FM Alert, Vol III, No. 15
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Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 15:19:32 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: FM Alert, Vol III, No. 15
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Original sender: Paulette Layton <[email protected]>
FM Alert, Vol III, No. 15
FM Alert, Vol III, No. 15
April 16, 1999
UNHCR NGO FUND 1999 ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA
UNHCR plans to allocate $65,000 in 1999 for on-going capacity building
projects that benefit local Armenian nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs). "Strengthening the institutional capacities of local NGOs
remains a priority for UNHCR in Armenia," UNHCR said in its Funding
Appeal for 1999. "They (local NGOs) will be encouraged to augment
their advocacy work for refugee rights, and to play an active part in
promoting tolerance and civic society development." A Forced Migration
Projects consultant reports from the Armenian capital Yerevan that
UNHCR will work in tandem with the local NGO Training and Resource
Center in capacity-building activities. Special emphasis is being
placed on NGO personnel development, in addition to efforts to improve
NGO fund-raising and resource management techniques. UNHCR is also
seeking to develop emerging NGO networks, especially aiming to
solidify ties among local NGOs and international organizations.
Concurrently, UNHCR wants to help foster closer cooperation between
the Armenian government and local NGOs. Overall UNHCR aims to raise
over $1.3 million for its NGO Fund, which is designed to foster NGO
capacity building throughout the former Soviet Union. (For background
information see FM Alert of December 10, 1998).
ROMA WOMEN ENCOURAGED TO ASSUME HIGHER PROFILE
Two Roma rights advocates called for the development of programs in
Central and Eastern Europe that encourage Romany women to assume a
higher profile in civic life. Women are currently underrepresented in
Roma-related nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), said Nicoletta Bitu
of Romania and Liliana Kovatcheva of Bulgaria, the featured speakers
at a roundtable discussion held April 8 at the Open Society Institute
in New York. The roundtable identified two major issues confronting
Romany women: the need to expand educational opportunities, and the
need to widen access to leadership positions in NGOs. The Women's
Network Program and the Roma Participation Program, both part of the
Soros foundations network, have worked to develop a regional advocacy
program designed to promote the rights of Romany women. The European
Union has allocated about $2 million for the development of programs
in Central and Eastern European countries that promote Roma rights in
general. The speakers at the OSI roundtable pointed out, however, that
no funds in the EU allocation were specifically earmarked for women's
programs. (For additional information see FM Alert of December 4 and
July 10, 1998).
FMP PUBLISHES COMPILATION OF CENTRAL ASIAN LANGUAGE LEGISLATION
The Forced Migration Projects (FMP) have published on its Budapest
website a compilation of laws and other regulatory acts pertaining to
the language policies in Central Asia nations. The website also
provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of language policies on
migration movements in Central Asia, comprising Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. During the Soviet era,
indigenous cultures were repressed as Moscow party bosses sought to
forge a common Soviet identity, based largely on the Russian language.
Since the Soviet collapse, Central Asian governments have overhauled
language legislation, ostensibly with the aim of promoting a broad
cultural revival. However, Russian speakers, and some representatives
of ethnic minorities in Central Asian states, especially in Kazakstan
and Kyrgyzstan, have claimed that new legislation can discriminate
against non-titular nationalities. The legislation thus has the
potential to cause forced migration. The FMP analysis examines
language-related legislation and policy implementation. It also finds
that language policy has had significant influence on migration
patterns in Kazakstan and Kyrgyzstan. The FMP's Budapest website
address is <http://www.osi.hu/fmp/laws/>.
(For additional information see the FMP special report Kazakstan:
Forced Migration and Nation Building).
For more information contact:
The Forced Migration Projects
400 West 59th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10019
tel: (212)548-0655
fax: (212) 548-4676
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.soros.org/migrate.html
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