The Accountability Initiative (www.accountabilityindia.in/) has an exciting new opportunity for young graduates interested in a career in development communications.
The Initiative is seeking to hire a Communications Intern to assist in the development and dissemination of its knowledge and information products. Ideally, the Intern will be a fresh graduate with some experience in communications, website content development and management.
Please contact the organization for a detailed Terms of Reference for the post. We would be very grateful if you could circulate the TORs amongst your networks.
Mandakini Devasher Surie
Research Analyst
Accountability Initiative Centre for Policy Research Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri, N. Delhi -110021 Tel: +91-11-26115273-76 Mob: +91-9717-480-432 www.accountabilityindia.org
On 21st November 2010, 70 of our supporters will participate in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon to ensure that 350 young people and children at The YP Foundation can continue to create programmes and influence policies in the areas of gender, sexuality, health, education, the arts & governance.
The YP Foundation is a non profit, youth organization that promotes, protects and advances young people’s human rights by building leadership, and strengthening youth led initiatives and movements.
Founded in 2002, we have worked over the last 8 years directly with 5,000 young people to set up over 250 projects in India, reaching out to 300,000 young people.
Every contribution, especially yours, can help.
Consider supporting our work and make an online donation today.
You can donate online at http://concernindiafoundation.org/online/donation1.asp . You need to ppt for ‘supporting somebody's run ADHM2010’ category and can quote any one of us (including me) who are raising I Pledges for The YP Foundation.
TYPF has always been feasible because people have worked together - do join in and help us make this organization and its vision a stable and secure one.
A big thank you in advance,
Ishita Chaudhry (on behalf of the team at The YP Foundation)
On the 13th of March, The YP Foundation hosted an inter-generational RTI forum for young people at the India Habitat Center, in partnership with UNDP, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, SPIL and Governance Now. The forum looked at where the RTI movement in India stood, the work that people had done collectively and examined what young people had to critically focus at this point and time, to be able take the movement forward.
As part of the discussions of the forum, Mohit Sharma, a participant, shared his concerns with the audience on threats he said he had received from the MCD, in response to filing an RTI Application concerning illegal construction work in Shahdara. In a conversation with Mr. Wajahat Habibullah, Chief Information Commissioner, who was present at the panel, the CIC promised to be look into the matter. We are extremely happy to report from the Times of India report pasted below, that the CIC seems to have followed up on their word! On behalf of all of us present at the forum, we'd like to thank the CIC, Mr. Habibullah and Mr. Shailesh Gandhi for keeping their word.
In Solidarity,
The YP Foundation
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2 MCD officials held for threatening RTI applicant
Dwaipayan Ghosh, TNN, Apr 21, 2010, 01.20am IST
NEW DELHI: Two MCD engineers have been arrested in northeast district after they allegedly threatened an activist who had filed an RTI application seeking details of illegal construction in Shahdara (North).
"We have arrested the engineers — assistant engineer Umesh Singh and executive engineer B M N Rao. Our investigation revealed the two had gone to the house of the complainant in Dilshad Garden and threatened him. The third accused — junior engineer Hari Singh — is yet to be arrested. We have certain leads and will arrest him soon," said S S Yadav, DCP (northeast).
The arrests came after the victim approached the information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, seeking help when the local police did not take him seriously. Incidentally, a few policemen from the area were recently suspended by senior officers after they allegedly helped a trader kill his maid in Ghaziabad. Sources said when the activist approached Gandhi, the local policemen feared action against them and some progress was made in the case.
Mohit Sharma, 33, had filed an RTI application seeking information from the MCD on unauthorized constructions in Shahdara (north). Instead of furnishing the details, MCD engineers tried to put pressure on him to back out. When Sharma refused to comply, they landed at his house and threatened him with "dire consequences".
Sharma complained about the engineers at the Seemapuri police station but he got no relief. Sources said that when Ghandi came to know about Sharma’s struggle, he wrote a letter to police commissioner Y S Dadwal. In his letter, he urged the police chief to look into the matter. A few days later a case was registered against the accused.
According to the FIR, Umesh had threatened Sharma directly. "You are too young to play such dangerous games. It is like playing with fire," he reportedly told the activist. "Umesh also told me that no one can survive after clashing with MCD officials. I will demolish your home" claimed Sharma in his complaint.
News reports on several media channels have just reported the death of Dr Srinivas Ramachandra Siras, 64, Reader and Chair of Modern Indian Languages at Aligarh Muslim University. According to reports, Dr Siras’ body was found “in mysterious circumstances” with bleeding from the mouth in his home in Aligarh.
Dr Siras, as is known, had recently fought against his unlawful and unethical suspension from AMU on the grounds of “gross indecency”. After decades of teaching, he was suspended merely a few months before his retirement on the basis of videotapes filmed by intruders into own home without his consent in a blatant and homophobic violation of his privacy. Right after, he said: “I have spent two decades here. I love my University. I have always loved it and will continue to do so no matter what. I wonder if they have stopped loving me because I am gay.”
