Civil Society Observer
September - October 2006


In the Press

Aid train runs off the rails
The Standard, 25 September 2006
Michael Casey

Following the tsunami in 2004, NGOs from around the world came to the aid of those rendered homeless on the Indian Ocean rim. However, this article discusses the poor quality of constructed homes, largely built by Western-based charities. The author discusses the problems faced by the tsunami-affected population as well as challenges posed to NGOs during reconstruction efforts.
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Foreign NGOs Have Their Own Agenda
Yemen Times, 5 October 2006
Mohammed Khidr

The presence of western-based NGOs has become commonplace in developing countries to defend human rights and promote democracy. However, the author warns that these organizations should respect the sovereignty of national governments and avoid clashes while carrying out their objective. While these NGOs come with good intentions, they have their own agendas that may not align with national interests. The author also encourages his readers to support local and national NGOs, which may have a better understanding of the national context.
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Royal Society tells Exxon: Stop Funding Climate Change Denial
The Guardian, 20 September 2006
David Adam

The Royal Society, Britain's premier scientific academy, has written to the US-based ExxonMobil Corporation to demand that the company withdraw support for dozens of groups that have "misrepresented the science of climate change by outright denial of the evidence." The scientists also strongly criticize the oil company's public statements on global warming, which they describe as "inaccurate and misleading."
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Does Foreign Funding Make NGOs Into Puppets?
The New Anatolian, 11 October 2006
Irazca Geray

Criticism of a recent publication by an academic group on Turkey's security sector is turning into a fierce debate on the foreign funding received by some NGOs. Critics contend that foreign funders unduly influence what they call "publicly unaccountable NGOs."
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Trends and Debates

"Polylateralism" and New Modes of Global Dialogue
Clingendael Discussion Papers in Diplomacy No. 59, November 1999
Geoffrey Wiseman

This paper aims to explore whether an emerging concept of diplomacy, called "polylateralism," helps us better understand the nature and extent of, and possible responses to, globalization challenges to diplomacy. Thus, it considers the idea that traditional, State-centered "bilateral" (conduct of relations between two States) and "multilateral" (diplomacy between three or more States) diplomatic practices need to be complemented with an explicit awareness of a further layer of diplomatic interaction and relationships - polylateralism (relations between States and other entities). The successful diplomat of the future, the author contends, will be able to operate at all three levels.
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Improving Compliance with African Treaties: Conclusions of a Civil Society Workshop
APRM Monitor , September 2006

Outcomes of a recent workshop on "Improving Compliance with African Treaties" in the context of African Peer Review Mechanisms (APRM) held in Banjul, Gambia are highlighted in this article. The outcomes include recommendations for APRM processes and the APRM secretariat as well as recommendations for civil society groups.
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Democratization and the Dilemmas of Media Independence
The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law , August 2006
Craig LaMay

Here the author tries to answer the question: "How does a society create and sustain media that engage the public in democratically centered discourse?" The author finds this question to have no easy answer particularly because he finds the concept of a "free and independent media" to be so subjective, as is democracy itself. However, the author does his best to answer as well as providing some recommendations for media assistance.  
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Aiding Peace? The Role of NGOs in Armed Conflict
INTRAC, 25 September 2006
Jonathan Goodhand

Drawing on research and contemporary writing on conflict, NGOs, and peacebuilding, this book provides an overview of key theoretical and policy debates surrounding the changing role of NGOs and donors in situations of armed conflict, and outlines the implications for improving policy and practice.
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The Right to Health
CETIM, August 2006

In this brochure, The Centre Europe Tiers Monde (CETIM) points out that the preservation and promotion of health implies more than just access to medical care and medicines; it includes all aspects of human life related to peace and social security. It is, CETIM contends, "the iniquitous international order responsible for widespread inequalities and poverty prevents the realization of the right to health." Therefore, in this brochure the authors clarify the obligations of those cited in various international agreements that deal with the right to health and offers ideas, best practices and legal commitments towards the realization of the right to health.
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Digital Divide or Digital Solidarity: Bridging the Gap Between the Information-rich and the Information-starved
CIVICUS, September 2006
Vicente García-Delgado

