South Asia Foundation Annual Report on Activities for the year 2010 - Part 2

SAF - AFGHANISTAN

ACTIVITIES OF SAF CHAPTERS DURING THE YEAR 2010

Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship

1. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University
   To allocate the best candidates, SAF Afghanistan coordinated with Kabul University and posted the advertisement through different sources, and fortunately after formal selection procedures, found two top candidates nominated were: Mr.Abdul Hai Fahim and Mr.Mohammad Naser the later cancelled his nomination due to his personal problems. Then the 3rd nominee, Mohammad Naim Poya who had already graduated successfully from ACJ Chennai SAF Scholarship in 2008, was selected.
   Both students got their Indian visas and their e-tickets and got their classes in Pondicherry.

2. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asian Journalism, Chennai:
   Following a formal announcement and selection process, two top candidates who had taken their BA in Journalism from Kabul University were selected. Their names are: Mr.Naser Junbesh and Mr.Abdul Wahed Farhady.
   After the receipt of their formal invitation letters from ACJ, they got their Indian Visas and round e-tickets to Chennai and they got their classes timely.

3. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh School of Green Energy Technology, Pondicherry:
   Upon receiving notification from Pondicherry University for nominating candidates for Green Energy Tech Institute, SAF Afghanistan nominated and introduced two nominees to GET but they requested to make a cover letter for each of them individually and send them with their educational documents to GET. These were sent to them by courier and their response is awaited.

4. SAF Afghanistan Admin Support Assistant
   Due to busy schedule of SAF Vice Chairman and SAF Secretary, SAF Afghanistan decided to hire an active individual as “Admin Support Assistant”, that fortunately SAF-Afghanistan found a very honest, reliable, active and intelligent person suitable for the organization in Kabul. His name is Hamidullah Arefi and his email address is hamidullah_arefi@yahoo.com.

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Center for Preservation of Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage

Establishment of the new library in the UNESCO-SAF Madanjeet Singh Institute of Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage.
The 3^rd round course of Cultural Heritage Preservation was started on 21^st of April 2010 in MADANJEET SINGH Center for Preservation of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage in which 15 trainees were trained who were selected from different departments of Information and Culture Ministry in the provinces and from Archaeological Institute & National Museum of Kabul who were trained by 6 professional trainers from Kabul University, Department of Archeology and some other departments related to Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan.

The following subjects were taught in this session:

1. Fundamental of Archeology.
2. Afghanistan History.
3. Making inventory List for the historical relics.
4. Description of the international convention.
5. History of Art.
6. History of religions.
7. Description of cultural heritage preservation law.

Besides theory, the trainees also got some practical lessons by visiting the Historical and Ancient places as:

Bagh-e-Babur

Bagh-e-Babur is one of the Historical and Social place among the other Ancient places in Kabul city. The trainees started their first Scientific Promenade from this Ancient place and became familiar with the late Baburyan’s culture and their way of life by seeing the Baburyan’s Museum and Palace in this Beautiful Garden “Bagh”.

National Museum of Afghanistan

In continuance with their scientific promenade, the trainees visited the National Museum of Afghanistan to see the existing historical relics in this place and to learn the method of making the inventory lists, cleaning and restoring of the monuments.

National Archive Kabul

The trainees also visited the National Archive of Kabul to see the historical manuscripts and photos remained from the late kings of Afghanistan. After reviewing these relics, the students also had a meeting with the General Director of the National Archive Department and debated about the relics that are stored. However, due to the security reasons, the students were not allowed to take photos during the tour to the national archive.

The training course ended on July 22^nd 2010 and a graduation ceremony was held for graduating trainees in Madanjeet Singh Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute where some high ranking officials of Ministry of Information and Culture Including the vice chairman of South Asia Foundation (SAF) attended and called such courses beneficial for better preservation of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and distributed Certificates to the students who had participated in this 3 month course. After distribution of the certificates, all the attendees in the ceremony invited to the late afternoon reception which was prepared by SAF Afghanistan.

SAF-BANGLADESH

SAF-Bangladesh Advisory Board Meeting

The 15^th meeting of the Advisory Board for SAF Bangladesh Chapter was held on 8 July, 2010 chaired by Dr. Kamal Hossain, Chairperson, SAF-Bangladesh Chapter at Chairperson’s residence.
Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice-Chairperson of SAF Bangladesh Chapter, Professor Rehman Sobhan and Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, Members and Mr. Shah Jahan and Mr. Khairul Hasan were present.
The Board approved the Minutes of the 14^th Meeting. The Board decided that the Secretary shall prepare a distribution list for Kashmiriyat, SASIA Story and SASHIAR Golpo.
As a new initiative, it was suggested that SAF-Bangladesh Chapter shall seek to promote an exchange programme between educational institutions in the region so that teachers and students could exchange visits for periods of one or two semesters as this would promote better understanding in the region at the people-to-people level.
 

SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships
UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia Regional Cooperation, Pondicherry University

A total of 15 (fifteen) applications were received for the SAF Madanjeet scholarship for two-year postgraduate course at the Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, India.
Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice-Chairperson of SAF Bangladesh and Dr. Abdur Rob Khan, Member, SAF-Bangladesh interviewed the candidates. Mr. Abiderdar Md. Abdujjaher of Jahangirnagar University and Ms. Natasha Israt Kabir of the same university were selected for the 2010-11 programme. An announcement in the form of advertisement was published in two prominent newspapers, The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo, for the SAF Madanjeet Scholarship programme.
 

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asian Journalism, Chennai

It was decided by Dr. Kamal Hossain, Chairperson, SAF–Bangladesh that Mr. Mahfuz Anam, Member, SAF-Bangladesh Chapter and Editor, The Daily Star, would review applications for the SAF Madanjeet Scholarship on postgraduate diploma 2010-2011 in Asian College of Journalism.
Out of 34 applicants, Mr. Hashim Uddin Ahammed, senior sub-editor of online agency, BDnews24.com and Ms. Masuma Sarmin Sumi of the University of Dhaka were selected for the scholarship. However, finally they could not join the programme due to visa complexities.
 

SAF Publications Distribution

In addition to the Hindi and Urdu editions, ‘Kashmiriyat’ is also under print in Bangla and English editions by the University Press Limited in Dhaka. The book along with SASIA Story and SASHIAR Golpo were distributed free of cost at all public and community libraries across Bangladesh.
 

SAARC Charter Day Celebration

SAF Bangladesh Chapter organized a seminar on 13 December 2010 to commemorate the 17^th SAARC Charter Day at the auditorium of Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) in Dhaka. Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice-Chairman of SAF-Bangladesh Chapter presided over the meeting. SAF member Professor Rehman Sobhan presented a keynote paper at the seminar.

It was addressed by Dr. Kamal Hossain, Chairperson of SAF-Bangladesh Chapter, Dr. Q. M. A. Rahim, Former Secretary General of SARRC, Ms. Nasim Ferdous, Former Ambassador, Professor Shamsher Ali, Former Vice-Chancellor of Southeast University and Dr Shahdeen Malik, Director of BILIA.
 

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Human Rights and South Asian Common Law (“UMIHRSACL”)
South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (“SAILS”).

A Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding (“Supplemental MoU”) between the South Asia Foundation (“SAF”), the South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (“SAILS”) and Madanjeet Singh Institute of Human Rights and South Asian Common Law (“MIHRSACL”) was signed on 23 September, 2010. Under the Supplemental MoU it was agreed to restructure SAILS as the SAILS Law University of South Asia (“SAILS University”) and to rename the Madanjeet Singh Centre as the Madanjeet Singh Institute of Human Rights and South Asian Common Law (“MIHRSACL”). Upon signature of the Supplemental MoU, MIHRSACL has replaced the Madanjeet Singh Centre established under the MoU between SAF and SAILS dated 26 December, 2006.

UMIHRSACL/SAILS undertook the following activities in 2010:
 

Training Programmes on Clinical Legal Education (CLE) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR

UMIHRSACL/SAILS organized two separate month-long residential training courses on Clinical Legal Education (CLE) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) from 29 May 2010 to 29 June 2010 at BRAC Center for Development and Management at Rajendrapur, Gazipur.

The two Certificate Courses were designed and conducted by renowned jurists, judges, legal academics, and practitioners from the region. Dr. Kamal Hossain, Professor Dr. N. R. Madhava Menon, Founder Director of National Law School of India, Professor Dr. Yubaraj Sangroula, Executive Director of Kathmandu School of Law, Professor M. Shah Alam, currently Chairman of the Law Commission, and Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, the then Honourary Executive Director of MIHRSACL, and currently the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission were among the resource persons for the courses.
The CLE course was for young legal academics and the ADR course was for practitioners and judges. A total of 14 and 22 participants attended in the CLE and ADR courses, respectively. They were from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives, and were selected on a competitive basis by an expert committee.

