World Wide Web Consortium for all

Mobility can also mean being able to seamlessly steer through and negotiate one’s way in a jungle of online information to get work done. Any good website should enable that.Yet, not many Indian ones do. At least not for those who can’t see or hear or operate the mouse with ease. For them, e-mobility or e-access remains as ignored an aspect as mobility in the physical space.

And to think that all it takes to fix this is to conform to the accessibility standards laid down by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) at minimal extra cost. Any good web designer should follow that. And any good government must put a policy in place to ensure that it happens, especially when it is signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, which warrants such action.

Intent, however, isn’t the problem. But limited awareness about how information and services can be best delivered to persons with disabilities is. And for a country with close to 70 million people with disabilities, awareness can mean the difference between booking an e-ticket and buying one from the railways counter, between living independently and relying on others for things they can easily do for themselves.

Addressing this is the recently launched 125-article-rich wiki, being executed by the Centre of Internet and Society (CIS) Bangalore and funded by the National Internet Exchange of India, New Delhi. The wiki intends to be a comprehensive resource for users, caretakers, web developers, NGOs, teachers, and members of legal communities for information on what technology — hardware and software — and related legislations offer persons with disabilities.

Web standards prescribe that a description of a graphic or a visual be added for the benefit of visually impaired persons so that any screen-reader can read it. For someone with hearing disability, sound alerts should be accompanied by visual cues, and audios tagged. For those who cannot operate the mouse and hence rely on desk keyboards or onscreen keyboards, developers should incorporate built-in shortcut keys for efficient access.

“But the W3C standards are not binding; it is something countries adopt. In India, these guidelines have been made advisory for Government websites, not mandatory,” says Nirmita Narasimhan, programme manager, CIS, who is also working on drafting the accessibility policy for the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Mumbai-based disability activist Nilesh Singlit, who has been working on access audits, accessibility and inclusive design, training and research for the past 12 years, says that the standards are simple enough to be used by anyone with basic grasp of HTML. “But some specialised website designers charge high amounts to make websites disabled-friendly. Yes, there are issues of extensive testing of websites to adhere to the standards required. However, there is no relation between the cost and the end product. More awareness needs to be created to break the myth that accessible websites are expensive,” he says.

The Government of India has made accessibility of its websites advisory. But as Singlit says, if they’re anything like the current railways website — which does little for persons with disability — then it remains to be seen how effective the implementation will be.

Furthermore, the government does not proactively share information with outsiders. “How is one to approach the government unless one knows about the incentives on procurement of assistive technologies, training and awareness camps and educational awareness. Unless this research is made available, you don’t have the base to build on,” says a researcher from the field.

Ensure rights of physically challenged'

Although Bangladesh has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the government is yet to ensure their rights due to lack of coordination among different ministries.

Speakers said this at a discussion styled 'Implementation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: The role of media' organised by Access Bangladesh Foundation in association with Disability Rights Fund at Biam auditorium in the city on Thursday.

They said the government has taken different initiatives for the welfare of the people with disabilities but a number of their vital rights remain far from implementation.

Former caretaker government adviser CM Shafi Sami presided over the meeting.

Addressing the discussion as chief guest, Editor of the daily Samakal Golam Sarwar stressed the need for creating social awareness for implementation of all the rights of physically challenged.

“We'll not get fruit through only formulation of laws. Rather we must emphasised creating social awareness for the implementation of the rights,” he said.

Sarwar called upon people to change their negative attitudes towards the physically challenged people.

Presenting the keynote paper, Access Bangladesh Advocacy Officer Hasbullah placed some recommendations for the media men to help implement the rights of the disabled.

The recommendations include publishing the rights of physically challenged people with much priority, producing films and dramas focusing the rights for the betterment of people with disabilities.

Access Bangladesh Foundation Executive Director Albert Mollah moderated the meeting while its Chairperson CM Tofail Sami and theatre personality Kazi Rozi were present.

GENDER JUSTICE SUMMIT

OXFAM CANADA: GENDER JUSTICE SUMMIT (GJS)

This energizing summit will bring together a diverse community of Oxfam supporters, academics, advocates, researchers, policy-makers, and activists from around the world to discuss poverty and development as it relates to women.

It is a unique opportunity to strengthen connections while collaborating on approaches to advancing women's rights, women's empowerment, and gender equality. The themes of the summit will include gender based violence, maternal health, poverty, security, climate change, food security and more.

The GJS is Oxfam Canada's tri-annual National Assembly, including members from across Canada to be part of a dialogue about Oxfam campaigns, program, strategic directions and role in a global movement for change.

It will be also be connected with the People's Summit, taking place at Ryerson University June 19/20.

For further information and to register, please visit Oxfam Canada

TRAINING COURSE ON FEMINIST LEADERSHIP, 2010

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: THE INSTITUTE OF PEACE, LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE (IPLG) AT AFRICA UNIVERSITY AND OSISA: TRAINING COURSE ON FEMINIST LEADERSHIP, 2010

This is a a course for young feminist advocates in NGOs, the public and private sectors. It will be held in Mutare, Zimbabwe from August 16-28, 2010. This training course on feminism and public policy provides a broad conceptual and practical understanding of feminism by locating it within in a pan-African discourse. Engaging in discursive debates and interactive analyses, it is envisioned that participants will be able to redefine the idea of feminism to symbolise young women coming together to share knowledge, skills and good practice, so that they may lead fulfilling lives with self-assurance and passion. Deadline for applications: July 09, 2010.

