Jornada Mundial da recusa da pobreza | Stand Up and Take Action on October 16-18th

Jornada mundial da recusa da miséria
October 17, World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty Recognised in 1992 by the United Nations as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

No dia 17 de Outubro de 1987, respondendo ao apelo do Padre Joseph Wresinski, cem mil pessoas reuniram-se no Adro das Liberdades e dos Direitos Humanos no Trocadéro em Paris para renderem homenagem às vítimas da fome, da violência e da ignorância, para afirmarem a sua recusa da miséria apelando a humanidade a unir-se para fazer respeitar os Direitos Humanos.
Uma LAJE proclamando esta mensagem foi inaugurada nesse dia e nesse Adro, onde em 1948 tinha sido assinada a Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos.
100.000 pessoas reunidas à volta do Adro dos Direitos Humanos, no Trocadéro (Paris) - 17 de outubro de 1987. Os cem mil cidadãos presentes eram pessoas de todas as origens, de todos os meios sociais e de todas as crenças. Algumas representavam as autoridades públicas internacionais, nacionais e locais. Outras eram famílias vivendo as realidades da grande pobreza à qual resistiam corajosamente no seu dia-a-dia.
A partir desta data, no dia 17 de Outubro de cada ano, os mais pobres e todos aqueles que, a seu lado, recusam a miséria e a exclusão reúnem-se, no mundo inteiro, com a finalidade de testemunharem a sua solidariedade e compromisso, para que os Direitos Fundamentais sejam restituídos aos mais pobres.
Assim nasceu a Jornada Mundial da Recusa da Miséria.
No dia 17 de Outubro de 1992, Javier Perez de Cuellar, então Secretário Geral das Nações Unidas, em nome de um grupo de personalidades internacionais, reunidas num Comité, lança um apelo para o reconhecimento do dia 17 de Outubro.
O Sr Javier Perez de Cuellar, secretário geral da ONU, com as famílias mais pobres no Adro do Trocadéro. Abril de 1989A 22 de Dezembro de 1992, o dia 17 de Outubro é proclamado Jornada Internacional para a Eliminação da Pobreza pela Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas. A partir daí as inciativas para celebrar esta Jornada não cessaram de se multiplicar.

