International Detention Monitor

Issue 2: December 2008 In this our second International Detention Monitor, the International Coalition on the Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants (IDC) has compiled the latest immigration detention news, member updates, resources and jobs from around the world, an IDC brief on detention of asylum seekers in Japan and developments in Malaysia. Please send items for next edition: info@idcoalition.org International Detention News Europe UK- Struggle for rights of young asylum seekers ends in triumph http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/11/11/109928/lifting-uncrc-reservation-offers-hope-for-asylum-seekers.html UK - Detention units 'fail on health' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7739849.stm Italy- UN Experts Call on Italy to Uphold Human Rights in its response to immigration http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/BD8D204D07A1E588C125750100691187?opendocument France - French detention and immigration policies risk reducing human rights protection http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/News/2008/081120FranceMemo_en.asp US Legal Orientation Program provides for more efficient immigration court system http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/nov/19/legal-orientation-program-provides-more-efficient-/ Detention of migrant women faulted by UA researcher http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/arizona/103211.php Panel Explores Psychological Effects of Torture http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2008/11/21/panel-explores-psychological-effects-torture US detention practice exposed http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081211/NEWS/812110329/-1/NEWS06 Asia Pacific Australia - First report on the inquiry into immigration detention http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/mig/detention/report.htm Malaysia - Thousands of Migrants Already Deported and More Being Held for Deportation http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7582793.stm The Americas The Bahamas - Gov't Tackling Immigration http://www.jonesbahamas.com/news/45/ARTICLE/18826/2008-12-04.html Africa South Africa - Notorious Detention Facility Closes http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20081122082802575C170768 For more international detention news visit: http://www.idcoalition.org

bugti tribes man shuter down strikes

11th december bugti tribes man posted nawab brahimdug bugti pictures and BRA flag in sui bazar and main choak but pakistan army raided whole city arrested many bugti shop keeper from bazar and beaten them badly and arrested more than 20 bugti and took them in their cantonment for doing torture.in the reaction of this brutal act of army bugti tribal man call for shutter down bazar and vehical jam strikes.this thing happen first time in dera bugti district to strike in such way.today 12th dec.bugti tribes man pasted nawab brahimdug,shaeed balaach marri and nawab akbar bugti in sui main bazaar and stand every where BRA and BRP flag at whole sui in road bazzar and homes after this reaction ugti tribes two thousand people carried a protest rally chanting slow against pakistan army and governement and chanting slowgun in favour of brahimdag and shaeed balaach.this rally was carried first time after shaeedat of nawab sahib.sui city was full of BRA flag.today bugti celeberated there this success step in favour of freedom fighter.this rally was in favour of BRA,BLA ,BLF.pakistan army want to flop this rally but bugti baloch resist very angerly they successed from army.first time bugti tribe show off big majority in favour of freedom fighter.this thing was happening other part of balochistan but in dera bugti it was difficult because due to two division of army deployed in dera bugti district.it was full fledge army coup in dera bugti.it was ban on protest rally raise any flag of BRA any baloch national party.today bugti tribes man broke up this ban for ever.

Women's Human Rights in an era of Globalization Institute (Toronto, 4 May to 5 June 2009)

As it has done every year for the past five, the Center for Women's Studies in Education (CWSE) of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto is hosting the Women's Human Rights in an era of Globalization Institute from May 4 to June 5, 2009. This coming year offers two innovations: the first one is that there will be a one-week intensive program on CEDAW which will be held in the middle of the five-week institute, so that participants can choose to either come to the full five weeks or only to the one-week program. And the second innovation is that IWRAW-Asia Pacific, the Malaysian based non-profit international women's organisation dedicated to promoting the domestic implementation of international human rights standards with a specific focus on CEDAW, has come on board to coordinate with us this exciting week.

Women activists, academics and NGO professionals worldwide bring experiences, knowledge and ideas to this Institute. From this Institute's rich programs, participants strengthen their knowledge and develop their perspectives and gain tools to bring back to their field, which then contribute to building a sustainable capacity within their work. In 2009, the Institute will be held from May 4 to June 5 and is currently accepting applications.