Dr Siras’ suspension had provoked outrage from countless citizens, teachers, and community members across the country. He had challenged the AMU administration in the Allahabad High Court. Just this past week, the Court stayed his suspension and his unlawful removal from his official accommodation. Dr Siras said, “I am happy because I have been judged in a wrong way. I have already said that I am gay. I am the same man, with the same qualifications, with the same features and personality. Now I can go back to my beloved University.”
We, as concerned citizens, members of the Independent Fact Finding Committee and, for many of us, as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Indians ourselves, express our shock, outrage and deep sadness at the loss of a teacher, a loyal member of the AMU community, a gay man, and a kind, gentle soul.
Since the death of Dr. Siras has taken place under suspicious circumstances, and he has made powerful enemies in the recent past, we demand that the police conduct a full, fair and impartial investigation into the cause of death. A step in the right direction has been taken by sending his body for a post-mortem examination. The results of this examination must be made public immediately.
We demand that the concerned police officer should immediately register a case of unnatural death under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure and forward this information to the concerned Executive Magistrate.
We demand that the Executive Magistrate conduct an inquest as mandated under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code to determine the cause of death.
That Dr Siras had to undergo the trauma, fear, harassment and humiliation in his own beloved University in what would turn out to be his last weeks is condemnable. If these events and that trauma are in any way linked to his death, then all actors involved must be held culpable.
Deepti Sharma (Saheli, Delhi), Anjali Gopalan (Naz Foundation, Delhi), Gautam Bhan (Voices against Sec 377, Delhi), Pramada Menon (Voices against Sec 377, Delhi), Lesley Esteves (PRISM, Delhi), Sunil Gupta (Nigah, Delhi), Arvind Narrain (Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore), Jaya Sharma (Nirantar, Delhi), Avantika (AALI, Lucknow), Saleem Kidwai (Lucknow), Kabi Sherman, LABIA (Lesbians and Bisexuals in Action, Mumbai)
On Thursday 25 March 2010, people in hundreds of cities around the world will come together offline to rally around the important cause of Education by hosting local events to have fun and create awareness. Twestival (or Twitter Festival) uses social media for social good. All of the local events are organized 100% by volunteers and 100% of all ticket sales and donations go direct to projects.
We are working at organising the Twestival in Delhi on March 25th and need your support and participation to make it a success.
Details Delhi Twestival March 25, 2010 – 6.00 PM-8.30 PM Café Morrison (http://www.cafemorrison.com/Map.asp) E-12, South Extension Part-II Market, New Delhi – 110049
Schedule Assemble at 6 Engage in introductions and networking Stand Up comedy acts and other interactions Rock Concert Disperse by 8.30
There’ll be a couple of PhotoSmart Printers available at the venue to help you have your images turn real-life. Don’t forget to carry your gadgets with you, and click as many pictures as you want.
Who's Playing? The Stars of the evening performing at the concert will be the progressive-glamfunk Indian underground band – Five8 (http://twitter.com/five8india). They are really awesome, listen to some of their samples on MySpace (http://myspace.com/five8india).
Sponsors The event is sponsored by: Intel India: http://www.intel.com/in (http://twitter.com/IntelIndia) HP Imaging & Printing Group: http://hp.com/in/printer (http://twitter.com/hpprint4life)
The event is Free-For-All, so do bring along your friends, family and colleagues.
More Details Delhi Twestival - http://delhi.twestival.com RSVP on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106384902717301 On Twitter - http://twitter.com/DelTwestival
Hashtag for Conversations - #DelTwestival Please help spread the word about the event - Blog, Tweet, Shout !!
Feel free to Contact - Mohak Prince (+91-9868669175) http://twitter.com/mohakprince
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and Students for Promotion of International Law (SPIL)
present a discussion forum:
“From Exploring the RTI Act to Building a Movement - Do Young People Matter?”
March 13th, 2010
6 PM – 8.30 PM
at Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road New Delhi
The forum will explore how young people can take the RTI movement of the country forward. Bringing together leading and key personalities of the movement, the forum will seek to answer the following:
1. At what stage is the RTI Movement currently?
2. Has the filing of RTI Applications increased the overall efficiency and functioning of public authorities?
3. Internationally, what does the right to information signify?
4. What role can young people play in taking the movement forward?
5. What more can be done to make a larger impact and increase the efficacy of the movement?
Creating a space for inter-generational dialogue, the forum intends to set a collaborative agenda between organizations working on the RTI currently in the city and young people who want to get involved in the movement.
The American Center in association with The YP Foundation, The Ashok and The Hard Rock Cafe, presents
January 30 2010, 12.00pm
Band Craft: A workshop with Hurricane Bells & Them Clones
Moderated by Dhruv Jagasia, Manager, Indian Ocean
Interactive discussions about perspectives on producing music yourself, getting a break or making one happen, marketing and touring bands in India and the USA.
