Zero garbage project: Oppn hits out at PMC for roping in NGO
Opposition leaders in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have hit out at civic administration for having roped in an NGO for implementing the zero garbage project. The standing committee had approved the proposal to allocate Rs 1.48 crore to NGO Janwani to implement the project in 20 city panels.
Strongly objecting to the decision, BJP corporator Shrinath Bhimale said that it’s the civic body’s responsibility to collect and dispose garbage and not the NGOs.
“With citizens already paying taxes to the PMC, they would have to shell out more for the NGO, which is unacceptable,’’ said Bhimale.
Supporting the BJP, Shiv Sena said that it was the responsibility of civic body and not the NGO to collect and dispose garbage.
The civic body plans to implement the Katraj model of garbage collection in 20 panels of the city.
The civic body is already running a pilot in Katraj with the help of corporators, NGOs and private firms. The plan was to implement the project in all the civic panels with the help of NGOs and private companies.
Source: www.indianexpress.com
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Ministry awaiting UP govt's report on Salman Khurshid’s NGO
New Delhi: Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry is awaiting the report from Uttar Pradesh government before taking any action in the alleged misappropriation of finances by an NGO run by Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise.
"Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe and its Economic Offences Wing has started collecting documents. We will wait for its report before taking any action regarding misappropriation of funds by this Trust," a Ministry source told a news agency here.
Noting that the state government had been giving its recommendations for the Trust since 2003-04, the source said, "The matter has to be first investigated by state government. The SJ&E Ministry gives funds to these NGOs on basis of the state government recommendations only."
Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik today said the Trust had submitted its report to the Ministry last year.
"When the test check reports were submitted by Zakir Hussain Trust to the Ministry, it was my Ministry which had thought that these reports should come from the state government. Rightly they should go to the state government for confirmation," he said, adding that the report had come in March 2011.
Ministry sources said Louise - as project director of the Trust - had met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on September 17, requesting him to look into any possible case of forgery and misappropriation of funds in the Trust.
"She also wrote to the SJ&E Ministry informing it about her meeting with the state chief ministry. The report from the Uttar Pradesh government is awaited and the Ministry will take appropriate action on its basis only," one of the sources said.
Yesterday, Khurshid had produced documents to rubbish charges of misappropriation of funds by the trust and expressed willingness for any probe in the matter. He also produced people associated with the camps to prove that these were duly organised and several disabled persons were distributed aids and appliances.
Source: www.zeenews.india.com
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NGOs: Condoms in schools won't lead to more sex
Equal Education and the Treatment Action Campaign say giving condoms to schools won't increase sexual activity but rather confront the gravity of sex.
"Providing condoms in schools would not amount to encouraging children to break the law," they said in a joint statement.
"It is arguable that the availability of condoms would help to confront young people with some of the gravity and consequences of sex and thereby amount to the opposite of encouragement."
EE and TAC called on the health and education departments to ensure the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), which included providing condoms to schools, went ahead. President Jacob Zuma announced the programme on October 9.
TAC and EE called on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to clarify her position on the matter.
"Given that the health minister is willing to provide such condoms free of charge, it is arguable that minister Motshekga's refusal to provide said condoms is in breach of Section 134 of the Children's Act," TAC and EE said.
"Were that the case, she would be committing a statutory offence, for which she could be prosecuted. It is clear that the Children's Act makes this an offence because of the serious danger inherent in unprotected sex."
A recent call by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi for condoms to be distributed in schools, where parents consented, was welcomed by the National Association of People Living with HIV and Aids on Wednesday.
Secretary general Mluleki Zazini said in a statement that the HIV/Aids epidemic required a unique response, including the promotion of condom use and their distribution in schools.
This would reduce high rates of teenage pregnancy which often led to girls dropping out of school and of sexually transmitted diseases, Zazini said.
However, the African Christian Democratic Party and Inkatha Freedom Party raised concerns this would encourage underage sexual activity.
More than 500 health professionals would be trained to deliver the ISHP. Under the programme nurses would provide sexual health information and contraceptives, if the school governing body allowed this. – Sapa
Source: www.mg.co.za
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'1.1 million hectares of forest under threat from 13 coal fields: Green NGOs
Amid reports that the Mahan coal block in Madhya Pradesh may get forest clearance soon, green NGOs on Saturday came up with a new report highlighting a catalogue of environmental damage and human rights violations of tribals and other forest dwellers in Singrauli forests.
A joint study conducted by Kalpavriksh, an environmental research and campaign organisation, and Greenpeace claim that the scale of destruction of forests is "unprecedented" as an estimated 1.1 million hectares are under threat in the Central Indian region from just 13 coal fields.
"If the Indian government implements its expansion programme then over 14,000 tribal people will lose their traditional homes and way of life in just one coal block of Mahan alone," says the report released at Hyderabad, venue of the world's largest conference on biodiversity.
The 27-page report also called for a moratorium on coal mining, highlighting the violations of constitutional rights of forest communities.
"There should be a moratorium on all new mining in forest areas until coal availability in other areas and alternative energy solutions are assessed. Destruction of further forest areas should not be allowed when ecologically and socially more acceptable alternatives exist," the report says.
It urges the state governments to ensure that the recognition of forest rights is first carried out under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 (FRA), for the entire area proposed for diversion.
"This must especially include community forest rights. No forest land should be diverted under the Forest (Conservation) Act without first complying with the FRA," it says.
"Forest areas that are important for local communities, their role in water recharge and security, their biodiversity values, and other such crucial values, must be declared permanently off-limits to mining," the report says.
The NGOs said that it took over sixteen months to compile the report, which is the first-of-its kind to speak about such a large section of communities affected by coal mining.
