BALOCH URGENT ACTION NETWORK

Balochistan: Continued protests and token hunger strikes against Baloch leaders arrest and military operation

2009-04-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

A complete shutter-down was observed in Punjgoor against the arrest of BNF leaders. Protest rallies and demonstration were also held in Karachi and different areas of Balochistan.

Thousand of Baloch and non-Baloch political, social and student activists have taken part in these protests. Protesters demanded the immediate release of Baloch leaders and an end to military operation in Balochistan. Speaking at the gatherings Baloch political, social and student leaders said that Baloch struggle for Freedom is at the peak and Pakistan cannot weaken Baloch struggle by detaining our leaders and activists.

Leaders from different organisation visited the token hunger strike camps set up by Baloch activists to show their sympathy and assured their help. It is worth mentioning that Baloch activists has set up these token hunger strike camps against the army operation in Balochistan, thousands of missing person and against the recent wave of abduction of Baloch political and student leaders.

2009-02-11T06:39:00.000-08:00

2009-02-11T06:37:00.000-08:00

Israeli troops take grip on Gaza, civilians suffer

2009-01-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

Israeli troops and tanks split the Gaza Strip and ringed its main city on Sunday in an offensive against Hamas that has killed 500 Palestinians, including a growing number of civilians.

Israeli tanks poured shells and machinegun-fire into suspected militant positions and war planes struck as Hamas fighters fought back with mortars and rockets.

Hamas kept up rocket attacks against southern Israel, defying efforts by the Middle East's most powerful army to achieve Israeli leaders' declared aim of removing the threat of cross-border salvoes.

"It's a very very interesting, demanding, tough first 24 hours right now, and we are committed to follow through to continue as long as needed to achieve our objectives," Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said as he met Tony Blair, the envoy of powers sponsoring Middle East peace talks.

European Union foreign policy chiefs launched a mission to seek a ceasefire in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip but acknowledged they faced a difficult task.

At least 42 Palestinians, most of them civilians, were killed on Sunday as Israeli shells slammed into houses and Gaza's main shopping district, medical sources said.

Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians in the Gaza Strip as "human shields", saying the Islamist group has been firing rockets at Israeli towns from densely populated areas and storing weapons in homes and mosques.

Among the Palestinian casualties were five civilians killed and 40 wounded when tank shells slammed into Gaza City's main shopping area. Two children were dismembered by another blast from a tank, medical workers said.

A foreign Red Crescent doctor said: "Civilians are being killed ... shells are severing people's legs, shrapnel is going into people's bodies and into people's homes, a lot of people are being cut down. Everyone is terrified."

The head of emergency services in the Gaza Strip told Al Jazeera television that three Palestinian rescue workers were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday, raising to seven the total number of medical staff who have died in nine days of bloodshed.

The Saturday night invasion of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip followed a week of Israeli bombardments from land, sea and air -- the most serious Israeli-Palestinian fighting in decades.

The total Palestinian death toll tallied by Gaza medical officials in Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" rose to 512. A UN agency said at least a quarter of the dead were civilians. A Palestinian human rights group put the figure at 40 per cent.

One Israeli soldier was killed and 32 were wounded in the ground offensive, Israel said. Four Israelis have been killed by the Hamas rocket strikes since Dec. 27.

Taliban bans co-education in restive Pakistan tribal areas

2009-01-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

After banning girls' education in Swat district of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan, Taliban militia Sunday imposed restrictions on co-education in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Pamphlets attributed to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were distributed in the restive tribal areas of the country, asking school owners and teachers to close down all institutes offering co-education even at the pre-school level.

The pamphlets in Urdu asked the government to stop issuing identity cards to women "with or without pictures". According to Pakistani rules, every adult above 18 years of age has to have an identity card with his/her photo pasted on it.

The pamphlet said all co-education schools and issuance of identity cards should be stopped by Monday. "No school should open Monday with co-education," the pamphlet warned.

However, there was no mention if the girls can go to schools reserved for them in the tribal areas.

Taliban leaders in the restive Swat district declared Dec 26 that any girl found going to school after Jan 15 will be dealt with according to the "Islamic laws".

