Democratic Development Programme

Democracy embraces the interdependence of human rights-civil, political, economic, social and cultural-and takes place within a participatory, accountable, transparent and non-discriminatory framework, with equity in decision making.

The Democratic Development Programme works in cooperation with its partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen democratic institutions and promote access of civil society organizations to public policy debate and decision-making. It focuses on participation rights in the context of democratic transitions and works to encourage the search for peaceful solutions in situations where democracy and civil society are stifled. The Democratic Development Programme identifies strategies to support democratic development using an innovative framework of human rights criteria, and is addressing the emerging international debate on the notion of a right to democracy . It has completed seven democratic development studies in Kenya, El Salvador, Tanzania, Thailand, Guatemala, Pakistan, and Peru. It has begun a study in Mexico that focuses on three case studies, namely rights of indigenous peoples in the State of Oaxaca, women's labour rights in the State of Coahuila, and participation in local government of Iztapalapa in Mexico City.

Democracy includes free and fair elections, multiparty systems, freedom of expression, political accountability, an independent and active civil society, independent judicial and legislative systems, support for the rule of law, control of the military by civilian authority, and a full recognition of all human rights, including minority rights and equality rights, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

During the past year, the Democratic Development Programme worked to promote transparency and participation in policy discussions on democratic development in the Americas. It worked to strengthen the inter-American human rights system at the Organization of American States (OAS) and encouraged popular support in Canada for ratification of the American Convention on Human Rights. It contributed to the Canadian and inter-American debates that preceded the adoption by the OAS of an Inter-American Democratic Charter and, in March 2002, supported the UQAM-initiated seminar on the implications of this new instrument.

The Consultative Groups on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala and Mexico met throughout the year with government and non-government representatives to exchange information and improve policy in Canada on the issues of human rights and democracy in these countries. In February, just before the meeting in Washington of international donors, Rights & Democracy invited Raquel Zelaya, a former member of Guatemala's Peace Commission, to attend the Ottawa meeting of the Consultative Group on Guatemala.

In October 2001, Rights & Democracy organized an interregional workshop bringing together nine partner organizations from Kenya, Nigeria, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia to review the democratic development work of the last 10 years and to set out new directions for action in the future. A report: Democratic Development 1990-2000: An Overview, was subsequently published. A public forum on democratic participation in the aftermath of September 11 was also held in Ottawa in partnership with the Canadian Foundation for the Americas, Partnership Africa-Canada and South Asia Partnership Canada.

Warren Allmand travelled to the Middle East in January 2002 with Middle East specialist Rachad Antonius, and visited a variety of groups in Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah working to promote human rights and democracy. These groups criticized both the military occupation of Palestinian territories as well as a lack of democracy in the Palestinian Authority's institutions. As the conflict intensified in the region, Rights & Democracy called for a UN international peacekeeping force to prevent further carnage. Mr. Allmand urged Canada to actively pursue peace in the Middle East as part of its prevention of terrorism strategy and reminded the government to comply with its own policy, which does not recognize the permanent control exercised by Israel over the territories occupied in 1967.

In March 2002, in the midst of the economic crisis, Rights & Democracy participated in a fact-finding mission to Argentina in collaboration with the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). The mission found clear evidence that the government is not meeting its obligations to protect citizens' basic human rights.

Rights & Democracy called on the Mexican government to bring to justice the assassins of human rights lawyer Digna Ochoa y Placido, a former member of partner organization Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Centre (PRODH). It also called on the Canadian government to urge Mexico to investigate this case and protect other human rights defenders.

Rights & Democracy also worked in cooperation with its partners to promote democracy and justice and strengthen civil society in Africa's Great Lakes Region, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi and Rwanda, as well as in Kenya, Togo and Nigeria. Mr. Allmand and Africa Regional Officer Akouété Akakpo-Vidah travelled to Kinshasa in the DRC in August on a fact-finding mission. In October, Akouété Akakpo-Vidah attended the peace talks of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also attended the National Conference on Human Rights organized by the government of the DRC in Kinshasa. Rights & Democracy co-organized a workshop in Lusaka, Zambia on African Unity and Democracy to pave the way for a summit of the Peoples of Africa to be held in 2002, parallel to the first Assembly of the African Union.