Source: www.indianexpress.com
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NGOs instigating Penans: S’wak minister
KUCHING (Oct 15, 2012): A senior Sarawak minister has accused the local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of instigating the Penans to mount blockades on access roads to the Murum dam in Belaga district.
Second Resource Management and Environment Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan claimed the NGOs have ulterior motives in doing so.
"We believe the NGOs and their foreign counterparts are behind Penans who have mounted the blockades since Sept 26," he said, without naming any NGO.
However, it is believed he was referring to Save Sarawak's Rivers Network, Borneo Research Institute of Malaysia, Sarawak Conservation Alliance for Natural Environment, Indigenous People's Network of Malaysia and Switzerland-based Bruno Manser Fund.
Questioning why the blockades are mounted now when the dam is in advanced stage of construction, he said the blockades will not benefit the Penans, but the NGOs and a few individuals.
Awang Tengah, who is also the state public utilities minister, also accused the Penans of being unreasonable in their demands.
"They are asking for equities in the Murum … Do they have the money to pay for the equities?" he asked.
On claims that the two resettlement sites at Metalun and Tegulang earmarked for the Penans affected by the dam have been alienated to plantation companies, Awang Tengah said if it is true, the government will acquire the land from the companies.
He said the sites were identified by the Penans themselves before the construction of the dam began.
He, however, confirmed that areas surrounding the sites have been alienated to plantations companies.
Awang Tengah denied claims that the Penans have never been consulted when the government decided to build the dam.
"We have, in fact, engaged them on a number of occasions before construction began.
"Not only the personnel from a consultant company, Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd, but also personnel from our side have also held dialogues with the Penans," he said.
He said following the series of dialogues, the consultant company drew up the 168-page document on Resettlement Action Plan for Penans from Long Wat, Long Luar, Long Tangau, Long Menapa, Long Singu and Long Malim, which are located upstream, and Long Peran and Long Jaik in the downstream of the dam project site.
Awang Tengah declined to say what the state government will do if the blockades persist.
Source: www.thesundaily.my
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Logging bill a warning on NGOs
A BILL is making its way through parliament that has serious implications for farmers and other land owners who wish to harvest timber on their properties. It also shows how much power the environmental NGOs have acquired and why negotiating with them over ‘sustainability’ is so dangerous.
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill has passed the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate. It prohibits the importation of anything containing illegally logged timber (including paper) and the processing of illegally harvested, domestically grown raw logs. It also requires importers of regulated timber products and processors of raw logs to meet due diligence requirements as to their legality.
So significant are its implications that Australia’s main timber suppliers, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada and Papua New Guinea have all expressed concern, with suggestions it may prompt retaliation under WTO rules. Indonesia is said to be particularly annoyed and it has been suggested this is contributing to problems with live cattle exports.
The impact of the bill falls mainly on saw millers and importers who must demonstrate that domestic logs and the timber in imported products containing wood were legally harvested. There is no presumption of innocence: in the Due Diligence regulations, the onus is on millers and importers to prove legality.
If you are found to have processed or imported illegal timber there are penalties up to five years imprisonment and very large fines. Even if you did not knowingly or intentionally do this, you can still be found guilty as all the courts have to find is you did it “recklessly” or were negligent. In addition there are civil penalties based on strict liability, meaning lack of intent is irrelevant. If you import or process anything illegally logged, unknowingly or deliberately, you are automatically guilty.
Innocent businesses can be entered and searched for monitoring purposes (not merely investigation and enforcement) in addition to being required to submit reports to show compliance.
Source: sj.farmonline.com.au
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NGOs: Drop charges against distributor of banned book
PETALING JAYA (Oct 15, 2012): A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for the charges against a distributor of a banned book to be dropped.
Merpati Jingga managing director Faisal Mustaffa, the distributor of Allah, Kebebasan & Cinta, the Malay translation of Canadian author Irshad Manji's Allah, Liberty & Love, was charged on Aug 29 with refusing to answer questions from a religious officer.
The NGOs – which includes the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), the Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) and Malaysians for Beng Hock – said the case against Faisal has a significant consequence against the rule of law and constitutional order.
Faisal was arrested on Aug 29 in conjunction with investigations by the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) into the distribution of the translated version of the banned book.
He was subsequently charged on the same day under Section 215 of the Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment (Selangor) 2003 for telling Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) officials he would answer their questions in court.
"Faisal was charged for exercising his right to silence during interrogation. The right to silence is a key measure protecting citizens from arbitrary actions of the government," said the three NGOs in a statement issued yesterday.
Source: www.thesundaily.my
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Algeria: NGOs, Lawyers Plead Western Sahara Cause At UN
NEW YORK (United Nations)- Several Algerian NGOs and lawyers on Thursday at the United Nations pleaded Western Sahara cause, stressing that the current situation, marked by human rights violations, does not allow further delays, and urged the international community to take more actions to enable Saharawi people to exercise their right to self-determination.
Addressing the United Nations Fourth Committee (also known as the Special Political and Decolonization Committee), which auditioned petitioners from several countries on the question of Western Sahara, the vice-president of the Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Saharawi People, Said Ayachi, voiced concerns over human rights abuses suffered by Saharawi people.
"Those violations are committed by Moroccan security forces who have created a climate of fear, fueled by arbitrary executions, torture, enforced disappearances, rape of women and destruction of property," Ayachi said.
"It all happens behind closed doors."
Western Sahara "is under a military siege and a media blackout, and Moroccan authorities allows rarely (access to the area) for NGOs, the media and international observers," he underlined.
Source: www.allafrica.com
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INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt – Is There a Way Out?
For the past year and a half, Egypt’s NGOs have been targeted through a systematic chain of repressive violations, culminating in an orchestrated smear campaign led by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) and its interim cabinets. During this transitional period, the prospects of civil society and human rights advocacy in Egypt faced several endangering threats. The current government is now faced with archaic laws that are in need of change if civil society is to thrive going forward.
