Oxfam launches it's new GROW campaign this week. Here's the introductory video that's just been released:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Update: Ireland and the UN Committee Against Torture
Today (or possibly tomorrow) will see Ireland appear for the first time before the UN Committee Against Torture.
The Committee has the mandate to review and is expected to comment inter alia on Ireland's current deportation system, the number of deaths that have taken place in recent years in Garda custody, the extent of human trafficking in the country and Ireland's complicity in facilitating renditions.
For more information about this monitoring body and Ireland's appearance in particular, check out this blog. Alternatively, to read the Irish delegation's opening statement, visit the committee's schedule page.
The Committee has the mandate to review and is expected to comment inter alia on Ireland's current deportation system, the number of deaths that have taken place in recent years in Garda custody, the extent of human trafficking in the country and Ireland's complicity in facilitating renditions.
For more information about this monitoring body and Ireland's appearance in particular, check out this blog. Alternatively, to read the Irish delegation's opening statement, visit the committee's schedule page.
Youth Worker Exchange
A colleague of mine recently passed on a report from the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) which reviews the organisation's 2010 youth worker exchange.
Sinze 2006, NYCI has promoted and facilitated this exchange of Irish and Zambian youth workers . One of the most appealing aims of the project is to create direct links between youth organisations in the Global North and Global South beyond the exchange, thus fostering a greater sense of global solidarity.
For a glimpse at the benefits that such exchanges can have for youth workers and the sector in both countries, have a read of the very user-friendly report.
Sinze 2006, NYCI has promoted and facilitated this exchange of Irish and Zambian youth workers . One of the most appealing aims of the project is to create direct links between youth organisations in the Global North and Global South beyond the exchange, thus fostering a greater sense of global solidarity.
For a glimpse at the benefits that such exchanges can have for youth workers and the sector in both countries, have a read of the very user-friendly report.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Breaking the Silence
There are rare moments when action is taken by individuals that has the potential to change the very nature and premise of a debate. The formation in 2004 of Breaking the Silence may well still prove to be such a moment. The organisation is comprised of Israeli veterans dedicated to stimulating:
...public debate about the price paid for a reality in which young soldiers face a civilian population on a daily basis, and are engaged in the control of that population’s everyday life.
Now, Breaking the Silence is taking the brave move to post videos on Youtube of ex-soldiers speaking about wrongdoing by the Israeli army in the occupied territories. Here is one such example:
...public debate about the price paid for a reality in which young soldiers face a civilian population on a daily basis, and are engaged in the control of that population’s everyday life.
Now, Breaking the Silence is taking the brave move to post videos on Youtube of ex-soldiers speaking about wrongdoing by the Israeli army in the occupied territories. Here is one such example:
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Living in Limbo
The Immigrant Council of Ireland released a new report yesterday, Living in Limbo - Migrant's Experience of Applying for Naturalisation in Ireland.
The report examines the experience of 315 migrants from more than 60 countries and calls for urgent reform as unfortunately, as is the case with many areas of immigration law and related policy, naturalisation can be a complicated and at times unjust process.
Interestingly, the research shows that many migrants applied for citizenship to secure a permanent immigration status. Addressing this point, yesterday's press release quotes NASC chief executive Fiona Finn:
Citizenship should not be perceived as the only viable means of overcoming the stress and strain of living on temporary residence permissions year after year.
Looking forward to delving into the report in detail.
The report examines the experience of 315 migrants from more than 60 countries and calls for urgent reform as unfortunately, as is the case with many areas of immigration law and related policy, naturalisation can be a complicated and at times unjust process.
Interestingly, the research shows that many migrants applied for citizenship to secure a permanent immigration status. Addressing this point, yesterday's press release quotes NASC chief executive Fiona Finn:
Citizenship should not be perceived as the only viable means of overcoming the stress and strain of living on temporary residence permissions year after year.
Looking forward to delving into the report in detail.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Climate Wise Women
Women Leaders On Climate Justice: A Grassroots Perspective was jointly run this month by Oxfam Ireland and the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice in Trinity College.
The roughly 300 in attendance were treated to speeches from the inspiring Ursula Rakova (Executive Director of Tuele Piece) and Constance Okollet (Chairperson of the Osukura United Women Network). Part of the Climate Wise Women tour, they travel the globe to bring a first hand account of the effects of climate change to colleges, universities, businesses and communities and to foster discussion about climate justice and gender equality.
Read their stories here.
The roughly 300 in attendance were treated to speeches from the inspiring Ursula Rakova (Executive Director of Tuele Piece) and Constance Okollet (Chairperson of the Osukura United Women Network). Part of the Climate Wise Women tour, they travel the globe to bring a first hand account of the effects of climate change to colleges, universities, businesses and communities and to foster discussion about climate justice and gender equality.
Read their stories here.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Family Reunification in Ireland
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has recently voiced some much needed concern about the family reunification decision making process in Ireland.
Individuals in Ireland with refugee status have the right to apply for permission to have family members live with them in the state. Often it will be years before an individual can exercise this right due to the excessive length of time taken for refugee status to be granted in many cases and even then, the onerous requirements laid down by the Department of Justice make the process a complicated and drawn out affair.
Noting such problems the UNHCR has said it is:
...concerned at the length of the decision-making process, which is currently between 18 to 24 months for a decision on a family reunification application.
Hopefully, Irish authorities will seriously consider the recommendations made by the UNHCR, including:
...the strengthening of the family reunification process by reducing processing times, relaxing evidentiary and interpretation rules and by extending the national legal provisions on family reunification to resettled refugees.
Read the full report here.
Individuals in Ireland with refugee status have the right to apply for permission to have family members live with them in the state. Often it will be years before an individual can exercise this right due to the excessive length of time taken for refugee status to be granted in many cases and even then, the onerous requirements laid down by the Department of Justice make the process a complicated and drawn out affair.
Noting such problems the UNHCR has said it is:
...concerned at the length of the decision-making process, which is currently between 18 to 24 months for a decision on a family reunification application.
Hopefully, Irish authorities will seriously consider the recommendations made by the UNHCR, including:
...the strengthening of the family reunification process by reducing processing times, relaxing evidentiary and interpretation rules and by extending the national legal provisions on family reunification to resettled refugees.
Read the full report here.
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