Rights & Democracy continued its support of the pro-democracy movement of Burma, particularly the government in exile. It placed a major advertisement in the Canadian newspaper The Globe & Mail on December 8, 2001, calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi on the 10th anniversary of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her courage and non-violent opposition to the military regime in Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi was released on May 6, 2002. Rights & Democracy also continued its campaign to free student leader Min Ko Naing, imprisoned since 1989 for political opposition to the junta. In 1999, he was a co-recipient of the John Humphrey Freedom Award along with Dr. Cynthia Maung.

The Asia Regional Officer, Micheline Lévesque, participated in an international mission organized by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) to observe the Constituent Assembly Election, in which 88 representatives were elected to write and adopt the Constitution for an independent East Timor. Rights & Democracy also called on Canada and UN members states to begin proceedings to set up an international tribunal to bring to justice the military officers and Indonesian political leaders responsible for the crimes against humanity committed in East Timor.

During the past fiscal year, Rights & Democracy's Democratic Development Programme initiated and supported 31 projects for a total of $700,000.

Staff-Managed Projects

Inter-Regional Workshop on Democratic Participation and Culture

In fall 2001, Rights & Democracy organized a two-day workshop in Montreal on the theme of democratic participation and culture, to take stock of its democratic development work over the past decade. A public discussion forum on this theme was also held in Ottawa with the participation of FOCAL and South Asia Partnership Canada. The aim of the forum was to encourage inter-regional exchanges and facilitate the sharing of knowledge between countries engaged in a process of democratic transition. In addition to Rights & Democracy staff members, a number of development experts, representatives of the Canadian government and university researchers participated in the public forum.

Promoting Coherence in Democratic Development Policies

Rights & Democracy travelled to New York to present its approach on issues of democratic development to the missions of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Community of Democracies and the Conference of New or Restored Democracies. This visit was an opportunity for Rights & Democracy to present its analytical framework on the subject and explore possibilities for new collaborations.

Research on Democratic Development in the Middle East and Maghreb

Rights & Democracy hired a consultant to conduct research in different countries of the Middle East and Maghreb with a view to assessing possibilities for new interventions in the region by Rights & Democracy. As part of this research, which was carried out using Rights & Democracy's democratic development framework, a one-day seminar was organized in Montreal, the researcher visited several countries in the region to meet with civil society representatives and the president of Rights & Democracy also travelled to Egypt, the Palestinian Territories and Jerusalem. A summary of their activities is available here.

Democratic Development Study: Mexico

Rights & Democracy's eighth democratic development study focuses on Mexico. A long-time partner, the Alianza Civica, is coordinating the project with the support of a monitoring committee made up of six people representing different sectors (university, civil society, government, political parties, etc.). Three case studies on democratic transition and the development of participation in democracy are presented: the organization of women workers in the maquilas factories in northern Mexico; the rights of indigenous peoples in a community in Oaxaca; and the participation of young people in an underprivileged neighbourhood of Mexico City. After being submitted for consultations in three regions of the country, these studies will be published together in a document to be released on the occasion of a forum in Mexico City and in Canada. The final report will be published in Spanish in Mexico, and then translated into French and English and posted on Rights & Democracy's Web site.

Consultative Groups on Democratic Development: Mexico, Guatemala and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Rights & Democracy continues to pursue its objective of encouraging dialogue between representatives of NGOs, churches and unions, on the one hand, and the Canadian government, on the other, through meetings of the consultative groups. These informal discussion spaces focus primarily, but not exclusively, on human rights and democratic development. In order to enrich these debates, a new formula emphasizing the participation of Canadian members of parliament and foreign experts was implemented for the meetings of the consultative groups on Mexico, Guatemala and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Promoting Policy Coherence --- Travel to Ottawa

This project enabled staff members of Rights & Democracy's Democratic Development Programme to participate in consultations, fora and conferences with NGOs and representatives of the Canadian government, with the aim of promoting coherence in policy development.

