Rights Work: Human Rights Defenders in Montenegro

Violeta Krasnic — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:33:29 -0800

How do human rights defenders operate in a country where power “is captured by network of private interests”? Vanja Ćalović, the Executive Director of MANS - The Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector in Montenegro, tell us what happen to those who raise their voices and what is needed to fight those trying to silence them.

Rights Work: LGBT Advocates in Latvia

Violeta Krasnic — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:40:22 -0800

What are the major challenges that LGBT activists in Latvia encounter in their work? Evita Goša is the board member of Mozaika in Riga, an alliance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered persons, and their friends. She describes how ignorance and stigma feed into repressive actions of various political actors in her country and outlines actions needed to bring greater visibility to and protection of LGBT rights.

Disability Rights Advocate Hails the New UN Convention

Violeta Krasnic — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:19:12 -0700

Victor Pineda of "A World Enabled Media Initiative" celebrates the entry into force of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), negotiated by disability rights advocates and their governments.

This interview was conducted on May 12, 2008 at the commemorative event at the UN General Assembly Hall. In the words of a Hungarian delegate, this “ground-breaking treaty is the most extensively debated international convention ever, created with maximum involvement of the civil society,” and the one with extremely strong control mechanism to secure implementation.

Celebrating CRPD: A View from Bangladesh

Violeta Krasnic — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:48:00 -0700

Eighty percent of more than 650 million persons with disabilities worldwide live in developing counties. Khandaker Jahurul Alam, the Executive Director of CSID in Bangladesh, looks at the impact of disability compounded by poverty and isolation and outlines next steps toward full implementation of CRPD.

Celebrating CRPD: Gender Perspective

Violeta Krasnic — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:34:48 -0700

Around the world, women are traditionally expected to take care of vulnerable, sick and family members with disability. Kicki Nordstrom of World Blind Union points out that exactly the same is expected of women with disabilities. How can the UN Disability Rights Convention address this issue?

Celebrating CRPD: Relevance for persons with psychosocial disabilities

Violeta Krasnic — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:02:50 -0700

Can the new UN Disability Rights Convention address stigma and fear that isolate people with psychosocial disabilities and keep them from realizing their fundamental rights? Tina Minkowitz, Co-Chair of World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, asserts that governments will now have to find "new way of looking at madness and supporting people who are mad."

Celebrating CRPD: In Sign Language

Violeta Krasnic — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:05:19 -0700

Hundreds of sign languages are in use around the world. Martha Lucia Osorno of the World Federation of the Deaf argues for the recognition of sign language as an official language of the United Nations.

IWD 2008: Aisha Lee Shaheed on the Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women

Violeta Krasnic — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:16:56 -0800

Aisha Lee Shaheed of The Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women gets to the heart of issue and addresses myths and stereotypes surrounding stoning. The campaign is initiated by a group of lawyers, activists, journalists and academics in order to address the intensifying trend of cultural/religious legitimization of lethal violence against women.

IWD 2008: Neelanjana Mukhia (ActionAid)

Violeta Krasnic — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:30:08 -0800

Why is it important to understand the intersection of HIV/AIDS and violence against women (VAW) and what makes it a human rights issue? Neelanjana Mukhia, of ActionAid, is in an excellent position to address this question: she coordinates Women Won't Wait. End HIV/AIDS and VAW. Now! Campaign.

IWD 2008: Sunila Abeyesekera on women human rights defenders

Violeta Krasnic — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:37:30 -0800

Women human rights defenders are confronted by difficult challenges when they work in male dominated environments and are often stigmatized and sometimes become victims of gender specific violations that need to be addressed. Sunila Abeyesekera of INFORM in Sri Lanka talks about Women Human Rights Defenders Campaign and the need to implement gender specific rather than gender neutral strategies of human rights work.