Human rights make another world possible

Human rights make another world possible

Amnesty International will be attending the World Social Forum between 16-21 January. A delegation including Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, will participate in several panels, launch two reports and hold a number of meetings with other NGOs attending the forum.

"The contribution of human rights is critical to mobilise and break the barriers which marginalise millions of women, men and children around the world - leaving them with no access to social and legal justice," said Irene Khan.

The organization is convinced that "another world is possible" if governments, other international actors and companies respect human rights and are held accountable for their actions. However there are still many obstacles to overcome and at the forum Amnesty International will challenge three of these:

- The marginalisation of economic, social and cultural rights in human rights discourse and action

- The lack of accountability of corporate actors responsible for human rights violations

- The marginalisation of women's human rights.

Some dates:

17 January: 1 PM, media briefing to launch the report Human Rights Concerns in a Famine Stricken Country, about the situation in North Korea

18 January: 1-4 PM, Irene Khan is participating in the panel Challenging Corporate Power in a Globalized Economy. The booklet The UN Norms for Business: Towards Legal Accountability will be launched. At the panel there will also be presentations of case studies. Media briefing at 4 PM

18 January: 6.30 -8.30 PM, Irene Khan is holding a speech at the conference Wars Against Women and Women Agains War

19 January: 12-4 PM, Globalize Human Rights, a debate with Irene Khan, Shirin Ebadi and others.

Amnesty International, Oxfam and IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms) will take the Control Arms Campaign to the forum. The enormous effects of and problems with the small arms trade will be discussed at a seminar 18 January at 1 PM. During the forum the organizations will gather support for an International Arms Trade Treaty. People at the forum will be encouraged to add their face to the Million Faces Petition for tougher arms control. Read more about the http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabQo2aa3whnbb0hPub/

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