NEWS on HUMAN RIGHTS
Localise !
Civil Society from Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) presents model of local alternative report to UN-CRPD-Human Rights-Dialogue
Especially the civil society of Saxony-Anhalt- in one of the sixteen Federal States of Germany- is exemplary herein. In 2016/17, women from Saxony-Anhalt wrote their own country alternative report on CEDAW, which they did not send to Geneva but discussed with the state government. For the first time now, the United Nations received an alternative state report from Saxony-Anhalt.
Here are the exemplary reports in German and English. On 8 March 2018, a Civil Society Alliance called "INITIATIVE GROUP Art 36" submitted an alternative report on the implementation of the UN Human Rights Convention on People with Disabilities (CRPD) in relation to the implementation of the UN-CRPD for girls and women's human rights in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The group submitted the report early to the pre-session for the German state report, which is scheduled in Geneva for August 2018 to prepare for the review process of Germanys implementation. The 'Initiative Group Art 36' refers to article 36 of the last Concluding Observations of the UN-CRPD-Treaty-Body, addressing the shortcomings and recommendations on the CRPD implementation on the rights of girls and women in this German Federal State. The group highlights shortcomings and calls for major improvements, especially at the level of participation, independent complaint body and mechanism access and funding. It becomes clear that Saxony-Anhalt ignores the requirements for inclusion, especially in the education sector, in schools. The "Initiative Group Art 36" will participate in the formulation of the questions (List of Issues) by the German Civil Society of the upcoming Pre Session 8/2018 and will participate in the not yet scheduled review process about 2019/2020. The civil society has delivered. It is to be seen how the federal government and how the federal state will respond and what they deliver!
The human rights of girls and women with disabilities cannot be silenced or ignored of. Their explicitly in the CRPD mentioned individual human rights and requirements are specifically laid down in Articles 36 and 16 of the CRPD and must be observed and implemented by the states. And, there is an strong interlinkage between CEDAW and CRPD which strengthens the states obligations to implement the human rights of girls and women with diabilities even more.
Join us: Localise! - Participate in human rights dialogues from your municipality, from your state - let us closely monitor the implementation of human rights, with more participation from all levels. That is our given duty as well as our right. Civil society has an important role to play.
Unfortunately, this has to be said time and again, even though it is due to the ratification of the obligations under the human rights treaties, which the Federal Government is the main implementing partner of the United Nations treaty committees under the auspices of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. Unfortunately, governments are always selective about what they want to implement. We urgendly need to improve this: everything has to be implemented, for everyone. The distribution of knowledge about human rights dialogues and participation in the processes must also become better: the federal states and municipalities must join in this dialogues. I've been working on this 'localization' for years, pushing it and hope, we present a new model encouraging others from local levels to join.
TOTAL FREE HELPLINE -Violence against Women (based on gender)
A video by Gabriella Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
German Federal Helpline "Violence against Women"
Dial the total free phone number 08000 - 116 016 in Germany if you are targeted from Violence against yourself as a woman. The Helpline as well offers family members, supporter or witnesses of violence against women in social nightborhood, as well as those who are professional or voluntary working on that issue counceling and information. The HelpLine is total free of cost, national wide, available all around the clock, e Uhr, anonymus. barrier-free and multilingual by qualified councellors. All Information is available on the webpage of the HelpLine.
boeker-consult has put together this "FLYER ERSTE HILFE BEI DISKRIMINIERUNG (PDF)" for to download as a first Aid in cases of discrimination.For the best result please before printing fromat it in size 100% and chose page format across.
Even if the flyer is in German (we try to improve!) you might find lots of categories and adresses, phone numbers and more to meet qualified, experienced councelling centers, where in most of the places one will speak English to serve and support you. Do not hesitate to additional contact us in case of you are targeted by any form of discrimination or especially if you have tried to forward your case under national court but without success.
Philosophy of Consulting
Always under construction. Change is coming soon. Human Rights based. Our consultancy's objectives are empowerment of various stakeholders and the shortes way to your human rights.
Commitment:
boeker-consult, Consultancy for Human Rights and Gender Issues, endorses the CHARTA OF DIVERSITY OF THE GERMAN BUSINESSES and as part of the initiative "Diversity as a chance – Charta of Diversity" commited itself by signature to implement it.
On 15th of May 2007 the holder of the consulting firm, Marion Böker, received the certificate of the self-commitment from the Minister of State in the Federal Chancellery and Fereral Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration Maria Böhmer.
To the homepage of the German Federal Government
Content of the Charta(In German)
Picture from the ceremonial presentation
boeker-consult defines the 'diversity' approach more over in the frame of references of the UN-Human Rights Treaties and of the EU-Guidelines as to the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination policy of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights of the Council of Europe.
There are some approaches and contexts where 'diversity' is been understood very shortend. Especialy when the legal binding basic of human rights and anti-discimination laws are rejected as 'unnecessary ballast'. The 'diversity approach' which we support and which derived from the global human and civil rights movements is strongly connected to the knowdlege of all people about their human rights and the accessibility of justice for human rights.
The diversity approach shall help to create a culture, politics and environment which reflects the basic of a developed civilization which is based on individual human rights, on tolerance and acceptance of all human beings as equals. A meaningfull 'diversity approach' can never be limited to the aspect of the growth of economy; it works for a mutual living and sharing of growth and wealth in peace without limits or borders.
When we work mainly focused on women's rights and a world free of discrimination and violation on grounds of 'gender' and 'sex' and offer consultancy on the implementation of gender mainstreaming we always have in mind a more divers approach: the mainstreaming of all defined human rights in the mind of all people, all administrations, and politics and economy throughout. We assist to fix human rights based empowerment in the minds and institutions of our societies. We want contribute to create and live a private and professional and public life which guarantees all human beings human rights no matter how divers they are in every moment and environment. 'Diversity' of human kind is a rich cultural and natural heritage in all aspects. 'Diversity' is not a 'nice lable' if you implement and respect it in the human rights framework- it adds value to your life and social context, to business, organisations and all stakeholders objectives.
We build on empowerment, capacity building and the self help approaches, which can unfold the potentials of all human beings as activists of their own life, their families and in the society as a whole. We work for your access of all your human rights and for you to participate and contribute as a citizen knowing and achieving your human rights so that you and others can act as 'agents of change' for an equal rights based and peaceful life.
While Germany has a Federal Anti-Discimination Agency it is not taking up cases. We would take up your case, assits yxou, forwar it for you or find ther supporters and experts for your cas.