Focus93 January 2014 by Comhlamh

HIV TREATMENT IN NAMIBIA

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA

GAZA FREEDOM RUNNER

Kate Mukungu discusses the options open to Namibia to ensure the country’s impressive progress continues.

The relationship between criminal law and Sharia law is a complex one when it comes to domestic violence.

Nader al-Masri is an Olympic standard runner who has had to turn down offers to compete in races worldwide. Find out why.

> HEALTH PAGE 3

> GENDER PAGE 5

> SPORTS PAGE 8

FOCUS

ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE. January 2014 | Published By Comhlámh | ISSUE 93

www.comhlamh.org

A day of action against Direct Provision Photo credit: Irish Refugee Council

COLM ASHE. Comhlámh Staﬀ

Lives Put On Hold.

Ireland’s Direct Provision System Is Leaving People In Limbo For Years. RORY HALPIN SPIRASI.

etween 1993 a nd 2000, the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland went from 6 a year to just fewer than 11,000 a year. In the late 90s, as a means of dealing with the unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers, the Irish State set up the Direct Provision system. Through this system, asylum seekers receive full board accommodation and personal allowances of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child per week. While they wait for a decision with regard to their applications asylum seekers are forbidden to work and have only limited access to education. One asylum seeker says, “I am a qualified medical doctor. At least I was when I left my country 4 years ago. I would now have to retrain if I was to work as a doctor. I feel I am wasting my

life away. I want to work. I want to contribute”. The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is the government agency that was set up to manage and run the system of Direct Provision. At the end of June 2013 there were a total of 34 accommodation centres spread throughout 16 counties. These housed approximately 4,600 asylum seekers, 1,500 of which were children. Of these 34 only three were ‘purpose built’ with the rest comprising of former hotels, hostels, convents and holiday camps. The result is that residents are often living in over-crowded situations with little or no privacy and inadequate facilities, especially for children. One woman, who has been in Direct Provision for 3 years, comments, “I have seen children acting out in a sexual way. They obviously see the things their parents are doing because there is too much overcrowding – this is just not right”.

man put it, ‘Sometimes I think It is fair to say that Direct we would be better off in prison. Provision was set up with the At least in prison you know when intention of being a temporary you’re going to be released’. accommodation solution, the The solution to thinking being that asylum this is twofold. seekers would be in Firstly, to the system no improve the longer than a “Sometimes I think we legal system year. However, would be better oﬀ in because of prison. At least in prison so that processing limited resources you know when you’re applications and a widely going to be released” is acknowledged accelerated. inadequate legal In this regard framework, it is to be hoped that delays in processing the proposed ‘Single Protection asylum applications are both Procedure’ bill which has been commonplace and prolonged, to the extent that people often have to in process since 2006 is enacted as a matter of urgency. Secondly, wait several years for a definitive enough resources should be decision. The human suffering given to the 4,600 asylum seekers caused by these delays is not to currently in Direct Provision so be underestimated. Deterioration that their legal process can be in both mental and physical expedited as soon as possible to health of asylum seekers is well allow people resume lives, whether documented, with elevated levels here or back in their countries of of depression and anxiety the most origin, that have been put on hold. common ill effects. As one young

he collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh last April, brought the working conditions of textile workers in Asia to the forefront of public attention. There was public outcry as the plight of these workers, and the global fashion brands involved in perpetuating it, became public knowledge. This moved the issue up the international agenda and sent ripples across the industry. In Cambodia tens of thousands of workers took to the streets in protest, demanding that a living wage be paid to them. In the photo above a striking garment worker shows spent cartridges from police and military shootings against recent demonstrations. The strike action has threatened to bring the country’s main export industry to its knees. This coupled with the increased pressure on Western brands has put the workers in an improved position to negotiate their conditions. Recently some Western brands have condemned the government crackdown on the strikes, which left a number of people dead, and expressed support to minimum-wage reforms. These are very small steps in a movement that must essentially bring exponential change to a global manufacturing chain but it’s a step in the right direction.