By understanding the dynamics of gender inequality and crafting advocacy strategies aimed at promoting women’s rights, interests and issues it is hoped that the targeted advocates will embrace the vitality of being female and championing their cause through robust network connections to future generations.

Why is this course necessary?

Quite often women as radicals or reformers or as objects of reform have always differed over ideology and strategy. Feminists have also always vigorously contested the effects and policies aimed at ameliorating women’s oppression. This course therefore provides a forum to critically examine some of these differences by looking at the historical tenets of feminism and its evolutionary progression, feminist perspectives to politics, power and power relations, patriarchy, gender-based violence, sexuality, women’s rights and justice. The course further analyses the claim that public policy is gendered, implying that public policies affect men and women differently and that men and women participate differently in public policy making processes. The course takes public policy as both an important component in the construction of gender differences and as a site where gender is critiqued, resisted and renegotiated. Thus, the training course explores these claims through a feminist lens and engaging in the analyses of the impact of public policy on women’s issues.

Participants will examine feminist activism, a grass-roots movement approach that seeks to cross boundaries based on social class, race, culture and religion. Locating these issues in historical contexts will also help in de-mystifying the negative connotations attached to feminism and feminist advocates with a view of helping women claim their identity as feminists. Also by placing these issues in contexts of feminist theory and discourse, the course offers an analysis of women and public policy as contested and complex domain rather than offering simple recipes or formulas for the feminist policy makers and advocates.

Course Aim and Objectives

This innovative course is designed for young women who are motivated to play a critical role in promoting women’s issues through advocacy and lobbying. Using examples and experiences from their own lives, it is hoped that participants will gain a deeper understanding of a feminist analysis of issues affecting women in the SADC region. The aim of the course therefore, is to provide participants with knowledge and practical skills to engage with feminist discourses and feminist approaches for effective lobbying and advocacy on gender and women’s rights. The objectives of the training course are to:

1. Familiarise participants with key tenets of feminism and the most influential works in the evolution of feminist theories and ideologies.
2. Give the participants a sound grasp of a fundamental and central body of feminist philosophical thinking.
3. Engage with young women who are working with gender focused organisations and are at the forefront of best practice in the field;
4. Situate and examine the gender question in relation to emerging disciplines;
5. Help participants use feminist approaches to analyse, critique and participate in contemporary public policy debates on women issues;
6. Facilitate the development of feminist research skills to carry our policy oriented research on issues that impact on women’s lives.

Course Content

The training course consists of 12 modules, to be delivered by different facilitators over a 12-day period, and will use a variety of teaching styles, tools and methods, especially participatory and experiential learning models. The following thematic areas will provide a starting point for the discussions:

1. Feminist theory and history
2. Schools of thought and feminist ideologies
3. The politics of feminism and gender
4. Women, law and policy
5. Feminist public policy discourse and engagement
6. Feminist knowledge production and management
7. Feminist research and epistemology
8. Feminist youth empowerment models
9. Feminist leadership in practice
10. Civil society and feminist movement-building
11. Sexuality and sexual reproductive health rights
12. Governance and citizenship

In addition, there will be evening and side sessions, focused on coaching on key competencies such as self awareness, confidence-building, public speaking among many others.

Course Dates and Duration

The course will be offered over a 12-day period in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The training course will be hosted by OSISA and the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance at Africa University in Mutare beginning 16 August and ending on 28 August, 2010. Travel dates will be 15 and 29 August.

Certificate of Competence

Participants who successfully complete the course and fulfil the requirements which include attendance and active participation will receive a certificate of competence from Africa University and OSISA.

Cost and Sponsorship

OSISA will be fully sponsoring this training course. Sponsorship will cover tuition, course materials, airfare/transport, accommodation, teas and lunches and dinners during the course. Participants are however, advised to take out personal and health insurance as the organisers cannot take liabilities in this regard.

Admission requirements

Prospective participants are expected to meet the following criteria:

1. Possess an undergraduate degree in a relevant field;
2. Must be a young woman of between 18 and 30 years of age;
3. At least 1 year work experience in civil society and /or gender and women’s rights related area;
4. Currently employed, or working in an area where feminist or gender policy advocacy and lobbying is important;
5. English proficiency (as the course will be delivered in English);
6. Commitment to participate for the duration of the full course.
7. Be from any of the following SADC countries: Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Application Procedures

Young women who wish to apply for the training course are required to submit the following:

1. Completed application form (attached at the end of this document);
2. No more than one page motivation letter stating:
a. How your participation will add value to the course; and
b. How you envision using the training in your work, community and/or personal life.
3. Commitment form completed by employer (attached at the end of this document).

Please submit the completed application form, motivation letter and endorsement letter electronically or by fax, to both OSISA and IPLG at the following addresses:

Ms Tsitsi Mukamba
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
Email: Tsitsim@osisa.org
Tel: +27 (0) 10 590 2600
Fax: +27 11 587 5099

AND

Mrs Susan Musiyiwa
Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance (IPLG)
Africa University
Tel: +263 20 66788
Email: iplgsec@africau.ac.zw
Cc:susanvongayi22@yahoo.com

NB: Those who participated in the 2009 course need not apply.

Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, 09 JULY 2010.

To apply, please download the following file

FEMINISM TRAINING COURSE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS. 2010.doc 349.50 kB

For further information, please visit OSISA

Article License: Copyright - Article License Holder: The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)