e-CIVICUS  Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 135
5 October, 2001

CONTENTS

A. From the desk of the CIVICUS Secretary-General
B. General news about civil society and citizen action
C. International conferences/workshops/meetings/fairs and exhibitions
D. Training courses
E. New publications
F. Internet news and websites
G. Scholarly support and awards
H. From the Reader
I. Funders and donors profile


A. FROM THE DESK OF THE CIVICUS SECRETARY-GENERAL

A HUMANITARIAN TRAGEDY OF EPIC PROPORTIONS

Since the tragedy of September 11th, I have been receiving thrice the regular volume of email. Some of these postings are from unverifiable sources, while others are intended as political or social satire, presumably to bring some cheer in these difficult times. Here is a recent posting attributed to US President George W. Bush: When asked by a reporter why the US was not, as yet, bombing Afghanistan, President Bush is said to have replied, “I’m not going to fire a $10 million missile at an empty $10 tent and hit a camel in the butt”. Regardless of its authenticity, this comment might have been funny…had the circumstances not been so tragic!

Indeed, the focus of the US government and international media has now shifted to Afghanistan, a country with an ancient and fascinating history, now reduced to a twenty first century wasteland. The proud Afghani people, living in one of the world’s harshest terrains and representing dozens of languages, ethnicities, cuisines, customs and religions, are now being depicted as the world’s pre-eminent charity cases. Two weeks ago, there was the distinct possibility of an immediate military retaliation on Afghanistan, whose ruling Taliban regime hosts Osama Bin Laden, prime suspect in the World Trade Centre attacks. That possibility has been tempered for the time being, perhaps due to the outcry from a diverse range of citizens’ organizations around the world as well as the prevailing of moderate voices (notably, General Colin Powell’s) over the more “hawkish” ones in the Bush administration.

Nevertheless, the US and its allies continue to mobilise troops for deployment in Central Asia, and are in a state of military preparedness. Simultaneously, there has been an explosion of popular interest in Afghanistan: Afghan-related internet sites have high volumes of visitors; representatives of Afghani organisations in exile, notably the Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan, RAWA, are flooded with speaking and media invitations; and I’m even told that Afghani restaurants in Seattle and other US cities are now packed beyond capacity.

Anyone who seeks the most basic information on Afghanistan is confronted with staggering statistics. In 1999, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) labeled the Afghanistan crisis the “single largest” refugee group in the world for the nineteenth year in succession. A Human Rights Watch Report on Afghanistan from December 2000, states, “Afghanistan has been at war for more than twenty years. During that time it has lost a third of its population. Some 1.5 million people are estimated to have died as a direct result of the conflict. Another 5 million fled as refugees to Iran and Pakistan; others became exiled elsewhere abroad. A large part of its population is internally displaced. Afghanistan has virtually the world’s lowest life expectancy and literacy rates and the highest rates of infant, child and maternal mortality. It is suffering from a devastating drought and, with Somalia, is one of the world’s two hungriest countries.”

Ever since news of possible US military retaliation filtered through to the country, people have been evacuating Kabul and other places in search of safe havens. The current crisis is expected to generate close to 1.5 million refugees who have nowhere to go, since Pakistan, Iran and the neighbouring Central Asian republics have sealed their borders. The UNHCR barely has supplies of tents, blankets and food to service 300,000 refugees, and has appealed to world nations for funds. The announcement of a $250 million aid package by the Bush administration is particularly welcome at this time. However, given the scale of this humanitarian crisis, the international community needs to respond generously and urgently.

For years, the UNHCR has had the unenviable task of announcing these grim statistics, and appealing for funds to assist with refugee protection and repatriation. The UN Commission on Human Rights has issued stern warnings on rights violations within the country. These warnings have usually met with limited and patchy interest on the part of the international community. Other UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, as well as non-governmental humanitarian and human rights organizations, have been scrupulously documenting the situation, disseminating information, lobbying governments and issuing warnings to the international community.

