e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 147
21 January, 2002

CIVICUS thanks Miklos Barabas and his colleagues at European House,
Hungary, for their dedicated work in the production and distribution of
e-CIVICUS over the past ten months, and their contribution to strengthening
civil society worldwide by enhancing access to information. The new
e-CIVICUS team is committed to maintaining these high standards, and
ensuring a smooth transition.

CONTENTS:
SECTION 1. FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
SECTION 2. FEATURED NEWS-ITEM OF THE WEEK
SECTION 3. CITIZEN ACTION AROUND THE WORLD
SECTION 4. JOBS/ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
SECTION 5. SCHOLARSHIPS/ AWARDS
SECTION 6. CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS/ MEETINGS/ FAIRS/ EXHIBITIONS
SECTION 7. TRAINING COURSES/ ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
SECTION 8. PUBLICATIONS/ CALLS FOR PAPERS
SECTION 9. INTERNET NEWS/ FEATURED WEBSITES
SECTION 10. HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US
SECTION 11. "CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH" - a special supplemental digest
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New with this edition of e-CIVICUS -- "CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH"-- monitoring
the repercussions of the September 11th crisis, and its aftermath, on civil
society worldwide. Please see Section 11 for this special supplemental digest.
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SECTION 1. FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Placing Values at the Centre
Dear Friends,

Greetings for the new year, 2002! As you are perhaps aware, CIVICUS has
already commenced its preparatory work for expanding its operations to
Johannesburg, South Africa later this year. This promises to be an
exciting, and at the same time, a challenging year for us. We are grateful
for your support of CIVICUS' activities, and your contribution to its
growth over the years. We are confident that this year will be no exception.

At the last Board meeting held in London in November, 2001, CIVICUS
directors articulated the visions and aspirations of the organisation in a
'Strategic Directions' statement. Apart from being a valuable document that
will aid CIVICUS in its outreach activities, the statement will also serve
as a reference for CIVICUS staff as we pursue our organisational goals this
year. The statement emphasises that CIVICUS' work is value-based and its
programmes are most effective when those values are made clear. They are:

JUSTICE AND EQUALITY- We believe in the equality and dignity of every
person. We seek to assure that each is free to exercise his or her rights
as a citizen as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
RECIPROCITY - We will treat others and one another with the respect we
desire for ourselves. Unless we all do that, civil society cannot flourish.
KNOWLEDGE - We will base and justify our actions on the most complete and
relevant information we can assemble, and we commit ourselves to work with
others to expand and make more accessible civil society's knowledge base.
VISION - We will base our view of civil society's prospects on honest
assessments of current realities, but with an enduring faith in the power
of citizens, civil society organisations and our allies in the public and
market sectors to greatly expand civil society's reach.
PRINCIPLED COURAGE - We will act boldly in support of civil society,
especially where and when it is threatened. We will do so in a manner that
honours civil society's principles

CIVICUS' core competencies, organisational goals and programmes flow from,
and will reflect these values with a view towards strengthening them. One
of the programmes to be launched this year is the CIVICUS Civil Society
Watch Programme. The issue of creating an enabling environment for civil
society, and for citizen participation is at the very core of CIVICUS'
mission. In view of this, the 'Civil Society Watch' programme is intended
to mobilise support and attention in defense of civil society whenever and
wherever it is under threat. As part of this programme, we will begin
featuring a 'Civil Society Watch' digest once every two weeks in e-CIVICUS.
The first issue appears at the end of this newsletter (Please see Section
11). As always, we look forward to your support - and feedback - in this
newest CIVICUS initiative.

Warm regards, Kumi Naidoo.

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SECTION 2. FEATURED NEWS-ITEM OF THE WEEK

International Conference on Financing for Development (Ffd):

From 18th to 22nd March 2002, the United Nations will convene a
summit-level meeting, in Monterrey, Mexico, to address key financial and
related issues pertaining to global development. The conference will focus
on the following six areas: Mobilising domestic financial resources;
Mobilising foreign direct investment (FDI) and other private inflows;
International Trade; Official development assistance (ODA); Debt relief;
International monetary, financial and trading systems (includes questions
of global governance).