A LAJE do Trocadéro assim como as suas réplicas tornou-se o símbolo da recusa da miséria, uma fonte de orgulho e de coragem para os mais pobres, assim como para os que se alinharam a seu lado.
Vejamos :
"Por vezes a vida é dura, perde-se a esperança e deixa-se ir tudo por água abaixo. Desde que esta Laje foi inaugurada no coração de Paris, sabemos que alguma coisa mudou. Nunca mais ninguém poderá negar nem esquecer os que sofrem da miséria no mundo." "Esta Laje é para os que estão condenados a viver na miséria no mundo inteiro. Quando estamos sós, os esforços que fazemos não servem para nada. É preciso apoiar os que vivem na miséria tanto em França, como no resto do mundo e que, cada dia que passa, lutam para sobreviver. Juntemo-nos todos, para que toda a gente possa viver como ser humano." "Para mim, a Laje é coisa séria, a respeitar : nela damos existência a todas estas vidas de sofrimento e de coragem que não são reconhecidas por ninguém." "Foi um amigo que me convidou a vir até à Laje. Foi um grande choque para mim. Custava-me acreditar que homens, mulheres, famílias pudessem viver numa tal injustiça, dentro do meu próprio país...Com os meus colegas de trabalho, decidimos bater-nos, para que a nossa empresa desse trabalho e formasse trabalhadores sem qualificação." "A Laje é a nossa lança, o nosso cavalo de combate à pobreza. É um local, onde cada encontro provoca o nascimento de qualquer coisa de novo no coração das pessoas. É o local donde toda a espécie de pensamento, de palavra ou de acção menos correctos e que possam atingir a dignidade e a vida dos seres humanos devem ser banidos."
No dia 17 de Abril de 1989, Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretário Geral das Nações Unidas, ao visitar a Laje e depois de ter lido a mensagem nela inscrita, declarava :
O Sr Javier Perez de Cuellar, secretário geral da ONU, com as famílias mais pobres no Adro do Trocadéro. Abril de 1989"Estou aqui como Secretário Geral das Nações Unidas e mais ainda como ser humano. Foi com uma profunda emoção que li as palavras do padre Joseph Wresinski. Esta inscrição inspira de modo permanente os nossos esforços, para que a pobreza seja vencida. Sou o representante da ONU, a organização que luta pela paz. Mas não creio que a paz consista somente na ausência de guerras. Não podemos falar de paz enquanto houver miséria no mundo. (...) Creio que é preciso ajudar o mundo inteiro a ter em consideração a miséria, tão dolorosa, de que sofrem tantos milhões de seres humanos. Venho de um país onde há muita miséria. Tenho, por conseguinte, uma muito especial compreensão das pessoas que precisam de ser ajudadas pela comunidade internacional no seu conjunto. Vivemos num mundo onde a interdependência é a palavra-chave. Dependemos uns dos outros. Os pobres dependem dos ricos, os ricos dependem dos pobres. (...) No que me diz respeito, não tenho nem poder material nem tão-pouco político. A ONU depende do governo dos Estados membros. No entanto, tenho uma força moral. E essa força ponho-a ao serviço desta causa de que o padre Wresinski foi e continua a ser, mesmo depois da sua morte, o porta-voz."
A Laje junto à sede das Nações Unidas em Nova Iorque
No seguimento de Javier Perez de Cuellar, a comunidade internacional começou a dar expressão ao seu empenho na luta contra a pobreza. Assim, no dia 22 de Dezembro de 1992, a ONU reconhece o dia 17 de Outubro como Jornada Mundial para a Eliminação da Pobreza e, no dia 17 de Outubro de 1996 uma réplica da Laje do Trocadéro é inauguarada na sede das Nações Unidas, em Nova Iorque.
No dia 21 de Agosto de 1997, o Papa João Paulo II, aquando das Jornadas Mundias da Juventude em Paris, começa por se recolher junto da Laje do Trocadéro e aí recebe uma delegação de jovens do Quarto Mundo.
De um bairro de lata (favela) até ao Primeiro Decénio das Nações Unidas para a Eliminação da Pobreza
1956 : O padre Joseph Wresinski chega ao bairro de lata (favela) de Noisy-le-Grand.
“Aqui as famílias encontram-se reunidas pela miséria... De imediato, senti que me encontrava frente ao meu povo”.
O Dia Mundial da recusa da miséria encontra as suas origens num agrupamento de famílias em situação de grande pobreza que viviam num bairro de lata (favela), em Noisy-le-Grand, nos arredores de Paris. O padre Joseph Wresinski, homem nascido na miséria, no mês de Julho de 1956 decide ficar junto destas famílias. Com elas fundará em 1957 uma associação que se tornará mais tarde o Movimento ATD Quarto Mundo.
Mal chegou a Noisy-le-Grand, fez a promessa de levar este povo reunido pela miséria a subir os degraus de todos os sítios, onde os homens e mulheres tomam decisões sobre o futuro, tais como o Eliseu, o Vaticano e as Nações Unidas. Queria assim garantir a estas famílias um reconhecimento e uma existência no interior das consciências.
Estas famílias, isoladas e excluídas do mundo dos homens, precisavam que alguns membros da sociedade a elas se juntassem para, em união com elas, recusarem a condição de exclusão de que eram vítimas. Assim nasceu uma história de parceria entre famílias excluídas e cidadãos reconhecidos e estabelecidos na sociedade.
17 de Outubro de 1987 : as famílias mais pobres do mundo têm finalmente um local, universalmente reconhecido.
Esta história está na origem do grande agrupamento de 100.000 pessoas, no dia 17 de Outubro de 1987, em Paris, no Adro das Liberdades, dos Direitos Humanos e do Cidadão. Respondendo ao apelo lançado pelo padre Joseph Wresinski, estas pessoas afirmaram a necessidade de se unirem para fazerem respeitar os Direitos Humanos, reconhecendo que a miséria é uma negação permanente de todos eles. Esta afirmação foi materializada numa Laje em homenagem às vítimas da miséria, colocada neste adro, onde em 1948 foi assinada a Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos. A inauguração desta Laje foi um marco importante na história do reconhecimento das famílias mais pobres cuja existência tinha sido, até ali, ignorada, tanto na vida política, como social e cultural de seus países.
A partir daí, no dia 17 de Outubro de cada ano, cidadãos de todas as origens, condições e convicções passaram a reunir-se à volta desta Laje para darem testemunho da sua solidariedade para com os mais pobres e assim renovarem o seu compromisso. A partir de 1988, reuniões como esta passaram a ser organizadas através do mundo, tanto no interior das comunidades locais, como nos bairros de miséria espalhados por todos os continentes.
Assim nasceu uma verdadeira Jornada Mundial da Recusa da Miséria, por iniciativa dos mais pobres do mundo inteiro.
1992 : As Nações Unidas reconhecem o Quarto Mundo, assim como o seu contributo para a construção da humanidade.
No dia 22 de Dezembro de 1992, a Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas adopta uma resolução que proclama o dia 17 de Outubro como “Jornada Internacional para a Eliminação da Pobreza”, confirmando, deste modo, o contributo das famílias mais pobres para a construção do mundo.
No dia 17 de Outubro de 1994, as famílias do Quarto Mundo, reunidas em Congresso nos Estados Unidos da América, foram recebidas pelo Secretário Geral das Nações Unidas que assim dava um real significado ao reconhecimento pela ONU das famílias mais pobres, como parceiros de direito.
1996 - 2006 : As famílias mais pobres são reconhecidas como parceiros na construção do mundo de amanhã.
As Nações Unidas designaram oficialmente 1996 como “Ano Internacional para a Eliminação da Pobreza”, o que constituiu em si uma etapa importante na longa caminhada das famílias mais pobres para serem acolhidas como parceiros indispensáveis nos locais, onde os homens e mulheres costumam reunir-se para reflectir e tomar decisões sobre o futuro. Através do decénio (1997 -2006) as Nações Unidas permitem que esta história de uma nova fraternidade entre todos os homens, a partir dos mais pobres, continue a ser escrita. Hoje, está ao alcance de todos e todas que o desejarem associar-se a esta corrente mundial.
Fonte,http://www.oct17.org/Historia-do-dia-17-de-Outubro.html, consultado a 11 de Outubro de 2009.