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, and other exiled women’s groups have been trying to spread awareness of the horrendous abuses committed against women under the Taliban regime. RAWA has even smuggled videotapes of summary executions of women out of the country. Until recently, RAWA also received little attention. One of the most powerful statements condemning the attacks in New York and Washington DC on September 11th came from RAWA. It unequivocally expresses sorrow and solidarity. It also points to American covert support to the mujahadeen or “freedom fighters” during Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, and calls for the US to take stock of past foreign policy decisions which helped prop up the Taliban, one of the most reprehensible regimes in modern history.

It is time for governments and citizens everywhere to take stock of past actions, or sheer negligence, which have permitted the ravaging of a sophisticated civilization. Afghanistan has long been a target of attack from outside forces due to its strategic location as the fulcrum of South and Central Asia. It was seen as a passage to India, later as a key passage in the ancient Silk route, and most recently as a passage for the potential oil pipelines from Central Asian reserves. Afghanistan was one of the most contested Cold War battlegrounds. With the taking over of the government by local communist forces, and with its eventual occupation by the Soviet Union from 1979 until 1989, the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States government, with help from Pakistani intelligence, intensified the supply of covert military aid and training to rebel forces seeking Soviet withdrawal. These rebel factions, predictably, turned against each other, and subjected the Afghani population to the worst terror, banditry and starvation they had ever experienced. Unfortunately, after the Cold War ended, both superpowers turned their backs on a civil war they had helped sponsor. The Taliban has silenced most of the other rebel factions by brute force, and continues to terrorise its population on a daily basis. Meanwhile, 25 to 30 men, women and children on average are blown up dead or mutilated everyday, by some of the estimated 10 million anti-personnel landmines littered in the Afghan countryside  a legacy of the Soviet occupation.

It is regrettable that despite several years of warnings and appeals from civil society and UN organisations, the international community is turning its attention to Afghanistan only on the eve of a possible US reprisal. By the same token, the work of these humanitarian and human rights organisations, both inter-governmental and civil society, truly represents the best of our common humanity. The arduous hours spent by these aid workers and officials in dangerous and volatile conditions, and in the face of extreme climates and an unfamiliar terrain, is inspiring, humbling and extraordinary. While paying tribute to humanitarian workers, it is important to acknowledge the Afghani refugees, internally displaced persons and men, women and children who continue to live in Afghanistan; they have been stripped of civil, political and human rights, and have been weakened by malnutrition and political and religious repression. As exiles abroad, as well as within Afghanistan, they continue to show resilience and hope.

Warm regards,
Kumi Naidoo

For further information, please visit,
http://www.unhcr.ch/, the official UNHCR website
http://www.hrw.org/, website of Human Rights Watch
http://www.refugees.org/, website of the US Committee on Refugees
http://www.reliefweb.int/
http://www.rawa.org/, website of Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan
http://www.fpa.org/, website of the Foreign Policy Association
http://www.feminist.org/, website of the Feminist Majority Foundation
http://www.interaction.org/, website of Interaction, one of the largest NGO coalitions in the US
http://www.cia.gov/, website of the Central Intelligence Agency (follow CIA World Facts on Afghanistan)

B. GENERAL NEWS ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY AND CITIZEN ACTION

Along with CIVICUS many civil society organisations around the world have issued statements in response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September. Due to space limitations we are not able to provide a full encounter of statements we know of. For a collection of reactions on 11 September and the joint civil society statement initiated by CIVICUS with other CSOs please visit www.civicus.org, www.oneworld.net/csresponse or www.amnesty.org . As an example you will find below the statement from the International Secretariat of Transparency International.

STATEMENT ON THE TRAGEDY IN THE US
by the undersigned members of the International Secretariat of Transparency International
(20 September, 2001)

1. We, the undersigned staff of the International Secretariat of Transparency International, condemn the terrorist attacks against the civilians in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in four aircraft hijackings on 11 September, 2001.We wish to express our heartfelt sorrow at the enormous loss of life and our condolences to the families and friends of the victims throughout the world, as well as to the people of the United States.