The coming together of world governments, the IMF, World Bank, WTO, UN
development agencies and regional commissions, business and NGO
representatives, is an unprecedented feature for a UN-led conference. There
will be 12 round tables at the Ffd Conference in Monterrey, Mexico. Each
round table will have 70 seats. Of these 48 are assigned to governments, 8
are for the UN and other institutional stakeholders, 7 are for civil
society and 7 are for the business sector.

The 4th and final PrepCom (Preparatory Committee) meeting for the Financing
for development (Ffd) summit began in New York, at the UN headquarters,
this week (January 14) and will run until January 25. NGO participation at
the PrepCom, and the Ffd conference at Monterrey, Mexico, is being
facilitated by the UN's Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), the Ffd
Coordinating Secretariat and the Mexican NGO Forum Organizing Committee.

You can follow the proceedings of the 4th PrepCom currently underway in New
York at
(www.un.org/esa/ffd). Other websites of interest:
(www.un.org/esa/ffd/civilsociety/index-civil.html), for information about
civil society participation in the Ffd process,
(www.unsystem.org/ngls), The UN Non-governmental Liaison Service,
(www.un.org/esa/ffd/civilsociety/globalngoforum.htm), provisional website
for the NGO Forum

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SECTION 3. CITIZEN ACTION AROUND THE WORLD

World Social Forum (WSF):
Timed to coincide with the World Economic Forum, WEF, the World Social
Forum or WSF was launched last year as a venue for the creation and
exchange of social and economic projects that promote human rights, social
justice and sustainable development. Thousands of civil society activists
will gather at Porto Alegre, Brazil from January 31st to February 5th, to
participate in activities reflecting the slogan "Another World is
Possible". This year, the World Economic Forum, WEF, will be held in New
York from 31st January to 4th February, 2002.
(www.forumsocialmundial.org), website of the World Social Forum
(www.weforum.org), website of the World Economic Forum

African Social Forum (ASF):
From 5th to 9th January, 2002, over two hundred social movements,
organizations and individuals from forty five African countries met in
Bamako, Mali, in an open African Social Forum. The 'Bamako Consensus',
which emerged from the gathering, endorses the Charter of the World Social
Forum to build a different world. Under the theme "Another Africa is
Possible", participants undertook analyses, shared experiences and heard
testimonies on wide-ranging economic, social, political and cultural
matters affecting the African peoples. The ASF identified a number of
recommendations and proposals for activists and networks to include in
their work, and a steering committee is now in place to move the process
forward. A report on the ASF is being prepared by MWENGO. For more
information, please contact [email protected]

World Cup Campaign by the Global March Against Child Labour:
With only 5 months left until the 2002 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Japan
and Korea, activists from around the world are urging FIFA and national
football teams to make this championship the first international sporting
event free of child labour. This campaign has been initiated by the Global
March Against Child Labour. India and Pakistan are the largest football
producers for the world football championship. According to a recent
report by the India Committee of the Netherlands and the All Pakistan
Federation of Labour (APFL), thousands of children in Pakistan and India
are involved in the production of footballs, earning wages much lower than
the legal minimum wage and to the neglect of many basic labour rights.
Their life of exploitation is shared by another 250 million working
children around the world and many of their families.
Contact: Philippe Roy, International Media Coordinator
Global March Against Child Labour
L-6 Kalkaji New Delhi, 110019 India
Phone: (91 11) 622 4899, 647 5481, Fax: (91 11) 623 6818
E-mail: [email protected] AND [email protected]
Website: (http://www.globalmarch.org )

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SECTION 4. JOBS/ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

POSITION: Multiple openings
ORGANISATION/INSTITUTION: Institute for Connectivity of the Americas (ICA)
DESCRIPTION: The Institute of Connectivity for the Americas is looking for
several people to fill positions in Ottawa, created for IDRC. All positions
will be closed by Feb. 1, 2002.
El instituto de Conectividad para las Americas tiene puestos de official de
programas en Ottawa y oficial de investigacio´n para IDRC. Todos cierren
de el primero de Febrero, 2001.
CONTACT: (www.idrc.ca/careers/pr234.htm) and (www.idrc.ca/careers/PR231 .htm)

POSITION: Junior Faculty in Leadership Studies
ORGANISATION/INSTITUTION: Kennedy School of Government-Harvard University
DESCRIPTION: Accepting applications Lecturer or Assistant Professor.
Responsibilities include conducting research and graduate level teaching in
Leadership studies. Requirements are as follows: Experience in leadership,
Ph.D., or a comparable professional degree in a related field i.e.
political science, psychology, sociology, history, organizational,
behavior, law, and public administration. Application should include:
Curriculum Vitae, copies of two publications or article-length manuscripts
and three letters of recommendation, and a brief summary of research
interests, and teaching experience.
CONTACT: Barbara Kellerman, Executive Director
Center for Public Leadership, Kennedy School of
Government, 79
JFK Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A 02138 by February 19,
2002

POSITION: Data Analyst
ORGANISATION/INSTITUTION: Migration Policy Institute
DESCRIPTION: The Migration Policy Institute (MPI), in Washington, D.C., is
looking for a full-time, mid-level, Data Manager, subject to the
confirmation of a major grant award. The data manager will work as part of
a core team responsible for the Migration Information Source (The Source).
CONTACT: Administrator,
Migration Policy Institute, 1400 16th Street,
NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20036 U.S.A. by
February 11, 2002

POSITION: Volunteer Opportunities
ORGANISATION/INSTITUTION: SAYA! (South Asian Youth Action). SAYA! is a
non-profit community based organization dedicated to empowering South Asian
youth.
DESCRIPTION: Seeking experienced volunteers to help organize a Youth
Theater and Art Troupe for our Peace and Unity initiative. Volunteers must
make a commitment from now until the end of August 2002 and have experience
working with youth.
CONTACT: Satya Chheda at [email protected] or
South Asian Youth Action,
54-05 Seabury Street, Elmhurst NY 11373, USA
or by fax at 1-718-651-3480. Web: (www.saya.org)
or by fax at 1-718-651-3480. Web: (www.saya.org)

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SECTION 5. SCHOLARSHIPS/ AWARDS

The Global Security and Sustainability Program of the John D. and Catherine
T. MacArthur Foundation is offering "Technological Change and Global
Security and Sustainability Awards": $75,000 for individual projects and
$100,000 for two-person collaborations. Deadline: February 1, 2002.
CONTACT: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Office of Grants Management
140 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60603-5285, USA
Tel: 1-312-726-8000; Fax: 1-312-920-6258
Email: [email protected]
Web: (http://www.macfound.org/programs/gss/gss_guidelines.htm)

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SECTION 6. CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS/ MEETINGS/ FAIRS/ EXHIBITIONS
(Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing in e-CIVICUS for the
first time)

*EVENT: RESPECT Transnational Conference: Migrant Domestic Workers-Acting
Together
ORGANISERS: Kalayaan and SOLIDAR
DESCRIPTION: European RESPECT Network brings together migrant domestic
workers, trade unions and other supporting organisations from across the EU
to carry out lobbying at EU level and to share experience and expertise.
The conference is a culmination of an EU project that has empowered migrant
domestic workers to speak out against situations of violence and abuse
through using innovative forum theatre techniques.
DATE: 20-21 January, 2002
VENUE: London, UK
CONTACT: Amaya Fernández Gordillo, Project Officer, SOLIDAR
Rue du Commerce 22, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Tel.: (32-2) 500-1029 Fax: (32-2) 500-1030
Email: [email protected] Web:(www.solidar.org)