Strengthening the Inter-American Human Rights System and Democracy in the Americas

Rights & Democracy has long supported the strengthening of the Inter-American system by backing the coalition of NGOs from several countries in order to give civil society a stronger voice within the Organization of American States (OAS). Rights & Democracy worked to strengthen the Inter-American Democratic Charter that was proposed at the Summit of the Americas in April 2001 and approved at the special meeting held in September 2001. It also continued to lobby the Canadian government to ratify the American Convention on Human Rights and the San Salvador Protocol on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Related document:
The Inter-American Democratic Charter: Submission to the Organization of American States, by Rights & Democracy - 10 August, 2001.

Sector Mujeres de la Asamblea Civil --- National Meeting to Advance the Feminist Debate

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
The Sector Mujeres de la Asamblea Civil is a Guatemalan coalition of over 30 organizations committed to ensuring the representation of women's interests within the Civil Society Assembly. The coalition participated in the negotiations leading to the peace accords in Guatemala. It is represented in the Foro Nacional de la Mujer, which is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the accords. This grant provided support for a national meeting of women, held in April 2002, aimed at opening up a larger space for debate on issues of concern to women. This meeting was the culmination of a series of debates that were held across the country.

Observation Mission to Argentina

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
At the request of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), Rights & Democracy participated in an observation mission to Argentina in March 2002 to evaluate links between the violation of economic and social rights and the repression of demonstrations, and to assess the extent to which this situation represents a danger for the constitutional state in Argentina. Four members of the mission met with representatives of the Argentine government, members of civil society and direct victims of repression, in an effort to assess the consequences of the government's strict economic policy on fundamental rights and to evaluate, more specifically, the responsibility of the policies of international financial institutions. The final report is available at www.fidh.org.

Solidarity Committee for Burma: Washington Conference

Through this project, Rights & Democracy enabled five Canadian students to participate in the Burma Action Conference held in Washington in September 2001. The event was organized by the Free Burma Coalition, an Internet-based network of organizations committed to freedom and democracy in Burma that links major activists in countries throughout the world.

Participation in and Monitoring of the Pro-Democracy Movement in Burma

This project facilitated the participation of Rights & Democracy's Regional Officer for Asia at several regional and international meetings on Burma (Burma Donors Meeting, ALTSEAN) as well as enabling her to travel to meet with partners on the ground.

Celebrations Marking the 10th Anniversary of the Awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi

As part of the international campaign for democracy in Burma, Rights & Democracy published a message of solidarity in the national daily newspaper The Globe and Mail on December 8, 2001, to mark the 10th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement.

Monitoring of the East Timor Electoral Process

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
This project enabled the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) to send international observers to monitor East Timor's first constituent assembly election. Two separate missions were organized: in the first, four observers were deployed during the pre-electoral phase to evaluate the scope of the electoral laws and the general organization of polling. In the second mission, 26 observers from 12 countries were deployed in 12 of East Timor's 13 electoral districts one week prior to polling in order to assess the voting and ballot counting process. Although some irregularities were noted, the observers concluded that the elections were generally well run.

Observation of the Peace Process and Restoration of Democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This project allowed Rights & Democracy to continue to directly support the participation of civil society in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue. To this end, a number of meetings were organized in the DRC and elsewhere in Africa, which were attended by our Regional Officer for Africa. They included a national meeting in Kinshasa focusing on the participation of women in the peace process. Two public conferences were also organized in Montreal and Toronto in the fall and winter of 2001, in order to inform and raise the awareness of the Congolese diaspora and the Canadian public at large about the issues at stake in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue.

