was made possible by the support of the Danish Government’s Peace and Stability Fund (FRESTA). 

To order a copy of the Directory or to obtain further information on this project, please contact IOM TCC, Ms. Heather Salfrank,
Tel: (43-1) 585 33 22 27, Email: hsalfrank@iom.int.  
Website: www.tcc.iom.int


Second International Conference
Theme: Globalization: Overcoming Exclusion, Strengthening Inclusion

Globalization Studies Network - CODESRIA
Venue: Dakar, Senegal
Date: 29 to 31 August, 2005

Call for Abstracts and Panel Proposals
The Globalisation Studies Network (GSN), an association of over 100 institutions from nearly 50 countries around the world united by a shared preoccupation to promote a better understanding of the processes and structures of globalization, is pleased to announce its second international conference which is scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal, from 29 to 31 August 2005, and to invite abstracts and panel proposals from those wishing to be part of the conference. The umbrella theme around which the conference will be held is: Globalisation: Overcoming Exclusion, Strengthening Inclusion. The framework document of the GSN observes that "globalizing dynamics are unfolding at accelerating rates in every realm of human endeavour ..." (see the GSN website at: www.gstudynet.com). The inaugural conference of the Network which was held in Coventry in August 2004 and hosted by the Centre for the Study of Globalization and Regionalization of the University of Warwick was devoted to an exploration of all aspects of these dynamics as captured by the research, teaching and policy advocacy preoccupations of the numerous institutions and organizations that we re represented at the meeting. The second conference is designed to focus reflection on the discontents of globalization in the ways in which they have manifested themselves and with a view to exploring the challenges of making the process more inclusive, representative and equitable. The conference will be hosted by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) at its headquarters city of Dakar, Senegal, and will feature the presentation of keynote addresses and papers in plenary and parallel sessions. English and French have been adopted as the working languages for the conference and authors of paper abstracts and panel proposals are encouraged to make their submissions in either one of these languages. Every effort will be made to accommodate as many of the abstracts and panel proposals which are received; funds will be available to support participants from developing and transitional countries. An opportunity will also be provided for participating institutions and programmes to exhibit some of their outputs during the conference.
Abstracts and panel proposals for consideration for the conference should be received by 30 April, 2005. Authors of abstracts and panel proposals that are selected will be notified by 21 May, 2005. Full papers for circulation to conference participants should be received by 15 July, 2005. Abstracts, panel proposals, and full papers should be sent to:

The Coordinator,
The 2nd Globalisation Studies Network Conference,
CODESRIA,
Ave. Cheikh Anta Diop, X Canal IV,
BP 3304, CP 18524
Dakar, Senegal.
E-mail: GSN.Conference@codesria.sn
Tel.: +221-825 9822 Fax: +221-824 1289
Web Site: www.codesria.org


NEW GLOBAL NETWORK-WOMEN ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (WOCAN)

For more information, please visit: http://www.wocan.org
or contact: jeannettegurung@wocan.org

"A new global network has been formed for women professionals working in agriculture and natural resource management around the world to build an alliance of women (and men who support them) to support a process of change for gender equality in programs and organizations, and to advocate for the same in governments, national and international agencies. A fundamental principle of this network is that organizations themselves need to become gender sensitive in order to promote sustainable development for rural communities.

The objective of WOCAN is to address three major gaps that persist with regards to sustainable and rural development processes: 1) policies regarding gender within the natural resource management sectors; 2) roles of professional women in implementing policies for rural women's empowerment and gender equality within these sectors, and 3) organizational barriers that obstruct women from realizing positions of leadership and influence to take on such roles.

WOCAN members believe that the goal of improving gender sensitivity within organizations and their programs can best be addressed by a group of  concerned women professionals who understand the obstacles faced by most women working in these sectors, who can develop a support network that provides: mentors, capacity building to act as facilitators of change, leadership development, a forum to share successful approaches and methods, and an alliance large and strong enough to challenge existing ways of doing things at all levels. And to, finally, enhance their effectiveness and service to rural women to assure their equal access to benefits of resources managed for sustainable development.

