Vol. 51 No. 2 Spring 2004
Letter from the Executive DirectorUNA-NCA has made substantial progress in education, community outreach, and capacity building. Many thanks to the task forces, committees, YPIC, and staff whose hard work led to the following results.
•Global Classrooms has strengthened our working relationship with DC public high schools and raised our profile with a successful Model UN conference held at the Pan American Health Organization on May 4—with unprecedented press coverage (see pages 6–9).
•The Office Space Fund, a new part of UNA-NCA’s endowment, has been carefully invested to provide funding for UNA-NCA’s space needs, made possible by a successful sale of the Lauren building condo unit.
•UNA-NCA’s role in promoting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has been discussed with Steve Dimoff’s UNA-USA office, Evelyn Herfkens, the UN spokesperson for the MDGs, and Carol Welch of the UN Foundation whose role is promotion of the MDGs in the US. As a result, Andy Rice has established an MDG Task Force headed by Mary Oakes Smith to explore project implementation.
•International Fellows, now UNA-NCA Fellows, continues to provide a quality experience for DC area graduate students under the guidance of Bob Berg and Abi Pereira. Evelyn Falkowski and the Speaker’s Bureau will provide an adult education course on International Organizations for the Arlington, Virginia Learning in Retirement Institute in the fall.
•The UNA-NCA Program Committee broke new ground with a Passport to the Caribbean event for families. •YPIC had a very well-attended celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year with Meridian International Center.
•UN Week planners have already engaged several other organizations in the Washington community as partners for this year’s celebration of the UN’s birthday including the World Bank, DC Habitat for Humanity, YouthAids, Sister Cities, and the International Club of DC. Fundraising efforts have been strengthened with the addition of several professional fundraisers to the Development Committee.
•And human rights activist Fatoumata Toure of Mali received the second annual $10,000 Perdita Huston Human Rights Award on May 6 (see page 4). Our UNA-NCA office is busy as always. Adriana Levy is volunteering in the office on fundraising tasks. UN Express and the YPIC list-serve now have 3,000 email addresses each as a result of successful membership and outreach efforts. UNANCA is pleased to welcome Paula Boland as part-time staff as Michael Dumlao leads our Global Classrooms project. Paula is Coordinator of Special Projects in addition to being co-chair of YPIC and co-chair for UN Week.
George A. Garland
Global Classrooms comes to Washington, DC (by Michael Dumlao, Director of Global Classrooms, DC)
The situation was a dire one: a refugee camp in the Democratic People's Republic of the Congo with 10,000 refugees was threatened by an invading force from Rwanda. With over 50 staff members of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and no UN Peacekeepers present, the Security Council was faced with a potential humanitarian crisis. With only three days before the invading force was scheduled to reach the camp, the delegate from France urged Security Council members to contribute troops and resources to an international peacekeeping force that would be deployed immediately. The resolution passed unanimously with no abstentions. The decision was made at 315pm, Tuesday, May 4th, 2004.
Welcome to Global Classrooms.
In September of 2003, UNA-NCA was invited by Dr. Lucia Rodriguez, Vice President for Education at UNA-USA, to participate in Global Classrooms, a national curriculum-based program that had already brought global education and the experience of Model United Nations to a number of inner-city public school systems throughout the United States and abroad. Bestowed with a generous grant from the National Geographic Society and working in close partnership with the new Center for Global Education and Leadership at DCPS, Global Classrooms reached over 300 students from 14 high schools in the District (including one school from Monterrey, Mexico which will then host Coolidge High School at their Fall conference in Mexico City).
The Global Classrooms Model UN Conference on Tuesday, May 4th at the Pan American Health Organization and the Organization of American States was a product of several months worth of school visits and a massive campaign to coordinate efforts between a multitude of partners. The day featured opening remarks by former UN Undersecretary Gillian Sorensen (now of the UN Foundation); Barbara Chow, VP of Education at National Geographic; Dr. Wilma Bonner, Director of Academic Programs at DCPS; a keynote by Dr. Rodriguez and an inspiring rendition of the National Anthem by students from Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Simulations of the Security Council, the World Health Organization, the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly concluded in the passage of a number or resolutions that addressed the issues of the Middle East Conflict, HIV/AIDS, Landmines and Multinational Terrorism. The program’s participants were then invited to a complimentary “Diplomat’s Reception” at the Art Museum of the Americas (made possible by our partners at the Organization of American States).