The CLE course has the following objectives:

• Study the theory and practice of clinical teaching now prevalent in legal education in various jurisdictions.
• Evaluate the current programs of practical training in the law schools and examine the plans and strategies for their future development.
• Evolving a syllabus with teaching methods and materials for practical training courses such as trial advocacy, appellate advocacy and professional ethics.
• Enabling participating teachers to work out syllabus and teaching plans for practical training courses in their respective law schools including techniques of supervision, evaluation, resource generation and integration with the rest of the curriculum.
• Explore ways and means to involve law students in legal aid programs for supportive services as well as for instructing them on application of professional skills and ethics in live situations.

The ADR course, first of its kind in Bangladesh, has the following objectives:

• To provide young lawyers with necessary expertise and skills to be able to understand the theory and practice of ADR and apply it in their own practice.
• To study the existing legal framework of ADR in the context of South Asia’s needs and agenda for judicial reforms.
• To nurture and develop necessary skills, attitudes and ethical Code of Conduct.
• To explore possible ways of settlement of disputes in a cost effective and timely manner for enhanced services to litigants.

The courses applied multiple and interactive methodologies and practice exercises, which included:

• Study of reading materials and preparation of review notes.
• Lecture-cum-discussion on concept and theories.
• Individual and group exercises, role play and demonstration.
• Video-viewing and discussion on different approaches.
• Field visits and co-operative learning.
• Researching and writing projects assigned at the beginning of the course.

The valedictory session of the courses was attended by the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Barrister Shafique Ahmed and presided over by MIHRSACL/SAILS Chairperson, Dr. Kamal Hossain.

List of Participants of the CLE Course

List of Participants of the ADR Course

Research Activities Review of Laws Relating to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

MIHRSACL/SAILS, in collaboration with the Law Commission of Bangladesh, has completed a study on the laws related to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Bangladesh. The study came up with a set of recommendations which have been submitted to the government. The study recommended initiatives at various levels including administrative, legal, judicial and policy levels.
The recommendations included adoption of a national ADR Policy, setting up a national ADR authority, amendment of the existing laws, inclusion of ADR related courses in the curriculum of law schools and training institutes, creation of facilities to train mediators, etc.

As part of the activities, three seminars were organized - two at divisional levels (Chittagong and Rajshahi) and the final one in the capital (Dhaka). The seminars had participants of around 100 people representing legal practitioners, judges, judicial officers and academics.
The seminar at Chittagong (on 7 August 2010) was attended by the then Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Mr. Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim and the then Law Commission Chairman, Mr. Justice Abdur Rashid among others. The second workshop at Rajshahi (on 18 October 2010) was attended by Supreme Court Judges – Mr. Justice M. Mozzamel Haque and Mr. Justice S. K. Sinha and MIHRSACL/SAILS Chairperson, Dr. Kamal Hossain.
The national seminar in Dhaka (on 25 October 2010) was attended by the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Barrister Shafique Ahmed and judges from the Supreme Court of Bangladesh among others. MIHRSACL/SAILS Chairperson, Dr. Kamal Hossain, also attended the seminar.


Study on Personal Laws

MIHRSACL/SAILS is conducting a study with an aim to combating gender injustices (CGI) in personal laws in Bangladesh. As part of this, Hindu and Christian personal laws and Muslim Law on adoption are being studied. This project, funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka, is scheduled to be completed by March 2011.
 

Seminars and Lecture Series

MIHRSACL aims to be a platform for practitioners and academics in the area of law and human rights. To facilitate interactions amongst practitioners and academics from Bangladesh and other countries, MIHRSACL has been hosting lecture series.

Lecture on war crimes and international law

Prof. Philippe Sands, QC, a renowned international lawyer presented a lecture on “War Crimes, Impunity and Accountability: International Legal Perspectives” at the Supreme Court Bar Association Auditorium on March 2010. It was jointly organised by the Department of Law at the University of Dhaka and MIHRSACL/SAILS.
Mr. Sands, a Barrister and Professor of International Law, is widely respected for his integrity and eloquent and poignant criticism of the US and UK governments regarding the invasion of Iraq and the use of torture at Guantanamo Bay and the Abu Ghraib prisons.
The event was moderated by Professor Asif Nazrul of the Department of Law at the University of Dhaka; panel discussants were Professor Sumaiya Khair, Chairperson of the Department of Law at the University of Dhaka, Professor M. Shah Alam, the then Member (currently Chairman) of the Law Commission and Barrister Sara Hossain.
The event was attended by an audience of over 350 lawyers, judges, government officials, diplomats, NGO-representatives, law students and journalists. The event got a wide coverage in the national media.