2. We condemn terrorism and urge international solidarity with the victims.

3. We call on all nations to work together to bring the perpetrators of terror to justice.

4. As part of an organisation committed to justice, equity and the rule of law, we urge world political leaders to respond to this tragedy in a manner consistent with human rights, fundamental freedoms, international law and humanitarian principles. We support all decision-makers who reject notions of collective responsibility and collective punishment.

5. As members of an organisation taking a holistic and systemic approach to corruption problems, we urge world political leaders to promote an understanding of the systems which generate terrorist violence and to address the root causes rather than the symptoms. We recognise that economic and social justice are preconditions for true security.

6. As part of an organisation which works to achieve accountable institutions and systems, we are daily confronted with the reality of people at the mercy of unscrupulous rulers and economic actors. We urge that no people should be victimised for the actions of their rulers and others.

7. As members of a civil society organisation working for transparency and accountability, we appeal to governments and civil society to prevent a victory for terrorism by refusing to allow a curtailment of the civil liberties so essential for our lives and our work.

8. As part of an organisation long committed to prohibiting the flow of capital that stems from corrupt and criminal activities, we call on all national governments, financial regulators and international private banks to effectively address the practice of money-laundering. This will help defeat the machinery of those who plan acts of terror.

9. As members of an organisation which brings together people of all nations to work for common goals, we urge world political leaders and citizens to respond to the tragedy with a recognition of our common humanity rather than with divisiveness. We applaud all those who reject racial hatred and religious intolerance in all its forms.

10. We call on all nations to work together within the framework of the United Nations to address the sources of the violence which have terrorised the world and to preserve world peace.

The signatories: Leticia Andreau, Jessie Banfield, Jessica Berns, Sergei Chereikin , Stian Christiansen, Stan Cutzach, Hanna Deimling, Gillian Dell, Hansjorg Elshorst, Sylvia Fiebig, Fredrik Galtung, Ana Garcia, Harriet Gassner, Nina Gotte, Anke Goldammer, Karen Hussmann, Arne Karrasch, Nüket Kilicli, Vanesa Kohl-Salazar, Jana Kotalik, Daniel Large, Stefanie Lehmann, Veronique Lerch, Bettina Meier, Megan Marsee, Lene Moller Jensen, Françoise Ndoume, Sandra Jimena Pabón, Silke Pfeiffer, Lisa Prevenslik Takeda, Kristina Spaar, Rebecca Townsend, Renate Trowers, Gustavo Rayo, Margit Van Ham, Hennie Van Vuuren, Folkard Wohlgemuth, Marie Wolkers, Aled Williams.

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL ONLINE FORUM
September 11 Attacks As Crimes Against Humanity

The staff and directors of Nautilus Institute were shattered by the attacks in New York and Washington DC on 11 September, 2001. Like so many others, we have family, friends and colleagues who live and work in these cities. We extend our condolences to the victims and their surviving families and pray for the rapid recovery of those injured and traumatized in the attacks.

Many Americans are asking who instigated and conducted these attacks, and why. Many answers will be forthcoming to these questions over the coming days. We believe that these events are global in both origin and impact. People and nations everywhere on earth will be affected by the attacks and their aftermath.

Therefore, it is crucial that Americans join with others around the world to understand why these attacks happened and what they mean. In this spirit, we are conducting a Special Forum on the 11 September Attacks as an International Crime Against Humanity. If you wish to join this online, moderated policy forum, please go to our sign-up page at www.nautilus.org/kiosk/signup.html and check the box, "SPECIAL FORUM".

We offer a number of questions as a start to inspire debate and dialogue about how to mobilize an effective, collective response in ways that point towards closer global cooperation and increase prospects for global peace, security, and sustainable development. We also welcome other comments, especially of any important areas that are not being discussed widely in other fora.

