SOCIAL WATCH E-NEWSLETTER - Issue 49 - August 12, 2011

Issue 49 - August 12, 2011

Economy: The end of an era

The US credit downgrade – coming after a weak solution to its debt ceiling crisis and signs of a new recession – is forecasting greater turmoil ahead in the global economy, according to the lastest column written by Martin Khor, executive director of South Centre, for The Star, one of the leading newspapers in Malaysia. Even non-specialists comprehend that there is a serious governance problem in the US which is affecting the rest of the world.
Read more

 

European Union: Development and climate priorities of the Polish presidency remain unclear

On 1 July 2011, Poland took over the presidency of the EU Council. This country will have now significant influence on the political direction to the EU. It will host most EU events and will play a key role in all areas of the bloc's activity, including the development policy orientation at a time when the world faces multiple crises and crucial progressive actions are needed. But thus far, the priorities of the Polish presidency in that matter have remained unclear, with no real plan of action having been announced, warned Eurostep this week, in its most recent briefing.
Read more

Palestine: International call to open crossing between Gaza and Egypt

Dozens of Arab and international organizations and leading personalities have joined this week an urgent call launched from Gaza to permanently re-open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which remains tightly restricted despite the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February.
Read more

Brazil: Ibase, 30 years constructing citizenship

The Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis (Ibase), which is dedicated to strengthening democracy and affirming active citizenship, is one of the focal points of Social Watch in this Latin American country. It celebrated its 30th anniversary on Tuesday this week, and up to the middle of September it will be holding a series of commemorative activities opened by ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Read more

Jordan: Women’s organizations prepare CEDAW shadow report

The inequity between husbands and wives regarding the custody of children and the absence of a clear penalization of violence against women are some of the concerns that Jordan civil society organizations will submit to the CEDAW committee next year, before the government presents its official assessment to the panel, reported The Jordan Times this week.
Read more

Europe: Clear laws needed to protect trans persons from discrimination and hatred

The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights,  Thomas Hammarberg, has urged European countries to show more political desire to combat homophobia and transphobia. He also urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to remove "gender dysphoria" from the World Health Organization's list of mental disorders, as a way to reduce prejudices and stigmatization.
Read more

 

 
SOCIAL WATCH IS AN INTERNATIONAL NGO WATCHDOG NETWORK MONITORING POVERTY ERADICATION AND GENDER EQUALITY
Social Watch >>
Social Watch E-Newsletter
For comments, sugestions, collaborations contact us at:
socwatch@socialwatch.org
To stop receiving this newsletter send a message with the subject "unsubscribe" to:
sw-news-request@listas.item.org.uy
Made possible thanks to the funding and support of the European Union and Oxfam Novib.
The international secretariat of Social Watch also receives funding and support from the Coalition of the Flemish North South Movement - 11.11.11.
The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Social Watch and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, Oxfam Novib and the Coalition of the Flemish North South Movement - 11.11.11.