Directed by Alda Facio, an internationally renowned feminist human rights activist, jurist and writer, this year's Institute is led by a multigenerational team of scholars and practitioners, including Angela Miles, a feminist activist professor at OISE who is also the head of CWSE, and Angela Lytle, who brings an expertise in educational program design and grassroots transnational activism. The Institute provides participants an opportunity to reflect on their work, learn theories and international women's human rights tools, and gain inspiration from other participants. It will also be a rejuvenating opportunity provided with a full access to the rich resources that the University of Toronto and the world's most diverse city, Toronto, can offer. You may consider this Institute as an opportunity to expand the capacity of the participants and their organizations. While the Institute focuses on reaching out to the global economic south, past participants from Canada, the U.S. and Europe have also found it beneficial.

More details such as the faculty, program contents, testimonies from past participants and fees, can be found at: http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/cwse/humanrights_09.htm

You are welcome to contact us:

Executive Assistant, humanrights@oise.utoronto.ca, Tel. +1(416)978-2080.

For academic information about the Institute:

Alda Facio, Director of the Institute, aldafacio@gmail.com or
Angela Miles, amiles@oise.utoronto.ca, Tel +1 (416) 978-0809.

High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva

The Anti-Discrimination Unit at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva is urgently looking for an intern from 15 January 2009 (latest 1 February) to 30 April 2009. Minimum requirements for prospective candidates: fluency in English, Bachelor degree in international law, international relations, political science, current enrolment in post-graduate study (Master, Ph.D. etc). Preference will be given to those who have specialized in human rights issues.

Please send as soon as possible a CV and a cover letter to tnaydenova@ohchr.org.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. United Nations internships are not remunerated and interns are responsible for making their own travel and visa arrangements.

Tania Naydenova
OHCHR
E-mail: tnaydenova@ohchr.org

YouTube - Nawab Khair buksh Marri Interview With BBC

YouTube - Nawab Khair buksh Marri Interview With BBC

YouTube - Why International Media Silent On Balochistan

YouTube - Why International Media Silent On Balochistan

YouTube - Baloch Girls Protest aginst human rights violations

YouTube - Baloch Girls Protest aginst human rights violations

YouTube - Amnesty International-Signatures

YouTube - Amnesty International-Signatures

The International Summer School (ISS)

The International Summer School (ISS) at the University of Oslo has offered intensive summer courses since 1947. About 24,000 students from more than 150 countries have attended the program.

Scholarship / Financial aid: a limited number of scholarships offered
Date: June 27 - August 7, 2009
Deadline: February 1, 2009
Open to: applicants that have a bachelor degree and specific professional experience

Application Deadline and Scholarships

The application deadline for 2009 is February 1, 2009. (i.e. the application must be postmarked at the latest on this date). Scholarship applicants must complete two forms: The General Application form and a separate Scholarship Application form obtainable from the ISS office, or from a Norwegian Embassy or Consulate General. Late applications from qualified self-paying students will be considered after the February 1 deadline as space permits.

For the 2009 session, NORAD has also granted a limited number of scholarships for applicants from NORAD's main partner countries. NORAD scholarships are earmarked for graduate (master's) courses that require the applicants to have completed a bachelor degree and to have specific professional experience. Applicants to undergraduate level courses are not eligible for NORAD scholarships.

Information about courses and scholarships can be found in the ISS 2009 catalog and on our website.

