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The International Service Human Rights Awards 2006
Study Tour Find out more about International Service's
Work in Brazil Click here for more information The BBC's Clare Balding has kindly offered to host the auction, which will take place at The Impressions Gallery on Castlegate in York on Wednesday 11th May from 7pm.
Tickets are £3 and include a free glass of wine. They are available from Charlotte on 01904 647799 or by email
National Centre for Early Music December 16
Following their sell out show at York Minster in October 2004 The Yards are playing a concert at the National Centre for Early Music in what has been described by guitarist Chris Farrell as “ the Minster part two” “Given it's now over a year since we did it (and nothing really similar has happened since then), the plan is to do another Minster style show in a really beautiful (and for contemporary music in York) unusual venue, with the focus on the songs, the arrangements and some extra special guests,” said Chris. “I think the fact that it's Christmas should be a really nice touch to it as well (with candles, big tree, we're even thinking of getting in some mince pies, etc, to make it a bit of alternative carol concert!).” Missing from the York music scene since last July The Yards will be showcasing new material at the concert after spending the last four months concentrating on writing for their second album. The band, at the time of going to print, is hoping to get International Service, the York-based development charity they did the Minster show to raise funds for last year - involved in some way. “We did the Minster show to raise funds and awareness for a project involving street children in some of the poorest areas of Brazil,” said Chris. “As such we thought it would be good to get an update on what has happened over the last 13 months - how the situation has changed, what the money raised at the Minster was spent on, etc. “Also, while not wanting to get too 'Band Aid' about the whole thing, pre-Christmas it's a bit of a reminder that charity is not about chucking money at an issue but about working together in partnership over a period of time for a more equitable outcome.” For more information on the concert, visit www.theyards.org
The International Service Human Rights Awards 2004
The awards highlight the special role international development workers
play in protecting and defending the human rights of some of the world’s
most vulnerable peoples as well as honouring the organisations and brave
individuals that they work with. 1. Partner organisation achievement – this award will recognise the importance of effective organisations working in partnership for human rights. This award honours the whole organisation and lifts the morale of all its staff and supporters. A cash prize to be spent on furthering the work of the organisation will be awarded. 2. Grass-roots human rights campaigner – this award rewards the “unsung heroes” of human rights who daily risk their lives so that the truth may be heard, the defenceless defended and the powers that be are held to account. This award will provide the individual with recognition, the protection of a higher profile and a cash sum to further their work and ability to represent their organisation 3. International volunteer human rights defender – this award recognises that individuals from many different countries feel moved to work with the powerless and the persecuted. They pursue this work fearlessly and highly effectively often treading where nationals of the country may not go. This award will provide the individual with recognition and a small travel budget in order to help them reach the real decision makers and force them to listen. 4. Global human rights defender – this award is presented to the individual who has used their status, fame or celebrity to bring to the attention of a wider audience human rights causes which would otherwise be overlooked or conveniently ignored.
Nominations are open to UK volunteer-sending agencies via their overseas Field Offices or HQs.
The awards ceremony was held at the House of Commons at 12.30pm on Wednesday 10th November 2004 and was hosted by Jon Snow.
The entries will be judged by a panel consisting of: - Stephen Bowen – Campaigns Director at Amnesty International UK Candy Whittome – Director of the British Institute of Human Rights Professor Haleh Afshar – Professor of Politics at York University Cissa Wa Numbe – Refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo and human rights activist
International Service wishes to thank Bryan Sanderson and Galliard Healthcare Communications for their kind support of these awards.
Missing Young Women - Film Screening City Screen, York International Service would like to invite you to join us for a screening of the film 'Missing Young Women', in which filmmaker Lourdes Portillo investigates the murders of the women of Juarez.
Since 1993 over 330 young women have been raped, strangled, stabbed and killed or disappeared in Juarez, Northern Mexico. The majority all fitted a certain profile, they were slim, working class and young, some as young as 13. Not a single perpetrator has been brought to justice for these murders and the Mexican government has been slow to act. In response to this Esther Chavez opened Casa Amiga in 1999, it is the only women's centre in this dangerous area, offering counselling, legal advice and support.
During the eighteen months of filming, 50 women were killed and these shocking deaths and disappearances continue today. The film will be introduced by Esther Chavez who is in the UK to receive an International Service Human Rights Award.
The film is being shown on Tuesday 16th November at City Screen in York. It starts at 6.30pm and tickets are free, there are only 70 tickets available. You can get tickets by calling 01904 54 11 44 or from the City Screen box office from Tuesday 11th November.