Various NGOs were targeted because of their role in exposing human rights violations committed by the former regime. It was these very violations that paved the way not only for the January 25 Revolution, but also for continuous pressure towards fulfilling the people’s demands after president Hosni Mubarak’s ouster.
insight generic INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt Is There a Way Out?Under SCAF’s rule, human rights organizations tried to contribute to what they hoped would be a democratic transition. NGOs advocated for the adoption of several democratic initiatives aimed primarily at providing a legislative and reformist platform for the restructuring of state institutions. SCAF’s lack of political will to restructure state institutions on the one hand, and NGO pressure on the other is believed to be one of the main reasons behind SCAF’s smear campaign against civil society groups, which was put into motion by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
Increasing repression of NGOs over the past year indicates that the government had no intention to encourage a freer civil society. Former minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Abul-Naga, best expressed the government’s expectations of civil society, saying that an NGO’s ‘real’ role is “helping the government in developmental fields which is more beneficial than just criticizing the government’s policies.” This vision meant that NGOs would have to give up their role as human rights advocators and shift their mandates to strictly developmental fields.
“The state must change its views and restrictive tendencies towards civil society. This will not happen until authorities begin to view civil society groups as potential partners, rather than enemies.” – Mostafa Shaat, CIHRS
Violations against NGOs were legitimized by a legacy of repressive legislation, the main role of which was to whitewash the regime’s appearance. A repressive NGO law regulated civil society and ensured NGO’s human rights advocacy programs had limited impact. The law guaranteed that conditions under which the NGOs operated were restrictive, with sources of funding and all activities monitored and subject to state security approval.
The wording of the law was intentionally ambiguous, making it easy to prohibit organizations from engaging in political or trade union activities, facilitating state repression of NGOs. It also prohibited foreign funding in all its forms (donations or grants without advance approval of the minister of Social Affairs. This prohibition was often used to limit these organizations’ activities and outreach, within a wider systematic process of silencing the opposition, by making it impossible for organizations to criticize the government for the violations committed.
egypt ngo raid 300 15oct12 INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt Is There a Way Out?
Egyptian police raid a NGO office in Cairo December 29, 2011 (AP).
After Mubarak’s ouster, NGOs tried to change the law, to ensure it respected the universal standards of freedom of association and guaranteed the existence of a free civil society in Egypt that could advocate for human rights. Around 39 NGOs signed a new draft law that met these standards, while also taking the Ministry of Social Affairs’ power over NGOs away.
Around the same time, the government launched an investigation into several organizations following a statement by U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson that local groups had received more than $40 million in funding from the U.S. government. Her statements galvanized suspicions about NGO funding, and were a major push for what came next.
Measures were taken to limit the funding of organizations, as was the case with the “New Woman Foundation”, CEWLA, a feminist organization, and the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists. The attack reached a head during a raid on several international NGOs last December, with security forces searching for documents proving their alleged role in funding protests in Tahrir Square, spreading chaos and inciting violence in several incidents throughout the year.
The raid signaled a shift toward a more aggressive approach in dealing with civil society in Egypt, and resulted in the referral of several employees from these organizations to criminal prosecution in a trial that is ongoing to this day.
With the election of a new parliament, NGOs continued to fight for the adoption of a new law that would put an end to state repression of these organizations. Gains made with the parliament, with a draft law discussed and scheduled for voting, were lost when a court ordered the elected body’s dissolution.
reu cairo protester 300 15oct12 INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt Is There a Way Out?
A protester covers his face after being arrested by riot policemen after clashes at Tahrir square in Cairo September 15, 2012 (Reuters).
With the election of President Mohamed Morsi, NGOs hoped that the president’s promises would be fulfilled, and that he would break from an inherited restrictive legacy, which includes the notorious NGO law. The first 100 days of his presidency would prove otherwise. Security forces have continued to violently disperse protests, watched over the displacement of Christians, and detained dozens of civilians following bloody clashes between citizens and the police.
Lastly, the Munufiya governor issued a decree disbanding a local NGO, al-Nahda al-Refeya, after it filed a lawsuit calling for the dissolution of the current Constituent Assembly. The decree stated that the NGO, which has been working in the governance and government transparency field since 2007, was disbanded for receiving foreign funding without prior approval. It is widely believed that the NGO was dissolved because of its vocal criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Actions against NGOs together with a proposed new bill do not bode well for civil society’s future in Egypt. The Ministry of Social Affairs’ latest draft, if passed by the next parliament, would place even further restrictions on foreign funding. While the government alleges that the bill will relieve restrictions, civil society groups in Egypt feel it will give state security more power over NGO activity.
The state must change its views and restrictive tendencies towards civil society. This will not happen until authorities begin to view civil society groups as potential partners, rather than enemies. If the government wishes to offer a gesture of good faith, the first step it could take is to acknowledge their recommendations and adopt the proposed NGO law. In order to validate any ongoing dialogue, the government needs to enact policies that will benefit civil society’s core value: the promotion of human rights.
This post was originally published by the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East.
The views expressed in this Insight are the author’s own and are not endorsed by Middle East Voices or Voice of America. If you’d like to share your opinion on this post, you may use our democratic commenting system below. If you are a Middle East expert or analyst associated with an established academic institution, think tank or non-governmental organization, we invite you to contribute your perspectives on regional events and issues. Please email us through our Contact page with a short proposal for an Insight post or send us a link to an existing post already published on your institutional blog.
Source: www.middleeastvoices.voanews.com
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Salman Khurshid mulls multiple defamation lawsuits against India Today group
Multiple defamation suits are being planned to be filed against India Today Group by Union law minister Salman Khurshid and his friends in the country and abroad over charges of financial bungling by an NGO run by his family.