> CLEAN CLOTHES PAGE 2

NEWS

FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

FOCUS

ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

Sum Mo Hai, 22, from Siem Reap in Cambodia earns $50 a month | Photo credit: ILO/ Livingston Armytage

EST. 1978

Focus Magazine is Ireland’s leading magazine on global development issues. Since 1978, Focus has been making links between the situation in Ireland and in the South, with a view to challenging assumptions, and promoting understanding, interest in and action on development issues among a broad public. In particular, it aims to provide alternative views to those expressed in mainstream media. Editorial Group: Inese Japina, Amy Mulcahy, Rory Fogarty, Lindsay Murphy and Mark Furlong. Copy Editing: Colm Ashe. To recieve copies to distribute please contact info@comhlamh.org Comhlamh is a signatory to the Dochas Code On Images and Messages. Feedback welcome to info@comhlamh.org

OPINIONS

he #FirstWedsDebates are a series of topical discussions on issues of global solidarity and development taking place each month. Our new season kicked off by asking who should protect those that make our clothes? Here’s what our panelists had to say...

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that if you’re producing these vast quantities of clothes at these very very cheap prices, somebody is paying.”

Rosemary MacCabe Fashion Journalist. “Who has got to move first to make sure that we get change in the situation? Business… they’re the ones with the power.”

Clare Nally Clean Clothes Ireland. “Rana Plaza is a symptom of the fact that we have serious issues in the international community about respect for, not only labour rights but a whole range of human rights as well.”

David Joyce Irish Congress Of Trade Unions.

Share your thoughts. #FirstWedsDebates

THE #LIVINGWAGE CAMPAIGN

Who Will Protect Those That Make Our Clothes?

After the Rana Plaza disaster campaigning organisations demand redress. EAMON MURPHY Comhlámh Trade Justice Group

little after 9 o’clock on April 24th 2013, just over 3,000 workers were busy sewing and stitching when the floor beneath them suddenly gave way. By the time the search for survivors had ended, 1,133 people were dead, and over 2,000 injured, many of them seriously. The building collapse at Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was probably the deadliest accidental structural failure in history and brought home to many of us the true cost of the cheap clothes we take for granted in the West. But almost a year on from this event, very little has changed in the lot of garment workers in Bangladesh and other developing countries in Asia. Millions of workers are still forced to work in unsafe premises, under oppressive working conditions. A coalition of organisations across Europe is looking to change that. The Clean Clothes Campaign Ireland (CCCI) is made up of Comhlámh, Re-dress, ICTU and Mandate. In solidarity with trade unions and national NGOs across Europe, they are working to improve the conditions of workers in the garment industry. Since October, the CCCI has been concentrating on a new campaign, calling on clothing companies to ensure a living wage is

paid to workers in their supply chain. millions each year but as of yet The campaign aims to highlight no retailer has successfully just how little it would cost to integrated a living wage pay garment workers a living “The campaign aims system into their supply wage. Based on a €35 garto highlight just chains. ment, paying the worker just how little it would Kate believes it’s time for real action. 50 cents more per item would cost to pay garment ensure they can adequately workers a living “Companies must take support themselves and their wage. ” steps to ensure they are families. “Just 50 cent more per paying a living wage in the garment, paid directly to a worker countries they source from. is the difference between her living with Governments must ensure that dignity or within a spiralling poverty trap.” minimum wages are set at levels that allow says Kate Nolan, Clean Clothes Campaign people to live with dignity. Ireland. The 50 Sense campaign aims to highWhile low labour costs continue to be light the tiny additional amount it would cost exploited throughout the industry it remains to achieve this living wage. impossible to argue that the garment industry Across countries like Bangladesh and is benefiting those who work within it.” Cambodia, workers earn just a small percentage (in some cases just 11%) of a living wage and so must work long hours without holidays or sick leave in order to make enough money for themselves and their families. CCCI argues that a living wage should be earned before overtime and allow a garment worker to feed themselves and their family, pay for rent, healthcare and education and have a small amount of savings for when something unexpected happens. This 50 cent increase per garment accounts for just 1.42% of the retail price, a mere drop in the ocean to retailers like Penneys, H&M or Benetton whose profits-- soar into the

RESOURCES

www.comhlamh.org

WORLD HEALTH A sign raising awareness of HIV testing. | Photo credit: @ILO/M.Crozet

Sustaining Lifelong HIV Treatment in Namibia and Beyond.