In this article, the author discusses the lack of development of information and communications technology (ICT) in the developing world and how this impacts economic development and the development of robust civil societies.
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CSOs and the Multilateral System

STAND UP Against Poverty Sets World Record
GCAP/United Nations Millennium Campaign, 17 September 2006

On 15-16 October, 23,542,614 people, in over eighty countries around the world set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people to "stand up against poverty." The Stand Up record attempt, an initiative of the United Nations Millennium Campaign in partnership with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) was set in time for the United Nations International Day for Poverty Eradication on 17 October.
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The Relationship between Member States and Civil Society, Including Non-governmental Organizations: Report to the President of the 60th General Assembly
5 July 2006, Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly (OPGA)

Based on the developing relationship between the UN and civil society actors, including NGOs, as well as recent developments in the modalities in which the UN interacts with civil society, such as special Hearings of the General Assembly, the 60th President of the General Assembly Jan Eliasson (Sweden) asked Ambassador Johan L. Løvald of Norway and Ambassador Rezlan Ishar Jenie of Indonesia to serve as his special advisors on the relationship between Member States and representatives of civil society in the context of General Assembly affairs. This is the report of their findings and recommendations.  
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Response on Advisors' Report to the President of the 60th General Assembly on the Relationship between Member States and Non-Governmental Organizations
1 September 2006, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung/Global Policy Forum/Women's Environmental and Development Organization (WEDO)/World Federalist Movement- Institute for Global Policy

In this statement, a group of NGOs, including Global Policy Forum, responds to the recommendations of Ambassadors Johan Løvald of Norway and Rezlan Jenie of Indonesia for boosting NGO participation at the General Assembly (GA). The text reflects on past NGO contributions to the work of the UN, reiterates calls for regular status with the GA and also conveys reservations about the use of the 2004 Cardoso Report as a "basis for policy." The NGOs request a formal and open process, instead of just hearings, to foster sustained dialogue between Member States and NGOs.
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UN: Rights Council Disappoints Again
Human Rights Watch, 6 October 2006

In this statement released after the conclusion of the Second Session of the recently formed Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch (HRW) states that the session was a failure. States with poor human rights records dominated the council's deliberations and countries more committed to human rights failed to exercise effective leadership, HRW said. Citing its failure to take action on Darfur, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, among others, HRW noted that the new Council has thus far not proved itself to be very different from its predecessor the Commission on Human Rights.
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Chairperson's Summary of the High-level Dialogue on Migration and Development
Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly (OPGA), 13 October 2006

The General Assembly held its first High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development from 14-15 September 2006 at UN Headquarters, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/227 of 23 December. In accordance with paragraph 23 of the aforementioned resolution, the President of the General Assembly prepared this summary of the High-level Dialogue.
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Sustaining the Environment at the World Bank
World Resources Institute, September 2006
Frances Seymour

In this policy note, the author notes that in light of the preponderance of evidence showing the clear link between poverty and environmental degradation, the case for the World Bank to take a stronger leadership in the promotion of sustainable environmental policies has never been stronger. Yet, recent World Bank decisions raise questions as to what degree it will mainstream environmental issues into its poverty reduction strategies.
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How World Bank Energy and Poverty Framework Sells Climate and People Short: A Civil Society Response to the World Bank's Investment Framework for Clean Energy and Development
IFIWatchNet, September 2006

Nine international civil society groups have come together and prepared a response to a report created by the World Bank regarding energy, climate change, and poverty reduction. The response claims that the World Bank has failed to "green" its energy lending, leading to investments in greenhouse gas-producing projects that fuel climate change and deny access to the poor. The Bank's "business as usual" approach does not help to shift to the use of renewable energies, which make up less than 5% of the Bank's overall energy financing. The paper also provides a series of suggestions to meet greenhouse gas emissions reductions and to meet the needs of those who need energy provisions.
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CSO Research