We invite your response. Please note that the Nautilus Institute retains the right to choose among submissions and to edit submissions for length, grammar or style, and content (ie, this is not an interactive free-form list- participants will only receive postings to the policy questions screened by the moderator). Responses will be considered for distribution only if they include the author's full name and affiliation, if any. Online versions of the articles will be made available at: www.nautilus.org/fora/Special-Policy-Forum/index.html

CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP EVENT IN NEW YORK

You are cordially invited to an event surrounding the release of the new book "Perspectives on Corporate Citizenship" with the co-editor and two contributors. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their questions and engage in a dialogue with the presenters.

A number of disparate but interconnected forces such as deregulation and globalization, rapid advances in communications technology and the rise in the power of the consumer and civil society have now combined to bring corporate responsibility to prominence in many corporate boardrooms. In this information age, the ramifications of not addressing best practice in environment, workplace, marketplace and community could range from bad press coverage to complete market exclusion. These are perilous times for the social construct of modern capitalism.

In today's society successful companies will increasingly be those that recognize that they have responsibilities to a range of stakeholders that go beyond compliance with the law. If in the past the focus was on enhancing shareholder value, now it is on engaging stakeholders for long-term value creation. If in the past corporate social responsibility was simply seen as profitability plus compliance plus philanthropy, now responsible corporate citizenship means companies being more aware of and understanding the societies in which they operate. This means senior executives and managers being able to deal with a wide range of issues including greater accountability, human rights abuses, sustainability strategies, corporate governance codes, workplace ethics, stakeholder consultation and management.

The aim and scope of “Perspectives on Corporate Citizenship” is to help capture and distill these and other emerging trends in terms of content, context and processes, in one concise volume.

WHEN: 12 October (Friday), 2:30 PM
WHERE: United Nations Association of the USA, 801 Second Ave., 2nd Fl.,
between 42nd/43rd Streets, New York, THE UNITED STATES

RSVP: Jonathan Cohen, (1-212) 907-1300, ext. 325, or jcohen@unausa.org

Books will be available for purchase at a significant discount from list
price.


C. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS
(Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing in this newsletter for the first time)

RESPONSIBLE WORKPLACE STRATEGIES: GLOBAL IMPLEMENTATION (*)
Social Accountability International's Third Annual Conference

Confirmed keynote speakers include:
- Robert Davies, Chief Executive, The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum
- Riccardo Bagni, Vice Chairman, Coop Italia
- Dr C.T. Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer, IFESH/Global Sullivan Principles.

This year's conference will focus on practical solutions to implementing workplace social accountability. Over fifty panel speakers are confirmed, including individuals affiliated with: Adidas; Auchan; Avon; BVQI; Caring Company; the Caux Round Table; Chiquita; Ethical Trading Initiative; Eurep; Fair Labor Organization; Hema; IFC - World Bank; International Labour Organisation; India Committee of the Netherlands; Kesko; PricewaterhouseCoopers; SGS; SustainAbility; Toys 'R' Us; Verité and Watson Wyatt.

Panel topics include agriculture, apparel, auditing, communicating with stakeholders, labour standards in development, harmonization of standards, sourcing from India, licensing, retail, socially responsible investing, strategy development and supply chain monitoring.

DATE: 23-24 October, 2001
VENUE: Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS
ORGANISER: Social Accountability International
INTERNET: www.sa-intl.org/conferences.htm

ESTONIAN NGO CONFERENCE AND FAIR (*)
From Vision to Change

All NGO representatives, politicians, entrepreneurs, students and journalists are invited to participate at the second Estonian NGO Conference and Fair. The theme for the conference regards various visions of the society and our opportunities for changes.

Through discussions, presentations, debates and working groups, we concentrate on our visions on Estonian and the global level, look at the current reality of the Estonian third sector and listen to the success stories of Estonian NGOs. We discuss the opportunities and the importance of co-operation between all three sectors of the society and the future of the Estonian civil society in the global context.