Stand With the World to End Poverty.

Stand Up and Take Action on October 16-18th
One by one, country by country, on these days, millions of people all around the world will take part in a united action of standing up in support of the end of poverty and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Attend Event
Organize Event
Act Online
(...).
Fonte,http://standagainstpoverty.org/take-action, copnsultado a 10 de Outubro de 2009.

G20 Pittsburgh Summit - Statement by EU Commission President Barroso

Statement by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, on the results of the G20 meeting
26 September 2009

I came to Pittsburgh to secure a real commitment from the G20 to a sustainable, ethical and balanced global economy. These values must guide our future decisions as the G20 becomes the central global economic policy forum. Having seen the central role played by the EU in the creation of the G20 at leaders' level a year ago, I am particularly happy with the decisions taken today and the new permanent role of the G20.The G20 has shown its worth by helping to avoid an economic meltdown. But we are not yet out of the crisis, with far too many people still losing their jobs. This is no time for complacency or a return to business as usual. It is time for delivery and a new global order reflecting the reality of economic interdependence.I believe we have established the foundations for global rules which will allow the world to prosper through open markets and resist the temptation of protectionism.We have the right basis also to support the developing world and in particular to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.We have agreed to tighter coordination of our main economic policies. The G20 is the right place to drive the global recovery forward and deliver a coherent exit strategy. We need modern international financial institutions that can deliver and push through the implementation of our commitments.We have agreed to rein in exorbitant bonuses and hold international finance to account. Financial markets must concentrate on ethical long-term investment not reckless short-term gambling. Europe is leading the way and is offering a model of financial supervision and smart regulation which can inspire others. But we will only achieve a full and sustainable recovery if we also tackle climate change and kick-start trade. This is a test of credibility for the G20 - failure is not an option. I do not hide my concern at the slow rate of progress. Negotiations cannot be an open ended process. It's time to get serious now, not later. The next G20 must be able to look back at a successful Copenhagen Conference and look forward to the positive impact of a trade and development deal.See also the full Leaders Statement from the Pittsburgh Summit

Fonte, http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/fr/article_9032_fr.htm, consultado a 8 de Outubro de 2009 / UE: Commission Européenne / UN forum

About Abuse and Rape | Questions to Charlene Smith

Questions from a US student, Seyoung Yeo, to South African writer and gender activist and SpeakOut! founder, Charlene Smith