The American Center, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi
Entry is Free, No Prior Registration Required / (Please bring a valid Photo Id to enter)
Hurricane Bells is the new project from Steve Schiltz, singer and guitarist of Longwave. After touring the better part of last year around Longwave’s fourth album Secrets Are Sinister ,Schiltz set up shop to create a new project with little else than his MacBook and an Mbox. He wrote, played, recorded and mixed every note himself, arranging what would become Tonight Is The Ghost. Some songs were fully crafted within the past 18 months, while others are newly architected from pieces written throughout his years as a songwriter. The song entitled “Monsters”, went on to become the soundtrack for the major motion picture, “New Moon”. Vagrant Records released Tonight Is The Ghost digitally on November 10, 2009. A b-side, Monsters, appears on the soundtrack of the second film of the Twilight franchise, New Moon.
Them Clones were created sometime in 2000. “It came about as we were looking to forge an identity as a left-of-the-middle sort of band. The name reflects the general attitude of the band which was to look at their stage personalities as clones of their selves”. Inspired by the dramatic world of rock n’ roll and of course themselves, their tryst with songwriting has directed them across the course of the thoughtful to confessional, from the assertive to the provocative; but has been, consistently, accompanied by a tight groove or a silken melody.Apart from numerous concerts and gigs across, they were the chosen ones at Channel [V] LaunchPad in 2005 and also got voted as the ‘Best Band’ at JD Rock Awards twice in row in 2006 and 2007 along with the emphatic win as 2nd runners up at the Channel [V] AMP Big Break All Asia. Followed with their super successful single release 'My Life' in May 2009, their debut album ‘Love.Hate.Heroes' was released in October 2009, under Counter Culture / EMI records which was marked with a short nationwide tour.
Them Clones has also been nominated for this year's Jack Daniels Rock Awards is 'Best Band' category, along with 'My Life' and 'Love.Hate.Heroes' getting nominated for 'Best Song' and 'Best Album' slot.To vote, log onto http://www.jdrockawards.com
Appeal for the inclusion of improved Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Rights (ASRH)
We would first like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your candidacy for President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the upcoming presidential elections and we would like to wish you the best in this fair and free election.
The National Youth Coalition of Sri Lanka (NYCSL) is a youth run entity that advocates for the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights and needs of youth in Sri Lanka. The coalition includes the membership of youth organizations based in Sri Lanka and is supported by major international and regional youth coalitions and organizations. The NYCSL developed 9 recommendations through a consultative process in October 2008 (Please refer Annex 1: Recommendations report, REACH NOW 08).
While some of these recommendations have in fact been captured in goal 4, “Promote responsible adolescent and youth behavior” of the Population and Reproductive Health Policy - 1998, which was developed by the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine and most of the action plans developed for the implementation of this policy has not been implemented. (Please refer Annex 2: Action plan of the Population and Reproductive Health Policy, 1998).
As an organization that advocates the ASRH rights of youth in Sri Lanka, we would like to respectfully urge you to focus your action through the implementation of your election manifestos in the areas of youth, health and education based on the recommendations stated below upon your accession to the position of Presidency of our nation.
Background:
In Sri Lanka young people aged 10 to 24 years constitute 28% of the total population of 19.1 million, with a majority of them falling within the adolescent age group. Though there are strong cultural and religious traditions against sex before marriage in the country, the age of sexual debut for both males and females has been found to be early: 15.3 years for males while for females at 14.4 years. A national survey on young people aged 10-19 years revealed that a substantial proportion of school-going youth were sexually active. Six percent of those going to school in the 14-19 year age group reported heterosexual intercourse, while 10% disclosed having homosexual relations. Out-of-school adolescents revealed a higher percentage (22%) of sexually active adolescents[1]. There is a need to promote responsible caring attitudes towards each other, to young persons of both sexes and promote responsible sexual behaviour so that the effects of these social problems and others like STD, HIV and AIDS will be mitigated in the future.[2]
Recommendations
The recommendations have been divided into 4 key areas: Policy, Services, Awareness and Advocacy. The footnotes indicate the corresponding strategy that was developed under the Population and Reproductive Health Policy – 1998
Policy:
a)Ensure the involvement of young people in designing policies that affect their lives nationally, regionally and internationally
b)Develop policies that would ensure ASRH education/capacity building into educational curriculums: including schools, universities, colleges, vocational training institutes, military
c)academies and other such institutions with a high concentration of youth[3]
d)Develop policies that address the SRH needs of young people including those living with HIV, gay and lesbian persons and disabled youth.
We as the National Youth Coalition, believes that, in the occasion of you being elected as the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, you will ensure the full implementation of the above recommendations and we as the NYC will provide our maximum support for the same. We as the NYC will be able to provide the following to your government;
Technical Support in the implementation of the said recommendation
Annex 2: Action plan of the Population and Reproductive Health Policy, 1998
[1] National Survey on emerging issues among adolescents in Sri Lanka, Colombo: UNICEF 2004
[2] Rationale, Goal 4; “Promote responsible adolescent and youth behaviour”, Population and Reproductive Health Policy, 1998, Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine
