21 February 2006 CRINMAIL 756
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- EAST AFRICA DROUGHT: UN Rapporteur on Right to Food Urges Member States to Act [news]
- NEPAL: UN Human Rights Report Paints Bleak Picture for Children [publication]
- COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: Next Session and Status of Negotiations [news]
- OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN: Reporting Guide for NGOs [publication]
- PHILIPPINES: Relief Arriving for Survivors of Mudslide Tragedy [news]
- SCOTLAND: Streetwise Teens Gang Together to Avoid Trouble and Stay Safe [publication]
- EMPLOYMENT: Child Workers in Asia - International Rescue Committee [job postings]
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EAST AFRICA DROUGHT: UN Rapporteur on Right to Food Urges Member States to Act [news]
[GENEVA, 20 February 2006] - The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Mr. Jean Ziegler, is deeply concerned by the current situation in the Horn of Africa. According to information received in January 2006, approximately 11 million people are currently threatened by starvation in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania. Severe droughts coupled with the effects of past and ongoing conflicts have led to acute shortages of water and food, decimation of grazing lands and cereal production, and killing of large numbers of cattle affecting the pastoral and agro-pastoral sources of livelihood.
Up to 150,000 people in Djibouti, mainly pastoralists, are said to be threatened by the continuing drought which has degraded pastures and dried up water points. In Ethiopia, some 1.75 million people are being affected by failed rains and are in need of humanitarian assistance above and beyond the 5.5 million people already receiving food assistance in the country. In addition, 3.5 million Kenyans are reportedly running out of food because of failure of the rains, tripling the number of people in need of emergency assistance. In Somalia an estimated 2 million people are facing an acute food and livelihood crisis which is compounding an already difficult humanitarian situation in an area debilitated by violence, insecurity and displacement. In Tanzania 3.7 million people are at risk of food shortages due to failure of the short rains.
Pre-famine conditions are increasingly being reported throughout the region, including widespread human and livestock distress migration, deterioration of livestock body condition and cases of livestock deaths. This drought has reportedly taken a heavy toll on an estimated 1.2 million children under the age of five especially vulnerable to threats posed by malnutrition and disease. Despite the measures taken by the Governments concerned and some donors' contributions, a crisis is imminent.
The Special Rapporteur recalls that under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, States parties have the obligation to respond quickly and in an appropriate manner to emergency food situations on the territory of a State Member of the United Nations. The Special Rapporteur requests that Member States immediately honour their legal obligations and ensure the realisation of the right to food of the suffering populations, in close collaboration with the authorities of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania. It is urgently needed to save the lives of thousands of people in these countries.
In addition the Special Rapporteur on the right to food calls on the Governments of these countries, in cooperation with the United Nations system, to address the problem of drought in a long-term perspective through adequate policies and programmes.
Read the press release
BBC in depth coverage of Africa's food crisis, including daily news items, key facts and figures, and an interactive map.
Website of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
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NEPAL: UN Human Rights Report Paints Bleak Picture for Children [publication]
[KATHMANDU, 16 February 2006] - Nepal’s violent armed conflict between Maoist rebels and the government has been placing the civilian population in grave danger, said a report released on Thursday by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHCR) in Nepal, to be submitted to the 62nd session of the Commission on Human Rights.
"It is a tragedy for the people of Nepal that full-scale conflict has now resumed," said OCHCR-Nepal representative Ian Martin, referring to the escalation in violence following the end of the rebels’ unilateral ceasefire in January 2006.
The Maoists, who have been waging an armed rebellion against the Nepalese government since 1996, had announced a unilateral ceasefire in September 2005 but ended it after four months when the government, headed by King Gyanendra, failed to take up their offer of peace talks.
Since the resumption of hostilities, fierce clashes have taken place in highly populated areas, OCHCR said. Both sides have used public buildings and schools, putting the lives of civilians in danger, the office, which has investigated clashes in four districts of west and east Nepal, added. It also expressed concern that the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) used aerial bombardment from helicopters and failed to distinguish “between civilian and military objectives, as required under international humanitarian law.”
“Children in particular have been placed at risk, including as combatants within the CPN (Maoist), by indiscriminate action by the security forces, including aerial bombardment, and by the placement or abandonment of explosive devices,” said Martin.
In addition, the report also referred to the increasing protection crisis in the country where children’s rights to life, physical integrity, health and education, were repeatedly violated by both sides to the conflict. It said that there were reports of killings, beatings, arbitrary detention, recruitment or other use of children for military purposes, as well as attacks on schools and health facilities. It added that the great humanitarian challenges in Nepal were aggravated by economic impoverishment, severe social inequality and discrimination.
The report also asked the United Nations to exclude any members of the RNA who had abused human rights from serving in UN peacekeeping operations abroad. “Nepal’s security forces must hold accountable perpetrators of violations within their ranks, who should be excluded from participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations,” said Martin. About 3,000 RNA members are presently serving in UN missions abroad.
OCHCR’s 99-page report on Nepal’s human right situation will be presented by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, during the 62nd session of the Commission on Human rights scheduled for 13 March in Geneva.