Thanks in large part to the assistance of Ruder Finn, an advertising/ public relations company from New York, media coverage was particularly extensive: National Public Radio’s Kojo Nnamdi and WPFW- Pacifica’s Gloria Minott both featured interviews with GCDC Director, Michael Dumlao. Both the Washington Post and the Washington Times featured stories in the days following the conference, along with Channel 7 news, Universal (Mexico) and Reuters.
The GCDC team, headed by Michael Dumlao (GCDC Director) and Adam DiClemente (Model United Nations Outreach Coordinator), is proud to work with partners and sponsors who adhere to the Global Classrooms commitment to breakdown barriers that would hinder inner-city communities from engaging in foreign affairs. It was apparent from the beginning that while the students of Washington, DC live within the shadows of the world’s most powerful international institutions, their access to these was limited and sporadic. By working with DCPS, our efforts are systemic and therefore contain the potential to reach all DCPS high schools at once. Also, by providing the curriculum and training to the schools free of charge, participation by all students was made possible (it is interesting to note that while most Model UN participants are white and middle to upper-class males, our GCDC students are mostly African-American and female, a demographic change that GCDC staff are eager to promote).
At the successful close of GCDC’s first phase, discussions are now underway for the full implementation of Global Classrooms as a co-curricular program beginning in the Fall of 2004. We will also begin plans to expand this project into Middle Schools beginning next year. For more information about Global Classrooms, please visit us on the web at www.unanca.org/gcdc or call Michael at the office.
Staff for Global Classrooms Program
During the summer, former intern Adam diClemente will help to continue the implemention of the our Global Classrooms program as a temporary staff person. Several staff enhancements have been made possible by a contract for $40,000 we have signed with UNA-USA to implement Global Classrooms in DC. The Board, Advisory Council, and membership of UNA-NCA can take pride in making possible this significant achievement. The leadership of President Andrew E. Rice, the creativity of Michael Dumlao, and the energy of Young Professionals for International Cooperation are all appreciated.
Anti-HIV Learning IntiatiVE for Africa (ALIVE)
Anthony J. Onugu
International Peer Counseling Program for Nigerian University Students University of Lagos (UNILAG) April 2004
UNA-NCA received a grant from UNA-USA for this project as part of their UNTold Story program. An HIV/AIDS awareness creation project was carried out at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, on April 16 and 17. The project involved an awareness creation forum on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and preventive behavior and a second forum focused exclusively on abstinence, using religious groups as focal points. A total of 172 students participated.
Few students on Nigerian university campuses possess a substantive understanding of HIV/AIDS. Frank discussion about the disease generally seems to be overpowered by secrecy, silence, denial, and fear of stigmatization and discrimination. As a consequence, both in-school and out-of-school youth have been repeatedly identified as high risk and vulnerable populations across the country. Moreover, limited effort has been made to proactively involve students in HIV prevention efforts in African institutes of higher education.
UNA-NCA contacted staff member Austin Otegbulu, at the University of Lagos and through him a student group, the Association of Concerned Youth of Nigeria (ACYN), led by Tobey Odudigbo who carried out two programs.
HIV/AIDS AND YOUTH
This program was designed to bring to youths knowledge of the many ways they can help minimize or stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, beginning from the campus, and considering their strength and ability to make changes.
Students were invited to a forum where a discussion was held. The project leaders presented statistics on Epidemiological Fact Sheets on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in Nigeria, from the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA). This presentation formed the basis for a question and answer session on various aspects of the AIDS epidemic. This was followed by a presentation on the role of students and the importance of personal responsibility. The speaker was a student of University of Lagos studying microbiology. 45 students participated in this program.
A rapid post-activity evaluation was conducted from a random sample of participants. The surveyed participants expressed gratitude for the information provided them on the HIV epidemic in Nigeria. They indicated that they now understand and know what HIV/AIDS is and how they can protect themselves and others around them. Some have since joined the organization and have been involved in our HIV/AIDS Awareness Programs.
HIV/AIDS AND ABSTINENCE
The second aspect of the program was designed to address the misconception that the use condoms is the only way to stop HIV/AIDS. The project staff and Association (ACYN) realized that the principal preventive approach promoted in the media on HIV/AIDS is the use of condoms. It is our belief that this in turn has led to the unforeseen effect of promoting promiscuity among youths. As a result of this, the project staff and ACYN decided to promote abstinence as the most effective anti HIV/AIDS preventive behavior.
