December 2006 e-newsletter
Inter Pares' E-Newsletter
Highlights 2006
In this e-newsletter:
- Letter of Introduction
- Highlights from:
- Africa
- Canada
- Latin America
- Asia
- Publication: Les OGM, une aide empoisonnée
- Public event: Forum on migrant workers' rights
Links
Abonnez-vous à la version française
Inter Pares Web site
PDF version of these Highlights
These Highlights on the Web
Send an e-card
December 2006
Dear friends and supporters of Inter Pares,
For many people in many places, the past year has been grim. Conflict in the Middle East has taken many civilian lives. Renewed violence in Burma has displaced thousands of people from their homes and communities. Brutal repression continues in places such as Sudan, Guatemala and Colombia.
And yet, the work of Inter Pares' counterparts offers hope that peaceful change is possible. Your moral, political and financial support is an important part of this vision and we are grateful for the solidarity you have already shown us.
As a Board member of Inter Pares, it has been my privilege over the past year to meet some of the remarkable women and men with whom Inter Pares works - people who believe that peace and democracy are achievable with the active engagement of citizens demanding accountable governance, and an end to violence, injustice and impunity.
I am pleased to attach an overview of some of the highlights of Inter Pares' work during 2006. Please note that more detailed information is available on the Inter Pares Web site at www.interpares.ca.
On behalf of Inter Pares staff and Board of Directors, I want to thank you for your support during the past year and urge you to continue to sustain this work. It is the commitment of so many Canadians across the country who share our dedication to social justice action, that makes our work possible.
We are honoured by your trust and support.
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Andrew, Chair
Board of Directors
Highlights 2006
In 2006, Inter Pares provided $5.5 million as well as political and technical assistance in support of the work of our counterparts in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Canada. The following are highlights of some of these activities. More detailed information is available on the Inter Pares Web site at www.interpares.ca.
Africa
In the wake of the Darfur peace agreement signed in May, women from the Gender Center for Research and Training, an Inter Pares counterpart, completed a training program with women representatives from various regions. In the midst of a fragile peace agreement, and with villages still being attacked, Darfuri women are working together to define a common agenda so that their concerns will be heard as the implementation of the agreement unfolds. By providing this opportunity for Darfuri women to work together in relative safety, the Gender Centre is promoting the integral role of women as agents of peaceful and democratic change.
Click here to read the rest of the Africa highlights
Canada
As a co-founder of Canada's Ban Terminator Campaign, Inter Pares worked to advance public understanding of Terminator technology, a genetic engineering technology that renders seeds sterile. In March, Inter Pares helped organize the "Terminator on Trial" public event in Ottawa, where Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser, ecologist Dr. Vandana Shiva, and Colleen Ross, Women's president of the National Farmers Union made the case for defending an international moratorium on Terminator seed technology. The mobilization in Canada and around the world prompted the Canadian government to conform to world opinion and strengthen the moratorium on Terminator. Inter Pares has since helped launch the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, an organization that brings together over 25 groups from across the country to work on issues of food sovereignty and environmental justice.
Click here to read the rest of the Canada highlights
Latin America
Inter Pares continued to work with counterparts in Peru to assist marginalized people to engage in their communities and society as citizens with rights and responsibilities. The Integrated Community Development Centre operated a leadership school in Castrovirreyna that strengthened women's organizations and promoted women's participation in local governance. Members of these women's organizations are now participating in citizen oversight committees, bringing community perspectives to local policies, and ensuring government accountability and transparency.
Click here to read the rest of the Latin America highlights
Asia
Since 1992, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) has produced reports documenting villager accounts of human rights abuses in rural Burma. KHRG's reports have provided vital information to the UN system, governments and human rights organizations throughout the world. This year Inter Pares supported KHRG to document the human rights consequences of the massive military offensive in eastern Burma, which has displaced over 18,000 people.
Click here to read the rest of the Asia highlights
Inter Pares' work is made possible by thousands of supporters across Canada, and by contributions from the Canadian government through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Inter Pares is deeply grateful for this trust and support.
Publication: Les OGM, une aide empoisonnée (in French only), by Eric Chaurette, published in Relations October-November 2006 (pdf)
In his article, Eric Chaurette explores how international aid is being used as a Trojan horse to facilitate the introduction of GMO crops in the South. He refers to African and Asian experiences to illustrate how farmer communities and civil society are organizing to protect biodiversity and their livelihoods. Text only available in French. Please click here to read this document.
Public event: Forum on migrant workers' rights - Monday, December 18, 2006, Montreal
To mark International Migrants' Day, Inter Pares, Equitas (International Centre for Human Rights Education), the Centre d'Études et de Recherches Internationales de l'Université de Montréal (CÉRIUM), and the Chaire de recherche du Canada en études asiatiques are organizing a public forum on December 18 at Université de Montréal. The event will take place in École d'optométrie, room 180, Université de Montréal (3744 Jean-Brillant St., Côte-des-Neiges metro station), from 6 pm to 9:30 pm. This public forum will bring together migrant workers, activists, researchers and government representatives from Quebec and Canada. The forum aims to bring more attention on the situation of migrant workers to the general public, students, community organizers and international cooperation organizations. For more information, please contact Caroline Boudreau at cboudreau@interpares.ca.
Subscribing / Cancelling / Back issues
Click here to read earlier e-bulletins (or subscribe if you're reading someone else's copy).
You are receiving this e-newsletter because you or your organization requested a subscription to Inter Pares' e-newsletters. If we have included you in error, or you would prefer to not receive future e-newsletters (or wish to change your address), please e-mail enewsletter@interpares.ca (or click here to cancel your subscription) and we will make sure your e-mail address is eliminated from our list.
Abonnez-vous à la version française
Inter Pares Web site
PDF version of these Highlights
These Highlights on the Web
Send an e-card
Inter Pares
221 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6P1
Phone (613) 563-4801 or (866) 563-4801 Fax (613) 594-4704
Inter Pares works overseas and in Canada in support of self-help development groups, and in the promotion of understanding about the causes, effects and solutions to under-development and poverty. Charitable registration number (BN) 11897 1100 RR000 1.
Please re-distribute this e-newsletter to anyone you think would enjoy it, in its complete and original form only. Copyright 2006 Inter Pares. All rights reserved.
Financial support for the E-Newsletter is provided by the Canadian International Development Agency.
| Reviewed November 30, 2006 |  |
Publishing Policies |