*EVENT: Good or Bad Experiences All Are Experiences - International Seminar
ORGANISERS: Service Civil International
DESCRIPTION: The main aim of this seminar is to evaluate the experiences on
Long Term Volunteering in Central and Eastern Europe gained by Service
Civil International (SCI) and its partners over last years. We would like
to discuss also the possibilities for further development, including use of
EVS programmes. For more information and application form please contact SCI.
DATE: 22-28 January, 2002
VENUE: St. Petersburg, RUSSIA
CONTACT: Service Civil International, East-West Working Group Secretariat
(GATE)
Sekretariat d/s Wspolpracy Wschod-Zachod
Krasinskiego 3 A/1, 60-830 Poznan, Poland.
Tel.: (48-61) 848-4336 Fax: (48-61) 848-4337

EVENT: What Price Independence? NCVO Annual Conference
ORGANISERS: National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), UK
DESCRIPTION: The conference will examine what independence means to
voluntary sector organisations - and look at the costs of achieving it. It
will address issues such as the role of the voluntary sector in delivering
public services, sustainable funding and more. Seminars will cover
everything from boosting earned income to current developments in human
rights. Tickets cost £140 (NCVO members) £195 (Voluntary sector non
members) and £250 (Corporate).
DATE: 6 February (Wednesday), 2002
VENUE: The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London, UK
CONTACT: Julia Childerhouse, NCVO
Tel.: (44-20) 752-02446
Email: [email protected]

EVENT: 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Resource Mobilisation:
Developing Local Roots
ORGANISERS: The Resource Alliance in partnership with the South Asian
Fundraising Group.
DESCRIPTION: The conference will focus on the key issues involved in
building an active and accountable non-profit sector strongly rooted in
local support and legitimacy. This all-inclusive event is a must for key
stakeholders working within the voluntary sector in developing countries,
including NGO and CSO leaders, decision makers and implementers in donor
agencies and INGOs.
DATE: 4-7 March 2002
VENUE: Agra, India
CONTACT: The Resource Alliance
Tel: (44-20) 758-70287 Fax: (44-20) 758-24335
Email: [email protected]
Web: (www.resource-alliance.org/upload/Agra/index.htm)

*EVENT: Women's Caucus preparations for World Summit on Sustainable
Development
DESCRIPTION: UN Headquarters is holding it's second Preparatory Committee
for the World Summit on Sustainable Development between Jan 28th-February
8th. WEDO (Women's Environment and Development Organization) will convene a
Strategy Session on Sunday, January 27th 1-4pm. The purpose of this meeting
is to strategies with PrepCom and to discuss certain advocacy points deemed
to be priority.
CONTACT: [email protected]
Tel: 1-212-973-0325 X210

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SECTION.7 TRAINING COURSES/ ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

TITLE: International College for Sustainable Living
DESCRIPTION: Vandana Shiva, prominent activist/scholar, and winner of the
1993 Right Livelihood Award (RLA), has launched an International College
for Sustainable Living at her Biodiversity Conservation and Agroecology
Farm near Dehradun, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Courses will
be taught by Shiva, and her fellow RLA laureates, Mohammed Idris of
Malaysia, and Tewolde Egziabher of Ethiopia. Course titles include "Lessons
in Sustainable Living: Learning from the South", "Sustainable Food
Systems", "Gandhi and Globalisation", "Holistic Science", and "Sustainable
Cities".
(Featured in Cornerstones, No.16, newsletter published by the Right
Livelihood Forum)
CONTACT: The Research Foundation for Science, Technology & Ecology,
A-60 Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India.
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

TITLE: University of Cambridge Postgraduate Certificate in Cross Sector
Partnership
DESCRIPTION: The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum,
University of Cambridge, and the Copenhagen Centre are collaborating on
comprehensive training for future leaders in the development of
cross-sector partnership. Program begins 1st March 2002.
CONTACT: Dr. Soraya Ali, Programme Manager
University of Cambridge Programme for Industry,
Tel +44 (0) 1223 342124
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cpi.cam.ac.uk/pccp.