Lecture on Restorative Justice

Dr. John Braithwaite, Professor at the Australian National University (ANU) gave a lecture on “Restorative Justice, Crime and Peace Building” on December 2, 2010. Dr. Braithwaite in his hour long deliberation discussed the concept, method, and techniques of Restorative Justice. He observed that Restorative Justice could be an effective instrument in bringing in and offering justice in conflict situations. Detailing his experiences, he referred to the Restorative Justice System in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Dr. Hameeda Hossain, eminent human rights activist, Dr. Nayanika Mookherjee, Lecturer of Lancaster University, United Kingdom, Md. Hedayetul Islam Chowdhury, Executive Director of Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR), Barrister Kamruzzaman Shadhin, Head of the Department of Law at Daffodil International University, Rezanur Rahman Lenin, a law student at the University of Dhaka participated in the open discussions.
The lecture was attended by 50 participants representing legal practitioners, academics, human rights activists among others.

Lecture on Human Rights and Development

Professor Dr. Yubaraj Sangroula, Executive Director of Kathmandu School of Law delivered a lecture on “Human Rights and Development” on 27 December 2010. Dr. Sangroula discussed the links between human rights and individuals’ rights to development. It was attended by 35 legal and human rights academics, practitioners, and law students.

Scheduled Lectures

Two visiting faculties from Macquarie University in Australia will give lectures on 3 January 2011. Dr. Shawkat Alam will make his presentation on "Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Development: Is Development the Missing Link?" while Professor M. Rafiqul Islam will speak on "Terrorism, and Counter -Terrorism under International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law."

Advocacy for Reform in Legal and Human Rights Education

MIHRSACL is taking initiatives to establish network with law schools in Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka and advocating reform in legal and human rights education, and introduction of best practices.

In this connection, MIHRSACL has organized a day-long workshop on Teaching Law on 20 December 2010. It was attended by 26 faculty members from law schools in Dhaka and Chittagong.

Dr. Kamal Hossain, eminent jurist and Chairperson of MIHRSACL, Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor M. Shah Alam, Chairman of Law Commission, Professor Zakir Hossain, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Chittagong and Member Judicial Service Commission, Professor Dr. Yubaraj Sangroula, Executive Director of Kathmandu School of Law (KSL), Dr. Naim Ahmed, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, and Dr. Uttam Kumar Das, Deputy Director of MIHRSACL conducted different sessions. Dr. Sharif Bhuiyan, Member, Governing Council of MIHRSACL/SAILS gave vote of thanks.

The workshop found following limitations in existing legal education in Bangladesh: age-old curriculum, theory-based and non-practical teaching methods, inadequate provisions to increase students analytical and critical thinking capacities, lack of effective relations among the legal practitioners and academics, lack of monitoring mechanism over law schools from the Bar Council, lack of resources, incentives, and motivations for research works and publications, lack of initiatives both at public and private sectors to standardize the legal education, etc.
MIHRSACL will be organizing two regional seminars on “Ethics in Legal Profession,” and “Legal Education in South Asia” in Dhaka on 15 and 16 January 2011, respectively. MIHRSACL’ Deputy Director, Dr. Uttam Kumar Das (who joined in August 2010) has been publishing articles and opinion columns in national dailies and weeklies (i.e., The Daily Star, the Daily Sun, PROBE News Magazine).

Links of few articles are:

• "Whither Legal Education in Bangladesh", The Daily Sun, 14 December 2010
  Read more >
   
• "Legal Education in Bangladesh", PROBE News Magazine 1-14 October 2010
  Read more >
   
• Law Interview: "Legal education must be brought out of the four walls" - Prof. Mizanur Rahman, The Daily Star, "Law & Our Rights" Section, 6 October 2010
   
• Law Interview: "Human Rights should be integral part of legal education"- Professor David Weissbrodt, The Daily Star, “Law & Our Rights” Section, 25 September 2010
  Read more >
   

Networking

MIHRSACL has been initiating networking with academic institutions (law schools and training centers) and human rights organizations in Bangladesh and in the region. It has hosted a group of 27 law students from Kathmandu School of Law in Nepal from 30 October to 31 October 2010 in Dhaka and organized meetings with the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Chairman of Law Commission, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Chairman of International Crimes Tribunal, and also organized visits to a few law schools.

