Emily Sikazwe. (Photo: St. Francis Xavier University)

Zambian civil society organizations, especially those devoted to women’s rights, are demanding for the Republican Constitution now on debate to be approved through an assembly and a referendum. The first draft, launched by an official technical committee, contains progressive provisions on gender equality and the promotion of women’s rights, said Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe.

Armine Yalnizyan. (Photo: CCPA)

The closure in Peterborough, Canada, of a plant of the world’s biggest chain of ice-cream shows once again how the global economy affects the local economies, especially the employment and the salaries, explains in a column for The Global and Mail Armine Yalnizyan, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

The Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), in cooperation with Eurostep and CNCD-11.11.11, will arrange a delegation of human rights and development civil society organizations from about 10 Arab countries to visit the European institutions in Brussels, between 17 and 21 September. The meetings are to see exchanges between Arab representatives and European policy makers on issues of common concern.

Mirjam van Risen. (Photo: Tilburg University)

The government of Liberia has honored Mirjam van Reisen, occupant of an endowed chair at Tilburg University, with a Golden Image Award, in recognition of her efforts to help women end conflict in Liberia and other countries. Van Reisen, also founder and director of Brussels-based Europe External Policy Advisors (EEPA) and a member of the coordinating committee of Social Watch, has been instrumental in helping women leaders in Africa and other conflict regions demand their rights under UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

U Thein Oo. (Photo: Labor.net)

Despite the political reforms that include the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2010 and the multiparty by-elections last April, the Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC, national focal point of Social Watch) warns there has been little substantive change so far. Doubts on the sincerity of the transition to democracy persist.