The program was conducted in various residence halls on campus. Participants were invited to an open air forum in one male and one female hall of residence and various discussions about the risks involved in the use of condom highlighted. Scientists and leaders of religious bodies on campus who are students themselves were invited to speak to the students and to take this message back to their colleagues. 127 students participated in this aspect of the project. The religious bodies resolved to join in the spread of “abstinence” as the most effective way of keeping off HIV/AIDS. Other participants have equally resolved to join in the spreading of “abstinence” as the most effective approach to stopping HIV/AIDS on campus and in Nigeria as a whole
The Stakes in Chad
Donald R. Norland
The Setting Geography and history have made the north central African country of Chad a critical crossroads and arena of conflict between two historic forces competing for preeminence in North Africa and the Middle East.
Geography and ethnicity make Chad a microcosm of that competition. Almost equally divided between Arabic/Moslem culture in the north and non-Moslem/African culture in the south, Chad’s divisions reflect the culture and traditions of its neighbors. Chad’s divisions were exacerbated by the legacy of some seventy-five years of French colonization which left the indelible influence of a modern language and a veneer of western culture. Chad’s instability reached epidemic proportions over the years since it acquired independence in August 1960. Armed rebellion has become the traditional, almost institutionalized, means of regime change, with rebel movements operating from bases in remote regions close to Libya or Sudan. Since guerrilla movements normally do not accord a high priority to civic education or elections, tribal—rather than national—loyalties remain the primary source of social cohesion.
The Present Fast forward to 2004. For the past fourteen years, Chad has been governed by what some observers call a “tribal legion.” In l990 tribesmen loyal to President Idriss Deby ousted the tribal legion of Hissen Habre who had become a murderous dictator. Faced with growing dissatisfaction with this cycle of instability/repression/ rebellion, President Deby agreed in l993 to convene a national conference that produced a new constitution—and elections for president in l996 and again in 2001.
Meanwhile, Chad became the beneficiary of an unexpected bonanza. Years of oil exploration in the south resulted in confirmation of at least a billion barrels of oil in the southern part of the country—a find judged worth exploiting by ExxonMobil and a consortium consisting of Chevron and Petronas (Malaysia’s national oil company.) To avoid the scandalous diversion of oil revenues that characterized such projects elsewhere in the world, the companies joined the World Bank in insisting—as a condition for approving the $3.7 billion investment--that the government of Chad pass an unprecedented World Bank-designed law providing that key oil revenues be deposited in an off-shore bank. Faced with the option of accepting this condition, and proceeding with the Petroleum Project, or rejecting it and losing the Project, in 1999 the government of Chad accepted the condition.
Frustrated in efforts to obtain control of oil revenues, President Deby turned his attention to enhancing his authority by attempting to become president for life, a step he took in November 2003 by proposing an amendment to Chad’s constitution to remove the two term limit. The public reaction in Chad to this obvious grab for power and money was to energize the opposition. One of the first, and certainly the loudest, opposition voices came from an unlikely source, namely a comrade in arms of President Deby, a co-founder of the ruling party and presidential appointee—namely his ambassador to the United States, Mr. Ahmat Soubiane Hassaballah.
In a letter dated December 1, 2003, Ambassador Soubiane called on his party colleagues to reject the proposed constitutional amendment allowing the incumbent to be “president for life.” In a subsequent interview Ambassador Soubiane publicly urged an end to what he called the “African comedy” of presidents for life and called for peaceful transition by organizing democratic elections in Chad. President Deby and Ambassador Soubiane are currently rallying their respective supporters. Deby is struggling to maintain his party’s majority in the National Assembly in support of the constitutional amendment. Ambassador Soubiane is promoting a “National Coalition for a Peaceful Transition” encompassing virtually all opposition party leaders, trade unions, human rights and women’s organizations representing a wide range of Chadian civil society. The choices are clear. On the one hand, the alternative promised by the Ambassador Soubiane ( Alternance) promises open democratic elections. President Deby seeks to be president for life. The Alternance pledges respect for the transparent allocation of oil revenues for health, education and infrastructure. The incumbent president wants access to oil revenues for his own purposes. The alternance is committed to exercising restraint and conciliation regarding conflicts in neighboring countries such as Sudan and Central African Republic. The current regime allows Chad to serve as an arsenal for rebel movements. The opposition views honest peace brokering as an obligation. The regime intervenes by recruiting and arming mercenaries.
In sum, the alternatives are to perpetuate the discredited “African comedy” politics by creating a president for life or pursue the goal of modernizing Chadian politics and the introduction of democratic practices. Confronted by such clear alternatives in a region troubled by hostile forcess, the choice should be simple and clear.