International Forum on the African Union

As part of the International Forum on the African Union parallel to the final Organization of African Unity Summit in Lusaka in July 2002, Rights & Democracy organized a workshop on democracy in which six African partner organizations were able to participate. The aim of the project was to promote a greater role for African civil society in the various institutions to be established as part of the Constitutive Act of the African Union that is to replace the Organization for African Unity (OAU).

G6B People's Summit in Calgary

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
Rights & Democracy's contribution helped support the organization of the G6B (Group of Six Billion) Conference held in Calgary from June 21 to 25, 2002, prior to the G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Part of the contribution was used to defray the travel expenses of two African civil society representatives who were invited to serve as speakers and experts at this conference, at which Rights & Democracy emphasized the promotion of human rights before trade, particularly with regards to the plan for development in Africa.

Grants

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) is Burma's government-in-exile, made up of representatives of the People's Assembly who were elected during Burma's democratic elections of May 1990. The government advocates the transfer of power from the military junta to the legitimately elected representatives. This grant provided institutional support enabling the NCGUB to realign its activities in the region while maintaining its efforts in the international arena. The NCGUB is seeking a political solution to Burma's conflict by promoting an environment conducive to a tripartite dialogue (the military junta, the National League for Democracy and ethnic groups).

Canadian Friends of Burma --- Canadian Mobilization for a Democratic Burma

The institutional support provided to Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) enabled it to pursue its efforts to raise the awareness of the Canadian government and public about the importance of imposing multilateral international sanctions on the ruling junta in Burma. At the political level, a committee was established to provide better information to Canadian parliamentarians. The campaign to raise awareness among the provincial legislatures was also continued. At the level of public awareness, the CFOB organized a national forum of Canadian citizens for Burma and continued to promote a boycott of Canadian companies with interests in Burma, particularly Nortel Networks.

Burmese Community Resource Center (BCRC)

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
The BCRC urgently needed money to pay the rent of its centre in New Dehli, which provides services to nearly 800 Burmese refugees of different origins. Founded in 1999, it is the only centre of its kind in New Delhi.

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) --- Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Protection of Human Rights in South Asia

Through this project, Rights & Democracy enabled the regional human rights organization South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) to organize an assembly to define its objectives and formalize its governance structure. The assembly, held in November 2001, in New Delhi, allowed the organization to identify its action strategies for the next three years and to elect its officers. The support also helped consolidate the SAHR's secretariat, located in Kathmandu, Nepal, which is responsible for coordinating its activities.

Forum Asia --- Strengthening Human Rights Activism in Asia

This grant helped Forum Asia, a network of 25 human rights organizations in Asia, to continue its efforts to strengthen the capacity of regional organizations to promote human rights. Forum Asia offers various human rights education programs and organizes awareness-raising and action campaigns on thematic issues in the region's countries. The countries targeted were: Burma, Malaysia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Forum Asia also published an annual report on the human rights situation in Asia.

Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN)

This grant provided institutional support to the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN). ALTSEAN's activities are mainly oriented to fostering exchanges between activists from Burma and other ASEAN member states by means of a visibility program; promoting increased participation by Burmese women in activist groups; and creating opportunities for dialogue between these activists and their government and those of ALTSEAN members. One of the opportunities offered to women includes a six-month internship program in activist methods.

South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR) --- Consultations on the Conflict in Kashmir

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
The South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR) had planned a series of consultations for February 21, 22 and 23, 2002, at which approximately 30 delegates from Kashmir, India and Pakistan were to discuss means to bolster initiatives for peace in Kashmir. However, the government of Nepal banned the meeting, which was replaced by a smaller-scale activity involving about a dozen participants who decided to create a network - including a number of prominent figures - to support the peace process in Kashmir. Moreover, a larger consultation will be held at a later date in 2002, but in Bangkok this time, since the region's governments refuse to allow civil society meetings to be held on their territory.