Close on the heels of a suit filed by Khurshid's wife Louise in the Delhi High Court on October 12, the law minister is planning to file a defamation case against the media house in Bombay High Court in the next few days, sources said.
They, however, did not divulge the amount of damages to be sought in the civil defamation lawsuit but it is speculated that the sum could be huge. The media house could also be dragged to court in London by "some people who have been hurt" by the sting operation conducted on Aaj Tak and Headlines Today last week, sources said, while noting that the channel is seen there as well.
On October 12, Khurshid's wife Louise filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against the media group for airing a programme alleging financial irregularities in NGO Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by the couple.
Sources said that damages of Rs100 crore has been claimed in the lawsuit filed by Louise against the TV Today group for broadcasting the "defamatory" programme on Headlines Today and Aaj Tak recently.
A sting operation by the television channel has alleged that irregularities were committed in the trust during 2009-2010 in Uttar Pradesh in the funds earmarked for differently-abled people. Khurshid, while rubbishing the charges against him, told reporters on Sunday that besides the defamation suit filed in the Delhi High Court, more cases are to follow.
"Some people associated with the trust want a case to be filed in London courts as the channel is also shown there. I cannot stop them from doing so," he said.
Khurshid came out with certain papers and photographs on Sunday in support of his claim that the charges were wrong.
Social Justice & Empowerment ministry awaits report by UP govt
Social Justice and Empowerment ministry is awaiting the report from Uttar Pradesh government before taking any action in the alleged misappropriation of finances by an NGO run by Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise. "Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe and its Economic Offences Wing has started collecting documents. We will wait for its report before taking any action regarding misappropriation of funds by this Trust," a Ministry source told PTI here.
Noting that the state government had been giving its recommendations for the trust since 2003-04, the source said, "The matter has to be first investigated by state government. The SJ&E Ministry gives funds to these NGOs on basis of the state government recommendations only."
Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik on Monday said the trust had submitted its report to the ministry last year. "When the test check reports were submitted by Zakir Hussain Trust to the ministry, it was my ministry which had thought that these reports should come from the state government. Rightly, they should go to the state government for confirmation," he said, adding that the report had come in March 2011.
Sources said Louise, as project director of the trust, had met Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on September 17, requesting him to look into any possible case of forgery and misappropriation of funds in the trust.
Source: www.dnaindia.com
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NGOs from India and Nepal make an exposure visit to red light areas
VARANASI: Under the India-Nepal Human Liberty Initiative, the NGOs from India and Nepal made an exposure visit to the Shivdaspur red light areas to know the plight of sex workers on Wednesday.
Before the exposure visit, a two-day workshop was organized on October 8 and 9 by Geneva Global and sponsored by Legatum Foundation to control human trafficking and slavery.
The initiative started in 2010 to combat local and cross-border trafficking of human beings for sex trade, exploitation, and slavery brought together 18 NGOs from India and nine from Nepal. It focuses 13 districts in Nepal, and 23 districts in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where communities lack the capacity to withstand trafficking and slavery.
Addressing the workshop, Gene White, Asia Director, Geneva Global said, "it was encouraging to see partner organization come together to share knowledge and experience on issues of trafficking, exploitation and slavery. The objective is to reduce the risks and incidences of trafficking, exploitation and slavery in the areas covered by the programme partners."
Ajeet Singh of Varanasi-based organization-Guria, one of the partners of Geneva Global, emphasized on the need for a strong step to prosecute the traffickers, slave owners, and brothel owners. Charimaya Tamang from Shakti Samuha, Geneva Global partners from Nepal shared the difficulties of repatriation of trafficked Nepalese victims from India.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
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Women’s participation must for progress: CM
LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that no society could progress without active participation of women. Talking to a representative delegation of prominent women working with NGOs, Shahbaz said it was a good omen that Pakistani women were playing a highly dynamic role in all sectors of life.
“The Punjab government is implementing a number of development programmes aimed at welfare, uplift and wellbeing of women,” he maintained. The chief minister said that the Punjab government had announced a comprehensive package for women’s empowerment with the objective of protecting their social, economic and legal rights. He called on NGOs to step forward for eradicating extremism from the society.
Shahbaz said that the role of women in the society was highly significant. “Since a large segment of Pakistan’s population consists of women, it is essential for them to play their dynamic role in ensuring progress and prosperity of the country,” he added.
The chief minister observed that along with cities, women were also playing an important role in the rural areas of the country. He said that NGOs, in collaboration with the government, were actively implementing various development programmes.
Shahbaz said that Pakistan today was facing extremism and terrorism, and NGOs must step forward to effectively combat this menace. Talking about various measures adopted by the Punjab government for progress and prosperity of women, the chief minister said that on the occasion of the International Day of Women, the provincial government announced a historic development package for women.
He said that under this package, 15 per cent quota had been earmarked for women in government service; while 33 per cent quota for women had been made mandatory for all other government institutions, committees and taskforces.
Shahbaz said that the plots to be allotted by the Punjab government under Jinnah Abadi Scheme would be jointly owned by husband and wife. He pointed out that the Information Technology Park had been named after Arfa Karim who made the name of Pakistan prominent in the IT sector at a young age.
He further said that Malala Yousafzai was a symbol of resistance against extremism in the society and she had acquired the position of a role model for all women at a young age. Shahbaz said that the Punjab government had named Attock Daanish School after Malala Yousafzai in recognition of her services and educational activities would start in the school from next year.
He said that the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) was a revolutionary programme worth Rs10 billion and it was facilitating more than 35,000 students.
“The laptop distribution scheme is being appreciated at both national and international level,” he held. During the meeting, various problems being faced by NGOs also came under discussion. Shahbaz assured the delegation that these problems would be solved on priority basis.
