Seven days and counting...

Finally managed to more or less clear away the papers that needed to be finished this term start start studying. Thursday morning, 9am, big exam in Public International Law. I really want to do well in this, because frankly if I don't then it means I'm enrolled in the wrong study. There's a chance to do a resit in March, but I've never ever done a resit in my whole life, and I don't want to start now.

So, around four days of time, diminishing every moment to study. One notebook full of notes, around 500 pages of judgements, a dozen of so articles each around 30 pages long... and not to mention the thick 700 page recommended reading.

Started studying after working for hours in the cold and damp today. Ironically when I got home from work it stopped raining, and the clouds cleared. Enticing as it was to go for a walk, I sat down and read and read. I have this habit of needing to have a pen in hand while I read, ready to jot down anything that may be relevant or important. Most of the notes are illegible and will get thrown out as soon as I finish with the exam. But somehow I find it easier to remember things when I write them down.

Radio playing Christmas songs softly in the background, a large cup of hot tea, and unlimited supplies of chocolate bars and cookies in the cupboard. That's my way. It's worked all these years, so I hope it'll do the same trick, and deliver good results.

As far as today's studying is concerned, it was pretty productive. And re-reading notes and texts again I really could understand and get more of an overview of what we've been doing all this time. Sort of gives a sense of satisfaction when after an hour or so at the desk you leave to take a break and know that you know something.

Four days and counting till the big exam. Seven days and counting till I leave home for Christmas. Funny, while other people seem to be going home, I'm actually doing the opposite. Got an invitation earlier in the week from my single-mum friend to spend Christmas in France. My jumped at the opportunity. I've actually been planning to do so, but wasn't sure whether she'd be available. And now I'll get to spend Christmas with her and her little baby boy. Really looking forward to that.

But first, a couple days of sleeplessness and stress.

What the....

I really don't know what I did wrong. I cook practically everyday and clean up after me.
I gave them gifts for the Dutch version of 'Christmas' a few weeks ago, and there wasn't even a acknowledgement of the gifts, let alone a thank you. I care about their health, whenever they feel unwell. When they need help I help without wanting anything in return. And yet when I'm not needed weeks and months can go by without a single word. Like I'm not even there.

Just as I was stepping out of my room I find a pile of my clean, recently-washed clothes dumped at my door. Not even the decency to give them to me in person. I was sitting two steps away at my desk.

Such inconsideration...

"Tonight"

At work today I found this big die on a colleague's table. It was one of these 'magical eight ball' kind of thing, with words like "now", "later", "tonight", "never" written on all its sides. I guess even lawyers can be indecisive and need chance too.

I held it in my hand and looked at it, amused. Accidentally, it slipped out of my hand. And in that split second as if tumbled through the air I thought to myself, why not. Why not ask a question, and maybe it'll accurately predict the outcome. Without thinking, the question asked itself: "When will I get a boyfriend?" Naive, perhaps. Hopeful, maybe. Desperate, no doubt.

The die fell. Rolled and rolled. Came to a stop.

"Tonight"

Gays represented in the UN!

For the first time ever since the estblishment of the United Nations, gay-interest organisations have been granted consultative status which allows them to vote in the Economic and Social Council!

The recognition of three gay-interest organisations-- the International Lesbian and Gay Federation--Europe (ILGA), Danish National Association for Gays (LBL) and Lesbians, and German Lesbian and Gay Federation (LSVD)--means that the UN is taking the rights of the LGBT community seriously.

Previous applications for consultative status were rejected because of strong oppossition from countries like Iran, Poland and the Vatican, and many church-based non-governmental organisations.

Chairman of the oldest gay-interest organisation in the world, the Dutch COC, a founding member of ILGA, said:

" The decision is an important step to get the rights of all gays, lesbians, bisxuals and transgenders recognised as human rights. It is a struggle against those countries where homosexuality is still in the criminal code, if not then [punished] with the death sentence."

The status of COC will be dealt with in 2007, and should be approved easily since it has existed for as long as the UN, and even been granted Royal recognition here in the Netherlands.