1. What are your views on the accessibility of medical services and legal aid for victims of rape and gender-based violence in South Africa?
Charlene Smith: We don't refer to ourselves as victims, we consider it derogatory language, if you're dead you're a victim, at all other times you are a survivor. Be very careful Seyoung, the language you use toward those who experience trauma can enable or disable them. It's easy to get medical services, but what is more important is accessiblity to PEP to prevent HIV, remember close to 1 in 2 SAs are HIV infected, and research has shown (refer to info on site) that 40% of SA women raped will become HIV+ if they don't receive PEP in time. There is no legal aid for those raped or who experience domestic violence - however, there is legal aid for those accused of rape or domestic violence. Pretty shocking, isn't it? The state's excuse is that rape is a crime against the state so women get the services of prosecutors (as they do in all countries of the world), same for DV, but if she wants further legal measures against him eg a protection order, that's her problem, she has to get it herself.
2. What are your views on how well communities are informed about medical services and legal aid?
Charlene Smith: Very poorly informed, but rape is so prevalent (a rape every 26 seconds, one in 2 women raped in her life time, 1,69m rapes a year (SA Law Commission, 1999) although only 55 000 reported, we know what our rights to access are.
3. How do you feel about the effectiveness of the 365 Day National Plan recently launched in South Africa to end gender-based violence? What it effectively means that nothing additional happens, we're in a situation of the same old non attention (only 1% of cases of rape result in conviction, SA Dept of Justice) - all it is, is better PR. And that helps no one.
4. Some say that the legislative priority is in streamlining the criminal justice system's methods of handling rape cases, while providing easier accessibility to medical services. Others argue that such legislative intervention is ineffective without first dealing with societal and cultural issues, such as the low status of women and girls and the emergence of "the virgin myth". What are your views on this?
Charlene Smith: You cannot approach merely one issue eg medical or legal or cultural ... there has to be a holistic approach, everything needs to be addressed simultaneously. But the priority has to be on effective investigation and sentencing because without that it's open season on women; rapists rape in such high numbers because they know it is so easy to get away with it; women fail to report because they know the lack of success in prosecutions and too that the police will give them a crushing/depressing run around. And cultural garbage prevails because of a lack of medical treatment eg the virgin rape myth prevailed (see my paper on site) when it was difficult to access arvs/treatment for all. As the rollout of arvs to all has intensified (although still at very low levels with less than a 10th of those infected on arvs), virgin rape has diminished.
5. How do you see the validity of the virgin myth being an underlying reason for the prevalence of rape?
Charlene Smith: Darling, virgin rape happens in virgins, mostly those under the age of 12. Use logic here - if one in two women are raped in SA, surely you do not think all are virgins? Virgins tend to be children. Rape is the fastest escalating crime in every country of the world, sexual trafficking is now more profitable than drug trafficking, in every country of the world a woman is more likely to get murdered by her intimate partner than anyone else. And in South Africa we have the highest rate of rape in the world - and the most violent. And there is never a single reason for rape, it is multifaceted, so be careful how you write about rape.
6. How should communities be taught to challenge value assumptions that cause women and girls to be viewed as inferior beings?
Charlene Smith: It has to start with women and girls not viewing themselves as inferior beings and asserting their dignity - it also has to be done by us involving men in pressing for great dignity, respect and equal rights for women. I don't like attitudes from some women that discriminate or are hateful or blaming toward men, that gets us nowhere, we have to involve them in our struggle for greater socio-economic justice. But rape does not happen because women are viewed as inferior, if that was so the incidence of rape globally would be far higher than it is. In great part it happens because in every country of the world the lowest rate of conviction for any crime is that for rape - it's not investigated forecefully enough and the biggest problem lies with the judiciary who give out meaningless sentences. I also would not call it a "value assumption" that a female is an inferior being, that is to deny the meaning of the word "value" - I would call it an attitudinal defect.
7. What are your views on possible setbacks of sexual abuse prevention programs? Could unfounded value assumptions influence the methods in which these programs are targeted at victims and communities?
Charlene Smith: Your use of value assumption is hugely problematic and means I am unable to answer this question. You also don't say which "value assumptions" you are talking about. There are also very many types of sexual abuse prevention programmes - which ones are you talking about? If you can be specific I can give you a thoughtful response.
8. What do you feel needs to be understood or considered by those who are working to end gender-based violence?
Charlene Smith: That we have wasted too much time blaming men. Violence, all violence, is a societal issue. Violence harms not just those who are direct recipients of it, but those around them too. When I was raped it harmed my son, my lover, my male friends ... they too were wounded, confused, guilty and in pain. We have to see that this is a common problem, a universal challenge, every time a person acts to harm another, they wound the world. >br> Mothers need to consider more carefully how we are raising our sons - we cannot be abusive toward our boys in language or actions and then expect them never to harm women. We cannot ask them to be kind to us if we are not kind to them. But too, fathers have to be present in their children's lives (and globally most are not) and have to set good examples. I'm tired of victim feminism blaming men for everything. We need a new feminism where women are accountable, where they do not blame men's prejudice and discrimination toward us for our failure to thrive ... we need to use that prejudice and discrimination as the fuel that makes us ever more determined to be greater, stronger and more powerful than they, or we believe we can be. I scribbled this note to myself yesterday and have to improve on it, but I will give it to you now, for any benefit it may be - "The minute I categorise myself as a victim of men I condemn myself to subservience, to being eternally lesser. By saying that my intelligence and determination does not allow me the capacity to manage my life, I become an eternal servant to the whims of others. But when I see myself as a strong individual, a person who can challenge and achieve regardless of any obstacle fate puts before me, I become invincible, indomnitable and I achieve more than I could have believed." And is it hard? Oh my word, it's hard ... it's really hard, but it's much harder to be a victim. It's much harder to be scared. It's much harder to allow myself to wither on the bottom rungs and blame.
Fonte:http://www.speakout.org.za/about/main.html, consultado a 6 de Outubro de 2009.
Charlene Smith Books