Source: www.nation.com.pk
Opposition leaders in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have hit out at civic administration for having roped in an NGO for implementing the zero garbage project. The standing committee had approved the proposal to allocate Rs 1.48 crore to NGO Janwani to implement the project in 20 city panels.
Strongly objecting to the decision, BJP corporator Shrinath Bhimale said that it’s the civic body’s responsibility to collect and dispose garbage and not the NGOs.
“With citizens already paying taxes to the PMC, they would have to shell out more for the NGO, which is unacceptable,’’ said Bhimale.
Supporting the BJP, Shiv Sena said that it was the responsibility of civic body and not the NGO to collect and dispose garbage.
The civic body plans to implement the Katraj model of garbage collection in 20 panels of the city.
The civic body is already running a pilot in Katraj with the help of corporators, NGOs and private firms. The plan was to implement the project in all the civic panels with the help of NGOs and private companies.
Source: www.indianexpress.com
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Ministry awaiting UP govt's report on Salman Khurshid’s NGO
New Delhi: Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry is awaiting the report from Uttar Pradesh government before taking any action in the alleged misappropriation of finances by an NGO run by Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise.
"Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe and its Economic Offences Wing has started collecting documents. We will wait for its report before taking any action regarding misappropriation of funds by this Trust," a Ministry source told a news agency here.
Noting that the state government had been giving its recommendations for the Trust since 2003-04, the source said, "The matter has to be first investigated by state government. The SJ&E Ministry gives funds to these NGOs on basis of the state government recommendations only."
Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik today said the Trust had submitted its report to the Ministry last year.
"When the test check reports were submitted by Zakir Hussain Trust to the Ministry, it was my Ministry which had thought that these reports should come from the state government. Rightly they should go to the state government for confirmation," he said, adding that the report had come in March 2011.
Ministry sources said Louise - as project director of the Trust - had met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on September 17, requesting him to look into any possible case of forgery and misappropriation of funds in the Trust.
"She also wrote to the SJ&E Ministry informing it about her meeting with the state chief ministry. The report from the Uttar Pradesh government is awaited and the Ministry will take appropriate action on its basis only," one of the sources said.
Yesterday, Khurshid had produced documents to rubbish charges of misappropriation of funds by the trust and expressed willingness for any probe in the matter. He also produced people associated with the camps to prove that these were duly organised and several disabled persons were distributed aids and appliances.
Source: www.zeenews.india.com
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NGOs: Condoms in schools won't lead to more sex
Equal Education and the Treatment Action Campaign say giving condoms to schools won't increase sexual activity but rather confront the gravity of sex.
"Providing condoms in schools would not amount to encouraging children to break the law," they said in a joint statement.
"It is arguable that the availability of condoms would help to confront young people with some of the gravity and consequences of sex and thereby amount to the opposite of encouragement."
EE and TAC called on the health and education departments to ensure the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), which included providing condoms to schools, went ahead. President Jacob Zuma announced the programme on October 9.
TAC and EE called on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to clarify her position on the matter.
"Given that the health minister is willing to provide such condoms free of charge, it is arguable that minister Motshekga's refusal to provide said condoms is in breach of Section 134 of the Children's Act," TAC and EE said.
"Were that the case, she would be committing a statutory offence, for which she could be prosecuted. It is clear that the Children's Act makes this an offence because of the serious danger inherent in unprotected sex."
A recent call by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi for condoms to be distributed in schools, where parents consented, was welcomed by the National Association of People Living with HIV and Aids on Wednesday.
Secretary general Mluleki Zazini said in a statement that the HIV/Aids epidemic required a unique response, including the promotion of condom use and their distribution in schools.
This would reduce high rates of teenage pregnancy which often led to girls dropping out of school and of sexually transmitted diseases, Zazini said.
However, the African Christian Democratic Party and Inkatha Freedom Party raised concerns this would encourage underage sexual activity.
More than 500 health professionals would be trained to deliver the ISHP. Under the programme nurses would provide sexual health information and contraceptives, if the school governing body allowed this. – Sapa
Source: www.mg.co.za
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'1.1 million hectares of forest under threat from 13 coal fields: Green NGOs
Amid reports that the Mahan coal block in Madhya Pradesh may get forest clearance soon, green NGOs on Saturday came up with a new report highlighting a catalogue of environmental damage and human rights violations of tribals and other forest dwellers in Singrauli forests.
A joint study conducted by Kalpavriksh, an environmental research and campaign organisation, and Greenpeace claim that the scale of destruction of forests is "unprecedented" as an estimated 1.1 million hectares are under threat in the Central Indian region from just 13 coal fields.
"If the Indian government implements its expansion programme then over 14,000 tribal people will lose their traditional homes and way of life in just one coal block of Mahan alone," says the report released at Hyderabad, venue of the world's largest conference on biodiversity.
The 27-page report also called for a moratorium on coal mining, highlighting the violations of constitutional rights of forest communities.
"There should be a moratorium on all new mining in forest areas until coal availability in other areas and alternative energy solutions are assessed. Destruction of further forest areas should not be allowed when ecologically and socially more acceptable alternatives exist," the report says.
It urges the state governments to ensure that the recognition of forest rights is first carried out under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 (FRA), for the entire area proposed for diversion.
"This must especially include community forest rights. No forest land should be diverted under the Forest (Conservation) Act without first complying with the FRA," it says.
"Forest areas that are important for local communities, their role in water recharge and security, their biodiversity values, and other such crucial values, must be declared permanently off-limits to mining," the report says.
The NGOs said that it took over sixteen months to compile the report, which is the first-of-its kind to speak about such a large section of communities affected by coal mining.
Source: www.indianexpress.com
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NGOs instigating Penans: S’wak minister
KUCHING (Oct 15, 2012): A senior Sarawak minister has accused the local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of instigating the Penans to mount blockades on access roads to the Murum dam in Belaga district.