List of courses in 2009

Information about scholarships

International Summer School
University of Oslo
http://www.uio.no/iss/

Opinion: A turning point —Asma Jahangir

Opinion: A turning point —Asma Jahangir
The recent Mumbai terror attacks should be the turning point. Governments of the region are challenged to support an open and transparent investigation in order to identify and prosecute the masterminds behind such carnage. They must have the moral courage to face the truthThe recent carnage in Mumbai is terrifying. Indians are entitled to be angry, hurt and disgusted. The government of India has alleged that initial evidence indicates that some of the terrorists came from a ‘neighbouring country’. Even though the prime minister of India has so far not accused the government of Pakistan of being directly involved in the attacks, it is apparent who the ‘neighbour’ is. The Pakistani foreign minister and others have so far reacted responsibly. To his credit, he admonished journalists who tried to downplay the tragedy or who shirked away any need for alarm.Yet the media on both sides is full of jingoistic messages. Some Indians want revenge and even went so far as to urge their government to bomb Pakistan. A few voices in India have cautioned against a call for revenge and have suggested looking deeper into the failure of the security system in India itself. They are pushing for effective diplomacy to be deployed so that Pakistan’s rulers are encouraged to take action against those who are using their country as a launching pad for terrorist activities.Those in India who want reprisals against Pakistan are falling into the very trap that the terrorists and their allies have set for them. It is no secret that both the terrorists and their patrons within sections of the Pakistani intelligence community want a disengagement of the military against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in north-western Pakistan. But, despite all efforts made through peace deals with the militants, Pakistan’s security forces have neither been able to convince them to de-escalate violence, nor have they been able to persuade the current American administration to loosen the grip on the war on terror. As such, they are caught in a war they are most reluctant to fight. Therefore the Pakistani military is understandably desperate to end the conflict in FATA and Swat.It also suits the militants to distract the military on all sides, so that they have a free hand to consolidate their power base within Pakistan. Therefore the Indians must take note that the risk of a better organised force of militants will not only endanger the people of Pakistan but may also create havoc in India in time to come.Some of the reaction in Pakistan is mind-boggling. Several militant organisations have issued public statements rejecting all claims that Pakistan’s territory was in any way used to prepare the Mumbai attacks. Some, like the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan, have claimed that the “terror attacks in Mumbai were part of a conspiracy to defame Pakistan and the Mujahideen”. The TTP has warned India against attacking Pakistan and assured Pakistanis that in such an eventuality the Mujahideen would “fight shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and the people of Pakistan”. Through this statement, they want to appear as having arrogated to themselves the authority to respond on behalf of Pakistan and to appear as the saviours of its people. Ironically the TTP is fighting Pakistan’s military in the tribal areas and is accused of having killed hundreds of Pakistanis in the most inhumane manner.Senior security officials are widely quoted in the press as warning that the next 24 to 48 hours are crucial. One of them is quoted to have suggested that if India escalates tensions, then the war on terror will no longer be their priority and as such Pakistani troops will have to be moved from the eastern to the western border of Pakistan. Naturally, while that may be the case, it would also be the responsibility of the security forces to keep equal pressure on all borders, so that civilians are protected.The statement, however, shrugs away any responsibility for protecting people from the militant groups operating in the north of the country. This belies all claims by the present and previous governments that military actions against the militants were being carried out purely in the interests of Pakistan and to protect its citizens, rather than at the behest of the United States. It is deeply worrying to imagine that those who are supposed to protect civilians from the violence of the militants seem reluctant to do so.Are they not convinced or aware of the urgency? Or are they simply not concerned? Do they have a game plan unknown to the people of Pakistan and their political representatives?A spokesperson of the PMLN lambasted the government for ‘bowing’ to India by agreeing to send the director-general of the ISI or his representative to India. In the past, the PMLN has itself been severely critical of the role of the ISI and supported calls for reforms within it. Regrettably, at this critical moment, the opposition is dangerously exploiting the situation.In contrast to the PMLN statement, LK Advani, the hawkish leader of the opposition in India, has for now assured all support to the Indian prime minister. Perhaps we need to learn a few lessons of how the opposition can also be constructive in times of national emergency. After all it is not the military but the representatives of the people who are entitled to take policy decisions. It must be the politicians rather than the intelligence