WHAT TO DO IN A RAPE SITUATION
Scroll down for meds and correct dosages DURING A RAPE try to remain calm. Memorise what the rapist (not his clothes) looks like so that you will be able to make identification later. If there is a gang, try to remember at least one attacker. Do not make it obvious that you are doing this. Fighting back may simply give the rapist sexual pleasure and increase your risk of being injured or killed. Remain calm unless you believe you can fight him off or deter them. You have a better chance of this in a public place than in an isolated setting or in your home which is where 65% of women get raped. In South Africa 85% of rapists are armed with a knife (most commonly) or a firearm – do not take chances with your life. AFTER THE RAPE do not bath, change your clothes, go to the toilet or clean your teeth if you were forced to perform oral sex. Phone the police, you will not be forced to lay a charge but they will help you. Laying a charge helps protect others at risk of rape too - by jailing a rapist, we protect others. Ensure the police take you FIRST to the nearest clinic, hospital or district surgeon's office, ideally do not go to your family doctor most have no rape or forensic training and the HIV knowledge of many is pitiful. It is imperative that you get antiretrovirals (Post Exposure Prophylaxis - PEP) within 72 hours of the first act of penetration or attempted penetration. Oral sex also puts you at risk of HIV. Anal sex increases your risk of HIV transmission 60 fold. The sooner you get PEP the better, the police can take statements much later. You are entitled by law to a copy of your affidavit, even if the police do not give it to you on the night, ensure you know the name of the investigating officer and get the affidavit from him together with the case number. Make sure s/he informs you of the bail application - you have no right to testify at that application, but if you are told the name of the prosecutor and the which court it will be heard in, approach the Chief Prosecutor and/or the Prosecutor in Charge of Sexual Offences BEFORE the hearing and tell him or her of your fears if the alleged perpetrator/s is released. Tell the district surgeon exactly what happened to you, to help him or her collect better evidence to help police find the rapist/s. The doctor will test to see if you were HIV+ BEFORE the rape, if you already are, he or she will not give you PEP, if you are not HIV+ and it is less than 72 hours since the first act of penetration, you will be given HIV medication. The doctor will also give medicines to prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases, to prevent other infections such as hepatitis, and to prevent pregnancy (these are not always effective, so monitor your periods). In all you will probably swallow up to two dozen tablets at that first visit and be tested for HIV. The doctor may remove your clothes if they carry blood, semen or any bodily fluid that could carry DNA and may help police catch the rapist. He will put them in a paper (never plastic) bag for evidence and will put all the evidence into a special police Crime Kit. You will not get these clothes back. FREE COUNSELLING services are offered by many organizations including Lifeline, Childline, Rape Crisis, POWA, and others. Some religious groups also offer counseling. If you are unhappy with the police investigation complain to the Independent Complaints Directorate, there are offices in major towns, look up their details in your local phone directory. If you are unhappy with the treatment given to you by the Courts, telephone the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions in Pretoria, 012-3175000 or 012-3175784 and ask for the Sexual Offences Unit. Post Rape Medication An HIV test must be taken of the survivor if he or she wishes to commence Post Exposure Prophylaxis (antiretroviral therapy) – we strongly recommend that you do. On average 22% of rape survivors are already HIV+ at the time of rape. Those infected cannot commence PEP. Those not infected may commence PEP if they present for treatment within 72 hours of the first act of penetration or attempted penetration. Research has shown that in SA at least 40% of rape survivors will become HIV+ after rape if they do not get PEP in time (Dr Adrienne Wulfsohn, Netcare, 2003).Rape survivors return for HIV tests at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and ideally at one year. A tiny percentage may seroconvert and become HIV+ at one year. The rape survivor should practise safe sex after sexual assault to prevent the transmission of HIV, other sexually transmitted illnesses or infections to his or her partner for at least six months . In addition to medication to prevent HIV, s/he needs to be protected against sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and secondary infections such as hepatitis. Routine syndromic medication with doses to prevent sexually transmitted infections: a.. Ciprofloxacin 250mg po stat b.. Doxycycline 100mg po bd for 7 days (this is contraindicated for pregnancy) c.. Metronidazole 400mg po tds for 7 days Morning-after pill to prevent pregnancyOvral 2 tabs stat then 2 tabs after 12 hours or E-gen- c . Please note these have a 50% success rate so continue to monitor your periods. Recommended dual-combination antiretroviral therapy over 28 days AZT (Retrovir) 200mg po 8 hourly and 3TC (Lamivudine) 150mg po 12 hourly or zidovudine (300mg) with lamivudine (150mg) in a combination pill Combivir, taken twice a day; or lamivudine plus stavudine (40mg stavudine twice a day for a person weighing more than 60kg; 20mg twice a day for a person weighing less than 60kg; and 150mg lamivudine for person more than 50kg and 2mg per kg twice a day for a person weighing less than 50kg Recommended antiretroviral dosage for children from Johannesburg Hospital The Centers for Disease Control say children must get PEP sooner than adults, literally within hours of the sexual assault. Johannesburg Hospital recommends that for a child under the age of 12, dependant on weight: AZT 2mg per kg dose, first 48 hours every six hours. For the following week the child must be given AZT every 8 hours, and for the remainder of the month take the doze every 12 hours. In addition the child must be given 3TC - 4mg per kg per dose every 12 hours for 28 days. Antiretroviral side-effects may include nausea, fatigue, headaches, thirst
Fonte,http://www.speakout.org.za/emergency/main.html, consultado a 6 de Outubro de 2009

Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire

Sergio Vieira de Mello - UN Photo


A partir de 2010, la Fondation Sergio Vieira de Mello prévoit d’honorer la mémoire et la contribution de M. Sergio Vieira de Mello en lançant un Prix annuel, en son nom, qui sera décerné aux individus, institutions ou communautés en reconnaissance d’actions exceptionnelles entreprises dans le but de réconcilier de façon pacifique les peuples et les parties en conflit. Dès 2010, les lauréat(s) seront annoncé(s) lors de la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire.