"All the private and government schools have been given a 15-day deadline to close down the female education facilities. They have also banned women from visiting markets," said Mohamed Osman, a school teacher and social worker.

"We have no choice but to follow the orders. The government cannot give us protection. Taliban runs a parallel government in 90 percent of the area of the district and they execute everyone who opposes them," Osman said.

The TTP had then said the Swat leadership of the Taliban would be asked to review the ban.

International Detention Monitor

2008-12-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-12T16:49:00.000-08:00

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)

2008-12-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-12T16:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Nawab Khair buksh Marri Interview With BBC

YouTube - Why International Media Silent On Balochistan

2008-12-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Why International Media Silent On Balochistan

YouTube - Baloch Girls Protest aginst human rights violations

2008-12-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Baloch Girls Protest aginst human rights violations

YouTube - Amnesty International-Signatures

2008-12-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Amnesty International-Signatures

The International Summer School (ISS)

2008-12-08T07:53:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-02T16:51:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-02T04:17:00.000-08:00

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/

Worldwide Human Rights Program 2009

2008-11-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

Short Course on International Human Rights Law

8 January 2009 to 20 March 2009 Nottingham, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/hrlc/coursesContact name: Miss Kobie Neita

The fee for three months is £2,950. There is an option to undertake a six month course which includes a three month internship. Further information is available on www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/hrlc/coursesOrganized by: The University of Nottingham - Human Rights Law Centre Deadline for abstracts/proposals: Not available.

International Conference on Feminist Constitutionalism

28 February 2009 to 1 March 2009 Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Website: http://law.queensu.ca/events/lectureshipsVisitorships/internationalConferenceOnFeministConstitutionalism.htmlContact name: Tsvi Kahana

Disucssing the intersection between constitutional law, constitutionalism, and feminist theory, domestically, internationally and comparatively. Keynote speakers: Catherinke MacKinnon, Reva Siegel, Jennifer Nedelsky.Organized by: Faculty of Law, Queen's University Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 30 September 2008 Check the event website for latest details.