Slum Women's Network Development Project

The Slum Women's Network Development Project (SWON) has over 400 women members from slum communities in Bangkok, Thailand. It teaches slum women about their rights by organizing seminars and informal working groups. SWON's legal information and psychological counselling centre offers legal aid to women facing domestic violence or other human rights violations, as well as offering community education sessions. In addition, SWON organizes public campaigns to encourage the creation of women's community groups within slums. It also organizes education sessions aimed at helping slum women develop entrepreneurial skills and promoting savings. This grant provided institutional support to SWON.

Network of Vietnamese NGOs

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
The aim of this grant is to provide institutional support for the creation of the first network of Vietnamese NGOs, with 30 member organizations, and the establishment of a secretariat to strengthen its capacity to promote civil society and democratic institutions. Various activities, including workshops, twice-monthly meetings and information sessions, were organized to strengthen ties between the member organizations and to improve communication throughout the country.

Centre for Governance and Development --- Constitutional Review Process in Kenya

This project was made up of an evaluation component and an information/awareness-raising component. Two evaluators - a lawyer and a journalist - were mandated to monitor the constitutional review process in Kenya. They attended several sessions of the Constitutional Review Commission and interviewed participants in order to determine the degree of independence, the accessibility and the competence of the Commission. Evaluation reports were produced, on the basis of which the Centre for Governance and Development oversaw the publication of monthly information bulletins and organized public fora attended by various experts and commentators, in order to ensure the dissemination of independent information on the process.

National Convention Assembly --- Constitutional Reform in Kenya

This grant provided support for the dissemination of the proposals put forward by the National Convention Assembly (NCA) and fostered the training of a leadership capable of mobilizing the population to play a constructive role in the debates surrounding the constitutional review process. The NCA was established based on a consensus by approximately 600 delegates representing diverse interests, regarding the minimum elements to be included in the reform. The executive arm of the NCA, the National Convention Executive Council (NCEC), organized and coordinated nine popularization meetings.

United Action for Democracy --- Constitutional Reform in Nigeria

Three one-day information and awareness workshops attended by 35 representatives of various Nigerian civil society organizations were held in three Nigerian states: Ile-Ife (south-west), Enugu (south-east) and Kano (north-west). Organized by United Action for Democracy (UAD), a coalition of professionals and human rights organizations, the workshops were aimed at encouraging the participation of civil society in the constitutional reform process and fostering links between the country's various human rights organizations.

Canadian Togolese Community (CTC) --- Meeting on the Conditions for a Political Alternance in Togo

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
In preparation for the legislative elections of October 2001, the Canadian Togolese Community (CTC), in collaboration with the Collective for Democracy in Togo and with the support of Rights & Democracy, organized a concertation meeting in Montreal in the summer of 2001. The meeting, held under the theme: the conditions for a peaceful and responsible political alternance in Togo, helped prepare supporters of the Togolese democratic opposition for the 2003 legislative and presidential elections. The CTC and the Collective for Democracy have been working to promote democracy in Togo since 1991.

Comité droits de l'homme, maintenant! --- Debout Congolais, pour le dialogue national!

This grant facilitated international and national awareness and mobilization efforts aimed at promoting the Inter-Congolese Dialogue. The Comité droits de l'homme, maintenant!, a coalition of the most experienced Congolese human rights organizations, organized several activities, including daily updates of a data bank on the progress of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, the production of analysis reports by working groups, the publication and widespread distribution, both manually and by email, of documentation to individuals and various organization and institutions, both in the capital of Kinshasa, in the provinces, and abroad. These activities were carried out jointly with the Centre national d'appui au développement et à la participation populaire (CENADEP).

Mission to Addis Ababa in Preparation for the Inter-Congolese Dialogue

A three-person mission was dispatched to Addis Ababa to make preparations for the welcome, installation, and political support for the 60-person delegation representing Congolese civil society at the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, which began on October 15, 2001, in the Ethiopian capital. One of the objectives of the mission was to identify support among Ethiopian civil society organizations for the Congolese civil society delegation and to determine the latter's logistic needs in order to enable it to participate effectively in the discussions.

