KABISSA-FAHAMU Newsletter No 14

Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Countries Trieste, Italy 11-13 September 2001 One of the key features influencing the use of new technologies in developing countries is the changing character of research and development (R&D), especially in the industrialized countries.

24--26 April 2001 Everyone is invited. We're targeting both the technical and the commercial communities. Also, we would encourage people throughout Africa to attend. Competing Data Warehousing Standards to Merge in the OMG. More information on the OMG and CORBA is available at www.omg.org and www.corba.org. Information about the Meta Data Coalition is available through the MDC Web site at http://www.MDCinfo.com/. September 25, 2000 - Needham, MA - Today, the Meta Data Coalition (MDC) and the Object Management Group (OMG), two industry organizations with competing data warehousing standards, jointly announced that the MDC will merge into the OMG. As a result, the MDC will discontinue independent operations and work will continue in the OMG to integrate the two standards. Until this week, there were two major standards for metadata and modeling in the areas of data warehousing and component-based development.

I have reformatted the outcomes of the "FAO: First International Workshop on Farm Radio Broadcasting ''Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) Servicing Farm Radio: New Contents, New Partnerships", held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, from February 19 to February 22, 2001, in a MS Word 97 document.

Experts are warning web users to be on the lookout for a destructive and cunning new e-mail virus.

FreelanceHR has been launched in South Africa by Alan Ahlfeldt and Michael Kriess to alleviate the plight of the freelance worker and the needs of organisations. For only R20 per month, a freelancer can register on the site. There are various categories to choose from and if a category does not exist, one will be created within minutes. Freelancers are in charge of their own pages so it's up to them to keep it up to date. They receive a username and password and they just need to log in and update their details. FreelanceHR markets the site to the industry thus effectively creating a direct link between organisational needs and scarce skills. The service plans to launch in Australia, the UK and possibly the States later this year.

The International Telecommunication Union's third World Telecommunication Policy Forum closed last week with the adoption by government and industry of four "Opinions" that reflect the common understanding on Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony.

A daily update on human rights and democratic development of the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Anyone who lives in Africa and has access to the Internet can use "The African Digital Library", which was jointly created by the Association of African Universities (AAU), Technikon SA (TSA) and NetLibrary (NL). Net Library is an American company that specialized in setting up digital libraries for universities and companies.

Free weekly e-mail on the latest Internet trends and statistics
March 12, 2001 Published by: Nua Ltd Volume 6 Number 8

To search the complete PND archive (300+ issues dating to January 1995), visit Philanthropy News Digest on the World Wide Web.

The United States Institute of Peace Webster University's Human Rights Education Project and Center for International Education are jointly sponsoring a two day Conference on Undergraduate Human Rights Education on March 29-30. The conference (which will be held on the Webster University Campus in Saint Louis, Missouri) is free, but registration is limited and is filling up fast. For information about the conference please consult the conference website at of call the Webster University Center for International Education at (314) 968-7432.

September 24 -October 19, 2001 Atlanta, Georgia, USA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health will co-sponsor a course, "International Course in Applied Epidemiology" during September 24 - October 19, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia. This basic course in epidemiology is directed at public health professionals from countries other than the United States.

The application form and further details can also be downloaded from the International Development pages of the Nuffield Institute for July 2001 Nuffield Institute for Health Leeds, UK

8-21 July 2001 Cambridge, UK An intensive two-week residential course for professionals in the field of family planning and sexual & reproductive health held at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.

The Swiss National Council, the first Chamber of the Federal Assembly to debate the ratification of the Rome Statute, passed the ratification bill yesterday, 13 March 2001, with 135 against 26 votes. (NB: Some of the members of parliament who voted "no" may have done so to indicate that they wanted an obligatory instead of a facultative referendum on the question of ratification, that is, that the Swiss people automatically vote on the issue, and not only when 50'000 citizens so require.)

Although the Battle of Seattle was successful in preventing a new comprehensive round of global trade talks from going ahead, this did not mean there would not be trade negotiations at the WTO. On the contrary, a whole new set of WTO talks on global trade in 'services' began in February, 2000, with formal negotiations due to begin this spring after a crucial stocktaking session is completed at the end of March. These so called GATS negotiations [General Agreement on Trade in Services] could have a dramatic and profound effect on a wide range of public services and citizens' rights all over the world. Contact for more information.

To: The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair,The British House of Commons: Culture, Media and Sport Committee, The British Library,The British Museum,The Royal Library, Windsor Castle,The Victoria and Albert Museum "Recalling that the British Expedition against Emperor Tewodros, in 1868, looted the Ethiopian ruler's capital, Maqdala.

The Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe will be producing a Manual on Human Rights Education in 2001 in the framework of its Youth Programme on Human Rights Education. This manual is particularly addressed to activities with young people within formal and non-formal education. The Manual will provide methods and activities based on participatory, active and experimental educational methods. We are looking for experienced and interested educationalists and trainers to contribute to the production of the manual. Contributions can be made by participating in one of the two groups: reference group and production team. Further details and application form are available by e-mail.

The purpose of this position is to direct the new Women's Rights and Economic Change "theme program" as part of AWID's new Strategic Communications Program. The intended impact of the Strategic Communications Program is the improvement of women's lives through information exchange that will motivate action, support knowledge - building, and influence policy.