6th Global Conference: War, Virtual War and Human Security

6th Global Conference War, Virtual War and Human Security Friday 1st May - Sunday 3rd May 2009 Budapest, Hungary Call for Papers Is war an extension of politics by other means? The locomotive of technology? Is it humankind in its most natural state; or is human society - despite perceptions and ongoing conflict around the world today - actually moving toward an aversion to war and a state of peace? This inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary conference seeks to provide a challenging forum for the examination and evaluation of the nature, purpose and experience of war, and its impacts on all aspects of security, human security and to communities across the world. Viewing war as a multi-layered, multi-factorial phenomenon, the conference series seeks to explore the historical, legal, social, human, religious, economic, and political contexts of conflicts, and assess the place of art, journalism, literature, music, the media and the internet in representation and interpretation of the experience of warfare. In particular papers, workshops, reports, and presentations are invited on any of the following themes: 1. How do we Talk about and Describe War? Portrayal, awareness, language and expression. How do we come to understand war in contemporary and historical cultures? * The Language of modern contemporary warfare, the language of war in society, in the work space and popular culture; obscuration of conditions of being at 'war' and the condition of 'peace' * Militarization of society, propaganda, war toys, computer gaming; in fashion -'military chic' * Representing the realities of war versus 'national interest' - images of the heroism, glory, tacit and explicit justifications of war; the horror of war and societal responses 2. Representations and Experiences Viewing War as a multi-layered social phenomena. * The individual experience of war, the impact of war, in protest; in the alleviation of war and in peace building. * Recovering from war, trauma, rehabilitation. * The experience of war; art, literature, music, poetry, cinema and the theatre; the role of the media - journalism, radio, television, the internet; propaganda * The representations and experiences of protest * War and Remembrance; the function of memorials; the role of museums; the place of ceremonies in cultural contexts 3. History and Development of Warfare and War Fighting. How have we fought and why. Lessons learned, mistakes repeated. * Warfare in human history, revisionism and post-revisionism. * The sources, origins, and causes of war; why and how do wars begin? * Means and methods in war - land, sea, air, space, nuclear, chemical, biological; terror and terrorism; conventional and guerrilla warfare; civil war; 'total' warfare'. * The nature of warfare; strategy and strategic thought; changes and the implications of changes in the ways wars are fought; the influence and effect of technologies; nuclear deterrence/compellance; changes in the nature and role of military personnel; information and information warfare. 4. Extent, Conduct and Morality Can war even be distinguished from peace, combatant from non-combatant, who are legitimate targets? The totality of war in modern culture. * Where are we now? How has war pervaded our society and culture in everyday life? * The extent of war; geo-political, physical; blockades, sanctions, defence expenditure and the impact on social and public policy; on social and human capital. * The complexity of the Military Industrial Complex (MIC), Financing Conflict, the complexities of ethical investing. * The regulation and control of warfare; how is and should warfare be conducted? What are the limits of conflict? Are there any prohibitions in fighting a war? * Globalization; the human, geographic, social and economic boundaries of war in the modern era. * Resource warfare, food, water, oil and mineral wealth, challenges in the 21st century 5. Human Rights and Human Security Have the means and methods in war, finally outpaced International law and norms of behaviour? What protection is available? If truth is the first casualty in war, is human rights the second? * Human security issues; protection, shelter, economic security; public health. * Human rights; protection, promotion and abuses; genocide, ethnic cleansing; terrorism; scorched earth; war crimes; crimes against humanity. * Armed non-state actors, roles, practices and regulation. 6. The Boundaries of War How far will humankind push the limits of acceptable behaviour and practice in war? * The 'morality' and the 'ethics' of war; just war; deterrence; pre-emptive war; defence and self-defence; the influence of nationalism; the place of human rights; societies and the military; increases in moral sensibilities - qualms about carpet bombing, collateral damage; the status of combatants in warfare, the impact of civilians; neutrality. * War and religion; the important role of religion, the church, and the intellectual elite in multi-ethnic conflict specifically and in war in general; just war, jihad and crusade. * War and gender; women in war; impact, abuses, role in war as combatants and in peace building. Gender equality issues and peace building, cultures of violence in society propagating conflict. * Children and war, child soldiers, trauma, exposure, conditioning, propaganda, bereavement, expression though play, art and behaviour. * Slavery and war; past, present and future; unwilling combatants, from janissaries to Mamelukes, to conscripts and child soldiers * Resistance under occupation, where collaboration ends and resistance begins? Forms of resistance 7. Prevention and Peace Can we give peace a chance? Viewing war as un-natural, preventable within a variety of frameworks. The legal mechanisms and the trans-national social movements 'waging peace'. * Peace building; means and methods; negative peace and building a positive peace; war-termination and nation-building. * The prevention of war; the role of conflict resolution; avoiding war; peace-keeping; the role and importance of law and international legal order; the rise and impact of non-violent movements. * Conscientious objection, alternative service. * The Peace Movement 8. Non-state Actors and NGOs in War Breaking the state conundrum, participation in relief from the depredations of war, alleviating the suffering, advocacy from theatres of war. Or compromising humanitarian Aid? Force multipliers? Abrogating combatants' responsibilities toward their populations. * History: The Quakers to the Red Cross and beyond. * The Peace Movement, voices and actions * NGOs, the 'third space' actors in the relief of the impact of warfare, aid and development programmes, refugees and IDPs, child soldiers, landmines / cluster munitions; small arms light weapons (SALW/DDR), NGOs prolonging conflict by abrogating state and combatants responsibilities in time of conflict. * Advocacy campaigns against war, arms trading and weapon systems * Armed non-state actors. Terrorists? Freedom fighters? Private security forces. Mercenaries in the modern world 9. Future War: Revolutions in Military Affairs Emerging Types of Warfare. Be afraid, be very afraid. Are there no limits to mans inhumanity to man? * Cyber-war Virtual war; cyber-terrorism; cyber-power, cyber-war; computer technologies in the conduct of war. * Technology leaps - acquiring WMD * Space war - fantasy or an emerging reality? Issues in the militarisation and weaponisation of space. * Bio-warfare: gene warfare; the genetic codes of agriculture and livestock as targets in war The Steering Group particularly welcomes the submission of pre-formed panel proposals. Papers will also be considered on any related theme. 300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 9th January 2009. If an abstract is accepted for the conference, a full draft paper should be submitted by Friday 10th April 2009. 500 word abstracts should be submitted to both Organising Chairs; abstracts may be in Word, WordPerfect, or RTF formats, following this order: author(s), affiliation, email address, title of abstract, body of abstract. We acknowledge receipt and answer to all paper proposals submitted. If you do not receive a reply from us in a week you should assume we did not receive your proposal; it might be lost in cyberspace! We suggest, then, to look for an alternative electronic route or resend. Organising Chairs David White Department of Philosophy University of Calgary, Calgary Canada E-mail: whitedm@ucalgary.ca Rob Fisher Inter-Disciplinary.Net Priory House, Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxfordshire United Kingdom E-mail: wvw6@inter-disciplinary.net The conference is part of the 'Probing the Boundaries' programme of research projects. It aims to bring together people from different areas and interests to share ideas and explore various discussions which are innovative and exciting. A number of volumes of themed papers are in preparation and/or in print from the previous meetings of this project. All papers accepted for and presented at this conference will be eligible for publication in an ISBN eBook. Selected papers accepted for and presented at the conference will be published in a themed hard copy volume.