Membership in WOCAN is open to women who meet the following qualifications: a. have degrees or diplomas in natural resources related sectors, including agriculture, livestock management, water, forestry, environmental studies, etc. OR b. have experience in the fields of agriculture or natural resource management (NRM) AND are committed to the goals of WOCAN and agree to its guiding principles c. can contribute to the network's goals (i.e., mentorship, training, proposal writing, access and share of information, research, influence/advocate, funding, etc.)
d. pay annual dues (special provision made for lower income members). We have a special category for MEN who are supportive of our goals as well, who meet the same qualifications as above. With WOCAN membership, you can join this alliance and become either an individual or organizational member.
Membership will bring you a regular newsletter with information, events, people in the news, a message board, reviews of books and articles, etc.

We are now offering FREE MEMBERSHIP for a trial period through March, 2005. If you qualify for membership, agree with our Guiding Principles, and would like to join us in this endeavor, please go to our website, www.wocan.org to complete the the application form, and return it by email or post to:
Jeannette D. Gurung, PhD, Director, WOCAN 26 Beckett Way,
Ithaca, New York 14850, U.S.A. Phone: 607-257-9795
Email: jeannettegurung@wocan.org
Website: http://www.wocan.org

Deadline: April 1, 2005


23RD INTERNATIONAL SESSION OF TRAINING IN HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS OF PRIMARY AND PROFESSION SCHOOLS

4 July 2005 - 9 July 2005

Theme of the 23rd annual session of the International Centre on Human Rights and Peace Teaching (CIFEDHOP) is: Fundamental Rights:  the forgotten objectives of the Millennium? The goals of this session are: to delve further into the issues relating to human rights; to present and exchange experiences, methodologies, pedagogical approaches, means of implementation and evaluation; and to reinforce the networking amongst teachers and NGO representatives on human rights education.

Working Methods include human rights terminology, round table discussions and debates, workshops, case studies to encourage exchange of information and experience relating to the topic of fundamental rights, presentation of pedagogical materials; evaluation of methods and materials. The working languages will be French and English. Simultaneous interpretation is assured with the exception of working groups in distinctive linguistic section. A certificate of attendance will be given to participants who attend all lectures and who take an active part in the working groups.

Level: professional

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Participants: teachers, trainers and researchers who have developed activities, innovative projects in human rights education

Tuition, fee, lodging: Registration fee: 300.-- Swiss Francs.
Documentation fee: 200.-- Swiss Francs. Accommodation for the entire week costs 1,300.-- Swiss Francs, including lodging in a double or single room, with breakfast, lunch and dinner, from Sunday 3 July evening to Sunday 10 July 2005. Financial grants covering the costs of travel, registration and documentation fees, housing and meals are available for participants from Africa, South America, Asia, Eastern and Central Europe. Requests for financial aid should be addressed to the Director of CIFEDHOP, accompanied by a completed application form as well as the Experience Sharing Questionnaire and must be received no later than April 30, 2005. As the number of grants available is limited, priority will be given to those who can fully or partially finance their own travel expenses. The enrolment form needs to be submitted by 30 April 2005.

Contact Information:
Marjorie Steinmann
CIFEDHOP
5, rue du Simplon
1207 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 735 24 22/736 44 52
Fax: (+41 22) 735 06 53
E-mail: eip-cifedhop@vtxnet.ch
Web: http://www.eip-cifedhop.org


HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

I am delighted to announce that the application for the 2005 session of the annual Human Rights Advocates Program at Columbia University is now available.  I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to disseminate this information and application to human rights advocates based in developing countries as well as grassroots activists in the United States working on human rights problems that result from or are part of the global economic system.

In 2004, the Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University launched a new initiative to advance human rights thinking and activism with respect to the global economy. The program's current focus on Human Rights Advocacy and the Global Economy builds on the Center's highly successful Human Rights Advocates Program, featuring a program of advocacy, skill-building, and scholarship through a four-month intensive training program in New York City.

Columbia University's Human Rights Advocates Program is designed to prepare proven human rights leaders from poor countries and communities in the US to participate in national and international policy debates on economic globalization by building their skills, knowledge, and contacts.  An equally important part of the program is to promote debate and dialogue on the global economy between the grassroots leaders and the faculty and students at Columbia University, and in the NGO, policy-making and corporate communities.

The current focus of the Human Rights Advocates Program seeks to cover key impacts of the global economy, particularly impacts on the following issue areas:

*Labor rights
*Migration
*Health
*Environmental justice
*Corporate social responsibility, including sectoral issues such as human rights in the extractive industries or agriculture.