TITLE: Fundraising Fundamentals: An Online Fundraising Training Course

DESCRIPTION: This course runs January 28 to April 1. Sponsored by
GreenAbility, a joint project of the Conservation Council of Ontario, the
Sustainability Network, Ken Wyman and Associates, and Web Networks, it is
conducted by Ken Wyman and designed for grassroots and "kitchen table"
nonprofit groups, with special emphasis on Canadian environmental
organizations. For new organizations or those seeking to plunge more
seriously into fundraising, the course is designed to help them understand
the evolving science of raising money for good causes. For more information
on Fundraising Fundamentals:
(http://www.kneadmarketing.com/canadian_fundraiser/newsletter/article.cfm)

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SECTION 8. PUBLICATIONS/ CALLS FOR PAPERS

BOOKS

The Human Rights Center for the Assistance of Prisoners (2001) "In Defence
of Prisoners Rights: HRCAP Reports From 1997 to 2000". HRCAP, Egypt.
Paperback, 429 pages.
This book contains ten reports authored by the Egyptian Human Rights Center
for the Assistance of Prisoners and includes findings made over three
consecutive years, from 1997 to 2000. It introduces the topic of human
rights in Egyptian prisons through a comprehensive presentation of relevant
legislation. The second part of the book contains a detailed description
of one of the Egyptian prisons (the Al-Wadi Al-Jadid), and an analysis of
selected cases of human rights violations.

European Roma Rights Center (2001) "Political Participation and Democracy
in Europe: A Short Guide for Romani Activists". ERRC, Hungary. 18 pages.
This Short Guide for Romani Activists outlines strategies for the European
and international Roma to enhance their political participation in a
democratic environment. The Guide advocates that in order to become more
visible on the political scene the Roma population organise itself
(locally, regionally or nationally) and develops strategies of operation.
The publication briefly explores the basic theories of democracy in the
context of the Roma population.

Abramson, Alan J., Nonprofit Sector Research Fund (2001) "Mapping New
Worlds: Selected Research on the Nonprofit Sector Around the Globe". The
Aspen Institute, USA.
This publication explores the concepts of democracy and the nonprofit
sector, setting a theoretical background for the summaries and digests of
empirical studies featured in subsequent chapters. These studies on various
aspects of the nonprofit sector in eight countries, were sponsored by the
Aspen Institute as a contribution to the gap in the research on nonprofits
around the world and their overall size and scope, methods of operation,
origins and impact.

Klaus M. Leisinger, Karin Schmitt, Rajul Pandya-Lorch, "Six Billion and
Counting Population Growth and Food Security in the 21st Century".
Published by the International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington,
D.C. Distributed by The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002
Website: http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/jhu/sixbillion.htm
"......In 1999 global population surpassed 6 billion people, and this
number rises by about 70-80 million people each year. Six Billion and
Counting examines the consequences of continuing population growth for the
world's resource systems and for national and global food security......."

Rosa-Maria Torres, "What Works in Education: Facing the New Century",
International Youth Foundation, Baltimore, 2002.
The latest in International Youth Foundation's (IYF) 'What Works in Youth
Development' series, this report presents a careful analysis of current
trends in education and learning, highlighting various myths in our
approaches to education and positive signs of change as we enter a
knowledge-driven era with new educational demands. The report also
underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between public,
private, and civil society actors in meeting the myriad educational
challenges we, as a global society, face. This project was funded by Lucent
Technologies Foundation.

Mahnaz Afkhami, Ann Eisenberg, and Halen Vaziri (In consultation with
Suheir Azzouni, Ayesha Imam, Amina Lemini, and Rabea Naciri). "Leading to
Choices: A Leadership Training Handbook for Women". Women's Learning
Partnership, 2001.
Leading to Choices is an extensive handbook for women that give details on
how they along with other organizations can collaborate on various methods
of effective leaderships. Women from Brazil, Pakistan, and Nigeria
represent a cross-cultural appeal, organized to promote gender equality
within the realms of leadership and decision making. The Handbook presents
the importance of involvement of all women from various walks of life:
women, young girls, human rights activist and domestic workers.
Ordering: Women's Learning Partnership
4343 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 201
Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
http://www.learningpartnership.org

ARTICLES
"The World Health Report 2000: Can Health Care Systems Be Compared Using a
Single Measure of Performance?" January 2002, Vol 92, No. 1-American
Journal of Public Health 30-33.
Authors: Joseph S. Coyne and Vicente Navarro
Subject: Can Health Care Systems Be Compared Using a Single Measure of
Performance?