Training events

2008-11-24T04:38:00.000-08:00

Training events
Gender Analysis and Planning
Dates: 14 January 2009 - 16 January 2009 Location: London, UK
Course fee: £475.00Number of days: 3
Description:Development planners and NGOs are becoming increasingly committed to incorporating a gender perspective into their work; however, many face challenges in practically applying it. In this course you will benefit from how to analyse and plan the ‘gender’ perspective into effective development practice. You will also look at how to apply analytical tools and strategies to ensure that gender is prioritised on project and programme agendasObjectives:• Explore the relations between gender and development•Gain a stronger understanding of equality•Practise the use of gender analytical tools•Acquire knowledge of development planning around gender roles and needs•Get exposed to methods of creating gender awareness in development practice.http://www.intrac.org/pages/events_training.html

kit for Human Rights Day 2008

2008-11-23T17:33:00.000-08:00

Dear colleagues and partners,
This year’s information kit for Human Rights Day 2008 (to be observed on 10 December) is now available. Feel free to use its contents as you wish for your events and activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). You can adapt them to your audiences and translate them into your local language. The kit includes five information notes: - A summary of events that took place around the world throughout 2008 to mark the 60th anniversary; - Information on the “Stories on Human Rights” films; - Background information on the Human Rights Prize; - Useful tools and contacts; - Human Rights Education and the UDHR, in the context of the International Year of Human Rights Learning. The English version of the Information Kit is already posted on the UDHR 60 section of the OHCHR website.Other languages versions (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) will be posted soon. A number of public information documents, including the special logo, more than 360 translations of the UDHR, photographs and background information, as well as a list of ideas for activities, are at your disposal on our webpage to help you commemorate this anniversary. All documents are downloadable and printable for your convenience. They may be helpful for any event you may be preparing. Visit this page frequently for updates. Best regards,
Sandrine Mbea
Information Officer Communications Section Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)tel: +41 2291 79366 E-mail: smbea@ohchr.org Web: www.ohchr.org

