Newsletter 2, June 2010

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Enforced disappearances
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS VISIT THE NETHERLANDS

Mandira Sharma and Nasséra Dutour visited the Netherlands at the end of March. Both women fight for the rights of family members of the disappeared in Nepal and Algeria, sometimes endangering their own lives. On March 30^th they participated in a round table discussion about transitional justice at Aim for human rights, to discuss the road to democracy and peace after conflict. During this afternoon Sharma and Dutour received the first copy of the manual against enforced disappearances.

Partner organisations in focus

The project Zwervers op het Asfalt ('Wanderers on the Road') raises awareness for human rights. On April 10, Jasper Hoogers and Ralph van Bemmel, two students from Amsterdam, started their journey around the world in an old Volkswagen. They will visit projects of partners of Aim for human rights, and make short films about these encounters. The films can be viewed on our website or at www.zwerversophetasfalt.nl.

Director Martha Meijer leaves Aim for human rights

Martha Meijer retired from her position as managing director of Aim for human rights on May 1, 2010. She has led the human rights organisation since 1994. The Supervisory Board and staff appreciate the great effort of Martha and everything she has achieved for Aim for human rights. Monique van 't Hek is interim-director. Read more

MoFA subsidy rejected

The bid of Aim for human rights and alliance partners for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsidy - MFS II - has been rejected. Without this source of funding, the organisation is now researching other financial opportunities and entering a reorganisation phase.

Training Child Labour/Forced Labour

Almost 60 project advisors of EVD/Agentschap NL participated in a training on child labour/ forced labour of Aim for human rights. Catalyst was the decision by the Dutch goverment to make meeting ILO-conventions on child labour and forced labour a precondition for support to governments, businesses and other institutions. The training was well received: ‘Impressive checklists. The training and manual are very helpful and useful.’ Aim for human rights trains businesses, governments, investors and other institutions on human rights and sustainability. Read more

Women's Human Rights
HERWAI WORKSHOPS IN INDONESIA

Marije Nederveen of Aim for human rights visited Indonesia in May. She held a best practices workshop where local organisations shared their researches on women’s health rights. They analysed their results with the help of the HeRWAI manual (Health Rights of Women Assessment tool). Marije also gave a training for regional trainers to teach others to strengthen their lobby for women’s rights. Afterwards one participant said: ‘HeRWAI and this training have made me fall in love with advocacy.’

Joke Swiebel president of the Supervisory Board

On May 25^th Joke Swiebel was appointed as president of the Supervisory Board of Aim for human rights. Joke Swiebel has extensive experience in human rights policy and international relations, and issues such as equality and discrimination. She succeeds Frans Huijnen as president.