OCHCR established its office in Nepal in May 2005 following an increase in human rights violations in the country after the king assumed direct rule on 1 February 2005.
[Source: IRIN]
Read the OHCHR report
For more information, contact:
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
8-14 Avenue de la Paix, CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 917 9000; Fax: + 41 22 917 9022
Website: http://www.ohchr.org/english
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COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: Next Session and Status of Negotiations [news]
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (CHR), composed of 53 States has been meeting each year in regular session in March and April for six weeks in Geneva. Over 3,000 delegates from member and observer States and from non-governmental organisations participate. This year, however, in light of the ongoing UN reform process, it is unclear whether there is going to be a regular session.
Negotiations on the new Human Rights Council to replace the Commission are still underway in New York. Agreement has yet to be reached on various contentious issues such as membership, NGO participation, length and frequency of sessions, whether or not there should be country-specific Resolutions, and whether the new Council should also have a role in prevention of human rights violations or not.
Despite uncertainty, many are still preparing for a full session. A number of documents from UN Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and other special procedures who normally report to the Commission are already available. NGOs are also preparing for their involvement.
Each year, the subgroup for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child brings together NGOs willing to promote the rights of the child at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). The subgroup aims to ensure that the CHR addresses the specific rights and situations of children worldwide by advocating the resolutions and by hosting a special interest group called the Children's Human Rights Caucus that serves as focal point for a range of participants to meet on children's issues.
One of the key activities of the subgroup is to prepare a draft Omnibus Resolution on the Rights of the Child. The initial idea of an Omnibus Resolution was to bring together all the issues pertaining to children's right into one Resolution. It was initially intended that the Omnibus Resolution would not only consolidate the many Resolutions on children's rights, but would also be rationalised and shortened.
This year's Resolution on the rights of the child will be drafted by Uruguay for GRULAC and co-sponsored by the EU.
Accredited NGOs can participate directly in the Commission on Human Rights by making written statements, sent in advance to its secretariat, and oral statements addressing the Commission under the relevant items of its agenda. Yet, most NGO work consists of preparatory work, advocacy, information and substantive input prior and in parallel to the sessions, through direct contacts with member States, organisation of thematic panels, production of alternative information and follow-up of negotiations at the international and national levels. In that process, NGOs operate both individually and as organised groups.
Information about NGO participation
For more information about the reform of the CHR, read about the disagreement on the new Human Rights Council text and visit CRIN's news page on the CHR.
For more information about the drafting of the Omnibus Resolution on the Rights of the Child, contact:
Simone Ek, Save the Children Sweden
Email: [email protected]
During the weeks when child rights are on the agenda of the Commission session, CRIN offers daily updates on discussions, negotiations and other relevant meetings taking place in Geneva. A special webpage contains links to all relevant information, UN Reports and news at: http://www.crin.org/CHR/currentsession.asp or you can sign up to our special CHR CRINMAIL for daily updates here: http://www.crin.org/email/index.asp
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OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN: Reporting Guide for NGOs [publication]
The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Focal Point on Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Abuse has recently published a "Guide for NGOs Reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the Implementation of the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography".
This Guide aims at supporting reporting and monitoring processes under the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since several mechanisms and benchmarks already exist in this area, it is essential that the Protocol be used as strategically and efficiently as possible to complement other global efforts in the fight against sexual exploitation of children.
It is hoped that the Guide will be useful both for very specialised NGOs and for human rights organisations with no previous experience in reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Contents are based on some information and tips already available as part of general manuals on the CRC, namely the Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, published by UNICEF in 1998 and fully revised in 2002, and the Guide for NGO Reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child published and currently revised by the NGO Group for the Rights of the Child.
In addition, the Guide provides background information on the drafting of the Protocol, a commentary on some of the first State parties’ reports, and information on the initial reporting processes observed during the 39th and 40th sessions of the Committee. Annexes contain the full text of the OPSC, as well as the official guidelines.
For more information, contact:
Bruno Romazzotti
Focal Point on Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Abuse
NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
1, rue de Varembé, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 740 47 30; Fax: +41 740 11 45
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.againstsexualexploitation.org
Read the publication
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PHILIPPINES: Relief Arriving for Survivors of Mudslide Tragedy [news]
[ST. BERNARD, Philippines, 20 February 2006] – International aid has begun to pour in for the survivors of last Friday’s mudslide in the Philippines. The first shipments of UNICEF supplies – including essential drugs, medical equipment and water purification tablets – arrived the next day. Relief efforts are being coordinated with the Philippines Armed Forces and the Red Cross. At this time an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people are still considered missing. More than 80 bodies have been recovered.
Continued rain is hampering the search and rescue effort and could even cause a second mudslide. “Right now the situation is pretty desperate,” said UNICEF Representative to the Philippines Dr. Nicholas Alipui. “There are forecasts of a new tropical depression in the same area and forecasts of even bigger mudslides, so we are preparing for the worst.”
At around 9am on Friday 17 February, a massive torrent of mud swept over the village of Guinsaugon, in the province of Leyte. Continuous rain for the past two weeks had eroded a portion of the slope of Mt. Can-abag, causing the mudslide that covered 90 per cent of the village.