‘Armed resistance is the only way': Baloch leaders

2008-11-19T16:06:00.000-08:00

http://dawn.com
By Saleem Shahid
Thursday, 20 Nov, 2008 02:42 AM PST
QUETTA: Baloch leaders vowed to continue their struggle for self-determination saying that Pakistani assemblies cannot resolve the problems being faced by baloch people.
Speaking at a public meeting in New Kahan camp area on the eve of first death anniversary of late Baloch leader Nawabzada Balaach Marri, here on Wednesday.
‘Armed resistance is the only way to achieve our goal,’ they said, adding that the sacrifices rendered by Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Nawabzada Balaach Marri and other baloch people is way thought adopting that baloch people could continue their struggle.
Central leader of Marri Etihad Ali Armed Baloch, Sana Baloch, Dr. Bashir Azim secretary general baloch republican party, Waja Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Sadiq Raisani, Shakar Bibi advocate, Mir Humayun Marri, Prine Musa Jan, Dr. Hakil Lehri, Nawab Mohammad Khan Shahwani, Sardar Naseer Mosyani, Mir Amanullah Zarakzai and Haji Jan Mohammad Baloch spoke on at the public meeting.
The speakers urged upon Baloch people to extend full support to baloch resistance movement and speared the massage of shaheed baloch leaders in every corner of Balochistan for the achievement of their goal for which they had rendered their lives.
They paid great tributes to veteran Baloch leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri and said that despite his old age he was supporting movement baloch youths launched in the province. They said that all institutions, buildings, highways, hospitals and parks should be named after our baloch heroes. They said that it was need of the hour to promote thinking of baloch movement instead of present educational system.
Speakers said that baloch have their own national reorganization, culture, language and status and they are not part of Pakistan, Iran or any other country.
The public meeting also adopted various resolutions demanding that the right of self-determination of baloch nation should be accepted according to the charter of United Nation. It was also demanded that United Kingdom and other western governments should expel the names of baloch organizations from the list of terrorist. Another resolution demanded of the British government to withdraw all allegations it leveled against Nawabzada Hairbyer Marri and Faiz Baloch and lift all restrictions imposed on them. It was also demanded in the public meeting that missing baloch people should be given status of war prisoners.

Mir Balaach Day

2008-11-19T15:49:00.000-08:00

thanks Asaappublicatins.com

2008-11-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

Announcement
BUAN Team UK
Looking male/female Baloch volunteer coordinator all over the world

Contact:

Shahid Baloch
Coordinator
BUAN Team
UK
Cell:00 7779753985
email:buanteam@yahoo.com

B L F Message to Newspapers

2008-11-16T15:49:00.000-08:00

Mir Balaach

2008-11-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Buan Team Fully Supported 20th November Strike.

2008-11-09T16:47:00.000-08:00

Baloch Urgent Action Network (Buan) Appeal To All Baloch Nation In Day Of Leader Of Baloch Fighters Shaheed Mir Balaach Marri Mark Of The First Anniversary On 20 November Full Shutter- Down Strike All Over The Baluchistan And Support Baloch Freedom Fighters Struggle.
Buan Team Fully Supported 20th November Strike.

Layri ka Nakoo

2008-11-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

Baloch Freedom Fighters Rally in Quett .BSO.Azad

2008-11-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

Mir Balaach Marri Sheheed Annivarsary

2008-10-30T03:50:00.000-07:00

Mir Balaach Marri Sheheed Annivarsary
we have got to understand that they dream our dreams and we dream thirs. we have got to understand that they are us.Rachel Corrie’

Che Guevara.

2008-10-23T02:02:00.000-07:00

Baloch Rights are Human Rights

2008-10-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

Universal Declaration of Human Rights - English (English)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Preamble
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, therefore,
The General Assembly,
Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 11
Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 14
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 15
Everyone has the right to a nationality.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Article 16
Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
Article 17
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Article 21
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Article 26
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Article 27
Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29
Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
© The Office of the High Commissioner for Human RightsOHCHR-UNOG8-14 Avenue de la Paix1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland+41 22 917-9000udhr@ohchr.org

2008-10-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Baloch; Refugees on Their Own Land, Why??????

2008-10-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

18.10.2008
by Imran Baloch
It has been three years army operation started in Dera Bugti & Kohlu areas of Baluchistan. It resulted in internal displacement of 80,000 people. Men and women along with children found refuge on barren land in various places in Sind, Punjab & Baluchistan.Since then, these people are forgotten by state, political parties and so called NGOs. These internally displaced refugees are living in temporary shelter/hut, facing harsh weather.Little to eat, clean clothes is a distant dream, water and enough food is missing.Irony is that last year international donor agencies wanted to help these people but state did not allow them to rescue malnourished children and impoverished families.Why it is so?Aren’t they Pakistani?Aren’t they Human?What is their crime?Is anybody listening…..…can anyone tell me, why??????
(Thank you www.Balochunity.org)

Baloch Urgent Action Network

2008-10-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

How does baloch urgent action network BUAN carry out its work?

send experts to talk with victims
observe trials
interview
liaise with human rights and political activists
monitor global and local media
publish detailed reports
inform the international news media
publicize our concerns in documents, leaflets, posters,

How do I join BUAN.! contact via email:
buanteam@yahoo.com