Budgeting the Rights: Let's do it!
Aprodev Rights and Development Group, April 2006

This is a summary of the outcomes of a workshop that brought together seven European protestant development agencies, their partners from developing countries and Human Rights experts from the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) and the World Health Organization, amongst others. The workshop was convened to explore whether the realization of Human Rights, both Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as Civil and Political Rights can be "costed" and budgeted, and whether methodological hurdles concerning this task can be overcome. Among the outcomes was agreement that the aforementioned rights can be "costed" and recommendations as to how to move forward in the process.
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Living Planet Report
WWF, October 2006

WWF's 2006 Living Planet Report, the group's biennial statement on the state of the natural world, says that on current projections humanity will be using two planets' worth of natural resources by 2050 - if those resources have not run out by then. It also confirms the trend of biodiversity loss seen in previous Living Planet reports. The Living Planet Report pulls together various data to compile two indicators of the Earth's well-being. The first, the Living Planet Index, measures biodiversity, based on trends in more than 3,600 populations of 1,300 vertebrate species around the world. The second index, the Ecological Footprint, measures humanity's demand on the biosphere.
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Where the Poor Are: An Atlas of Poverty
Earth Institute, 28 September 2006

A new advance in poverty mapping was put forth by the Earth Institute in the effort to increase awareness and promote usage of geographic information system (GIS) based applications in development strategies. The poverty atlas provides a visual representation based on data such as hunger, child mortality and income. Poverty mapping is hoped to be useful in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that tackle poverty related issues.
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Social Watch Report 2006: Impossible Architecture
Social Watch, 19 September 2006, Anil Netto

A need to reform the international finance structure was stressed in the Social Watch Report 2006, which claims that the World Bank has failed to "fulfill the purpose of its mission." The report critiques the Bank for receiving more  from developing countries than it disburses to them. Critics  have also identified other issues with the Bank, including its support for projects that have adverse effects on poor nations, the Bank's lack of transparency, and the skewed structure that favors richer countries.
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Sustainability Watch Report 2006
Sustainability Watch, 8 August 2006

The first international Sustainability Watch Report was released based on reports developed  in 15 countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The purpose of this report is to promote dialogue between civil society organizations and governments in order to improve sustainable development at the national level. The report also provides a perspective on how to overcome challenges in achieving the Millennium Development Goals regarding poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.
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Rewrite the Future
Save the Children, 12 September 2006

According to a new report, published by Save the Children, armed conflict has devastating effects on education which has led to 43 million children out of school in 30 countries. Despite the need for aid, international donors have overlooked this issue due to a lack of adequate systems in developing countries to deliver aid . Coinciding with the release of the report, Save the Children has launched a campaign called "Rewrite the Future " in an effort to get children in conflict-affected countries to go to school and is calling on the international community to aid the initiative.
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Unequal Partners: How EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) Could Harm the Development Prospects of Many of the World's Poorest Countries
Oxfam, 27 September 2006

This Oxfam report is critical of the current negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and its former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The report states that the EPAs will pit the industrialized nations of Europe against developing nations, causing further harm to poor nations, due to an imbalance in trade. The document also advocates a radical rethinking about the agreements during the mid-term review of negotiations in September 2006.
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Engaging Diasporas: How Governments and Development Agencies Can Support Diaspora Involvement in the Development of Origin Countries
International Migration Institute, June 2006, Hein de Haas

This study identifies four broad areas in which development agencies and governments can support and strengthen the engagement of diasporas and their members in the development of countries of origin: facilitating and reducing costs of remittances; supporting migrants to set up small enterprises in countries of origin and facilitating "brain circulation;" supporting collective development projects initiated or implemented by diaspora organizations and their members; and, supporting diaspora networks and capacity building of diaspora organizations.
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This Civil Society Observer was compiled by Zak Bleicher with contributions from Elisa Peter, Beth Peoc'h, and Tony Hill. The web work was done by Robert-Anthony Bunoan.



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