agencies of both countries that make policies regarding foreign affairs. Surely the head of the ISI or its representatives do not carry a stature beyond that of those representing the people of Pakistan. The PMLN will make a grave mistake by arrogating a grand status to the ISI, as this will undermine the powers of any civilian government. After all, joint dialogues, investigations and actions that resolve tensions should be encouraged rather than be taken as an affront to national dignity.Most sections of society within Pakistan seem to be in a state of denial regarding the allegations made by the Indian authorities. They are not willing to accept even a remote possibility of any connection between Pakistan and the terrorist attacks that took place in Mumbai last week. At the same time, any attack within Pakistan is treated differently. A large number of people have openly blamed militant groups operating within Pakistan and rogue elements within our intelligence agencies for acts of violence carried out in Pakistan. Yet, we are not willing to grant the same significance to any claims made by neighbours against the very same elements that admittedly are under insufficient control.A discredited retired Pakistani general took on an aggressive tone on public television against any claims made by the Indians of the involvement of militants operating within Pakistan. Without waiting for any evidence, he emphatically concluded that the attacks in Mumbai were solely carried out by indigenous Indian militants. No doubt, an attack of this nature cannot be carried out without local complicity, but to rule out any link to any of the militant groups operating within Pakistan is unrealistic.The general explained that militancy was rife in India because of an environment of ‘suffocation’. The same gentleman has on several occasions in the past pleaded for sympathy and understanding for the growth of militants in Pakistan on the justification that the root causes of all this was poverty and neglect. In his view, Indian militancy stems from ‘suffocation’, while the Pakistani one is a result of being victims of economic deprivation.A balanced and transparent approach is urgently needed. It is clear that India too needs to look into the effectiveness of its own security forces. However, that does not absolve the government of Pakistan from ensuring that its territory is not used as a breeding ground for militants, where they can plan, train and carry out terrorist activities. It is in no one’s interest to let a handful of organised militants keep the entire region hostage and polarise its populations.The recent Mumbai terror attacks should be the turning point. Governments of the region are challenged to support an open and transparent investigation in order to identify and prosecute the masterminds behind such carnage. They must have the moral courage to face the truth and have the determination to inform the public accordingly. The current and persistent state of insecurity should be a wake-up call for the region. Governments should reinforce their commitment to dismantle all forms of international terrorism growing within the region.India and Pakistan have both experienced terrorism. It is not new to them. Yet, the implications of recent international terrorism are far more complex and damaging to any society. The jihadi groups that are suspected of having carried out the Mumbai attacks are a well organised and networked with a strategy that is mercilessly used to extend their political agenda in the name of religion. It was apparent that they saw an opportunity to attack now, when the world was involved in a financial crisis and the United States distracted because of a political transition period.The carnage in Mumbai has several advantages for them: they received international attention, they were able to demoralise those who challenge them, they succeeded in creating a wedge between the improving relationship of India and Pakistan, they brought themselves into a better bargaining position before the Obama administration takes over and created a precarious situation for the fragile civilian government of Pakistan.The writer is Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

Human Rights Watch International Film Festival Call

Youth Producing Change: Human Rights Watch International Film FestivalCall for youth media submissions on human rights *Deadline for submissions: December 10, 2008 The deadline is fast approaching. Please help us get the word out far and wide! Thank you! The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival in partnership with Adobe Youth Voices seeks youth-produced media works on human rights issues* for its second annual YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program to screen in our New York, London, Boston and San Francisco film festivals in 2009-10. YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE provides a platform for youth to share their perspectives with audiences worldwide. We want film, video and animated works on human rights issues created by youth ages 19 and younger. SUBMIT TODAY! For information on how to submit your film, please visit:http://www.hrw.org/en/iff/submissions *Please send us your original films on equality, civil rights, children's rights, politics, women's rights, international justice, HIV/AIDS, the environment, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender rights, health, the environment, war and conflict, freedom of expression, counterterrorism, gender, refugees, immigration, economic, social, and cultural rights. To learn more about human rights, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org/