In fact, both governments and international institutions hesitate, inhibited by the mantra of the prohibition against intervention in a country’s “domestic affairs.” Meanwhile—paradoxically—a doctrine of ‘military preemption” has been developed, accepted and selectively applied in the Middle East.
Surely the current options in Chad emphasize the necessity of formulating and implementing a comparable doctrine of “diplomatic preemption” in support of democracy and development in this highly volatile region of the world.
UNA-NCA News : perdita huston : afghanistan clearance : cedaw : development
Perdita Huston Human Rights Award for 2004
At a ceremony on May 6, the Perdita Huston Human Rights Award Selection Committee— Pierre-Marc Diennet, Karen Mulhauser, Thoraya Obaid, Gloria Steinem and John Salzberg—proudly announced that the recipient of the 2004 Perdita Huston Human Rights Award is Madame Fatoumata Traoré of Mali. Madame Traoré has spent over 30 years in the service of women and families. She has transformed countless lives by implementing the first family planning programs in rural Mali. Ten years ago, Madame Traoré established the Association for Development and Population Activities (ASDAP), Mail’s first and largest NGO specializing in family planning and adolescent reproductive health care. The organization is now one of Mali’s great success stories in the privatization of family planning information and service delivery and a model for sustainability. An award check of $10,000 was presented to Madame Traoré at the ceremony.
Afghanistan Clearance Certificate
UNA-NCA has received a Clearance Certificate documenting our contribution of $19,304.22 for Mine Clearance Team MDC-19-01. From May 1 to June 30 the team cleared 71,182 square meters of Haji Nazar and Hapin Dasht in the Khoja Ghar District of Takhar Province and Logeyan in Nahrin District of Baglan Province in Afghanistan. The 30 members of the Mine Detection Dog Center Team MDC- 19-01 are led by Ahmad Zia, a deminer since 1994. The men come from diverse backgrounds and include former members of the mujaheddin, students, clerks, teachers, and shopkeepers. The team includes four dogs: Argo, Arod, Basco, and Arass.
CEDAW Luncheon and Book Launch
The Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) luncheon was held on May 12 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building. It was also a launch for the book, CEDAW: The Treaty for the Rights of Women, co-authored by Leila Rassekh Milani, Sarah Albert, and Karina Purushoma. The event was opened by Sarah Albert, Public Policy Director for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Carolyn Hannan, Director of the UN Division for the Advancement of Women, then spoke about the history of the CEDAW treaty. This treaty, adopted on December 18, 1979, aimed to protect the rights of women within the context of political, social, and economic spheres. As of March 2004, the treaty has been approved by 175 countries and has been an important tool in eliminating discriminatory national laws, as well as influencing court decisions in many countries.
Farida Azizi, special advisor to the Afghan/Middle East Women’s Program spoke about the plight of Afghan women. Leila Rassekh Milani, liaison for Women’s Issues of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai’s, spoke about the book which outlines the mission of the CEDAW treaty and its impact on the life of women around the world.
Especially interesting are sections of the book which deal with how the CEDAW treaty has improved protection of women from violence; impacted on access of education for women; impacted on trafficking of women; and impacted on property protection and court decisions.
The US is one of the few countries that hasn’t ratified the CEDA treaty. The book also chronicles how this bill has languished in the House and Senate since 1979 and how important it is for the US as a world leader to ratify the treaty. The program concluded with concluding remarks by Bryan McKeon of Senator Biden’s staff.
Charlotte Oldham-Moore, Senior Counsel to Senator Barbara Boxer and former Senior Policy Advisor for Senator Paul Wellstone, accepted a copy of CEDAW: The Treaty for the Rights of Women in recognition of the work of Sheila and Paul Wellstone for women’s rights.
UNA-NCA Development Activity Picking Up!
UNA-NCA President Andrew Rice launched the UNA-NCA 2004 anniversary fundraising campaign in March with letters to members encouraging them to participate. Bearing in mind that UNA-NCA is no longer in a 50th Anniversary mode, we have set a somewhat lower target for this year than last, of $75,000. The response thus far has been heartening, though we have a long way to go to reach our goal. Nearly 100 members have contributed already, and we already have indications of several Millennium Goal Achievers. The anniversary campaign will come to a close at the annual meeting of UNA-NCA on June 19. We hope to see a high level of participation, including many members in the UNA-NCA recognition categories, by that time. Adriana Levy has begun to volunteer in the UNA-NCA office three days a week in support of our development work, and the Development Committee has several new members.