Second Resource Management and Environment Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan claimed the NGOs have ulterior motives in doing so.
"We believe the NGOs and their foreign counterparts are behind Penans who have mounted the blockades since Sept 26," he said, without naming any NGO.
However, it is believed he was referring to Save Sarawak's Rivers Network, Borneo Research Institute of Malaysia, Sarawak Conservation Alliance for Natural Environment, Indigenous People's Network of Malaysia and Switzerland-based Bruno Manser Fund.
Questioning why the blockades are mounted now when the dam is in advanced stage of construction, he said the blockades will not benefit the Penans, but the NGOs and a few individuals.
Awang Tengah, who is also the state public utilities minister, also accused the Penans of being unreasonable in their demands.
"They are asking for equities in the Murum … Do they have the money to pay for the equities?" he asked.
On claims that the two resettlement sites at Metalun and Tegulang earmarked for the Penans affected by the dam have been alienated to plantation companies, Awang Tengah said if it is true, the government will acquire the land from the companies.
He said the sites were identified by the Penans themselves before the construction of the dam began.
He, however, confirmed that areas surrounding the sites have been alienated to plantations companies.
Awang Tengah denied claims that the Penans have never been consulted when the government decided to build the dam.
"We have, in fact, engaged them on a number of occasions before construction began.
"Not only the personnel from a consultant company, Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd, but also personnel from our side have also held dialogues with the Penans," he said.
He said following the series of dialogues, the consultant company drew up the 168-page document on Resettlement Action Plan for Penans from Long Wat, Long Luar, Long Tangau, Long Menapa, Long Singu and Long Malim, which are located upstream, and Long Peran and Long Jaik in the downstream of the dam project site.
Awang Tengah declined to say what the state government will do if the blockades persist.
Source: www.thesundaily.my
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Logging bill a warning on NGOs
A BILL is making its way through parliament that has serious implications for farmers and other land owners who wish to harvest timber on their properties. It also shows how much power the environmental NGOs have acquired and why negotiating with them over ‘sustainability’ is so dangerous.
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill has passed the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate. It prohibits the importation of anything containing illegally logged timber (including paper) and the processing of illegally harvested, domestically grown raw logs. It also requires importers of regulated timber products and processors of raw logs to meet due diligence requirements as to their legality.
So significant are its implications that Australia’s main timber suppliers, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada and Papua New Guinea have all expressed concern, with suggestions it may prompt retaliation under WTO rules. Indonesia is said to be particularly annoyed and it has been suggested this is contributing to problems with live cattle exports.
The impact of the bill falls mainly on saw millers and importers who must demonstrate that domestic logs and the timber in imported products containing wood were legally harvested. There is no presumption of innocence: in the Due Diligence regulations, the onus is on millers and importers to prove legality.
If you are found to have processed or imported illegal timber there are penalties up to five years imprisonment and very large fines. Even if you did not knowingly or intentionally do this, you can still be found guilty as all the courts have to find is you did it “recklessly” or were negligent. In addition there are civil penalties based on strict liability, meaning lack of intent is irrelevant. If you import or process anything illegally logged, unknowingly or deliberately, you are automatically guilty.
Innocent businesses can be entered and searched for monitoring purposes (not merely investigation and enforcement) in addition to being required to submit reports to show compliance.
Source: sj.farmonline.com.au
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NGOs: Drop charges against distributor of banned book
PETALING JAYA (Oct 15, 2012): A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for the charges against a distributor of a banned book to be dropped.
Merpati Jingga managing director Faisal Mustaffa, the distributor of Allah, Kebebasan & Cinta, the Malay translation of Canadian author Irshad Manji's Allah, Liberty & Love, was charged on Aug 29 with refusing to answer questions from a religious officer.
The NGOs – which includes the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), the Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) and Malaysians for Beng Hock – said the case against Faisal has a significant consequence against the rule of law and constitutional order.
Faisal was arrested on Aug 29 in conjunction with investigations by the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) into the distribution of the translated version of the banned book.
He was subsequently charged on the same day under Section 215 of the Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment (Selangor) 2003 for telling Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) officials he would answer their questions in court.
"Faisal was charged for exercising his right to silence during interrogation. The right to silence is a key measure protecting citizens from arbitrary actions of the government," said the three NGOs in a statement issued yesterday.
Source: www.thesundaily.my
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Algeria: NGOs, Lawyers Plead Western Sahara Cause At UN
NEW YORK (United Nations)- Several Algerian NGOs and lawyers on Thursday at the United Nations pleaded Western Sahara cause, stressing that the current situation, marked by human rights violations, does not allow further delays, and urged the international community to take more actions to enable Saharawi people to exercise their right to self-determination.
Addressing the United Nations Fourth Committee (also known as the Special Political and Decolonization Committee), which auditioned petitioners from several countries on the question of Western Sahara, the vice-president of the Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Saharawi People, Said Ayachi, voiced concerns over human rights abuses suffered by Saharawi people.
"Those violations are committed by Moroccan security forces who have created a climate of fear, fueled by arbitrary executions, torture, enforced disappearances, rape of women and destruction of property," Ayachi said.
"It all happens behind closed doors."
Western Sahara "is under a military siege and a media blackout, and Moroccan authorities allows rarely (access to the area) for NGOs, the media and international observers," he underlined.
Source: www.allafrica.com
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INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt – Is There a Way Out?
For the past year and a half, Egypt’s NGOs have been targeted through a systematic chain of repressive violations, culminating in an orchestrated smear campaign led by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) and its interim cabinets. During this transitional period, the prospects of civil society and human rights advocacy in Egypt faced several endangering threats. The current government is now faced with archaic laws that are in need of change if civil society is to thrive going forward.