Over 300 houses were buried in a matter of minutes, as was an elementary school. “The focus of the search and rescue has been the school, where 253 pupils were gathered for the national achievement test on that Friday when the tragedy happened,” said Dr. Alipui. Only 20 children have been rescued, including a one-year old girl. Six teachers and one principal are among the missing. Over 4,000 people from adjacent villages have been moved to seven evacuation centres.
Relief assistance is focusing on water and sanitation, providing medical assessments, and ensuring adequate nutrition for the survivors. A UN Disaster Coordination Team will be soon dispatched to southern Leyte to assess the emergency needs.
Additional medical supplies are urgently being sought. Some children staying in evacuation centres have upper respiratory tract infections or are suffering from diarrhoea, which can be life-threatening in these conditions due to dehydration.
Read the press release
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SCOTLAND: Streetwise Teens Gang Together to Avoid Trouble and Stay Safe [publication]
Groups of teenagers 'hanging out' on the streets may look intimidating, but young people often gang together with friends as a way of keeping safe and avoiding trouble, according to a study of parents and children in disadvantaged communities for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities.
The research with families in four neighbourhoods of Glasgow found that young people pooled their detailed local knowledge to avoid hazards, including violence from more organised gangs and aggression from adults with drink and drug problems. They took responsibility for keeping themselves and friends safe by moving around in groups and looking out for each other, using mobile phones to stay in touch.
"We were impressed by the positive part that young people's peer groups played in helping them to stay safe," said Prof. Malcolm Hill, Director of the Glasgow Centre for the Child and Society, who led the research project on children's resilience. "Parents were generally unaware of its importance and young people themselves recognised that sticking together in groups could, in spite of their self-protective intentions, appear threatening to some adults."
He added: "Both parents and children in these deprived neighbourhoods were keenly aware of risks within their communities and the young people had often become experts in avoiding potential trouble. They knew about avoiding people, places and certain times of day, and they deployed a range of other strategies, including keeping a low profile or asking friends or parents to accompany them in order to keep safe."
The study, which combined questionnaire surveys of 'ordinary' families with in-depth interviews, found that parents and children usually identified positive aspects of their neighbourhoods, in spite of high levels of unemployment, low income and drug misuse. These positive aspects were often associated with family, friends and neighbours.
It also highlighted a strong commitment among parents to protect children from the worst effects of low income and to keep them safe from local dangers.
This sometimes meant placing restrictions on children's movements and activities, including visits to local amenities such as parks and sports facilities. Children were mostly accepting of rules about time and place, which they took as a sign of their parents' concern. However, as they grew older some young people kept quiet about certain activities, believing they could take care of themselves.
The report calls on national and local policy makers to build on the strengths and aspirations of parents and children in disadvantaged areas, as well as tackling the heightened risks they face, such as drug misuse and antisocial behaviour. For example, policies could do more to support the informal local networks that share information about safe activities and provide families with practical advice and support.
Schools are also urged to capitalise on the evidence of parents' positive commitment to discipline and their children's safety to engage them as allies in strategies to raise standards of behaviour.
Peter Seaman, co-author of the report, said: "Parenting has been prominent in many government policies, including initiatives to tackle crime, and there is a widespread view that antisocial and delinquent behaviour by young people can simply be blamed on 'bad' parenting. Yet the parents we interviewed described sophisticated strategies they had adopted to minimise their children's exposure to danger and to guard them against temptations to go 'off the rails'.
"They also had high aspirations for their children, wanting them to have better opportunities in life than they had experienced. What appeared to be lacking was the capacity to fulfil the hopes they held, especially in education, because they did not have the knowledge or resources to realise them."
For more information, contact:
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Homestead, 40 Water End, York
North Yorkshire, YO30 6WP, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1904 629241
Fax: +44 (0)1904 620072
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.jrf.org.uk
Parenting and children's resilience in disadvantaged communities is a priced publication. To order, visit the Rowntree Foundation website.
Read the press release and the findings summary
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EMPLOYMENT: Child Workers in Asia - International Rescue Committee [job postings]
CHILD WORKERS IN ASIA: Executive Director
Child Workers in Asia, a network of 78 non-government organisations working to end the exploitation of children is looking for an Executive Director to lead the Secretariat based in Bangkok. Candidate must have experience in NGO and programme management of child labour and other children’s issues, have experience in fundraising, fund management and donor relations.
Application deadline: 15 March 2006
For more information, email: [email protected] or [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: Education Child and Youth Protection Adviser
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking to recruit an Education Child and Youth Protection Adviser to be based in Aceh, Indonesia. IRC has been active in Indonesia since 1999. In response to the Tsunami IRC launched a major emergency response along the west and north coasts of Aceh which included; Health, Environmental health, Education, Child Protection and Livelihoods. Child and Youth Protection (CYP) activities for 2006 will include initiatives, including information campaigns, in child protection, teacher training/development youth group development and targeted projects with orphanages and disabled groups. The Education Advisor will provide technical leadership, advice and training for CYP activities in the country and acts as IRC's sector expert and representative to government, donor and organisations working in the sector.
No application deadline
For more information, go to: http://www.IRCjobs.org
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