"The Rising Inequality of World Income Distribution Finance &
Development"-Quarterly magazine of the IMF December 2001, Volume38, Number 4.
Author: Robert Hunter Wade, Professor of Political Economy at the London
School of Economics
Subject: World income distribution. Themes of social and economic
inequality are presented.

CALL FOR PAPERS
Dr. Starfield and the Secretariat of the International Society for Equity
in Health (ISEqH) would like to remind everyone that the due date for
abstract submission for the ISEqH international meeting is JANUARY 28,
2002. Instructions and other information about the meeting, including
applications for financial assistance, and about the Society are on the
website. The Conference theme is Equity: Research in the Service of Policy
and Advocacy for Health and Health Services. June 14-16, 2002 - Toronto,
Canada Website: http://www.iseqh.org/
CONTACT: Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH
University Distinguished Professor
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
624 N Broadway-Room 452 Baltimore MD 21205, USA
Phone 1-410 955 3737 Fax 1-410 614 9046 email [email protected]

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SECTION 9. INTERNET NEWS/ FEATURED WEBSITES

Social Economy and Law (SEAL) Electronic Bulletin:
The fourth issue of the Social Economy and Law (SEAL) Electronic Bulletin,
E-SEAL, has been published by the European Foundation Centre (EFC) as a
supplement to the SEAL Journal. E-SEAL provides information about legal
and fiscal issues affecting foundations, associations, and NGOs. Go to:
www.efc.be/ftp/public/seal/E-SEAL4.pdf

Use of ICTs (information and communication technologies) by NGOs in
Southeast Europe:
OneWorld (www.oneworld.net), the online human rights and sustainable
development network, and the Information Program of the Open Society
Institute (OSI) (www.osi.hu), have released a report on the use of ICTs by
NGOs in Southeast Europe www.oneworld.net/radio/see/ict. The report,
covering six geographical areas (Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo,
Macedonia, and Yugoslavia), is the most comprehensive study to date on the
subject. One of the key findings is that groundbreaking ICT practices have
rarely been sustained as crises have waned. The report calls for a renewed
effort to ensure civil society can fully realize the benefits of ICTs to
meet the challenges the region now faces in the transition to democracy.
For more information, media enquiries and feedback on the report contact:
Branislava Milosevic, OneWorld co-ordinator for Southeast Europe
Tel: +44 (0)787 9634996
Email: [email protected]
For more information on the Information Program of OSI contact:
Vera Franz, ICTs for Civil Society at the Information Program of OSI
Tel: +36 (0)1 327 3122
Email: [email protected]

New Website: Science and Technology:
A new website dedicated to science, technology, and development was
launched in London, UK on Dec.3, 2001. It has gained international
attention from Canada and UK alike. Its primary goal is to promote
effective contributions within science and technology as it relates to the
well being of society within developing countries. Website: www.scidev.net

Taaleem - Egypt's First Educational & Training Portal:
This website allows viewers to get a broader perspective of the career and
educational opportunities within the Middle East. www.e-taaleem.com
touches upon various aspects of recruitment services, conferences,
exhibitions, and marketing services.
CONTACT: Akram Al Hoseiny
43, Mohamed Farid St.
Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
Tel.: +2 02 6355938 Tel & Fax: +2 026435104
Email: [email protected]

Philanthropy and Development Institute www.filantropiaydesarrollo.org:
This website is dedicated to presenting methods of social involvement
within non-profit organizations throughout Spain. It will serve as a
conduit to promote relationships between philanthropy and corporate
institutions in Spain and Latin America.
Instituto de Filantropía y Desarrollo www.filantropiayadesarrollo.org
Este website se dedicado a la manera que involvimiento social entre
organacio´n de
desarrollo por todas partes de Espan~a. Lo use para promover desarrollo
con filantropi?a y corporaciones en Latin America empezando con La Espan?a.