Centre national d'appui au développement et à la participation populaire --- Support for the Civil Society Expert Secretariat at the Inter-Congolese Dialogue

The support provided to the Centre national d'appui au développement et à la participation populaire (CENADEP) helped reinforce the participation of civil society in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, which continued its work in South Africa in February 2002. Prior to the meeting in Sun City, a preparatory meeting was held with the other parties involved in the negotiations and a group of experts was formed to oversee the dissemination of information from South Africa. Rights & Democracy's Regional Officer was invited to serve as an expert with the civil society secretariat during the proceedings, as was the case in Addis Ababa in October 2001, and in Brussels in January 2002.

Entraide Missionnaire

This grant was provided to Entraide Missionnaire to support the work of the Table de concertation sur les droits humains au Congo, which includes representatives of about 15 groups that meet to share information, analyses and resources. The aim of the Table de concertation is to promote democracy and respect for human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Table's activities are managed by a committee and Entraide Missionnaire assumes the role of secretariat.

Africa Leadership Forum

This grant was provided to the Africa Leadership Forum to support the organization of a regional conference of African parliamentarians, held in Dakar, Senegal, in April 2002, as well as new development initiatives for the continent. The Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) is committed to promoting the Kampala Document of the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA) with a view to its eventual adoption. Participants in the regional conference discussed the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the implementation of the CSSDCA as a monitoring mechanism to enhance good governance in Africa and ensure security, stability, development and cooperation.

Le Prix Presse et Démocratie en Afrique Francophone

Service Haïti de l'Entraide Missionnaire --- Democratic Development in Haiti

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
This grant enabled the Service Haïti de l'Entraide Missionnaire to hold three regular meetings with its members as well as ad hoc meetings with visiting resource persons, and to distribute information on the situation in Haiti to Service Haïti subscribers every six weeks. A mission to Haiti was also organized to ascertain the general mood of the country and to participate in activities organized by partners.

Social Justice Committee --- Judicial Proceedings and Impunity in Guatemala

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
The Social Justice Committee of Montreal organized a campaign to support the Rigoberta Menchu Foundation in Guatemala in its struggle against impunity, notably its attempts in Spain for the extradition of perpetrators of acts of genocide committed in Guatemala in the 1980s. The campaign included a visit to Montreal by Rigoberta Menchu, during which the City of Montreal sponsored a public meeting at Marché Bonsecours and raised funds to support the Foundation's legal action.

Myrna Mack Foundation --- National and International Justice in the Myrna Mack Case

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
This grant provided financial support to the Myrna Mack Foundation in its legal efforts to bring to trial three senior Guatemalan military officers suspected of ordering the assassination of the anthropologist Myrna Mack in 1990. The Foundation was thus able to pursue its campaign aimed at pressuring the government of Guatemala to hold the trial despite the many obstacles thrown in its path by the accused. Legal action was also initiated at the regional level, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights having referred the case to the Inter-American Court.

Seminar on the Inter-American Democratic Charter

(Urgent Action/Important Opportunities)
Organized jointly with the Université du Québec à Montréal, the seminar on the Inter-American Democratic Charter brought together analysts and groups involved in the process of institutionalizing the Inter-American system for the protection of democracy. The seminar addressed the following themes: the contribution of the Charter to the promotion and protection of democracy in the Americas; the relationship of compatibility or incompatibility between democracy, trade and the anti-terrorism struggle in the Americas; and the strategy of NGOs with regard to democracy in preparation for the next General Assembly of the OAS. Representatives of MAECI were on hand to present their views.

Presentation of the seminar held in March 2002 in Montreal.
A synthesis document for the seminar is available in: French, English, and Spanish, on the Web site of the Cedim.