There seemed to be some commotion about the granting of consultative status today, because apparently various gay-interest NGOs applied, but only three managed to get approved. Many states complained that the approvals and rejections were done in haste and were very arbitrary and no reasons were given for the decisions that were made.

Finland, representing the European Union argued “the United Nations must try to ensure diversity in the representation of those groups. That was especially true of non-governmental organizations whose mandates fell under the competence of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies , since much of their work dealt with matters of health, gender, development and human rights and HIV/AIDS”. It is unrealistic that some 2800 NGOs, representing a range of issues, some espousing “ views that were not in keeping with those of the European Union”, are already in the ECOSOC, whereas gay-interest NGOs are not.

Norway (also in favour, and speaking on behalf of New Zealand) complained that the Non-Governmental Organization Committee which admits NGOs into the ECOSOC did not consider the applications of various gay-interest NGOs objectively. Some organisations had their applications rejected without any substantive discussion and no reason given, despite the fact “there was extensive evidence of violations of the rights of people, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity”. Canada (in favour) also supported this view, and argued “it was crucial for non-governmental organizations representing diverse constituencies to be able to express their views in United Nations forums”. Germany (for) expressed similar concerns,

China (against) on the other hand expressed concern granting consultative status to gay-interest NGOs, saying that it might undermine the “credibility” of the Committee, and hoping that today’s decision would not “create any precedents for its future work”. Benin (against) called the decision a “masquerade”, because the hasty way that consultative status was granted was sowing “confusion for the benefit of certain organizations”. Russia also voted against, for similar reasoning.

Related
ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 provides the criteria for eligibility. An NGO must have "aims and purposes of the organization shall be in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations", and must "have been in existence (officially registered with the appropriate government authorities as an NGO/non-profit) for at least two years, must have an established headquarters, a democratically adopted constitution, authority to speak for its members, a representative structure, appropriate mechanisms of accountability and democratic and transparent decision-making processes".

It's hard to see how it took so long to have gay-interest NGOs included in the ECOSOC. I mean if the 'International Organization for Biological Control of Noxious Animals and Plants' or the 'International Music Council', the 'Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs', and the 'International Black Sea Club' can be included why not LGBT interest groups?

No disrespect to those groups, but it's just a little bewildering that it took 61years for the UN to recognise that gays need representation too...

10 December: Human Rights Day

(click on picture to go to official Human Rights Day Website)

Fity-eight years the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on this very day, recognising "the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family [as] the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world". For too long, "disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind", and it was " the highest aspiration of the common people"that all "human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want".

Sadly, billions of people in the world still live in circumstances and countries where theyfundamental rights to basic freedoms are denied or infringed upon. It's not just the countless people imprisoned for excercising their freedom to speak out against tyranny and oppression. It's not only the fact so many men, women and children are slaving away for meagre salaries in inhumane conditions. It's not just the many, many who are discriminated against because of their skin colour, their beliefs, gender and sexual orientation. It also includes the millions and millions of people who do not have the right to clean water, adequate food, and security of life and family.

For one day, or maybe just for one single moment today, let us cherish the rights and freedoms we take for granted, and remember those who long to enjoy them. Together we stand.

Because we are all human beings.

--

Statement from Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:

On this Human Rights Day, we reaffirm that freedom from want is a right, not merely a matter of compassion. Fighting poverty is a duty that binds those who govern as surely as their obligation to ensure that all people are able to speak freely, choose their leaders and worship as their conscience guides them.

[...]

Many rich countries have yet to meet development assistance targets they have accepted, yet they continue to spend ten times more on military budgets. They also spend nearly four times their development assistance budget – an amount almost equal to the total gross national product of African countries –to subsidize their own domestic agricultural producers. Indifference and a narrow calculus of national interests by wealthy countries hamper human rights and development just as damagingly as discrimination at the local level.

Here are comments by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan,

I don't need to tell you , of all people, that the United Nations has a special stake, and a special responsibility, in promoting respect for human rights worldwide. But equally – and less happily – I don't need to tell you that the UN has often failed to live up to that responsibility. I know that ten years ago many of you were close to giving up on any hope that an organization of governments, many of which are themselves gross violators of human rights, could ever function as an effective human rights defender.