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SECTION 10. HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international
alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society
throughout the world.
e-CIVICUS is produced weekly, and distributed to thousands of subscribers
worldwide. If you would like to post announcements, comments and
suggestions, please email: [email protected]. Due to space restrictions, we
may not be able to include all submissions.

To subscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'subscribe' in the subject line to
[email protected].
To unsubscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line
to [email protected].

THE e-CIVICUS TEAM:
Editor - Indira Ravindran (Washington, DC)
Production & Editorial Assistance - Patricia Sipher (Washington, DC)
Charles
White (Washington, DC)
Distribution - Gail Goodall (Sydney)
Jan Wells (Sydney)

Address: CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation
919, 18th Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC, 20006, USA
Tel: 1-202-331-8518 Fax: 1-202-331-8774
Email: [email protected] Web: www.civicus.org

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SECTION 11. CIVICUS CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH
The Aftermath of 11 September - Issue #1

CIVICUS' Civil Society Watch is one component of its Crisis Response
Programme. The Crisis Response Programme aims to enhance and defend civil
society rights and freedoms throughout the world. In particular, the
programme champions the rights of civic association and citizen action by
mobilising timely, principled and helpful responses to events or actions
that threaten these basic rights.

This bi-weekly bulletin is produced by CIVICUS to keep its members and
supporters up-to-date on key consequences of the current crisis. News,
views, and commentary from a variety of web sources around the world will
be presented.

CIVICUS' first Civil Society Watch on 11 September focuses on changes that
have taken place as a result of the events of that day that have direct
repercussions on civil society. One such change is the Executive Order
signed in November by U.S. President George W. Bush to instate military
tribunals in place of civilian trials for non-U.S. citizens accused of
terrorism. Overall, public opinion in the U.S. supports the notion that
security subordinates the demands of liberty, and Americans are willing to
sacrifice some of their civil rights in the name of safety. There are,
however, several aspects of the tribunals that cause concern to civil
libertarians. They note that evidence against a defendant could be kept
secret if that evidence might compromise U.S. security, that the only
avenue of appeal is to the defence secretary, and that the verdict only
needs to be agreed on by a two-thirds majority of a military commission.(1)

With the signing of the Order, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stated that,
"Somebody who comes into the United States of America illegally, who
conducts a terrorist operation killing thousands of innocent Americans -
men, women and children - is not a lawful combatant? They don't deserve to
be treated as a prisoner of war. They don't deserve the same guarantees and
safeguards that would be used for an American citizen going through the
normal judicial process."(2) Bill Barr, U.S. Attorney General under the
former President Bush, claimed that the September 11 terrorists violated
the laws of war and should be tried under military rules. He added that "No
U.S. judge needs to satisfy the constitutional requirement of 'probable cause'
before authorising the military to drop bombs on Osama bin Laden; no
captured member of al-Qaeda needs to be read his rights."(3)

The order indicates that any person suspected of terrorist connections may
be detained and interviewed. A concern expressed by some human rights
groups regards ethnic selection. The Council on American-Islamic Relations,
an Islamic advocacy group, has suggested the U.S. government should
"publish guidelines for these interviews, including the right of those being
interviewed to have legal representation... This type of sweeping
investigation carries with it the potential to create the impression that
interviewees are being singled out because of their race, ethnicity or
religion."(4)

Legal experts both inside and out of the U.S. are concerned about the
order. More than 300 U.S. law professors signed a letter calling the
tribunals "legally deficient, unnecessary and unwise,"(5) while the
International Commission of Jurists, dedicated to promoting and
understanding an
observance of the Rule of Law throughout the world, has said that US
military commissions should not try accused terrorists.(6) According to the
American Civil Liberties Union, "the tribunals? could convict and execute
people on a two-thirds vote of a panel of military
officers, use secret evidence and do away with the presumption of
innocence."(7) This decision could have direct consequences on civil
society, particularly on the civic rights of millions of non-U.S. citizens
living in the United States.