Main presentations are made by Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of CIVICUS; Douglas Rutzen, Vice President of International Center for Not-for-Profit Law; Peeter Tulviste, Chairman of Tartu City Council; and Mart Laar; Prime Minister of Estonia.

We encourage all organizations to participate at the fair and to present their successes and best practices in one of the conference working groups.

The conference is in Estonian, with simultaneous interpretation into English and Russian.

Participation fee is USD 20 per person which includes materials, coffebreaks and lunch. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodations. To register please contact riin@ngo.ee.

THEME: From Vision to Change
DATE: 5-6 November, 2001
VENUE: Tallinn, ESTONIA
ORGANISER: Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations  NENO
TEL.: (372) 626 3309
FAX: (372) 626 3310
E-MAIL: riin@ngo.ee
INTERNET: www.ngo.ee

PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL (PBI) 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE

On celebrating the 20th anniversary of PBI the international conference brings together representatives and individuals from a wide range of backgrounds in peace and human rights movements and organisations as well as state and inter-governmental bodies. The conference presents an excellent platform for the international exchange of ideas and for establishing new partnerships.

THEME: Promoting Nonviolence and Protecting Human Rights - The Role of Civilian Third Party Initiatives in Conflict Areas
DATE: 26-27 October, 2001
VENUE: Konstanz, Germany and Romanshorn, Switzerland
CONTACT: Jurgen Stork, Peace Brigades International
E-MAIL: pbizurich@dataway.ch
INTERNET: http://www.peacebrigades.org/

2001 ASIA PACIFIC EARTH CHARTER CONFERENCE

In 2002 the Earth Charter will be presented to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (as part of Rio+10) for endorsement by the United Nations General Assembly.  This conference is part of civil society's contribution to the global sustainability agenda.  It provides an opportunity for organisations and individuals from the Asia Pacific Region to learn more about the Earth Charter initiative, build networks for promoting sustainability in the region and to share practical examples of sustainability best practices.

DATE: 29 November - 2 December 2001
VENUE: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
CONTACT: Clem Campbell, Conference Coordinator
TEL.: (61-7) 3875-7132
E-MAIL:  clemcampbell@optusnet.com.au
INTERNET: http://www.earthcharter.org/, http://eca.anu.edu.au/


D. TRAINING COURSES

ACADEMIC COURSE ON CIVIL SOCIETY

EVOLUTION AND OPERATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Fall 2001
New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Course Description:
“Evolution and Operation of Non-Governmental Organizations” is a core course in the certificate program in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). It will describe and analyze the growing role of NGOs as actors in international affairs ­ as gatherers and disseminators of information, public educators, advocates, providers of humanitarian assistance, and promoters of sustainable economic development. The course will describe the activities, operation, and impact of NGOs in several fields. It is not a course in non-profit management, although it will attempt to describe the realities faced by NGO managers and employees in the course of formulating policy, internal governance, fundraising, accountability, and implementation of programs at the field level.

If you have any questions about the class:

CONTACT: Jonathan Cohen, Manager, Council of Organizations, United Nations Association of the USA
ADDRESS: 801 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017
TEL.: (1-212) 907-1300, ext. 325
FAX: (1-212) 682-9185
E-MAIL: jcohen@unausa.org
INTERNET: http://www.unausa.org/


E. NEW PUBLICATIONS

PAMPHLETS OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR STRATEGY GROUP

The Nonprofit Sector Strategy Group, a project of the Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Program of The Aspen Institute, has produced two new resources that tackle the issue of business-nonprofit engagement.