Reductions in international funding puts thousands of people at risk of losing out on their treatment. KATE MUKUNGU Researcher

amibia is one of four countries most affected by AIDS globally and, at its peak in 2002, had a HIV prevalence rate of 22% among pregnant women attending antenatal care. In 2003 anti-retroviral treatment (ART) commenced through the state health system and progress since then has been impressive to say the least. Over 80% ART coverage and an amazing 60% reduction in AIDS related deaths had been achieved by 2012. Namibians must have been alarmed by newspaper headlines in 2012 stating that their medicine was at risk of running out, due to reduced international funding. This research was undertaken in order to consider the facts regarding sustainability of ART in Namibia, which is crucial for the 90,000 plus Namibians depending on this lifelong treatment programme. The two main sources of international funds for ART in Namibia are the United States President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the international Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund). The Global Fund has contributed significantly to the costs of antiretroviral medication and laboratory costs, whilst PEPFAR has provided both the annual plans and funding for a wide variety of health posts. The reduction of funding from PEPFAR has already commenced. Between 2012 and 2014 there will have been a reduction of US$10 million bringing funding for the programme to US $80 million. In 2010 a partnership agreement between the Namibian and US governments detailed how PEPFAR funds

would reduce with the biggest hit being the salaries of the HIV workforce. The agreement expressed the Namibian Government’s commitment to picking up an increasing share of the HIV bill. The subsequent 2010 National Strategic Framework (NSF) represents the Namibian Government’s first analysis at how it would meet increased funding commitments up to 2015/16. NSF lays out twin aims of increasing government spending and improving the health system’s efficiency. Increased government spend“Namibians must ing would be achieved through have been alarmed innovative approaches to by newspaper raising public sector revenue, headlines in 2012 such as introducing a HIV levy. stating that their Namibia’s committment to narmedicine was at rowing the treatment funding gap risk.” received positive acknowledgement from UNAIDS in 2013 as it does here. However it has to be acknowledged but expresses concern about the efficiency that implementation is behind schedule to analysis used. It is one thing to state that raise the required funds by 2015/16. maximised efficiency will save money but In relation to the NSF’s second aim of real factors that impact on the health system’s improving health efficiencies, the Namibian delivery, such as droughts/floods, do need to Government noted that between 2005 and be considered. In short, relying on efficiency 2007 the health system in Namibia was savings without being able to guarantee them operating at approximately 53% efficiency. runs the risk of a future resource shortage The Government therefore reasons that, had which would negatively impact on the susefficiency been 100%, then almost double the tainability of ART. provision could be delivered at the same cost, The next significant risk to acknowledge or, the same provision could be delivered at relates to the reliability of the Global Fund. half the cost. Whilst the target of improved Although the Global Fund is set to provide efficiency has been set, details on the funding to Namibia until 2015/16 the situameans to achieve this target tion beyond then is unclear. Significantly, the appears not yet to have Global Fund has been affected by the global been articulated. economic situation and in 2011 even had to Future financial cancel a whole funding round due to its own projections have funding shortage. Whilst it is too early to however been set project whether or not the Global Fund will around the prembe able to support Namibia post April 2016, ise of maximised there is a need to keep a close watch. efficiency. The will and commitment of the My research Namibian Government to meet the chalexpresses no lenges of HIV and AIDS is unquestionable. objection to Research findings do, however, narrate varistriving to improve ous risks to sustainability of ART in Namibia the efficiency of due to funding and capacity issues. This case Namibia’s health system,

study must be considered as part of a wider international context. ART sustainability is just as important for people living with HIV in other countries utilising international funding to develop treatment systems. These countries will also feel the impact of the reduced international funding. It is imperative to keep a close watch on how countries like Namibia fare when left to fund increasing levels of treatment from domestic sources. Hopefully this will increase understanding of what happens when international funds reduce, and, more importantly, what can be done to reduce the harm to people living with HIV in developing countries.

ABOUT THE WRITER Kate Mukungu worked in Namibia in 20022006. She describes this time as life-changing. Working in HIV and AIDS and experiencing Namibian life as a family and community member brought home the real impact of HIV and AIDS. This research was undertaken as part of a post graduate course in Africa and International Development at the University of Edinburgh.

FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

HISTORY

Networked Women.

We met up with Mary Quinlan – a founding member and the former Chair of Banúlacht. INESE JAPINA Comhlámh Member

anúlacht was a network of women working to promote awareness of the links between development issues that affect people locally and globally. They worked from a gender perspective which entailed analysing unequal effects of development on women and men. When and why was Banúlacht established? Banúlacht was established in 1990. It was the initiative of Rita McNulty from DESC (Development Education Support Centre). She discovered that at a time there were no organizations representing women in Ireland and she aspired to set up one. There were 9 other founding members including myself who were representatives of other development organizations in Ireland: Oxfam, Concern, Trócaire,

Comhlámh, Interculture Ireland, APSO (Agency for Personal Service Overseas), Irish Commission for Justice and Peace, Filipino Irish Group and African Arts in Education Project. All these organizations stood behind Banúlacht giving it great strength.

joined Comhlámh. There were many politically aware women in Comhlámh at the time. We were very radical, strong and vocal. We kept challenging the accepted norms and notions. Our way of thinking could be described as ‘let’s look at ourselves not the world around us and see what we can do to change.’

provided by Banúlacht which all facilitated a participant centred education process. What about the international involvement?