Various NGOs were targeted because of their role in exposing human rights violations committed by the former regime. It was these very violations that paved the way not only for the January 25 Revolution, but also for continuous pressure towards fulfilling the people’s demands after president Hosni Mubarak’s ouster.
insight generic INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt Is There a Way Out?Under SCAF’s rule, human rights organizations tried to contribute to what they hoped would be a democratic transition. NGOs advocated for the adoption of several democratic initiatives aimed primarily at providing a legislative and reformist platform for the restructuring of state institutions. SCAF’s lack of political will to restructure state institutions on the one hand, and NGO pressure on the other is believed to be one of the main reasons behind SCAF’s smear campaign against civil society groups, which was put into motion by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
Increasing repression of NGOs over the past year indicates that the government had no intention to encourage a freer civil society. Former minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Abul-Naga, best expressed the government’s expectations of civil society, saying that an NGO’s ‘real’ role is “helping the government in developmental fields which is more beneficial than just criticizing the government’s policies.” This vision meant that NGOs would have to give up their role as human rights advocators and shift their mandates to strictly developmental fields.
“The state must change its views and restrictive tendencies towards civil society. This will not happen until authorities begin to view civil society groups as potential partners, rather than enemies.” – Mostafa Shaat, CIHRS
Violations against NGOs were legitimized by a legacy of repressive legislation, the main role of which was to whitewash the regime’s appearance. A repressive NGO law regulated civil society and ensured NGO’s human rights advocacy programs had limited impact. The law guaranteed that conditions under which the NGOs operated were restrictive, with sources of funding and all activities monitored and subject to state security approval.
The wording of the law was intentionally ambiguous, making it easy to prohibit organizations from engaging in political or trade union activities, facilitating state repression of NGOs. It also prohibited foreign funding in all its forms (donations or grants without advance approval of the minister of Social Affairs. This prohibition was often used to limit these organizations’ activities and outreach, within a wider systematic process of silencing the opposition, by making it impossible for organizations to criticize the government for the violations committed.
egypt ngo raid 300 15oct12 INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt Is There a Way Out?
Egyptian police raid a NGO office in Cairo December 29, 2011 (AP).
After Mubarak’s ouster, NGOs tried to change the law, to ensure it respected the universal standards of freedom of association and guaranteed the existence of a free civil society in Egypt that could advocate for human rights. Around 39 NGOs signed a new draft law that met these standards, while also taking the Ministry of Social Affairs’ power over NGOs away.
Around the same time, the government launched an investigation into several organizations following a statement by U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson that local groups had received more than $40 million in funding from the U.S. government. Her statements galvanized suspicions about NGO funding, and were a major push for what came next.
Measures were taken to limit the funding of organizations, as was the case with the “New Woman Foundation”, CEWLA, a feminist organization, and the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists. The attack reached a head during a raid on several international NGOs last December, with security forces searching for documents proving their alleged role in funding protests in Tahrir Square, spreading chaos and inciting violence in several incidents throughout the year.
The raid signaled a shift toward a more aggressive approach in dealing with civil society in Egypt, and resulted in the referral of several employees from these organizations to criminal prosecution in a trial that is ongoing to this day.
With the election of a new parliament, NGOs continued to fight for the adoption of a new law that would put an end to state repression of these organizations. Gains made with the parliament, with a draft law discussed and scheduled for voting, were lost when a court ordered the elected body’s dissolution.
reu cairo protester 300 15oct12 INSIGHT: Ongoing Violations Against NGOs in Egypt Is There a Way Out?
A protester covers his face after being arrested by riot policemen after clashes at Tahrir square in Cairo September 15, 2012 (Reuters).
With the election of President Mohamed Morsi, NGOs hoped that the president’s promises would be fulfilled, and that he would break from an inherited restrictive legacy, which includes the notorious NGO law. The first 100 days of his presidency would prove otherwise. Security forces have continued to violently disperse protests, watched over the displacement of Christians, and detained dozens of civilians following bloody clashes between citizens and the police.
Lastly, the Munufiya governor issued a decree disbanding a local NGO, al-Nahda al-Refeya, after it filed a lawsuit calling for the dissolution of the current Constituent Assembly. The decree stated that the NGO, which has been working in the governance and government transparency field since 2007, was disbanded for receiving foreign funding without prior approval. It is widely believed that the NGO was dissolved because of its vocal criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Actions against NGOs together with a proposed new bill do not bode well for civil society’s future in Egypt. The Ministry of Social Affairs’ latest draft, if passed by the next parliament, would place even further restrictions on foreign funding. While the government alleges that the bill will relieve restrictions, civil society groups in Egypt feel it will give state security more power over NGO activity.
The state must change its views and restrictive tendencies towards civil society. This will not happen until authorities begin to view civil society groups as potential partners, rather than enemies. If the government wishes to offer a gesture of good faith, the first step it could take is to acknowledge their recommendations and adopt the proposed NGO law. In order to validate any ongoing dialogue, the government needs to enact policies that will benefit civil society’s core value: the promotion of human rights.
This post was originally published by the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East.
The views expressed in this Insight are the author’s own and are not endorsed by Middle East Voices or Voice of America. If you’d like to share your opinion on this post, you may use our democratic commenting system below. If you are a Middle East expert or analyst associated with an established academic institution, think tank or non-governmental organization, we invite you to contribute your perspectives on regional events and issues. Please email us through our Contact page with a short proposal for an Insight post or send us a link to an existing post already published on your institutional blog.
Source: www.middleeastvoices.voanews.com
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Salman Khurshid mulls multiple defamation lawsuits against India Today group
Multiple defamation suits are being planned to be filed against India Today Group by Union law minister Salman Khurshid and his friends in the country and abroad over charges of financial bungling by an NGO run by his family.