Activists working on the above areas from a gender perspective are encouraged to apply.
 
The Program is designed for lawyers, journalists, teachers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with non-governmental organizations who work on human rights problems that result from or are part of the global economic system.

Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience on human rights and the global economy, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to complete graduate level studies.  Full-time students or government officials will not be considered.  Advocates must secure institutional endorsement from their organizations for their participation in the program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program. Activists must also be originating from and residing in either a developing country or the United States.  Fluency in English is required.
 
This extremely competitive program will admit up to ten applicants.  The program will take place from late August to the middle of December 2005.

Enclosed please find an overview of the program and the 2005 application form.  The completed application is due by March 21, 2005.  Please note that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

For further information or to download additional copies of the application, please refer to our website at
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights/training/adv/hradv_pgm.htm. 


Tech Museum Awards
Honours those who use technology to benefit humanity

Deadline: April 4 2005

The Tech Museum Awards is a programme that honours and awards innovators from around the world who use technology to benefit humanity in the categories of:

Education
Equality
Economic Development
Environment
Health

The Tech Museum Awards honour innovators and visionaries from around the world who are "applying technology to profoundly improve the human condition in the categories of education, equality, environment, health, and economic development".

Individuals, for-profit companies, and not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply. The Tech Awards showcase their stories and reward their accomplishments. The purpose of The Tech Awards programme is to inspire future scientists, technologists, and dreamers to harness the power and "promise of technology to solve the challenges that confront us at the dawn of the 21st Century".

Each year, candidates are nominated and then invited to submit applications. International panels of judges carefully review the applications according to a set of criteria that emanate from the Awards credo - Technology Benefiting Humanity. At the Awards Gala each fall, five Laureates in each category are honored, and USD $250,000 in cash prizes are awarded.

Nominations and applications are evaluated according to the following criteria:
The technology application significantly improves the human condition in one of the five award areas: economic development, education, environment, equality, or health.

A serious problem or challenge with global significance is addressed by this use of technology. The technology application makes a noteworthy contribution that surpasses previous or current solutions. The technology application has the potential to serve as an inspiration or model for further innovation. Nominators and Applicants may submit their nomination/application in one category only. Self-nominations are accepted. Tech Award Laureates, incuding those named as category winners, are ineligible for The Tech Awards in the year(s) immediately following the one(s) in which they are honored but may apply in subsequent years for technological innovations different from the one(s) for which they were already recognised.

The deadline to submit nominations is April 4, 2005.

"The Tech Museum of Innovation is a cosmopolitan museum singularly focused on technology—how it works and the way that it is changing every aspect of the way we work, live, play and learn."

Contact:
The Tech Museum Awards
The Tech Museum of Innovation
201 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113 - USA
Tel: 408-795-6338
Fax: 408-918-0253
techawards@thetech.org
Tech Museum Awards Website: http://techawards.thetech.org/


Global Friends' Award
For children who work with children's rights issues

Deadline: April 1 2005

Organised by Children's World, the Global Friends' Award is awarded by the world’s schoolchildren to children who have made an extraordinary effort to defend the "Rights of the Child". In 2004, over 1,3 million children all over the world participated in the Global Vote to decide who would win the Global Friends’ Award. According to the organiser, the process of awarding the prize is the world's largest annual democracy educational programme for children, based on the Rights of the Child and global friendship.

All children under 18 in every school in the world can take part in the Global Vote for the Global Friends’ Award. The only condition is that their school or children's group is a "Global Friend" - a free registration process.

The winners of the Global Friends' Award form an international jury of children who decide on the recipient of the World’s Children’s Prize.

Contact:
World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child
Box 150
S-647 24 Mariefred, Sweden
Tel: +46-159-129 00
Fax: +46-159-108 60
prize@childrensworld.org
World's Children's Prize website: http://www.childrensworld.org/


World Congress on Health Information and Libraries

September 20-23, 2005           

Location: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil   

Event Details: This 4-day conference intends to focus on "the understanding that knowledge should permeate all action in human health".

The main theme of the 9th World Congress on Health Information and Libraries (ICML9) is "Commitment to Equity". The organisers will aim "to provide an analysis of the international advances and challenges the health sciences information are facing with a view to strengthening the universal and equitable access to scientific and technical information worldwide to promote the citizenship participation and health decision making based on information towards the health for all".

