From the 30th of January to the 3rd of February 2010, Dignity International participated in the International Conference on the Non-Violent Economy organised by Gandhi International, Ekta Parishad and the South Asia Peace Alliance. The conference was held in Bhopal, India.


During the five full days of deliberations over one hundred scholars and activists from India and many other countries of the world committed to social justice put their heads together to construct a local-global economy not driven by consumerism and material wealth, but one based on human dignity using three key concepts advanced Mahatma Ghandi.

Participants considered in depth the concept of “swaraj” or economic independence based on the satisfaction of and collective needs, the concept of “swadeshi” local self-sufficiency and small scale domestic production which respects life and the environment, and the concept of “trusteeship”, economics as a means to ethical and spiritual good.

The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) and Dignity International have joined together to express their solidarity with the people of Haiti at this time of enormous suffering and struggel for survival and recovery in their country. Both organisations call on their members to take concrete measures to support the many actions aimed at assisting the people of Haiti to deal with this humanitarian disaster. Enormous efforts are needed for Haiti while ensuring that financial support and resources needed for other parts of the globe facing humanitarian crisis are not diminished. EAPN and Dignity International commit to contine their efforts to achieve a world where resources are shared more equally, which would be a world where all countries would be better placed to deal with 'natural' disasters.

On 10 December 2009 the European Anti Poverty Network – Netherlands and Dignity International joined many other organisations to convene at Parliament Square in the Hague to celebrate World Human Rights Day. Human rights activists from over 25 different countries around the world gathered to reclaim our human dignity and to reassert our rights. Inspired by the John Lennon song “Imagine” Ms. Quinta Ansem of EAPN Netherlands rewrote part of the lyrics and sang:

To listen CLICK HERE>>>

On 10 December 2009 Human Rights Day, the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, Netherlands, hosted the international roundtable on the “Global Financial and Economic Crisis – A Human Rights Perspective”. The roundtable was opened by Professor Louk de la Rive Box, the Rector of ISS and speakers included: Dr. Manuel F. Montes, from the United Nations; Prof. Dr. Nico Schrijver, Member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Mr. Arjan Hamburger, Dutch Human Rights Ambassador, Ms. Liesbeth van der Hoogte of Oxfam NOVIB and participants of Dignity International’s 8th Global Human Rights Learning Programme.

In his opening remarks Professor de la Rive Box pointed to the persistence of negative effects of the crisis on already excluded people, even now financial institutions and stock-markets seem to recover. He highlighted the importance of “using what we already have”, like mechanisms of the United Nations to claim rights. And to the importance and relevance of building international movements, like the one to abolish anti-personnel mines, which started small, but was successful. He complimented efforts by Dignity International in this regard.

Dr. Montes of the United Nations painted a picture of a distorted global economy and financial sector where “…the tail is wagging the dog, because the financial sector is determining what happens in the economy and not the other way round”.

In the three hours of rich inputs and interventions, the roundtable highlighted the social, environmental and human rights impact of the crisis of people living in poverty in Europe as well as in the global south. Ms. Quinta Ansem of the European Anti Poverty Network shared the impact of the crisis on the poor in Europe whilst Ms. Prossy Jonker of Raising Voices in Uganda focussed her intervention on the impact of the crisis on primary education programmes in Uganda. Mr. Zeyar Lin of Foundation for Education and Development highlighted the worsening situation of migrant workers with examples from Thailand and Burma. Mr. Joy Tudu of the Church of North India outlined the human rights and environmental impact of the crisis on the indigenous communities and how these communities have become the “…structural victims of internal colonialism”.

The Roundtable also advocated for reform of policy and practices from national to global levels to ensure human beings, especially the most vulnerable are at the heart of policy and structural reform. Mr. Nico Schrijver focussed his intervention of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights which will allow people suffering from social economic rights violations to find redress at the international level. Mr. Arjan Hamburger, Dutch Ambassador for Human Rights explained how human rights form the centre piece of Dutch foreign policy and the clear recognition of how “…human rights contribute to stability and development worldwide.” He also expressed the government’s commitment to ratify the Optional Protocol on ESC Rights as soon as possible.

For further information on the Roundtable CLICK HERE>>>

Dignity International has been honoured with the role of “producers of global change makers” by the participants of the 8 th Annual Global Linking and Learning Programme. The programme took place from 1-10 December 2008 Dignity International in partnership with local host European Anti Poverty Network – Netherlands in the Netherlands. The theme of the programme was human rights Based development. 25 participants selected from over 400 applications from all different corners of the world gathered for an eleven day intensive – enjoyable - learning journey that aimed to equip them with the knowledge of the key elements of human rights based development, and enhance skills for its practical application.

To view a selection of photos from the Programme CLICK HERE>>>