::: The May18 Memorial foundation :::

Program Officer

Rasha Abdel Latif — Mar, 14 2010 09:41:07 GMT

Dear Sir/Madam, Good day from Partners-Jordan, I would like to ask you if the Middle East is eligable for the call for proposal, Thank you, Rasha Abdel Latif Program Officer Partners-Jordan 00962 6 5857187 activities@partners-jordan.org

Urgent Appeal Manipur: Political Prisoner Irom Chanu Sharmila

Mar, 11 2010 06:07:28 GMT

An Urgent Appeal from Human Rights Initiative

Ms. Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike since 2nd November 2000, was released by from the Security Ward of JN Hospital on the evening of 8th March. After her release she continued her hunger strike and was rearrested by the police on 10th March.

She demands an end to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), an act which the people of India have an aversion to and which various UN Monitoring Mechanisms and the Review Committee of the Act (initiated by the Government of India) have spoken out against. For almost a decade the police have persisted in treating Sharmila's hunger strike as a suicide attempt, and have subsequently released and rearrested her every year since 2000.

Sharmila Kanba Lup have organized a relay hunger strike spanning 452 days in Manipur and other Indian states in solidarity with Sharmila and in acknowledgement of her spirit and struggle

"We hope Indian Authority will move forward to exemplify that Mahatma Gandhi��s non- violent way of protest is productive and being honored in Manipur."

For more information, please see the attached file and offer your support to the cause.

ACHR: OHCHR-NEPAL withdrawal questioned

Mar, 05 2010 03:41:58 GMT

The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today in a new report, The Withdrawal of OHCHR-NEPAL: Agreeing an Alibi for Violation?, expressed deep concern over the motives behind government moves to end the mandate of the UN human rights field mission to Nepal (OHCHR-NEPAL). ACHR warned that ending the mandate risked the peace process, would contribute to an already deteriorating human rights situation and presented real threats to the protection of civil society.

Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of ACHR, believes that Nepal is entering another period of heightened political instability. Furthermore, the withdrawal or weakening of the OHCHR mandate would pass on the responsibility of addressing the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation to Nepal's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), despite the fact that the Commissioners have stated that the institution is incapable of doing so. Exiting concerns include increasingly violent behaviour by political factions and threats against journalists. In response, donors and diplomats, including the UK, need to reconsider their position.

The ACHR report makes recommendations to strengthen national human rights mechanisms to provide an exit strategy for OHCHR as well as a strategic review of OHCHR-Nepal. It can be downloaded from their website.

2010 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA)

Mar, 03 2010 04:19:48 GMT

2010 Grant for Democracy and Human

Rights Projects in Asia

Background

The May 18 Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization established to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising by continuing the Uprising��s spirit of struggle and solidarity, contributing to the peaceful reunification of Korea, and working towards peace and human rights throughout the world. The Foundation carries out numerous projects in various fields, including organizing memorial events, establishing scholarships, fostering research, publishing materials, dispensing funds, building international solidarity, and awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.

Description

The 2010 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA) supports work that contributes to promoting democracy and human rights and to building international solidarity. The grant will be awarded to non-government organizations (not GOs or individuals) based in Asia who have been working in this field for more than three years.

Overall Plan

Deadline: 19^th March 2010

Objective: to support with grants and schemes projects working for human rights, democracy, civil society and peace.

Please note: ONE grant will be given in each of the following categories:

Schemes	Objective	Amount (KRW)	Remarks
Short Term	Civil movements (general)	3,000,000	1 Time Support
Short Term	Democracy Education	3,000,000	1 Time Support

Long Term	Human Rights Advocacy	3,000,000	2 Time Support
Long Term	Working in Conflict Zones	3,000,000	2 Time Support

Organizations	Network Organization	300,000/ month	Over 2years
Organizations	Grass Roots Organization	300,000/ month	Over 2years
Total		18,000,000

Explanation:

�� Civil movements (general): projects promoting civil movements in Asia.

�� Democracy Education: projects organizing education about democracy.
�� Human Rights Advocacy: projects focusing on the promotion and protection of human rights.
�� Working in Conflict Zones: peace-keeping projects which are based or actively involved in areas of conflict.
�� Network Organizations: connecting NGOs and movements across Asia.
�� Grass Roots Organization: community and local-level organizations.

Selection Plan

The May 18 Memorial Foundation will choose the organization based on a point score.

After the announcement, the May 18 Memorial Foundation will make a MOU with the grantee organization.

Project evaluation

Applicants will submit guided self-evaluation forms which will be analyzed by the May 18 Memorial Foundation.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation will visit some of the grantee organizations randomly over the course of the year to evaluate their performance.

Other Information

Last year the May 18 Foundation provided funds to eight grantee organizations in five Asian countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Fiji. Activities made possible by the 2009 Grant Project include training workshops, regional seminars, national-level networking events, grassroots mobilization, rallies and much more. Issues covered include: peace and conflict resolution, human rights monitoring, election monitoring and anti-nuclear campaign awareness.

Application Procedure

To apply please download a form using the link below.

Applicants should also submit documents which demonstrate their ability to monitor and evaluate their projects with yearly reports, as well as brochures and financial information as required. Incomplete forms will not be considered.

Disappearance of Pattani Razeek, Executive Committee Member of FORUM-ASIA

Mar, 02 2010 06:33:37 GMT

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has received information that one of the members of its Executive Committee, Mr. Pattani Razeek, went missing on Thursday, 11 February 2010. Mr. Razeek was last seen in Polonnaruwa, a town in the North-Central Province of Sri Lanka.