Questions – réponses
Q. Qui a institué la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire?
R. L’Assemblée générale a décidé en décembre 2008 de commémorer chaque année la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitairele 19 août pour « contribuer à sensibiliser le public aux activités humanitaires dans le monde et à l’importance de la coopération internationale dans ce domaine et de rendre hommage à tout le personnel humanitaire, au personnel des Nations Unies et au personnel associé qui s’emploient à promouvoir la cause humanitaire, ainsi qu’à celles et ceux qui ont perdu la vie dans l’exercice de leurs fonctions. »
Q. Le 19 août est également la date à laquelle, en 2003, a eu lieu l’attentat à la bombe contre l’Hôtel Canal à Bagdad et qui a entrainé la mort de 22 personnes parmi lesquelles le RSSG, M. Sergio Vieira de Mello. S’agit-il donc de commémorer cet événement?
R. L’Assemblée générale a estimé que le choix de cette date était approprié. Cette première année sera dédiée principalement à la mémoire de tous ceux et celles qui ont perdu leur vie alors qu’ils étaient engagés dans une opération humanitaire à une époque où ce travail devient de plus en plus dangereux. Le but de cette journée est également de mettre en avant les besoins et défis humanitaires actuels, et en particulier les bénéficiaires au nom desquels nous faisons ce travail.
Q. La Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire est-elle dédiée aux travailleurs humanitaires ou bien à la cause humanitaire?
R. Aux deux. Les membres exécutifs du Comité Permanent Inter-Institutions ont déterminé trois thèmes pour les commémorations de la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire de 2009 :
*honorer ceux et celles des humanitaires qui ont perdu leur vie dans l’exercice de leurs fonctions;
*exprimer la reconnaissance pour le travail que les humanitaires accomplissent à travers le monde;
*attirer l’attention sur les besoins humanitaires à travers le monde. D’autres thèmes spécifiques seront retenus pour les commémorations ultérieures.
Q. A quel public cette campagne est-elle destinée?
R. Comme le stipule l’Assemblée générale, cette campagne a pour cible le public en général, aussi bien dans les pays qui reçoivent une assistance humanitaire que dans les pays donateurs.
Q. Combien d’argent [destiné à l’assistance humanitaire] les Nations Unies dépensent pour cette campagne ?
R. Rien. L’Assemblée générale a donné pour instruction que la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire soit commémorée « dans le cadre des ressources existantes » ce qui signifie qu’aucun membre du personnel ou activités supplémentaires n’a été budgétisé pour cette campagne.
Q. Pourquoi la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire ne dispose pas d’un logo?
R. Les membres exécutifs du Comité Permanent Inter-Institutions ont demandé à OCHA de coordonner les activités des membres de la communauté humanitaire pour cette commémoration et de faire connaître la journée inaugurale à travers le réseau du Secrétariat de l’ONU, y compris le Département de l’Information et le Centre d'actualités; les réseaux de distribution des institutions des Nations Unies et le réseau des ONGs. Il convient cependant de noter que la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire n’est pas exclusive à l’ONU ou à une quelconque institution ou organisation.
Q. Que peuvent faire les autres institutions ainsi que le public en général pour soutenir la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire ?
R. S’assurer que les collègues et membres du public soient au courant de la Journée, grâce notamment à la distribution de la brochure sur la Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire ainsi que le spot d’une minute; en utilisant les messages clés prévus à cet effet pour que les personnalités politiques et représentants officiels en parlent lors de rencontre avec les médias; en disséminant ces informations aussi largement que possible à travers les réseaux formels et informels; en faisant pression sur les principaux médias nationaux et internationaux pour qu’ils diffusent le spot d’information incluant la déclaration du Secrétaire Général; en encourageant les travailleurs humanitaires, quand cela est possible, à parler de leur travail aux médias; en organisant des évènements publics présentant l’action humanitaire.

Fonte,http://www.un.org/fr/events/humanitarianday/2009/qna.shtml, consultado a 11 de Setembro de 2009

Antonio Guterres: A terrible dilemma facing humanitarian agencies

19 August 2009
GENEVA, August 19 (UNHCR)

UNHCR is still in shock over the recent brutal killing of staff member Zill-e-Usman, who was shot by unidentified gunmen in the Katcha Gari camp on the border of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province. Another staff member, Ishfaq Ahmad, was wounded in the July 16 incident. A guard working with the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees, a government-funded agency, was also killed. Four to five gunmen reportedly opened fire on Mr. Usman as he was walking back from the camp administrative office to his car during a routine visit to the site.