Esther Chavez has won an International Service Human Rights Awards in the Grass-Roots Human Rights Campaigner category – this award rewards the “unsung heroes” of human rights who daily risk their lives so that the truth may be heard, the defenceless defended and the powers that be are held to account. This award provides the winner with recognition, the protection of a higher profile and a cash sum to further the work of their organisation. Esther Chavez has won this award for great courage in a very dangerous situation, for the imagination and vision to create Casa Amiga and for dedication to the cause. This award will give international support to a small organisation as well as the possibility of greater protection and enhanced influence.
York’s most talented musicians, The Yards, will play at one of York’s most famous venues, the Minster in a one-off concert on Friday 15th October. The concert will be followed by an exclusive after show party and an opportunity to meet the band at York’s newest bar, Dusk on New Street. The concert is being organised by International Service and all funds raised will go towards providing a trainer to work with Street Children in Brazil.
Investors in People Accreditation Lunch
International Service has been awarded the investors in people
accreditation. The nationally recognised Investor in People Standard was
devised by a group of top national industrialists in 1990 and has rapidly
gained a reputation for being the standard of excellence in development of
employees.
Past Events - 2003 The International Service Human Rights Awards 2003
With the support of The Alan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust we were able to grant a cash prize to the overseas winners to enable them to develop their work further.
The Ceremony in London The ceremony took place at the House of Commons in a lunchtime ceremony hosted by Lord Bassam. It was attended by over 80 people including high profile lawyers, members of parliament, journalists and people working in human rights organisations and covered in Hello! magazine. Jon Snow kindly presented the awards.
Bianca Jagger won the International Award for her outstanding individual contribution to the cause of human rights worldwide, on human rights she said: “…Individuals matter. Noble ideals such as peace, justice, freedom, liberty and equality are a hollow skeleton until they are fleshed out with real examples, specific situations, by individual people and individual actions. “For the sake of peace and justice, and for the sake of our children and their children's future, now is the time for people to stand firm and demand of our elected leaders, as well as each other, that we demonstrate our commitment to uphold human rights in the strongest possible way, through our actions and our decisions. If we do not, it is not just posterity that will hold us to account… “I feel that one of the failings of our society today is that people have begun to lose the belief that they can influence the decision-makers. Individuals can make a difference.”
Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza won the National Award for the upholding of international law in Palestine. On his work with International Service Raji said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for having been invited to participate in this event with UNAIS, International Service as it is now known in the UK, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The year also marks the 25th year of its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. UNAIS development assistance to the Occupied Palestinian Territories over these years has been founded on respect for their partners, and for the Palestinian community at large, and a commitment to find ways in which to assist non-governmental organizations in all spheres to develop their capacities and services. UNAIS's relationship with these organizations has been one based on mutual respect; these are partnerships in every sense. “I have had the honour of working with UNAIS, as an organization and its staff personally and professionally, for the last 15 years or so. Over this time, UNAIS and its staff, both at head office, and in the field, have consistently provided professional support and assistance including provision of development workers, information dissemination, assistance with donors, with skills development etc. This support has been unwavering through the most difficult of times, and we have found particular encouragement in their renewed efforts since the beginning of the current Intifada. …. I thank UNAIS, and all its staff and supporters, for the relationship we have enjoyed thus far and for the work which I hope we will continue to undertake together in the years to come.”
The Ceremony in Bolivia
Andrea Flores said: "Without Women’s Rights there are no Human Rights. If we continue with this system of exclusion and the discrimination to the majorities, meaning the Indigenous People, we will continue with this structural problem in Bolivia “The women of OMAK are fighting for the recognition of their human rights in daily life, not accepting violence as a “normal” way of life in their families, claiming their participation in decision making in the communities, demanding more education facilities, carrying out advocacy and offering guidance and information to their sisters on how to seek health care, legal help, legal recognition and documentation. “This award strengthens my will to continue working not only for the women at OMAK, but for the rights of all young indigenous women.”
The Ceremony in Mali A small presentation ceremony was held at the International Service field office in Mali. Kevin Ray, International Service’s Mali Field Director presented Modibo Sangho with a Regional Award for defending the rights of child workers in Bamako, Mali. Heather Johnston, an International Service Development Worker said: “I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Modibo. I know that his passion and determination for creating change [in the koranic school system], not to mention his ‘scrappiness’, will bring about the changes that are needed so that Malian children are able to receive a religious education in a comfortable and secure environment.”
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