Dr. Uttam Kumar Das, Deputy Director of MIHRSACL, was invited to Kathmandu School of Law to spend a week at the institution and to take sessions at the International Residential School on Economic, Social and Development Rights and Good Governance in November 2010. The School had 42 students from Nepal, Bangladesh, India and China. This visit gave an opportunity to observe functioning of KSL and had interactions with the faculty members. MIHRSACL is collaborating with human rights and development organizations. It has been a networking partner of Harvard Law School Project on Disability Project in Bangladesh among others.

The Deputy Director, having invitations from BRAC, and WARBE Development Foundation in Dhaka, has presented papers on legal and human rights issues. He also published in national dailies and news magazines on those issues.

Few of the articles are listed below: 

• "Law Opinion: Is the law enough to protect migrants?", The Daily Star, "Law & Our Rights" Section, 25 December 2010
  Read more >
   
• "Safe Migration and Bangladesh Potentials, Possibilities and Problems", PROBE News Magazine, 24 to 30 December 2010
  Read more >
   
• "Migrant Rights and Bangladesh", PROBE News Magazine, 15-21 October 2010
  Read more >
  

 
News from the UNESCO Madanjeet Institute of Human Rights and South Asian Law
Dhaka, Bangladesh - 19 September 2010

The Institute after the successful Regional course on Clinical Legal Education, organized in collaboration with the National Law Reform Commission a series of national seminars on ADR attended by Judges, lawyers and law teachers, one at Chittagong and one at Rajshahi on 18 September, 2010, which was attended by two Supreme Court Judges, Chairman of the Law Reform Commission and The Chairman, SAF-Bangladesh. The concluding one was held on 25 September, 2010 in Dhaka, attended by the Law Minister and Judges of the Supreme Court.
The prize giving ceremony in Delhi at which Professor Mizanur Rahman, who had conducted the Regional Course on Clinical Legal Education and ADR, at which the award was given by Mr. Justice J.S. Verma, former Chief Justice of India and an address was delivered by Mr. Justice R.V. Raveendran, Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Professor Mizanur Rahman has assumed office as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. Professor Yubaraj Sangroula of the Kathmandu School of Law also attended the Ceremony and has indicated his willingness, in principle to serve as Director of our Institute. In the meantime, Dr. Uttam Kumar Das has joined as Deputy Director from 1 August, 2010.

Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships
UNESCO Madanjeet Singh South Asian Journalism (ACJ)

Mr.Naimul Karim was awarded Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship from Bangladesh in 2010 at ACJ

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia Regional Cooperation, Pondicherry University

A total of 15 (fifteen) applications were received for the SAF Madanjeet scholarship for two-year postgraduate course at the Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, India. Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice-Chairperson of SAF Bangladesh and Dr. Abdur Rob Khan, Member, SAF-Bangladesh interviewed the candidates. Mr. Abiderdar Md. Abdujjaher of Jahangirnagar University and Ms. Natasha Israt Kabir of the same university were selected for the 2010-11 programme. An announcement in the form of advertisement was published in two prominent newspapers, The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo, for the SAF Madanjeet Scholarship programme.

Visit of His Excellency Madanjeet Singh and Madam France Marquet to Bhutan (March 15 -18 March 2010)

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Minister of Agriculture and the South Asia Foundation, for the establishment of the Madanjeet Singh Center for South Asia Forestry Studies at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment

Once the construction is completed, MCSAFS shall offer Diploma, B.Sc. and M.Sc. courses in Forestry in Collaboration with the College of Natural Resources at Lobesa, Royal University of Bhutan. The MCSAFS will also facilitate and conduct research in areas related to Forestry with relevance to South Asia.

All the artist who participated to the exhibition at the Tarayana Foundation who had the opportunity to study with the SAF group scholarships at the School of Visual Arts, BeaconHouse National University in Lahore Pakistan and SAF Bhutan Chairperson Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup.n with Ambassador Madanjeet Singh,Mme France Marquet

A Cheque of Nu 150,000 was handed by the Dy Chairperson of SAF Bhutan Chapter on behalf of SAF Founder UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, to VAST, a non-profit association of artists on 1st May.2010. The money is to be utilized for lighting at VAST exhibition gallery (Alaya gallery), Thimphu.

 
SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships

SAF Bhutan successfully selected candidates for the different Madanjeet Singh Institutes in Pondicherry and ACJ Chennai.

SAF - MALDIVES

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Climate Research Center

Following a meeting with His Excellency President Mohamed Nasheed in October 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between South Asia Foundation and The Government of Maldives on 7th November 2010 to establish Madanjeet Singh Climate Research Center at Maldives College of Higher Education. On behalf of the Government of Maldives, the MoU was signed by Minister of Housing and Environment Hon Mohamed Aslam.