Mr. Usman was the third UN refugee agency staff member to be killed in Pakistan this year. On June 9, Aleksandar Vorkapic died in the bombing of the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar; on February 2, Syed Hashim, UNHCR senior driver, was killed in the kidnapping of John Solecki, head of the Quetta office, who was later released.

As I wrote to Mr. Usman's family, his murder is a cruel blow. There is no justification for attacks on humanitarian workers dedicated to the protection and care of the world's most vulnerable people. The killing of Mr. Usman was an outrage and a tragedy that affects us all.

This August 19, on the occasion of the first ever World Humanitarian Day, we will pause to remember Mr. Usman and hundreds of other UN and non-governmental organization workers who have lost their lives while carrying out their duties around the world. The date is important: it was on August 19, 2003, that a massive bomb blast in Baghdad took the lives of then UN Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others.

The ongoing death toll of humanitarian workers raises fundamental questions about how we can ensure staff security in unstable environments.

Globally, it reminds us of the major dilemma facing humanitarian agencies around the world – how do we meet the life-or-death needs of the world's most vulnerable people while making sure those who provide that help are kept safe? Our ability to assist those who need it most is being severely tested by the shrinkage of the so-called 'humanitarian space' in which we must work. The nature of conflict is changing, with a multiplicity of armed groups -- some of whom view humanitarians as legitimate targets.

Another example of this is the brutal murder last month of Ms. Natalia Estemirova, a staff member of UNHCR's partner, Memorial, in the Russian Federation. Ms. Estemirova was found dead in the North Caucasus region of Ingushetia following her abduction from her home in Chechnya. Since 2000, in addition to her work as a prominent human rights investigator, Ms. Estemirova had been a social worker with Memorial and its UNHCR-funded legal and social counselling project in Grozny. She worked on issues related to internally displaced people in Chechnya and their safe return to their homes. Memorial has been an implementing partner of UNHCR in the North Caucasus since 2000 and received UNHCR's annual Nansen Refugee Award in 2004.

Humanitarian personnel work in the most dangerous places in the world and risk their own lives in the effort to help vulnerable populations to preserve theirs. Ensuring staff safety must be a top priority of every humanitarian organization and the United Nations as a whole. This is non-negotiable.

And yet, with the evolving nature of armed conflict and the changing attitudes of some belligerents, the deliberate targeting of humanitarian workers has increased, establishing a tension -- and in some situations a contradiction -- between the imperatives of staff safety and humanitarian action. UNHCR has continuously struggled to determine the 'acceptable' level of security risk to which its staff members can be exposed.

As this month's commemoration demonstrates, it is a truly terrible dilemma.

By António GuterresUN High Commissioner for Refugees

Link,http://www.unhcr.org/4a8bd24e9.html, consultado a 5 de Setembro 2008

UNHCR to remember sacrifice of colleagues on World Humanitarian Day

GENEVA, Switzerland
August 18 (UNHCR)

UNHCR staff will join colleagues from other UN and non-governmental organizations on Wednesday in observing the first World Humanitarian Day, honouring those who have been injured or killed while carrying out their humanitarian work.
The day, which is also Staff Memorial Day, was established by the UN General Assembly last December and is especially poignant for UNHCR, which lost three members of staff to attacks this year in Pakistan. They were among 30 UNHCR staff members killed while performing their duties since 1987.
The date commemorates the specific day in 2003 on which the UN office in Iraq was bombed, killing 22 people including Sergio Vieira de Mello, a UNHCR veteran who was UN High commissioner for Human Rights and a Special Representative to the UN secretary general at the time.
"How do we meet the life-or-death needs of the world's most vulnerable people while making sure those who provide that help are kept safe?" High Commissioner António Guterres wrote in a newspaper article this month. "Our ability to assist those who need it most is being severely tested by the shrinkage of the so-called 'humanitarian space' in which we must work. The nature of conflict is changing, with a multiplicity of armed groups -- some of whom view humanitarians as legitimate targets."
How do we meet the life-or-death needs of the world's most vulnerable people while making sure those who provide that help are kept safe?