Close on the heels of a suit filed by Khurshid's wife Louise in the Delhi High Court on October 12, the law minister is planning to file a defamation case against the media house in Bombay High Court in the next few days, sources said.
They, however, did not divulge the amount of damages to be sought in the civil defamation lawsuit but it is speculated that the sum could be huge. The media house could also be dragged to court in London by "some people who have been hurt" by the sting operation conducted on Aaj Tak and Headlines Today last week, sources said, while noting that the channel is seen there as well.
On October 12, Khurshid's wife Louise filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against the media group for airing a programme alleging financial irregularities in NGO Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by the couple.
Sources said that damages of Rs100 crore has been claimed in the lawsuit filed by Louise against the TV Today group for broadcasting the "defamatory" programme on Headlines Today and Aaj Tak recently.
A sting operation by the television channel has alleged that irregularities were committed in the trust during 2009-2010 in Uttar Pradesh in the funds earmarked for differently-abled people. Khurshid, while rubbishing the charges against him, told reporters on Sunday that besides the defamation suit filed in the Delhi High Court, more cases are to follow.
"Some people associated with the trust want a case to be filed in London courts as the channel is also shown there. I cannot stop them from doing so," he said.
Khurshid came out with certain papers and photographs on Sunday in support of his claim that the charges were wrong.
Social Justice & Empowerment ministry awaits report by UP govt
Social Justice and Empowerment ministry is awaiting the report from Uttar Pradesh government before taking any action in the alleged misappropriation of finances by an NGO run by Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise. "Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe and its Economic Offences Wing has started collecting documents. We will wait for its report before taking any action regarding misappropriation of funds by this Trust," a Ministry source told PTI here.
Noting that the state government had been giving its recommendations for the trust since 2003-04, the source said, "The matter has to be first investigated by state government. The SJ&E Ministry gives funds to these NGOs on basis of the state government recommendations only."
Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik on Monday said the trust had submitted its report to the ministry last year. "When the test check reports were submitted by Zakir Hussain Trust to the ministry, it was my ministry which had thought that these reports should come from the state government. Rightly, they should go to the state government for confirmation," he said, adding that the report had come in March 2011.
Sources said Louise, as project director of the trust, had met Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on September 17, requesting him to look into any possible case of forgery and misappropriation of funds in the trust.
Source: www.dnaindia.com
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NGOs from India and Nepal make an exposure visit to red light areas
VARANASI: Under the India-Nepal Human Liberty Initiative, the NGOs from India and Nepal made an exposure visit to the Shivdaspur red light areas to know the plight of sex workers on Wednesday.
Before the exposure visit, a two-day workshop was organized on October 8 and 9 by Geneva Global and sponsored by Legatum Foundation to control human trafficking and slavery.
The initiative started in 2010 to combat local and cross-border trafficking of human beings for sex trade, exploitation, and slavery brought together 18 NGOs from India and nine from Nepal. It focuses 13 districts in Nepal, and 23 districts in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where communities lack the capacity to withstand trafficking and slavery.
Addressing the workshop, Gene White, Asia Director, Geneva Global said, "it was encouraging to see partner organization come together to share knowledge and experience on issues of trafficking, exploitation and slavery. The objective is to reduce the risks and incidences of trafficking, exploitation and slavery in the areas covered by the programme partners."
Ajeet Singh of Varanasi-based organization-Guria, one of the partners of Geneva Global, emphasized on the need for a strong step to prosecute the traffickers, slave owners, and brothel owners. Charimaya Tamang from Shakti Samuha, Geneva Global partners from Nepal shared the difficulties of repatriation of trafficked Nepalese victims from India.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
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Women’s participation must for progress: CM
LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that no society could progress without active participation of women. Talking to a representative delegation of prominent women working with NGOs, Shahbaz said it was a good omen that Pakistani women were playing a highly dynamic role in all sectors of life.
“The Punjab government is implementing a number of development programmes aimed at welfare, uplift and wellbeing of women,” he maintained. The chief minister said that the Punjab government had announced a comprehensive package for women’s empowerment with the objective of protecting their social, economic and legal rights. He called on NGOs to step forward for eradicating extremism from the society.
Shahbaz said that the role of women in the society was highly significant. “Since a large segment of Pakistan’s population consists of women, it is essential for them to play their dynamic role in ensuring progress and prosperity of the country,” he added.
The chief minister observed that along with cities, women were also playing an important role in the rural areas of the country. He said that NGOs, in collaboration with the government, were actively implementing various development programmes.
Shahbaz said that Pakistan today was facing extremism and terrorism, and NGOs must step forward to effectively combat this menace. Talking about various measures adopted by the Punjab government for progress and prosperity of women, the chief minister said that on the occasion of the International Day of Women, the provincial government announced a historic development package for women.
He said that under this package, 15 per cent quota had been earmarked for women in government service; while 33 per cent quota for women had been made mandatory for all other government institutions, committees and taskforces.
Shahbaz said that the plots to be allotted by the Punjab government under Jinnah Abadi Scheme would be jointly owned by husband and wife. He pointed out that the Information Technology Park had been named after Arfa Karim who made the name of Pakistan prominent in the IT sector at a young age.
He further said that Malala Yousafzai was a symbol of resistance against extremism in the society and she had acquired the position of a role model for all women at a young age. Shahbaz said that the Punjab government had named Attock Daanish School after Malala Yousafzai in recognition of her services and educational activities would start in the school from next year.
He said that the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) was a revolutionary programme worth Rs10 billion and it was facilitating more than 35,000 students.
“The laptop distribution scheme is being appreciated at both national and international level,” he held. During the meeting, various problems being faced by NGOs also came under discussion. Shahbaz assured the delegation that these problems would be solved on priority basis.
Source: www.nation.com.pk
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