[…]

Development, security and human rights go hand in hand; no one of them can advance very far without the other two. Indeed, anyone who speaks forcefully for human rights but does nothing about security and development – including the desperate need to fight extreme poverty – undermines both his credibility and his cause. Poverty in particular remains both a source and consequence of rights violations. Yet if we are serious about human deprivation, we must also demonstrate that we are serious about human dignity, and vice versa.

[…]

We must work to make human rights a reality in each country.

Of course, protecting and promoting human rights is first and foremost a national responsibility. Every member state of the UN can draw on its own history to develop its own ways of upholding universal rights. But many states need help in doing this, and the UN system has a vital role to play.

December day

The cold, crisp afternoon air was a welcome cure to a headache. Slept till after noon today, and the clear, blue sky outside beckoned. Brunched, zipped up, and scarfed my neck and out the door I went, into the woods.

Another week down, one and a half more to go until Christmas break. Again, the majority of nights I spent in the library, and only going home to sleep, before heading out to uni the next day. A couple of friends saw my sad complaint a couple of days about the situation at home, and how comforting they were to offer shows of support and encouragement. One or two told me they'd be interested to move in together, if there's a place available. I guess the thought has been troubling me a bit over the recent period, and more and more as I think about it.

To be honest, I'd rather not have to move out. I mean, this is after all my own home. Why should I, the one without a highflying income and having trouble making ends meet, have to go out and rent a place? And just thinking about the daunting hurdles of searching for a place, packing and moving, and trying to cover the costs with the student loan I get every month is really offputting.

But then again I really can't put up with this situation any longer. Why should I be unhappy and restless whenever I come home, or think of coming home, every single day and night? Besides, if anyone's lived with a couple before, you'd know it's not a good idea. And I really have nothing whatsoever with them in common. Sad, when you think about it, that it happens to be your own brother.

I sat down on a bench in the forest and made my weekly call to my mum. I told her my plans, and she, like so often, supported it. She felt somewhat indignant that I should have to put up with all this from my brother and the girlfriend. Exactly like I said, it is partly my own home after all. And she told me she knew how I felt. Ever since dad moved back home after disappearing for a couple of years, she pretty much has to put up with similar circumstances. Living with a stranger, someone who's suppposed to be family and the closest person in the world, but is everything else but.

I know how it is like for her, and she knows how it is for me. My dad and brother have the same kind of grumpiness and passive aggressiveness that makes life together pretty much unbearable. When they're good to you, which isn't often, they can be the kind and gentle, treat you like there's no one more precious. But the other side of them is intimidating and driven by such an irrational source of anger and hatred. They can scream and shout all sort of obscenities and stare at you like you're the scum of the earth. And then comes the aftermath of the fall-outs filled with toxic, tense silent cold war. How do you deal with a situation like this? It's not like friends you can just cut off ties with and ignore... but I often think why treat these people with any respect or even care about them when all you get in return is the cold shoulder and a vile look on the face? Blood is thicker than water, as they say. But why torture yourself and stay with someone who doesn't even treasure or realise what the unique kind of care and warmth the bonds of family has to offer?

If I do move out, it will really cause a stir in the family. Dad will most likely blame brother for everything, and we'd have another dip in the already very low relations between the two. And somehow I feel 'selfish'...I mean I have the ability and opportunity to just pack my bags and leave, but what about my mum? If anything, she has more of a right to not have to put up with the same kind of cold treatment day in and day out. She's the one who works now, she's the one who has made so many unseen sacrifices to keep this family together. She's the one who is still trying to recover from cancer...

I sat on the bench, in the forest, and listened to her, as she listened to me. she told me she's been donating to WorldVision every month for sometime now, and recently they wrote to her hoping she could adopt a six year old AIDS orphan in Mozambique. She wants to she said. A mere hour or so of work every month for her will be enough provide the child with an education and proper life.

She said she'll write back to the child.

"I'm more than willing to support you. It's the least I can do, and I'll keep on doing it for as long as I can live. When I go, and I don't know when that will be, I'll be sorry that I can no longer provide for you..."

The teardrops evaporated in the winter breeze as soon as they fell.