The “Nonprofit Sector and Business: New Visions, New Opportunities, New Challenges” and “The Nonprofit Sector and the Market: 87, Sydney 1043, AUSTRALIA
TEL.: (61-2) 493-46290
FAX: (61-2) 493-43692
E-MAIL: aapi@aapi.com.au

METAPHORS FOR CHANGE
Partnerships, Tools and Civic Action for Sustainability

Edited by Penny Allen, Association for Colloquia on the Environment,
with Christophe Bonazzi, Association for Colloquia on the Environment,
and David Gee, European Environment Agency

288pp paperback | £19.95 US$40.00 |ISBN 1874719373

How can we get from where we are to where we want to be? "Metaphors for Change" attempts to answer this question and provide a roadmap for sustainability by bringing together the thoughts of a unique collection of leading change agents from business, government and academia.

For more details on this book and to reserve a copy, please visit the Greenleaf website at: www.greenleaf-publishing.com/catalogue/metaph.htm

NEW BUSINESS PARTNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Business Partners for Development has published a new report entitled 'Endearing Myths, Enduring Truths: Enabling Partnerships Between Business, Civil Society and the Public Sector’. The report provides an insight into the emerging lessons from BPD's four Clusters. It can be viewed on line at www.bpdweb.org/krg where you can also register to get on BPD's general mailing list.


F. INTERNET NEWS AND WEBSITES

ASHOKA WEBSITE IN SPANISH

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public - a non-profit organization that identifies and supports social entrepreneurs worldwide - announces the launch of its new, Spanish language website: http://www.espanol.ashoka.org/ . The site features the latest information about social entrepreneurs in Latin America, as well as a library of online resources aimed at strengthening citizen sector initiatives in the region and beyond.

For more information contact: gaston@ashoka.org.ar


G. SCHOLARLY SUPPORT AND AWARDS

2001 APC AFRICA HAFKIN PRIZE WINNER TRAINS WOMEN IN RURAL NIGERIA TO USE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR PEACE AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA - The first APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize in recognition of outstanding and creative uses of information and communication technologies was awarded on 12 September at the African Communications & Technology (ACT) Summit gala dinner to the Bayanloco Community Learning Centre in Kaduna State, Nigeria, an initiative of the Fantsuam Foundation led by Kazanka Comfort.

Ms. Comfort's work on a women-led peace initiative in the villages, where women act as detectors of potential flash-points of communal violence and as peace brokers, made her realize that fast communication among rural women could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. She had seen e-mail in action while abroad studying and felt it could be a solution. However, the villages she was working in were poor and rural, in many cases without electricity, let alone computer equipment.

Her employer, the Fantsuam Foundation, also saw the potential impact that having an e-mail address and access to computers in each village could make a difference, and so did the villagers. The Foundation decided to support community-based, community-sustained computer centres as part of their microcredit and poverty alleviation scheme. The first Community Learning Centre (CLC) was set up through the disbursement of loans to women of the Bechechet Bayinring clan of Kpunyai village with Kazanka Comfort providing basic computer literacy classes. Users paid fees to train and use the facilities, sometimes in-kind.

"The most amazing aspect about the Bayanloco Community Learning Centre," said Nancy Hafkin, "is that it managed to come into existence at all". Ms. Hafkin, for whom the APC prize was named, should know. As a key pioneer of networking and development information and communications in Africa, over the course of a twenty-three year career, she has seen even promising ICT initiatives fail. In contrast, the Bayanloco Centre had to overcome multiple obstacles, including the initial opposition of an all-male Board of Trustees, technophobia among rural women who would be beneficiaries of the project, high levels of illiteracy, initial lack of Internet access, no phone and no regular supply of electricity. The project founder and leader was herself no "techie", but simply a woman from Nigeria who realized the potential of the technology to help rural women not only meet their basic needs but also to save lives in times of emergency and communal strife.

Largely due to the determination of Ms. Comfort and the enthusiastic reception of the IT training by local communities, eight additional rural communities and two tertiary education institutions have requested partnership with the Fantsuam Foundation in order to start their own CLCs; the Bayanloco Women's Microcredit groups supervise the CLC; and two training colleges are using the facilities for their Distance Learning Programme for teachers in rural communities. There are plans to provide satellite-based e-mail and Internet access financed by a recent grant.