SAF Maldives Chapter has facilitated Mr Ibrahim Zuhuree, Head of SAARC division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the International Conference on “South Asia 2020: Towards a Greater Unity and Interdependence” organized by UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation (UMISARC) & Southern Asia Studies Programme Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India on November 22-24, 2010.
 

SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Asian Arts

SAF-Maldives chapter has nominated two candidates for the Foundation year of the School of Visual Arts and School of Architectural Design at Beacon House National University, Lahore. The two students were Ms. Fathmath Maisha Adam and Mr. Ahmed Rifhaan. They are currently in Lahore studying at the University.
 

UMIHRSACL, Bangladesh

SAF Maldives chapter would send two nominees to SAILS, Bangladesh. Nominations of students are in the process. It is carried out by Supreme Court of the Maldives. 7 lawyers were sent to South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (SAILS), Bangladesh for a certificate course.

Name

• Ghaniyya Abdul (Jinaaee Court)
• Qafoor Ismail Rasheed (Jinaaee Court)
• Hussain Amir (Elections Commisssion)
• Ahmed Abdul Matheen (Madhanee Court)
• Ahmed Yameen (Maldives Police Services)
• Shadhiya Adam (Maldives Police Services)
• Aishath Samah (Bank of Maldives)

 
UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation (UMISARC)

• Ms Shajna Ibrahim Igbal was sent to Pondicherry University, for Master of Arts in South Asian Studies.
• Two female applied for the scholarship and the nomination was made by Ministry of Human Resources, Youth and Sports. No Male candidate applied.

SAF - NEPAL

HIGHLIGHTS OF SAF-NEPAL IN 2010

The SAF Nepal has continued its focus on promoting the SAF Founder's aspiration of a more cooperative and peaceful South Asia. This aspiration is being pursued through empowering health workers, women in particular, through public-private partnerships.
After having successfully completed in 2009-2010 the training of 161 Assistant Nurse Midwives from the poorest 25 districts of Nepal, the South Asia Foundation is now linking its rich experience to train candidates from other SAARC countries in its second phase program. Eminent partner organizations like the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF), National Health Training Centre, Ministry of Population and Health have joined hands with SAF in its second phase initiative.

To this effect, a glimpse of activities carried out by SAF-Nepal in 2010 is listed below.

A MoU was signed between the SAF Founder Ambassador Madanjeet Singh and the Chairperson Dr. Rita Thapa to establish a Madanjeet Centre for Public Health and Regional Cooperation on April 15, 2010.

1. Following which, Madanjeet Centre for Public Health and Regional Cooperation (MCPHRC) was registered, with the Company Registrar in Kathmandu, Nepal on 21^st May 2010 that is B.S Jestha 07, 2067, as a non-political and a secular learning resource centre in the field of Public Health. Its main aim is to provide training to qualified candidates from eight SAARC countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, among others. The Founder of the South Asia Foundation is supporting the MCPHRC with the due scholarships required for training public health professionals from eight SAARC countries. The MCPHRC will fully be responsible to implement these scholarships.
2. After establishing MCPHRC, the SAF-Nepal team has carried out several rounds of discussions with related partner organizations in the way of seeking their partnership to sail through the objectives of MCPHRC.
3. A draft brochure of MCPHRC has been prepared involving eminent potential partners like Poverty Alleviation Fund, National Health Training Centre, MoPH, Future Generation Graduate School, SAARC secretariat, Kathmandu.
4. MCPHRC launched its first program as a pilot training of a 9 weeks course on Applied Community Change and Skilled Birth Attendant on 16 November, 2010 in Pokhara. Eminent partners like the Poverty Alleviation Fund, Future Generation Graduate School, and National Health Training Centre supported the MCPHRC to carryout this novel pilot training before the MCPHRC could invite health professional from the other SAARC countries. Like Nepal, the health work force in other SAARC countries are also inadequate in the skills & capacity to bring health changes in communities. Without such changes, achieving the millennium development goals (MDG) in SAARC countries seems far off and unsustainable. Thus the need to train health professionals in skills and knowledge that could bring change in community behavior leading to universal and sustainable access of health care services, reproductive health care in particular.
5. In the course, the MCPHRC has developed a practical public health course curriculum based on a well-tested method of Self-Evaluation for Effective Decision-Making and System for Communities to Adapt Learning and Expand (SEED-SCALE), which was initially developed by late Prof. Carl Taylor, one of the key architects of the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care. Below is a thematic flow chart of curriculum developed and applied as a test case by MCPHRC in the aforementioned training.
   Flowchart of building capacity of ANM-SBA on Applied Community Change from Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health.
6. The first training was successfully implemented. The SEED-SCALE could be well adapted to train public health of various expertise in the key approach of Primary Health Care namely the Community Changes for Health. All the action plans developed by participants were addressed to community behavior change for improved MNCH. The MCPHRC has gained enough hands on experience from this pilot training. It is ready to invite participants from the SAARC countries.
7. MCPHRC looks forward to scale this program regionally in 2011 with continued support of the founder of SAF and the other eminent partners within and outside Nepal. Altogether 39 SAF-Madanjeet Singh students passed out from 18 months of Assistant NurseMid-wife training from the Jiri Technical school (JTS) under the CTEVT in Nepal . Since 2006,a three-partner initiative has responded to the challenge of providing skilled health workers at births in the rural areas, where the need for them is greatest. South Asia Foundation (SAF),the Poverty Alleviation Fund of Nepal (PAF), and the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) collaborated through a shared commitment to the health and wellbeing of Nepal’s most excluded communities.

