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Asia Pacific NGO Networking Meeting for the World Conference against Racism (WCAR) 27-29 April 2001, Katmandu, Nepal

Katmandu Action Plan: Katmandu to Durban and Beyond

National level Action:


General:

･ awareness-raising regarding the WCAR: networking with non governmental organisations (NGOs) across different sectors;

･ dissemination of Asia Pacific NGO Declaration; translating of Declaration into national languages; distributing Asia Pacific NGO Declaration among national media; using Declaration for networking with NGOs;

･ prepare materials targetted at the media based on Asia Pacific NGO Declaration

･ carry out on-going networking via e-mail and website;

･ initiate dialogue and lobby with governments


for more effective lobbying before the preparatory committee meeting in Geneva: ･ identify who from the government will go; identify what the government position will be on critical issues, i.e. caste; provide them with AP NGO Declaration and other documentation to encourage their support for issues identified as priorities by NGOs;

･ identify who from the NGOs are going;

･ identify key persons in embassies who could also be given the AP NGO documentation;


for more effective lobbying before Durban:

･ lobby for inclusion of NGO representatives on government delegations

  • - identify who from the government will go; identify what the government position will be on critical issues, i.e. caste, religious intolerance

    - identify who from the NGOs are going; identify who from the NGO sector may be in the government delegation

    •

    ･ create processes for those who go to Prep.Com. to share their experiences with others at national and local level;

    ･ identify NGOs with ECOSOC status who could facilitate participation at the WCAR under their accreditation;

    ･ mobilize media and get them sensitized and interested in the WCAR process;

    ･ fund-raising to facilitate participation in Durban of groups, especially 'victims' of racism etc.

    ･ campaign for governments to grant passports, visas and all other facilities to enable full participation at the WCAR in Durban, with a special focus on Dalit activists and activists from other marginalised and undocumented communities.


    Sector specific:

    ･ work towards creating better links between groups working on minority rights issues and on rights of persons living in occupied territories;

    ･ create awareness on situation of refugees and refugees' rights

    ･ identify national and regional networks for the purposes of generating wider consensus and support for the issue of religion-based intolerance and discrimination, including lobbying with the media;

    ･ lobby with progressive religious leaders representing different religions, and with varied spectrums of elected representatives, members of Parliament, local councils and states to support the campaign developed by the Religion-based Intolerance and Discrimination international network;

    ･ present the migrant agenda to government delegations

    ･ ensure that the ratification of Migrants'Convention is included in government interventions

    ･ campaigns on migrant workers' issues linked to WCAR

    ･ Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Migrants regarding inclusion of issues at WCAR

    ･ lobby on caste :

  • - for the creation, enforcement and implementation of an effective and time-bound program to abolish caste-based discrimination, untouchability and similar practices in all spheres.

    - to ensure that all necessary constitutional, legislative, and administrative measures, including appropriate forms of affirmative action, are in place to prohibit and redress discrimination on the basis of caste, and that such measures - including those in Japan and India - are continued until discrimination is eliminated.

    - to campaign for statutory and constitutional bodies such as

    national human rights commissions, commissions on women, race, minorities, and other relevant groups, as well as the Asia-Pacific Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, the African Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, and the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions to take up the issue of caste-based discrimination and to support its inclusion in the WCAR.

    •

    Country-specific:


    Indonesia: training on WCAR with a special focus on violence against women, for government delegates before Durban (Commission on Violence against Women)

    Sri Lanka: 3 research papers on racism related issues, covering caste, ethnicity, gender, cultural relativism, youth (ICES)

    Kyrgyzstan: workshops and training on refugees, poverty and youth

    Mongolia: Campaign to ratify Convention on Refugees

    Thailand: workshops on gender-based violence for Burmese refugee groups in Thailand (MAP)

    India: lobbying on issue of religious intolerance with national human rights groups, trade unions, minority communities, women's groups and other forums including the PUCL and PUHR, NAWO and the National Minorities Commission

    Pakistan: lobbying on issue of religious intolerance with groups like the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the Minority Hindu Panchayat, the DCHD.

