Entries from June 2009

June 26, 2009

How the Scottish Climate Change Bill can make a difference in Copenhagen

The Scottish Climate Change Bill is one of the first pieces of domestic climate change legislation to be passed in the world. Thanks to campaigners and many parliamentarians it is also, to date, the most progressive climate change legislation in a number of key areas. The 2020 target The Bill contains an interim target that [...]

June 26, 2009

UNHCR meeting: a view from Lebanon

By Najla Chahda, Director of Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center In 2005, the Caritas Lebanon Migration Centre (CLMC) was invited by ICMC to attend the UNHCR meeting, as we work with people covered by UNHCR’s mandate. In the following years, as a UNHCR Implementing Partner, CLMC was encouraged to participate and provide input on activities undertaken [...]

June 26, 2009

UNHCR meeting: a European perspective

By Peter Verhaeghe, Migration Officer of Caritas Europa The Geneva meeting is a unique opportunity to exchange views and information with UNHCR on burning issues related to refugee protection and the respect for the Geneva refugee convention. It is also an opportunity to rally with other NGOs to advocate on regional and national concerns about [...]

June 26, 2009

UNHCR meeting: Forgotten refugees in Latin America

CI Side Event “The forgotten refugees in Latin America” Venue:  Palais des Nations, Room XIX, Geneva Title/theme: “The forgotten refugees in Latin America”  The side event will look deeper into the current situation of refugees from Colombia and into the need for all actors to strengthen cooperation as set out in the Mexico Plan of Action.  The [...]

June 26, 2009

UNHCR meeting: A view from France

By François Escaffre, Caritas France (Secours Catholique). La participation à la Consultation a des motifs différents selon les membres de la délégation du Secours catholique : pour certains, il y a un lien direct avec des situations sur le terrain (réfugiés irakiens dans la zone Liban-Syrie) dans des secteurs géographiques où le Secours catholique a [...]

June 24, 2009

Sudan: A Permanent Humanitarian Crisis

Vatican Radio spoke with Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro of Juba about the challenges the church is facing on key issues concerning the country. Archbishop Paolino was a Caritas meeting on Sudan. Listen to the interview

June 24, 2009

Two women, two tales of HIV

By Michelle Hough, communications officer Thabang Society, Parys, South Africa Watch a film on the effects of AIDS in Swaziland and South Africa. Sarah* has the face of a young girl, but at the age of 29 she has already been raped, has lost her husband to suicide and has lived through the deaths of [...]

June 17, 2009

Crisis in Pakistan: Filling the aid gaps

By Jos de Voogd, Caritas Communications Officer in Pakistan As part of the Caritas Internationalis response to the crisis in Pakistan, Caritas Ireland (Trocaire) started distributions of food and non-food items to displaced families 6 June. Because of the unexpected influx of 65.000 displaced people into new districts such as Mansehra and Haripur, Trocaire decided [...]

June 17, 2009

Caritas in Middle East and North Africa meet in Lebanon

Read this entry in French By Caritas Mona staff Directors from 15 Caritas Mona members from the Horn of Africa, the Middle east and North Africa met in Harissa 2 June to discuss better ways of developing their capacities to ensure a better service to people in need. The directors exchanged their activities and programmes, [...]

June 16, 2009

HIV in Swaziland: “I want to proceed with my dreams”

Watch a film about the effects of AIDS in Swaziland and South Africa. “I know what I want, sex can wait.” This was the message on posters at the National AIDS Council in Manzini, Swaziland. A mixture of awareness raising and empowerment. They even had children’s books with sound effects and pictures to teach younger generations [...]