Led by Dr. Rita Thapa, a pilot training of a 9 weeks course on applied community change and skilled Birth Attendant was held on November 16, 2010 in Pokhara which was conducted in partnership with poverty alleviation found and the national health training centre. Once all preparations are complete informing will be given to all SAF chapters on the course that have been designed and the modalities for selection of suitable candidates.
 

SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships awardees from Nepal
 

SAF-PAKISTAN

BNU’s SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT DURING THE YEAR 2010

SAF scholarship holder from Sri Lanka, Janaka Senevirathna graduated from Visual Communication Department, School of Visual Arts and Design. Currently there are 27 students [including five from Afghanistan, three from Nepal, one from Sri Lanka, two from Bhutan, two from Maldives and one from India] are doing their Bachelors of Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts and Design, BNU. Masters in Design Studies (MDS) commenced successfully. Most of its students are completely or partly funded by SAF. These scholarship holders include Mr. Raju G.C and Ms. Sajana Joshi from Nepal, Ms. Sakunthala M. Galanga from Sri Lanka, Ms. Sadaf Chughtai, Ms. Mariam Ibraaz and Ms. Moira Plair from Pakistan.
SAF-India Chairperson Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, visited BNU, Lahore and held discussions.

List of Current SAARC Students- 2009-10

UNESCO Madanjeet Institute of South Asian Art

These series of very thought provoking talks are only possible because of MISAA funding In recent lectures, Mr. Rafay Alam talked about the city of Lahore in terms of Geography and Culture. Mr. Qalandar Memon’s lecture was based on contemporary ideas in Poetry and Music. He specifically talked about understanding contemporary thoughts in Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s vision. Mr. I.A Rehman gave a clear picture of the chronological history of human rights. Mr. Khalid Ahmad’s topic was ‘The Painful birth of a Nation’. He led the discussion of ideas related to ‘Nation’ and autonomy of Provinces. He looked at reflections of religious practice in the economy and the thought “what if we were creating a museum of regrets?” This was a vibrant and thought provoking discussion for the whole group.

SAF- SRI LANKA

In 2008, Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Former President of Sri Lanka was invited by the Founder Trustee to head the Sri Lanka Chapter.
The Advisory board meeting was held on 5th October 2010 presided by The Chairperson Mme Chandrika B. Kumaratunga (Former Sri Lankan President) and on 14th October 2010, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between University of Moratuwa, and the South Asia Foundation, for the establishment of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asia Water Management (MCSAWM) at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka,in Colombo; the signatories were: SAF founder, Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, Chancellor,University of Moratuwa of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Prof Malik Ranasinghe; SAF Sri Lanka Chairperson Madame Chandrika B. Kumaratunga and Registrar, University of Moratuwa of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr A. L.Joufer Sadique
 

SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships

The Sri Lanka Chapter continues to give wide publicity to the SAF - Madanjeet Singh scholarship programmes annually so as to attract the best possible candidates.
 

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia Regional Cooperation (UMISARC), Pondicherry

1. Mr. M I L De Zoysa

2. Ms. Deepanjalie Abeywardana

UNESCO Madanjeet Centre of South Asian Journalism (UMCSAJ), Chennai

1. Dinindu Virantha Kumara De Alwis

 
UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts (UMISAA), Lahore

1. Mr. Chirantha a. Kuruppuarachchi

 
UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies (UMIKS), Srinagar

1. Mr. Prasad Dharmasena

2. Ms. M.A.S.R.S Manthrirathne

Joined the Ph.D programme in 2010 at IKS, Srinagar.