We did extensive work in regards to lobbying and support internationally. Banúlacht What work was Ba núlacht participated in numerous UN Conferences involved in? in Rio de Janeiro, Cairo, Vienna, Copen hagen a nd Beiji ng. Several cultural study visBanúlacht worked with women’s community based “Banúlacht worked its were made to Morocco, with women’s organizations and networks Paraguay and Tanzania. Seminars and workshops community based in Ireland and the [Global] were organised in order South. The work Banúlacht organizations and to encourage women in undertook over the years networks in Ireland i n c lu d e d t r a i n i n g pr o and the South.” Ireland to participate at UN level. How was Comhlámh involved grammes, conferences, seminars, in the development of Banúlacht? workshops, resource development, publications and exchange proComhlámh was one of the main instigators grammes. Mná Sasa Manifesto was launched What organizations funded of the development of Banúlacht. Banúlacht in which articulates ideas about feminist solidar- Banúlacht? a way grew out of the Women’s Issue Group in ity and the power of collective organising. In Comhlámh which I founded in 1984 when I addition, there were numerous training courses Over the years Banúlacht was funded by numerous funders including EU Commission, Banúlacht members Sharing materials with women in Kisarawe. Concern, Irish Aid, Trócaire, WIDE and various government departments. It was never easy to maintain a diverse funding base because it was difficult for funders to categorize the organization’s focus on linking the local and global. In 1995 approximately ten other women from the community sector joined Banúlacht. The founding members no longer represented the development organizations, they became members as individuals. As a result some power was lost within the development sector but a lot was gained with the community women. Tremendous work was undertaken by Banúlacht since then within irish women’s communities.

Tell us about the difficulties Banúlacht encountered in the last year of existence? Trócaire, after consistently funding Banúlacht for 20 years, declined further funding in 2011. In spite of all the efforts to find other funders, the organization was left with only Irish Aid funding. Then in 2012 Irish Aid released new funding guidelines which stipulated that funding could not be used for campaigning and advocacy work anymore. These guidelines went against the integrity of the organization and would require Banúlacht to abandon the advocacy dimension of the work. The decision was made not to apply for Irish Aid funding. When did Banúlacht close? The decision not to apply for funding led to the heart-breaking decision to close Banúlacht with effect from March 31st 2012. The hope remains that one day a similar organization will be formed so that the solidarity work of women in Ireland and around the world can continue as it is absolutely necessary.

www.comhlamh.org

GENDER

Activists have taken to social media to campaign against Domestic Violence.

Step by Step Saudi Arabia’s domestic violence law is a first move towards changing attitudes. FRANCES REYNOLDS Contributor