– High Commissioner António Guterres
Among the events marking the day, Mr. Guterres will speak along with the Staff Council at a ceremony for staff in the Geneva headquarters. Later he will speak at a commemorative event in Geneva's Parc des Bastions organized by OCHA and the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.
Last year 260 humanitarian aid workers were killed, kidnapped or seriously injured in attacks, the highest yearly toll on record. The average number of attacks in the last three years has been three times the level of the previous nine years.
In February of 2009, veteran UNHCR driver Syed Hashim was shot dead in Pakistan during the kidnapping of John Solecki, the head of our Quetta sub-office on 2 February. Mr. Solecki was released in April after two months in captivity.
In June, Aleksandar Vorkapic, a UNHCR staff member on emergency duty helping Pakistanis displaced by fighting in North West Frontier Province died in the bombing of the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar. And in July, UNHCR senior field assistant Zill-e-Usman was gunned down in a camp for internally displaced Pakistanis in Peshawar by unknown assailants.
With operations in some of the world's most dangerous locations, the killings have prompted a thorough review of UNHCR security procedures. UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner L. Craig Johnstone is in Pakistan talking to staff and local officials about the security situation this week.
"With the evolving nature of armed conflict and the changing attitudes of some belligerents, the deliberate targeting of humanitarian workers has increased, establishing a tension -- and in some situations a contradiction -- between the imperatives of staff safety and humanitarian action," said Mr. Guterres.
"UNHCR has continuously struggled to determine the 'acceptable' level of security risk to which its staff members can be exposed," he said. "As this month's commemoration demonstrates, it is a truly terrible dilemma."
Despite those risks – which have taken the lives of more than 700 humanitarian workers over the last decade – the staff of UNHCR and similar organizations continue to help those in need around the world. World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity both to remember those who have been killed or injured and to honour those continuing to carry out their humanitarian work despite the danger.

Link,http://www.unhcr.org/4a8a7d6c9.html , consultado a 5 de setembro de 2009

UNHCR pays tribute to fallen colleagues on World Humanitarian Day

News Stories, 19 August 2009
© UNHCR/S.Hopper

After a World Humanitarian Day ceremony at UNHCR headquarters Wednesday, UNHCR staff members individually paid respects at a memorial honouring those who gave their lives while serving refugees.

GENEVA, August 19 (UNHCR) – Hours after a bomb killed another two UN employees in Afghanistan, UNHCR staff on Wednesday marked the first World Humanitarian Day by honouring their hundreds of colleagues in humanitarian organizations around the globe who have been killed while carrying out their duties.
" 1987.
The date of 19 August, which is also Staff Memorial Day, commemorates the specific day in 2003 on which the UN office in Iraq was bombed, killing 22 people including Sergio Vieira de Mello, a UNHCR veteran who was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and a Special Representative to the UN Secretary General at the time.
High Commissioner António Guterres, speaking at the headquarters ceremony after observing a minute of silence, said UNHCR was acting to improve security for staff but noted that the danger for humanitarian workers was increasing. The two UN staff members killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday worked with the UN mission helping to rebuild the country; some 700 humanitarian workers have died worldwide in the last decade.
Humanitarian workers have increasingly come to be seen as targets in conflicts, with traditional respect for aid workers disappearing and the lines between military and humanitarian action increasingly blurred both by armies and their armed opponents.
Humanitarian action is now sometimes not a source of protection, but a reason to be targeted, said Guterres, who was speaking on the same subject at a later event in Geneva's Parc des Bastions organized by OCHA and the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.
"All these reasons have contributed to shrink humanitarian space and to increase the risks of humanitarian action," the High Commissioner said. "It is important to raise the attention of the international community for that, it is not only to commemorate our colleagues, it is not only to remember them, and it is to make the international community assume its responsibilities for these situations."
Last year 260 humanitarian aid workers were killed, kidnapped or seriously injured in attacks, the highest yearly toll on record. The average number of attacks in the last three years has been three times the level of the previous nine years.
Among the casualties for UNHCR in Pakistan this year was veteran UNHCR driver Syed Hashim who was shot dead in Pakistan last February during the kidnapping of John Solecki, the head of UNHCR's Quetta sub-office. Solecki was released in April after two months in captivity.
In June, Aleksandar Vorkapic, a UNHCR staff member on emergency duty helping Pakistanis displaced by fighting in North West Frontier Province died in the bombing of the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar. And in July, UNHCR senior field assistant Zill-e-Usman was gunned down in a camp for internally displaced Pakistanis in Peshawar by unknown assailants.
Deputy High Commissioner L. Craig Johnstone, who was in Pakistan this week discussing security concerns with staff and government officials, thanked staff for their work and said he fully understood the strain security threats and challenges placed on their lives. He said a concerted effort was being made to improve staff safety.
"One option that is not on the table is to cut and run," said Johnstone, who termed Pakistan one of UNHCR's most critical operations and the one by which the agency would be judged. "We are not going to abandon our mission in Pakistan because of the security threat. Rather, the question is how do we respond given the security threat. "
The statement reflected the dual role of World Humanitarian Day: paying tribute to those who have been killed or wounded while performing their duties; and honouring the huge number of humanitarian workers continuing to work despite the danger.

Link,http://www.unhcr.org/4a8c03e29.html, consultado a 4 de Setembro de 2009