Human Rights Watch has called on President Bush to rescind his Executive
Order. Reasons given were that no protection is provided against forced
confessions, it is not clear to what extent defendants will have access to
legal counsel, and suspects detained under the Order will not need to be
told the reason for their arrest. In all these respects, according to Human
Rights Watch, "the Executive Order clearly violates the United States' most
basic legal obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights."(8) In an open letter to U.S. President Bush,
representatives of 38 independent human rights organisations from
throughout the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe region
also expressed similar concerns.(9)

A similar appeal was sent to the U.S. Government by the Special Rapporteur
on the independence of judges and lawyers of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights, Dato' Param Cumaraswamy. Cumaraswamy expressed "deep
concern about the implications of the order on the rule of law, and the
wrong signals it sent... The very fact that such powers are available to the
Executive strikes at the core of the principles of the rule of law,
equality before the law and the principles of a fair trial." Despite the
present circumstances, he is "not convinced that such repressive measures
curtailing the core values of the rule of law and a fair trial are
necessary."(10)

Many have noted that the United States has opposed the military tribunals
of other countries, such as the one in Peru convicting US citizen Laurie
Berenson of terrorism and the one in Nigeria ordering the execution of
author and environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa. Although Bush supporters are
quick to point out the differences between them, there is still the
perception of a double standard.(11)

Although the Bush government is buoyed by the support of public opinion, it
may nonetheless have to significantly soften its stand on secret military
justice. Not only Senators and civil rights advocates, but also friendly
foreign governments are upset with the idea.(12) The government of Spain
has already stated that it will not extradite the eight men it has charged
with complicity in the 11 September attacks unless the United States agrees
that they will be tried by a civilian court and not by the military
tribunals envisioned by President Bush.(13) Soon thereafter, the European
Parliament also noted that it considers President Bush's Executive Order
contrary to the principles of human rights.(14)

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft stated that the Department of Justice
has "sought to prevent terrorism with reason, careful balance, and
excruciating attention to detail." Ashcroft and his supporters say
Americans have no reason to mistrust that Bush, Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld, or the judges presiding over a military commission would
deliberately acquiesce
in injustice for the sake of expedience.(15)

Roger Pilon, a specialist in constitutional issues at the Cato Institute, a
Washington think tank, said "trust is not the issue: 'It isn't a matter of
trusting these people or not trusting these people. It's a matter of
whether we go to the rule of man, as distinct from the rule of law. I don't
want the
rule of man even under the most benevolent of kings. I want the rule of
law. And that's the big difference.'" Pilon added that Bush's order
directing the defence secretary to set up the military commissions includes
language so broad and unspecific that they could eventually try people with
only the faintest and unintentional links to terrorists, adding that
"there's no definition of terrorist, and those who aid terrorists."(16)

Pilon did, however, acknowledged that no one yet knows how the military
commissions will work. The Defence Department, with the assistance of the
Justice Department, is still drawing up the regulations that will govern
them. And there is no word yet on when these regulations will be published.
Until then, all opinions are based on speculation.(17)

To read the Military Tribunal Order, proclaimed on 13 November 2001, in its
entirety, go to:
http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/terrorism/bushtribunalord111301.html

(THIS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL DIGEST IS PRODUCED BY THE CIVICUS TEAM IN OUR
VANCOUVER OFFICE. WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AT
[email protected])

1) http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2001/12/11122001082055.asp
2)http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1656000/1656919.stm
3) http://specials.ft.com/attackonterrorism/FT39BXC3AUC.html
4) http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/14/national/14DETA.html?todaysheadlines
5) http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/08/national/08TRIB.html?todaysheadlines
6) http://www.icj.org/press/press01/english/usa11.htm
7) http://www.aclu.org/news/2001/n113001a.html
8) http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/miltribs1115.htm
9) http://www.ihf-hr.org/appeals/011118Bush.htm
10) http://www.unog.ch/news2/documents/newsen/hr01103e.html
11) http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/us011207.html
12) http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/us011207.html
13)http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/24/international/europe/24SPAI.html?todays
headlines
14)http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid
15) http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2001/12/11122001082055.asp
16) http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2001/12/11122001082055.asp
17 http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2001/12/11122001082055.asp

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