Assessing Participation Experiences in Mexico

Coordinated by the Convergencia de organismos civiles por la democracia, this project focused on the activities of two of its member organizations, the Servicio desarollo y paz (SEDEPAC) and the Alianza civica de Coahuila. For the past nine years, an elected indigenous government has been administering the municipality of Huehuelta, 86% of whose citizens are indigenous. SEDEPAC conducted a study of this experience with organizations in the region through workshops focusing on the influence of community groups, democratic participation, and the struggle for indigenous rights. A document was prepared and an indigenous law for the state of Puebla was proposed and submitted. For its part, the Alianza civica de Coahuila, which is committed to monitoring and influencing public policy, systematized its observation, civic education and public-opinion mobilization activities, in order to evaluate their impact. A document was subsequently produced and widely distributed at the national level.

Americas Policy Group

The Americas Policy Group (APG) of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC) is a coalition of Canadian organizations focused on issues of development and social justice in Latin America. This year, the APG held three general meetings to establish the plans and priorities of its members with regard to the policies of the Canadian and regional governments. A reorientation of the group's analysis and awareness activities was necessary to take into account the resource capacities of members. As well, the sub-groups on Mexico, Colombia and the Plan Puebla-Panama were redefined. These sub-groups conduct analyses of the policies of the Canadian and regional governments as well as those of civil society organizations, in addition to carrying out awareness-raising activities.

The Latin American Institute for Alternative Legal Services (ILSA) --- Women and Rural Development in Colombia

The Latin American Institute for Alternative Legal Services (ILSA) is working to develop and propose an alternative rural policy based on the sustainability of the peasant economy. This proposal is supported by a majority of organizations in the rural sector. Rights & Democracy is supporting an initiative to ensure that the needs and proposals of women are integrated in this process. ILSA hired a researcher, Dora Isabel Diaz Susa, to hasten progress on the work initiated in 2001. Interviews with rural women and their organizations were conducted in order to arrive at a diagnosis. Proposals regarding the role and participation of women in rural development will be developed and debated in order to ensure that women's interests receive full consideration at the Agrarian Congress in December 2002.

Association for the Advancement of the Social Sciences in Guatemala (AVANCSO) --- Opportunities and Dangers of the Plan Puebla-Panama (PPP)

This grant supported the Association for the Advancement of the Social Sciences in Guatemala (AVANCSO) in its work with sectors of the Guatemalan population that are affected by the Plan Puebla-Panama. AVANCSO disseminates information and analyses aimed at helping indigenous peasant organizations to identify aspects of the PPP on which they can exert an influence and to propose solutions that are beneficial to them. A study of the available documentation was conducted and workshops with leaders of indigenous peasant organizations were held. AVANCSO is also working to identify new spaces for dialogue with the government concerning the PPP. The PPP is a global development plan for the Mesoamerican region that favours agro-exporting, the intercontinental exchange of goods and "maquiladora"-style industry. The conclusions reached by AVANCSO will be widely disseminated.

Instituto de Defensa Legal --- Public Hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Peru

The support provided by Rights & Democracy enabled the Instituto de Defensa Legal to help victims gain access to the public hearings of Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission by defraying their travel and accommodation costs. A total of about 40 hearings will take place by June 2003. The Commission's task is to establish the facts and identify the perpetrators of terrorist violence and human rights abuses committed in Peru between May 1980 and November 2000. The testimony of victims is a key element of the process and a precondition for the dialogue on reconciliation.

Other activities

Rights & Democracy speaks out on human rights violations.
Written statements submitted to the 58th Session of United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva -
18 March - 26 April, 2002. For a detailed schedule, please visit the Commission's web site.

• Burma (Myanmar)
• China
• Colombia
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Vietnam

Justice Eludes Guatemala Five Years After the Peace Accords.
Five years after the negotiated conclusion of a 36-year-old civil war, a peace process supported by Canada and the international community, Guatemala has barely inched forward in the prosecution of the perpetrators of 669 massacres in Mayan villages. Throughout the last year, Rights & Democracy has supported the work of human rights organizations whose workers brave threats and intimidation to work for a peace based on justice for the 200,000 victims of the civil war. Learn more about Rights & Democracy's involvement in the fight for Human Rights in Guatemala.

Related Publications

Rights & Democracy has also released a number of publications on Democratic Development, from theoretical as well as regional perspectives.