"Kazanka Comfort demonstrated that information technology is not an unnecessary luxury for rural women in poor countries, but rather a tool to help them meet their needs. The project was not technology driven; it was woman-driven!" said Hafkin in her award statement, read at the ACT Summit by APC's Executive Director, Anriette Esterhuysen. "The Hafkin Prize winner and the other finalists debunk some common myths about Africa and African women," added Ms. Esterhuysen. "There is a perception that Africa is the 'unconnected continent', bypassed by the so-called 'information age', and that African women are disempowered victims of social and economic equality. What is not adequately recognised is that Africans, and specifically African women are being remarkably innovative, entrepreneurial and courageous in engaging information and communications technologies, in spite of limited access to resources and infrastructure. The Hafkin Prize is as much about promoting African capacity and creativity in the information technology sector as it is about recognising specific initiatives."

ABOUT THE PRIZE

APC launched the Africa Hafkin Prize to reward outstanding African initiatives that successfully use information and communications technology (ICTs) for development. The theme for the Hafkin Prize in 2001 is women-led, women-informed, women-inspired initiatives.

The USD$7,500.00 Hafkin prize is open to civil society organisations, government institutions, educational organisations, community-based groups, networks, social movements or individuals anywhere in Africa. As well as being women-centred, qualifying initiatives must demonstrate the creativity of their use of ICTs (especially the Internet) and the success of their work in terms of mobilising participation and building capacity. Only initiatives that have been developed and implemented from within Africa, and by people and institutions that are based in Africa are eligible. The Prize will be awarded again in 2002.

For further information visit the APC Hafkin Prize website:
www.apc.org/english/hafkin [English]
www.apc.org/francais/hafkin [French]

The Fantsuam Foundation Website:
www.kabissa.org/fantsuam
E-mail: fantsuamfoundation@fantsuam.com

2002 HILTON HUMANITARIAN PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT

The $1 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize for 2001 was awarded to London's St. Christopher's Hospice. The ceremony to be held in New York City has been postponed due to the tragedy unfolding and it will be rescheduled for later in the fall. St. Christopher’s, the world’s first teaching hospice, was established in 1967 by Dame Cicely Saunders, known worldwide as the founder of the modern hospice movement. Please visit the Hilton Foundation website for additional information on St. Christopher’s Hospice http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation now invites nominations for the 2002 Hilton Humanitarian Prize. It is seeking an organization that has made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering anywhere in the world.

The $1 million (U.S.) prize, the world’s largest humanitarian award, is presented annually to an established nonprofit, charitable or non-governmental organization. The prize is not a grant, based on future goals, but an award for recent and historic accomplishments. An independent international panel of jurors will make the final selection; the award will be announced in fall 2002.

Nomination packets are available now on the Hilton Foundation website. Nominations must be received or postmarked by December 15, 2001.

CONTACT: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Hilton Humanitarian Prize
ADDRESS: 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1000, Los Angeles, California 90067-4011, USA
TEL.: (1-310) 556-4694
FAX: (1-310) 556-8130
E-MAIL: prize@hiltonfoundation.org


H. FROM THE READER

Dear e-CIVICUS Editor,

Thank you for compiling much valuable information in the wake of the attack on the US. I was pleased to receive and sign the CIVICUS petition. However, it seems to me that the emphasis on fundraising and support for American victims is out of proportion, even though I am American by birth and am appalled by the magnitude of the recent tragedy. Millions of dollars have already been raised and more will come in from generous people in the West and elsewhere for surviving family members.

But what of the estimated 300,000 potential Afghan refugees - uprooted, deeply impoverished people, many of whom will die of starvation and cold if the world is silent? Please allow some space for them and their plight in your upcoming issues.

Thank you,

Barbara Ibrahim
Ibn Khaldun Center, Egypt


I. ABOUT CIVICUS

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world.

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