across other regions adherent to Sharia law in the Middle East and the Maghreb. A law like the one passed in Saudi Arabia she says egislation criminalising domes- “could only be implemented with the support tic violence in Saudi Arabia , of the community and male relatives in the having faced numerous reli- family. The role of the male in our countries gious barriers, had been preceded in is something that is not fully appreciated in recent years by smaller steps to force the west.” In the Algerian constitution women are subject to the family the acknowledgement of abuse. It is important to note that Sharia law is These included the publication of reports not only subject to interpretation by religious on child abuse cases by Saudi physicians scholars, it is also molded to fit the cultural during the 1990’s. These reports, combined views of different tribes and groups in society. with national coverage of landmark domestic The difficulty then “lies in these interpretaabuse cases helped to lay the groundwork for tions of Islamic law and specifically the interthe National Family Safety Program (NFSP) pretation by members of a particular group founded by Royal decree in 2005 and the King or tribe.” It is also important to understand Khalid Foundation, established in 2001, which the political landscape of Algeria and counlaunched the kingdom’s fi rst public ad cam- tries like it across the Maghreb and Middle paign against domestic violence. On the 29th East most of which have been ruled by miliof August 2013, after many years of negotia- tary regimes with little or no change to their tion in the country’s Shura, legislation crimi- central power structures for decades. “Male nalising domestic violence was passed by the domination is prominent in every social Saudi Council of Ministers. The new legislation aspect of our lives; it is inbuilt in our constitumakes sexual, physical and psychological abuse tions. You cannot ignore that and that is why in the home or workplace a punishthe attitudes of male members of the able crime with the onus falling society and their understanding on law enforcement agencies of Sharia are key to the impleto follow up on all reports of “Male domination is mentation of any law targetabuse. Under the 17-artiprominent in every ing violence against women cle bill those found guilty social aspect of our or children.” of committing such abuse lives; it is inbuilt in Over the years there have face prison sentences of up our constitutions.” been some harrowing examto one year and up to $13,300 ples of abuse cases in Saudi Arabia with only a handful in fines. The passing of the new legisexposed by the media on interlation has been welcomed by human national level. One recent example is rights activists in Saudi Arabia with Khaled the death of Lama Al-Ghamdi who was five al-Fakher, Secretary General of the National years old when she was raped and tortured Society for Human Rights, telling news agen- by her father, the self-styled Islamic preacher cies that the law “is a good law that serves the Fayhan al-Ghamdi in December 2011. The major segments of the society in the kingdom public were repulsed to discover that the five including women.” However, for many the year old had slipped into a coma after being real challenge in the implementation of such a subjected to torture when her father ‘doubted bill lies in reconciling it with both Sharia law her virginity.’ She died as a result of her injuries and the cultural traditions of the region. The in October 2012. new legislation neither attempts to address Perhaps one of the most devastating aspects the underlying institutional systems of male of the case lies in the sentence handed down guardianship over female relatives and domes- to al-Ghamdi on October 8 of this year for the tic workers, nor is it explicit on cases involving brutal killing of his daughter. Al-Ghamdi was marital rape, leaving open the door for differing sentenced to 8 years in prison and 800 lashes interpretations of criminality. with a fine to pay one million riyals ($270,000) Amira (not real name), an Algerian national, to the mother of Lama. discussed the implications of such a law and Saudi Arabia has long been frowned upon the possible implementation of similar laws the world over for its treatment of women and

at times its seemingly non-existent approach to human rights, yet surprisingly the passing of this legislation received limited coverage in western media outlets following its announcement in late August.Could it be that the world is waiting to see just how this law can fare against the many pitfalls and cultural interpretations that face such a bill in a country which has failed to recognise its duty toward the protection of women and children in the state? In a recent interview with Arab news, Dr. Maha Al-Muneef, founder and executive director of the National Family Safety Program (NFSP) commented on the changing attitudes of women in the kingdom; “According to statistics the NFSP collected, the rates of child abuse and domestic violence within the Kingdom have multiplied between 2005 and 2012. Th is does not necessarily indicate an increase in abuse or maltreatment attempts. It is probably an indication of increased awareness to report these injustices or abuse cases. Women are more aware of their rights and they are breaking the silence. “ For countries such as Saudi Arabia and Algeria the devil is in the detail when dealing

with the complex issues of interpretations of Sharia and the male guardianship system. Ultimately sentencing will be the deterrent and unless the sentences imposed reflect society’s value for women the law will be subject to exploitation and abuse.

RESOURCES

FOCUS ACTION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE

ADVICE Eadaoin hanging out with Amar, one of the kids from her project.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES

TRAVEL IN NEPAL

The Full Scoop A look at volunteering in Cambodia. PETER JAMES DOWNEY SCOOP Foundation.

aving graduated with a BSc International Development a n d Fo o d P o l i c y f r o m University College Cork in 2012, I wanted to use my degree. However finding a job within the development sector in Ireland is difficult. So I turned my attention abroad and found the SCOOP Foundation, based in Dublin, but who have projects in India and Cambodia. I became the Development Officer for the Cambodian project that is operated by SCAO, a local partner organisation of SCOOP. I am responsible for the day to day running of two schools, organisation of volunteers, finances, and the creation and implementation of community development projects. I am based in a small village called Som Roung where SCAO run an Education and Community Centre (ECC) that provides free English, computer and hairdressing classes to the area. The village is home to over 450 families, with the main occupations being farmers or construction work (males) and garment factory workers (females). The average family income in the village is $80-$120 a month. I developed a survey consisting of questions about aspects of domestic life to provide us with an insight to the lives of the families in the village. The survey highlighted three immediate needs of Som Roung; access to clean drinking water, access to a toilet and access to healthcare.