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Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence gets to use UNESCO Logo.

UNESCO Director-General Madame Irina Bokova announced on 26 October 2010, that the 12 SAF institutions can use the UNESCO logo as long as it is always associated with Madanjeet Singh's name and his official title of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
 

Following is the List of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence:

1. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for Preservation of Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage (UMCPACH)
   Kabul, Afghanistan

2. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Human Rights and South Asia Common Law (UMIHRSACL)
   Dhaka, Bangladesh

3. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Forestry Studies (UMCSAFS)
   Lobesa, Bhutan

4. UNESCO Madanjeet Centre of South Asian Journalism (UMCSAJ)
   Chennai, India

5. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies (UMIKS)
   Srinagar, India

6. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia regional Cooperation (UMISARC)
   Pondicherry, India

7. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh School of Green Energy Technology (UMSGET)
   Pondicherry, India

8. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Climate Research Centre (UMCRC)
   Male, Maldives

9. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of Public Health and Regional Cooperation (UMCPHRC)
   Kathmandu, Nepal

10. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts (UMISAA)
    Lahore, Pakistan

11. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Studies (UMISAS)
    Lahore, Pakistan

12. UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM)
    Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence

UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize was created in 1995 on the occasion of the 125^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, thanks to the generosity of the Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh, Founder, SAF who is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

The Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura, has decided, following the unanimous recommendation of the International Jury, to award the 2009 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence to Francois Houtart (Belgium) and Abdul Sattar Edhi (Pakistan), dividing the $100,000 amount of the Prize equally between them.

Dedicated to advancing the spirit of tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communication, the Prize is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions for outstanding contributions to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.

Francois Houtart (Belgium)
Francois Houtart (Belgium) for his life-long commitment to world peace, intercultural dialogue, human rights and the promotion of tolerance, and in recognition of his outstanding efforts to advance the cause of social justice in the world.
Thanks to the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and non-Violence received in 2009 Mr Francois Houtart was able to organize the First International Conference on Sustainable Development of Peasant Agriculture in Beijing, China, with participants from: Belgium, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Abdul Sattar Edhi, humanitarian activist, outstanding philanthropist from Pakistan, founder and President of Edhi Foundation
Mr Abdul Sattar Edhi, or Edhi (Pakistan), as he is often known, is Founder of the Abdul Edhi Foundation, Karachi. He is one of the most active philanthropists in Pakistan. He was born in 1928, in Bantwa, Gujarat, India, Edhi’s family belonged to the industrious Memon community. From a young age his mother taught Edhi to be kind towards others and to help the poor. In 1947 the family migrated to Pakistan and settled in Karachi. That was a time of great emotional trauma and social and political upheaval. Edhi became involved in social work and began working with welfare organisations and soon started his own dispensary, providing medical aid to the poor. He bought his first ambulance, an old van which he called the poor man’s van and went around the city providing medical help and burying unclaimed bodies. His van became his advertisement and soon he came to be known for his work with the poor. As a consequence, donations started pouring in and his operations expanded, employing additional nurses and staff. It was here that Edhi met his wife Bilquis who was a trainee nurse at the dispensary.

Complete list of Laureates of the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence since its inception.

 
 
SAF participated in the Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations of the Executive Board Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations of the Executive Board
 

Wednesday 6 October 2010 - Morning and afternoon

Discussion on Culture and Development: the role of Culture for sustainable development and economic prosperity.

Culture, in all its dimensions, is a fundamental components of sustainable development. As a sector of activity, through tangible and intangible heritage, creative industries and various forms of artistic expressions, culture is a powerful contributor to economic development, social stability and environmental protection. These debates will be the occasion to address the role of NGOs for the promotion of the indivisibility of culture and development with international experts, representatives of NGOs and the Secretariat.

Thursday 7 October 2010 - Morning

Debate on UNESCO’s relationship with NGOs: from theory to practice, development of astrategy to enhance the practical cooperation
 

Afternoon

In light of the debates held in the last session of the Committee, future ways and measures possible to better promote and enhance cooperation with NGOs and civil society at large will be examined. In particular, ways and means to facilitate the participation of NGOs from developing countries, and the enlargement of the Committee’s mandate, etc…

The detailed programme of these two days is available below.

Webcasts of the debates are available following these links:

• Wednesday morning
• Wednesday afternoon
• Thursday morning
• Thursday afternoon

Organizer : UNESCO

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