Human Rights Watch, Europe and Central Asia Division Seeks Summer 2001 interns Human Rights Watch is an international research and advocacy organization that conducts regular investigations into human rights abuses in seventy countries worldwide. The Europe and Central Asia division, with field offices in Moscow, Tashkent, and Tbilisi, works on the countries of Europe and the former Soviet Union. When applying, please include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for two references. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 9, 2001. Applications can be mailed to: Europe and Central Asia Division Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299

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From 1994 - 1996, the Law Group maintained a field office in Goma, North Kivu, from which field officers provided valuable support and training to human rights activists in Eastern Congo. Following the opening of a field presence in Kinshasa in 2000, the Law Group is expanding its field activities by re-establishing a field office in Eastern Congo, to reinforce the small human rights community's efforts in the face of a deteriorating human rights situation, and strengthen their participation in the country's transition process.

The Law Group is currently seeking candidates for a Program Officer position, to be based in Bukavu, in South-Kivu. Together with a team of national program and administrative staff, the Program Officer will be responsible for a variety of training, mentoring and technical assistance projects aimed at building the capacity of civil society in Eastern Congo. The Program Officer will serve both as a trainer and constant resource to local NGOs, and ensure the day-to-day running of Law Group programs in the East, while maintaining relationships with
NGOs, UN agencies and local authorities.

How to Apply: To apply, send resume or curriculum vitae and cover letter by mail, fax or e-mail (MSWord and WordPerfect 7.0 attachments) to: Bukavu - DRC Program Officer Search International Human Rights Law Group 1200, 18th Street NW, Suite 602 Washington D.C. 20036 Fax: +1 202 822 4606

The Policing Program is currently seeking a Program Director to lead our talented staff to greater influence and effectiveness in assuring that fighting crime and protecting rights are seen as mutually supportive. The Director will work under the supervision of the deputy Director of Program and Policy. SUBMISSIONS: Resume, cover letter, three (3) writing samples, and three (3) References Qualification: Substantial practical experience with law enforcement activities, and familiarity with police practice in large US cities; Supervisory savvy in strategy design, operations, fiscal, and personnel
management; Extraordinary communication skills, including the ability to make complex issues understandable to lay audiences; Experience in conflict resolution. Deadline: THIS IS AN IMMEDIATE HIRE Contact / Forward application to HR-Policing Director 333 Seventh Ave., 13th fl, New York NY 10001 USA Fax: 212-845-5299

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Social Work with Street children
Build Schools and Clinics
Environmental Projects
Prevent Spreading of HIV/AIDS
6 months training in Denmark required
12 months working in TCE Project in Africa
Boarding exp. Start 1.5 & 1.11
2 months promotion work
Travelling Folk High School
Phone: 0045 64813215

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Head of Gender Unit
Press Officer - Europe
Researcher (Central Africa)
Training Officer Fundraising

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Mission: Doctors of the World is dedicated to improving the health and relieving the suffering of vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad. Our primary objectives are to offer the finest available medical expertise to those in greatest need, and in so doing, to utilize medical care to protect human rights and to promote peaceful reconciliation. Contact Person: Cerue Van den Broeck.

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Bank Information Center
Deadline: April 30, 2001
To apply, please send your cover letter and CV/resume to Art Farrance.

We would like to draw your attention to a new publication that might be of interest to you. 'Institutionalizing Gender Equality: Commitment, Policy and Practice. A Global Source Book' is the fourth book in the series Gender, Society and Development published by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT). This publication reflects the increasing interest in the experiences of organizations that have begun to incorporate women and gender considerations into their policies, not only for projects and programmes but also within their own organizations.

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I write as I promised to do, to thank you and inform you on the product [Proposals that make a difference]. Itis just wonderful! I have just finished preparing a draft proposal for EU and reading through CDRom after the tough exercise made the understanding of the guide most intersting and better assimilated. It was a really useful project you undertook and one that will last for a very long time. it will be of great use and value to many poor souls like us who have little or no clue to writing such documents. Once more, I congratulate you and your team on a job well done.

I just wanted to congratulate you on the Kabissa-Fahamu newsletter. It is interesting, informative, and up to date, and covers so much more than other briefings I have seen.

We thank you very much for the Newsletters. They are very enlightening and educative. We look forward to your future editions.

I reply to your reader survey in newletter no 10:

Is it too long? this always depends on the content and so far you are managing to pass the readability-content-time test although it is often at least a week before I get around to reading it. I particularly like the editorials. It's a newsletter with attitude. When things get too short there is no attitude and therefore it is of less use. (Perhaps you are giving us "knowledge" and when you just give us "data" or "information" it is less valuable.

I receive it OK ... but then I am in London. Our offices in Africa would provide a sterner test. A thought: I don't know if it is technically possibly but if you had a standard contents list numbering could the technology allow people to say I want items 1,3 5, and 7 (for example) so that the machine automatically selects what to send?

It's only in English. That may be unavoidable but you might want to tell people about the digital translators such as altavista and where they can find them. .... or you provide it as a service like the www4mail service.

I have forward it to all ACORD offices in Africa and suggested they subscribe if interested and should come back to you soon with a reply about becoming a member.

Great stuff!

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Please remember to send your replies to [email protected] Many thanks for your participation and continued support.

Fahamu www.fahamu.org
Kabissa www.kabissa.org
Sangonet www.sn.apc.org

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