Water filters were therefore our priority; I established the provision of ceramic water filters and the training needed to use them from Phnom Penh. One filter costs $12; families pay $2, with the remaining $10 financed by a SCAO partner organisation in the USA. To date SCAO has provided over 200 water filters in Som Roung, now over 700 people have access to clean safe drinking water. For me, I really saw the benefits of the water filters for the community. One father told us that since they started using the water filter, their youngest daughter has not had diarrhoea and thus is able to attend school more regularly. I had many ideas of Cambodia, the lifestyle there and found myself unsure what to expect. However dealing with local people is my favourite part of the job. When you ask them ‘How are you?’ in Khmer they get such a surprise, followed by a wide smile. Knowing Khmer is an advantage as the older local people do not speak any English. By learning their language you can earn their trust and respect, and they are more willing to talk. When I walk through the village I am greeted by welcoming smiles and shouts of ‘HELLO’ from the young students. SCAO are in the process of building an Education and Community Centre in a village just outside Phnom Penh. I am now an integral part of the team behind the implementation of the ECC. This project is just getting off the ground, it is extremely exciting for me to be in this position to take on such a huge project and make a difference.

Conducting A Household Survey in Som Roung.

Follow #VOLOPS on Twitter for opportunities to volunteer overseas!

adaoin Close, a qualified primary school teacher from Portmarnock, Dublin, volunteered for f i v e months in one of Umbrella’s girls homes and returned to Kathmandu in 2012 to become the Communications Director. A part of her assignment she managed the Volunteer Programme. Eadaoin gave us a run down on what were some of the common questions volunteers asked before they travelled overseas. What vaccinations do I need? There are no vaccines officially required to enter Nepal. As many volunteers travel on in Asia before or after their volunteering placement we always recommend to plan ahead, consider all the countries you may wish to visit and seek advice as soon as possible before travelling as some vaccinations require more than one injection, while others should not be given together. Please contact your own GP or Tropical Medical Bureau for further recommendations and record all vaccinations on an International Health Certificate. Taking DPT (Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) and MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccines are a standard recommendation. It is also strongly recommended to consider the following vaccines: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid and Rabies. What medicines should I bring? Most medicines that you might need are available in Kathmandu, however we recommend that you bring prescription medicines with you and brands that you regularly use at home. What is the best way to take out money? The quickest, safest and most convenient way to manage money is to use secure ATMs, located largely in the city centre but also in suburbs and in other major towns. The majority of ATMs accept visa/visa debit credit cards and the international transaction fee is low at approximately €3 per transaction. What should I bring for myself? It is advised to have a sleeping bag, head torch, rucksack, water purification tablets, travel towel, raingear, toiletries, basic first aid kit, unlocked phone, adapter, small umbrella, culturally sensitive clothing, practical footwear (trekking boots, flipflops, open sandals). However there are not many things that you will not be able to buy once you are here in Nepal. Clothing and footwear are usually much cheaper here and can be found to suit all weather types.

“By learning their language you can earn their trust and respect”

What should I bring for the organisation? Our main priorities are children’s clothing, school stationery, office equipment, second-hand computers or laptops, educational software, teaching resources, arts and crafts materials and sports equipment. Bringing a stock of activity ideas will be a great asset to you during your stay, especially those that require very little or no materials. Should I bring my laptop? This is entirely up to the individual. Volunteers often like to have it for personal use inc. emailing, storing photos, internet, and entertainment. Many also use it to support administrative work and projects in Umbrella. It is worth noting that wifi is widely available in tourist areas and the Umbrella office and electricity, while there are regular cuts, is available on a daily basis in Kathmandu.

www.comhlamh.org

LIFESTYLE & REVIEWS

WEAPON OF WAR, DOCUMENTARY FILM.

Weapon of War is the second film in a series of three documentaries about sexual violence used systematically against women and girls. The normalisation of sexual violence is approached from the perpetrators’ point of view in the context of the decades long conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This uncompromising documentary shows how a war-torn country without an effective and corrupt-free justice system is dealing with systematic human right abuses. We see how the perpetrators of sexual violence adopt different coping mechanisms to come to terms with, and get over, what they have gone through. While some justify their

behaviour as a normal response to lack of peace and economic dependence on armed militia groups, others are apologetic and are actively fighting for womens’ and girls’ rights. Femke van Velzen, who attended the screening, argues that DRC’s justice system is failing to protect survivors and initiatives for reconciliation need to be welcomed. While quite a slow documentary at times, it is very informative and it represented, quite graphically, the reality for perpetrators in countries like the DRC; their daily struggles in integrating into a society where armed conflict is still very present. I thought that some of the testimonies were outrageous, because the perpetrators were, on occasion, not only asking for forgiveness but also “forgiving” the victims. Because this is a documentary with a very specific focus on the lives of the perpetrators, the audience misses the reality of the victims and of the rest of civilian population.Ilse and Femke van Velzen are involved in an educational project, Cinema on Wheels, whereby they use short documentaries to promote the prevention of sexual and gender based violence. These documentaries are screened in public areas in communities all over the country. She advocates for women and girls at local, national and international level. Reviewed by By Maria Fernandez, SPIRASI.