Call for Papers
The paper and poster submission is open, select one of the subject tracks and submit an abstract in English before April 30th 2005:

Health and medical library development and innovation
Decision based on scientific evidences
Information and knowledge management. Learning organisations
Information policy
Scientific communication & electronic publishing. Open access, open archives
Health consumer & patient
Traditional and complementary therapies
Virtual libraries & virtual communities
Human resources development
Other topics

This event is organised by the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information - BIREME/PAHO/WHO, the IFLA Section of Biological and Medical Sciences Libraries and the Brazilian Ministry of Health. 
           
Registration Details:
The registration fees range from USD $100-400. Registration includes admission to all sessions, unlimited exhibit halls visits, opening session, welcome cocktail, cultural activities and farewell party.

Contact Information:
ICML9
Eventus System Ltda.
Rua Oito de Dezembro, 547
40150-000 - Salvador - Bahia - Brazil
Tel.: (55 71) 264.3477
icml-registration@eventussystem.com.br
ICML9 website: http://www.icml9.org/?lang=en


INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS WORLD CONFERENCE 2006 - A World out of Balance - Working for a new Social Equilibrium

Munich, Germany
30 July - 3 August 2006

DEAR COLLEAGUES,
I am delighted to join with Frau Hille Gosejacob-Rolf, the Chair of the German Association of Social Workers and Social Educators in inviting you to the 18th World Conference of Social Work. The choice of theme for this conference ”A World out of Balance: Working for a New Social Equilibrium” provides inspiration for a lively and important debate. The word balance is in itself a word of many meanings in English and demanded the most careful consideration and understanding of language, culture and meaning.

Finding a shared, unambiguous understanding of a goal is central to the chievement of social equilibrium. The failure to do so no doubt contributes to ”a world out of balance”. The IFSW will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Munich in 2006. It is only fitting that we return to the city were the revitalised IFSW convened 9 August 1956. During the intervening years we have grown steadily from having member organisations in 12 countries to 78. We have over the years established a solid framework and moved IFSW from being a cooperation tool for a limited group of western colleagues to a global body of social workers serving as a platform for professional identity across borders. Through a number of world and regional conferences, the development of core international documents to guide social work concepts and practices and ongoing representation to the United Nations and other international bodies, IFSW is today the global voice of social work practice. The vision expressed in 1956 for IFSW to ”find definite ways and means for contact between national associations with the aim of raising the professional level of their members” has become a reality. 50 years ago the world was recovering from the impact of the Second World War and had entered the period of the Cold War. It was a period of heightened conflict and a clash of ideologies.

As we approach 2006 the resonance is powerful. Levels of world conflict are at a premium. Lack of tolerance and understanding leading to discrimination is a key factor. Breaches of human rights have become commonplace. We have manifestly failed as an international community to address the issues of poverty and disadvantage. In such an environment the quest for social equilibrium is even more important and the theme of this conference could not be more relevant. While we will join together to celebrate 50 years of outstanding work for social work at an international level, we will also prepare to even more vigorously address the challenges ahead and continue to demand the highest levels of knowledge and skill.
I look forward to seeing you in 2006 in Munich.

Best wishes
Imelda Dodds
President
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)

The 2006 theme:
”A WORLD OUT OF BALANCE: WORKING FOR A NEW SOCIAL EQUILIBRIUM”
will be presented in six thematic sections. This will allow for participants to follow their area of interest throughout the conference.

PROGRAM OUTLINE
Themes:
1. The Balance of Generations: Youth and Aging
2. Physical, Emotional and Mental Health
3. Between Inclusion and Alienation: Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons
4. Human Rights and Civil Rights: Between Globalization and Marginalization
5. Social Systems between Demands: Basic Needs and Minimum Standards of Social Security
6. Social Work as Profession: 50 years of Progress and Visions for the Future

Seminar Secretariat:
Deutscher Berufsverband für Sozialarbeit e.V.
Landesgeschaeftsstelle Bayern
Dahlientrasse 5, D-82216 Maisach, Germany
Tel: (49) 81 41 52 50 01, Fax: (49) 81 41 52 45 88
E-mail: info@socialwork2006.de
Web: http://www.socialwork2006.de

The "NGOC Gazette" is produced by the AAA NGO Training and Resource Center. It provides information on conferences, seminars, training and grants opportunities worldwide.

March, 2005