The afternoon he went missing, Mr. Razeek, 55, was returning from a mission by van together with staff from his organization, the Community Trust Fund (CTF). On their way they were intercepted by a white van. In Sri Lanka, ��white vans' have been known to be the preferred vehicles of groups responsible for abductions and disappearances. After exchanging greetings with those travelling in the white van Mr. Razeek told his colleagues that he would join the group in the white van. He assured his colleagues that he would meet up with them later. The next day, 12 February 2010, the CTF was informed by the family of Mr. Razeek that he did not arrive home from the mission. Mr. Razeek's family, CTF, and his friends have been searching for him since then.

Mr. Razeeks' family have made several attempts to trace calls from his phone and have also lodged a complaint with the local police in their hometown of Puttalam and informed the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka of his disappearance. However, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Please see Forum-Asia's website for more information:
http://www.forum-asia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2461&Itemid=32

Odhikar Human Rights Monitoring Report: Feb 2010

Mar, 02 2010 06:20:52 GMT

This is the latest report on human rights abuses in Bangladesh from Odhikar.

The February issue includes reports of violence against journalists, fatal clashes between students at university campuses, and continuing violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. The report also records incidences of rape, extra-judicial killings, dowry-related violence, etc.

The May 18 Memorial Foundations Accepts Application for 2010 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School

Feb, 24 2010 09:18:40 GMT

The May 18 Memorial Foundations Accepts Application for

2010 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School

The Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School will take as its model the Folk School System, an informal schooling concept, which first began in Denmark in 1844 through the efforts of the poet and educator Nikolai F.S. Grundtvig, which to this day continues to operate in several northern European countries.

The aim of the Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk school is to introduce the participants to Korean History in general and to various movements in the struggle for democracy, including the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, through both theoretical and practical experiences such as seminars, discussions, presentation, workshop and field trips to the sites of democratization movements in Korea and Asia.

The Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School 2010 will strive to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights through out Asia by hosting 20 invitees from all over Asia who have been working for human rights and peace organizations in their own countries. They will be given an opportunity to learn and experience the history and development process of human rights and democracy in Republic of Korea. The folk school will also serve as an opportunity for participants to exchange and network with other human rights activists.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2010 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School. This year, the application process is being made more competitive to screen the number of applications. The emphasis is on organizational partnership, so applicants endorsed by their organization will be given priority. Since the foundation will not be able to provide multiple translations, English language will be the medium for exchange.

Junior Staff - 8 (with 2-5 years experience)

Middle Management/Advisory- 8 (with 5-15 years experience)

Senior/Director- 4 (with more than 15 years experience)

One of the perks of attending the Folk School is the opportunity to be endorsed for a scholarship. For the last 3 years the foundation has been supporting scholars at Sungkonghoe University studying for their Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS). They were chosen and selected by the folk school committee based on their active participation and performance during the folk school.

Applicants should download the attached form. Applicants are advised to read the guidelines carefully. The foundation will only accept and consider applicants who will properly comply with the set guidelines and rules.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please ensure that the following documentations are enclosed with your application (scan PDF format and send as email attachments):

1. A scanned copy of your valid and not expired passport.

2. Updated CV/Resume detailing your work and job responsibilities.

3. An application letter signifying your interest in the folk school signed and endorsed by your superior or the head of your organization.

4. Expectations, objectives, focus of interests on the human rights folk school.

5. Proof of organization��s legal identity or registration.

6. Passport-size photo

Useful Information

Applicants should ensure that they have no potential visa problems. If an applicant is denied entry to Korea because of personal history which they did not disclose to the May 18 Memorial Foundation, the foundation will absolutely not cover their travel expenses. This is the applicant��s responsibility.

If an applicant later decides not to come to the folk school (cancels their application) after they have accepted a place, the May Memorial Foundation will not accept any applications from their organization for three years.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation will cover the following expenses:

l Visa fees

l International airfare to Korea

l Transportation in Korea

The following expenses will NOT be covered:

l Internal transportation, including internal flights, in your country (for example, to the airport or to the embassy)

l Official fees other than visa fees (for example, travel tax)

Please send your application to

518folkschool@gmail.com

Application deadline May 31,2010.

Indigenous Jumma Villages Attacked in Bangladesh

Feb, 24 2010 02:43:22 GMT

The Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) have separately reported a violent attack on an indigenous community living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh on 19-20 February 2010. At least six villages were killed and many buildings, including a Buddhist temple and a church as well as several UNDP-sponsored shops, were destroyed at the hands of illegal settlers with the backing of the army. Furthermore, several injured persons who were rushed to hospital for medical treatment were subsequently arrested.

Further information can be found in the attached report.

Amnesty: The Repression of Ethnic Minority Activists in Myanmar

Feb, 22 2010 10:25:26 GMT

"The police were still watching me ...All of my friends and colleagues had abandoned me as they feared for
their safety in being associated with me.... So I decided to leave Myanmar."
Ms. Pan Tsun Saga, 31, arrested in Myitkyina.

This report by Amnesty International, titled 'The Repression of Ethnic Minority Activists in Myanmar', is based on detailed testimonies from those who have survived brutal crackdowns by the Burmese military regime. The report ends with conclusions and recommendations for the Government of Myanmar, ASEAN and ASEAN member states, China, India and other concerned countries, and the United Nations.

Afghanistan: Stress on human rights, by Navi Pillay UNHCHR

Feb, 16 2010 08:44:34 GMT

"For too long, the voices of Afghan victims, and the views of women and minority groups, have been suppressed or ignored. What is needed at this critical juncture is a forum.. [which] empowers all contributors to freely express their views and voice their concerns and recommendations without fear of retaliation."

Navi Pillay urges international leaders to address the issues of justice and impunity in Afghanistan, and to acknowledge the threat to human rights presented by lawlessness and prejudice in the country.