BURY ME STANDING BY ISABEL FONSECA

Isabel Fonseca’s Bury Me Standing is an account of Europe’s largest and most reviled minority, the Romani. Fonseca spent four years collecting stories and searching archives in Eastern Europe. The result is a book that is both a historical account of the Romani in Europe and an intimate portrait of a people far more sinned against than sinning. Fonseca paints Romani history in Europe as a catalogue of suffering, some exceptional examples include being enslaved in Romania, expelled on mass by the British crown and destroyed in Nazi death camps. The Romani’s traditional economic niches were those of the travelling trade and craftsman, blacksmith, horse traders and musicians. Niches which were rubbed out by modernisation. At the time of the author’s fieldwork in the mid 1990s she fi nds a people facing economic marginalisation, institutional racism and

LIVING CONSCIOUSLY

y name is Michelle Griffin and I am setting up a blog, called “Live Consciously”. I aim to document my experiences of trying to do just that, and to encourage and inform others, so that they can follow suit if they so wish. I feel that we, as “westerners”, often forget how closely linked we are with our brothers and sisters living and working in what we term “developing countries”. For what we eat, wear and use on a daily basis, we are dependent upon millions of people to whom we do not give a second’s thought. There are myriad injustices almost integral to global trading, many with deep-seated foundations going back decades, even centuries. Most of us are aware of this situation, but it can become overwhelming if we think about it too much. Thus, many of us choose not to think about it at all. But if we do not even consider the inequalities that pervade manufacturing, food and other industries, how can there ever be even the slightest sort of change? I am passionate about trying to encourage people to consider from where, and from whom, their food, clothes and gadgets come. I wish to promote awareness of the interconnectedness of all countries; to highlight the fact that the person working for an unfair wage

in uncomfortable and quite possibly unsafe conditions to produce that which we consume, could be my neighbour or yours. I would ultimately like to invite people to examine their habits and facilitate them to inform themselves as to how some of these habits might be changed or improved. I know this is not something many people want to hear. But I also know that we live on a very small planet and it is becoming increasingly necessary to engage in issues like its limited resources, whether we like it or not. Ethical consumerism and shopping locally need to be par for the course, and not something in which only “hippies”, left-wing politicians, and the occasional annoying individual like myself, take an interest. It is time to normalise conversations about how we, in the western world, live. It is time to stop “othering” those on whose labour and resources we depend. It is time to consider the environment and stop the “Produce-ConsumeDump” cycle. It is time to take pride in our potential power as consumers and day-today activists. It is time to live Follow the blog consciously. at letslivecon-

sciouslywordpress.com

ethnic violence driven by rising nationalism.As the book moves into the present we travel across Eastern Europe with the author. It is these sections of the book that really shine. Fonseca uses her skills at scene setting and characterisation to paint us a complex portrait of modern Romani’s life. On her journey she meets prostitutes, musicians and ‘gypsy kings’ but also Romani journalists, activists and academics, part of an emerging intellectual class. Facilitated by the freedom of association enabled by the fall of the Eastern Block, Fonseca witnessed traditional leaders and this intellectual class drive an emergent sense of Romani nationhood and increased political mobilisation. It is in these changes that the author saw hope in the Romani’s future.This book is a well written and honest account of arguably Europe’s most marginalised people. For those who wish to get beyond the prejudicial misconceptions and learn about a growing Irish community, this is a great place to start. Reviewed by Mark Furlong, Comhlámh.

MA IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES BY FLEXIBLE AND DISTANCE LEARNING

OFFERS learners the opportunity to combine work and study anywhere in the world, while still connecting online with a diverse and vibrant learning community. ADDRESSES the many challenges facing development personnel in an ever more complex and changing world and develops practical skills and specialist knowledge. PREPARES participants for work in development in a community, youth/adult education, government or NGO setting on issues such as poverty, inequality, governance, gender, conflict, food insecurity and climate change. STUDY OPTIONS Learners can undertake the MA completely online or they can combine distance with classroom-based courses on part-time or full-time bases.