    Philippines: Campaign for amendment to Magna Carta and to Foreign Service Act; campaign for detained migrant workers; campaign for Oveseas Voting Bill (AMEND, Migrante, MFA, NOVA, Kanlungan)

    Nepal: Campaign for ratification of UN Migrant Convention and Bilateral agreements and for pre-departure orientations; (Alliance, Gefont, MWANF)

    Indonesia: Campaign for ratification of UN Migrant Convention and Bilateral agreements, and for creation of Migrant Workers'Act ; (Solidaritas Perempuan, SMBI, GPPBM, KOPBUMI)

    Malaysia: Campaign for ratification of UN Migrant Convention and Bilateral agreements, standard contracts for foreign domestic workers and multi-agency approach (police and NGOs) to deal with abuse of foreign domestic workers;(WAO)

    Korea: Campaign for recognition of undocumented migrant workers and aganst policy of retaining passports of migrant workers; (Migrante, JCMK)

    Japan: Campaign for recognition of undocumented migrant workers, campaign against 'trainee' system, campaign against criminalization of migrants; (NNSMW, Migrante)

    Hong Kong: building broad movement against racism; RDO; campaign against new 'conditions of stay' and '2 weeks' rule; (CMR, AMC, UNIFIL, APMMF

    Taiwan: campaign for abolition of workers'fee, and for implementation of government policy on recruitment (APMMF)

    Bangladesh: Campaign for pre-departure orientations, and against mandatory HIV testing; (Shishuk, Caram-Bangladesh)

    China: Campaign against discrimination against internal migrants, including challenging the permit system, arbitrary arrest and detainees of rural to urban migrants;

    Regional:


    ･ Memorandum on caste-based discrimination to be signed by all participants at Katmandu meeting to be sent to heads of state of India (Mimroth), Nepal (Sagar), Sri Lanka and Japan (Sujimoto);

    ･ lobby National Human Rights Commissions in South Asia on importance of including issue of caste-based discrimination at the WCAR

    ･ campaign on Palestine, militarization and poverty : ASA

    ･ organise forum for groups working on trafficking in the Asia Pacific region

    ･ preparation of media pack on gender and racism: ISIS International

    ･ preparation of campaign materials for religious intolerance : Teesta (Communalism Combat) and Suzanne

    ･ signature campaign for the Declaration : Hseng Nung (Burma), WILPF, SAFHR

    ･ 'Racism produces Refugees' campaign: Forum Asia (Thailand) and WILPF

    ･ identify gaps in UN document in terms of refugees and organise lobbying for inclusion of these issues (Cherry Padilla WILPF, Mustafa, Eileen Pittaway, Hseng Nung Lintner)

    ･ create various media materials bumper stickers, T shirts, posters to project relevant issues identified in the AP NGO process;

    ･ Asia Pacific Gender and Racism mailing list (APGR-list) to continue disseminating information on gender and racism issues (Isis International-Manila)

    ･ on-line discussion to deepen analysis on inter-sectionality of gender and racism through APGR list (Isis International-Manila, South-South Caucus)

    ･ APWLD, ISIS International, INFORM and CRR to continue up-dating and redefining the lobby document on gender and racism

    ･ prepare a detailed, comparative analysis of religious intolerance in AP region;

    ･ prepare campaign material on religious intolerance including fact-sheets (Salbiah -Malaysia, Teesta- India, Dilli Shakya-Nepal, Kelsang Phuntsak -Tibet, Rubina Feroze Bhatti-Pakistan, Hetti Indonesia, Sumitra-Nepal, Wajahat Masood -Pakistan);

    ･ prepare a Directory of Indigenous Peoples' organisations in the Asia Pacific region starting from the list of Tebtebba Foundation and of Asian Indigenous People's Pact(AIPP).

    ･ campaign for the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, with a focus on Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia; (Gefont and Alliance in Nepal, Solidaritas Perempuan in Indonesia, Shisuk and WARBE in Bangladesh)

    ･ signature campaign re. the Migrant Workers'Convention; (WAO, Malaysia)

    ･ Preparation of Press Release on Racism and Indigenous Peoples' Issues (Patricia) and distribution (AIPP/Tebtebba/TKM)

    International:


    at Prep. Com. May/June 2001:

    ･ linking with other NGOs from Africa and Latin and Central America and the Caribbean and developing coordination for Durban;

    ･ Organise AP NGO Forum briefing for delegates to the meeting (Nimalka)

    ･ Nimalka and Paul to participate in International Steering Committee meeting for Durban;

    ･ Chandra Muzaffer and Boon Than will prepare a paper contextualizing globalization, colonialism an unequal power relations for dissemination at Geneva

    ･ Round Table on Racism and related Intolerance in Occupied Territories to be organised by Tibet Bureau

    ･ Initial dialogue re. South South women's caucus : APWLD/Isis International-Manila

    ･ briefng papers to be produced by ICES, Sri Lanka

    ･ organise protest if caste is not included in draft Declaration

    ･ organising interventions on migrant workers' rights in plenary

    ･ Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Migrants

    ･ meetings on migrant workers' rights with government delegations, with lobby document prepared by Malou, Sajida, May-an, Tati, Morsheed;

    ･ ensure that at least 3 representatives from indigenous peoples' organisations attend Prep. Com. (lead on indigenous issues at Geneva to be taken by Babloo India, Vernie CPA, Philippines, Tawnie TKM, New Zealand, Jannie AIPP)