NEW SPECIALISM OPTIONS You can take the general MA Programme or one of Three Specialist Pathways:

MA IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -

Globalisation and Change Faith and Development Development and Management

Find out more or apply at: Email: tom.campbell@kimmagedsc.ie Tel: +353 (0)1 406 4386

The MA in Development Studies is a level 9 award validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

www.kimmagedsc.ie

The mission of Kimmage DSC is to promote critical thinking and action for justice, equality and the eradication of poverty.

SPORTS

Nader was the only athlete from the Gaza Strip in Beijing,| Photo credit: Tom Spender

LOCAL & GLOBAL

PROGRESS

The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint made by Mr Shane O’Curry, Director of European Network Against Racism Ireland.  An article in the Irish Independent on 30 September 2013 was found to be in breach of Principle 8 of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines. ENAR recently set up Ireport.ie to track incidents of racism in Ireland. More at: enarireland.org

Gaza Freedom Runner. Marathon Man Denied Permission To Race In Dublin.

SHANE O’CONNOR Development Educationalist.

s an Olympic standard competitor, he believes that he would have given the Irish athletes a run for their money. Nader has been invited to compete all over the world but most of the time the Israeli and Egyptian imposed blockade has prevented him from exiting, along with the other 1.7 million Palestinians living in the Gaza strip. ‘Palestine’s Hero makes History in Dublin’, was the headline that we were hoping for this autumn, but it wasn’t to be. Nader al-Masri, a 33-year-old athlete was yet again denied permission to leave the world’s largest openair prison, Gaza. As an Olympic standard competitor, he believes that he would have given the Irish athletes a run for their money. Nader has been invited to compete all over the world but is consistently prevented from leaving the Gaza strip due to the Israeli and Egyptian imposed blockade. “It has always been my dream to come to Ireland and to run in front of a large crowd of people and show the world that we too have special talents in Palestine and we have dreams and ambitions apart from surviving the bombings and the daily harassment that exists here. I met with the so called ‘Palestinian Gabrselassie’ in Gaza earlier this year when I travelled to Gaza to meet with NGO’s, civil society groups, academics and more impressively for me, young sports people

themselves. We were invited by the UN agency, Nader’s journey of hope, resilience and UNWRA, to take part in the Gaza sporting ambitions remains on course Marathon as part of an effort to as far as he is concerned, he pledges raise much needed funds for to try again in 2014 to come to Ireland and compete in either a summer sports project that “Sport should tries to reach out to 250,000 the Cork or Belfast Marathon be used to move children every year. Irishman and if he is still denied the right beyond and break John Ging set up ‘the summer to travel, he will set his target down borders.” of fun’ in 2009 when he was on Dublin again next October. head of UNWRA and so we were I admire his positive attitude warmly greeted by locals. greatly and see him clearly as a role Our Olympian guide who hoisted model for all young people living through the Palestinian flag in the Beijing Olympics in conflict. He is certainly under pressure to give 2008 showed us around the strip. It quickly up his sporting dreams from a number of became apparent just how challenging it is angles but somehow I don’t think he has this in for the people of Gaza to participate in any mind. It is my hope that with the assistance of type of sport, something that we almost take Irish development organisations and sporting for granted in Ireland. The national football bodies like Soccer Against Racism Ireland, that & athletics stadium was destroyed by Israeli Nader will come to Ireland in the near future fighter jets in 2012. We watched Nader and a to do what any other athlete of his ability and team of 26 young runners prepare for a race ambition should be allowed to do. they hoped to compete in for the first time in Bethlehem, which is just 51.1 miles from Gaza. Their training looked tough but not as tough as the bigger obstacle that lay ahead of them, getting through the Israeli checkpoint which isolates them from the rest of Palestine. All 26 athletes were refused permission to run. Trying to lift his spirits, we suggested Dublin as a new goal and Nader bit. I believe that sport should be an activity used to move beyond and break down borders, to reduce isolation and act as an outlet for those who are struggling. I think that we need more sporting role models to speak out on behalf of those inside the sporting world and outside of it who are voiceless.

FACTS

ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS

For a year aid agencies in the Central African Republic had been raising concerns about attacks on civilians by Seleka rebels.  Yet discussions around the deployment of EU troops are only now taking place. There are complex short and long term issues that need to be addressed. Read more at tinyurl.com/px4roq2

RENEWED CONFLICT

In 2011 South Sudan was born on a wave of hope and promise.  However recent fighting has left over 45,000 people dead with over 83,000 having fled to neighbouring countries. Th is brilliant article discusses how that hope has crumbled and why the country is now subject to intense conflict. Read more at tinyurl.com/nsoopgx