    ･ organised lobby on IP issues with friendly governments and AP governments;

    ･ lobby and campaign with country and regional representatives using campaign materials to heighten attention on issue of religious intolerance and discrimination;


    between Prep. Com. and Durban :

    ･ prepare Dossier on Caste-based discrimination in the Asia Pacific region;

    ･ organise Global Action for Inclusion of Caste in WCAR

    ･ organise protests on exclusion of caste issue in front of UN offices etc. (NPC-Nepal. BLL Japan, NCDHR India, AHRC, Siva Sri Lanka

    ･ protest against US $ 100 registration fee for Durban NGO Forum


    at Durban :


    General :


    for AP NGO Organizing Committee:

    ･ organise AP NGO Caucus including daily early morning briefings for NGOs;

    ･ organise strong media team


    for government meeting :

    ･ lobbying by NGOs using language and text developed in Teheran/Katmandu documents;

    ･ lobbying for WCAR agenda to address caste as a major source of discrimination and for the WCAR Platform for Action to identify concrete measures for ending this form of discrimination;

    ･ lobby for ratification of Migrant Workers' Convention

    ･ minimum issues to lobby for on migration:

  • - abolition of racist, discriminatory and xenophobic laws, policies and legislations against migrant workers;

    - making recruitment agencies accountable;

    - recognition of rights of undocumented migrant workers;

    - regulation of 'trainee's system;

    - bilateral agreements and contracts;

    - minimum standards for health and occupational safety, especially for women migrants and migrant workers, including safeguards against mandatory testing for pregnancy and HIV;

    - legal aid for migrant workers;

    - recognition of rights of families of migrants and migrant workers;

    •

    ･ joint statement on globalization and racism prepared for government delegates : to be done jointly by APWLD, ACFOD and ASA


    for NGO Forum:

    ･ workshop on globalization: organised jointly by APWLD, ACFOD/APHRGO and ASA

    ･ Lobby for anti-globalization action in Durban on September 1, 2001 and coordinate national level actions to coincide with this;

    ･ Asia-Pacific ethnic minority e-group Network; HDO, Sri Lanka

    ･ Cultural event that would show the links between racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and militarization and neo-colonialism: ICES (Sri Lanka) and Center for Women's Development (Sri Lanka); AIPP and TKM;

    ･ Demonstration in support of rights of ethnic minorities and peoples living in occupied territories: organised by SNB

    ･ Launching of Website on rights of ethnic minorities and of persons living in occupied territories; SIRA (Munawarliza)

    ･ Forum for Ethnic Minorities : SUARAM (Malaysia)

    ･ activities for Migrant Voices

    ･ South/South women's Caucus : Asia Pacific, Africa, LA and Caribbean: APWLD

    ･ Panel discussion on Women and Refugees (Centre for Refugee Research)

    ･ Panel on refugees, armed conflict and globalisation (NGOs from Aceh, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma)

    ･ Panel on various forms of conflict in Indonesia:

    ･ Panel on gender, media and language : ISIS International

    ･ women's media team to Durban : ISIS International

    ･ Panel on 'Women's Bodies, Women's Right's: Whose Agency? : DAWN

    ･ Special Forum: Personal Testimonies : International Human Rights Law Group in collaboration with APWLD

    ･ Forum for solidarity for the abolition of caste : Dalit Federation

    ･ Protest demonstrations on exclusion of caste from WCAR

    ･ lobby for designation of April 14 (birthday of Dr. Ambedkar) as International Day of Solidarity with Dalits

    ･ Day of Solidarity with Refugees August 29; activity in Durban linked with regional and national activities on same day; (WILPF, SAFHR, Forum-Asia)

    ･ Workshop on Religion based Intolerance and Discrimination accompanied by a Tribunal or Public Hearing on the plight of religious minorities with representatives from Tibet, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Nepal.

    ･ Panel Discussion on the Issue of Religion Based Intolerance and Discrimination

    ･ Projection of Indigenous Peoples' concerns through media events such as photo exhibits, video screenings etc.(Moana, TKM)

    ･ Sale of products by indigenous peoples; (Vernie, CPA)

    ･ Forum on IPs and Racism : (AIPP/TKM)

    ･ Rally on Migrant Workers' Rights; (Philippine NGOs)

    ･ Multi-media exhibit on migrant workers; (Nepali NGOs)

    ･ Tribunal on Migrant Workers; (CARAM)

    Post Durban


    General:

    ･ push for implementation of Declaration and Platform for Action at national level;

    ･ Asia Pacific meeting to evaluate Durban process and plan for follow-up activities;

    ･ Continued targeting of media to ensure coverage of follow-up;

    ･ maintenance of e-mail/website clearing house for information