[IPSM] International Human Rights Observer training - May 8,9

[antoine libert]

(en francais a suivre)

+=+=+=+=+=  International Human Rights Observing Training  =+=+=+=+=+=+

On the weekend of May 8 and May 9, STAC (Students Taking Action in Chiapas), 
a Zapatista solidarity group that has been working with the autonomous 
indigenous communities of Chiapas since 1999, will be offering a training on 
how to be an International Human Rights Observer. During the training, 
participants will go through a series of workshops, role-plays, group 
discussions, and collective initiatives to learn the basics of being a Human 
Rights Observer. Participants will also be provided with a complete training 
manual, and, upon successful completion of the training, will receive a 
letter of recommendation from STAC that they will be able to present to the 
correspondant organization in Chiapas so as to be assigned to a community. 
This training will focus particularly on the context of human rights work in 
Chiapas, Mexico, however the skills shared will be helpful for human rights 
work in other regions of the world.

International Human Rights Observers in Chiapas live for a prolonged period 
of time in communities that are under constant threat by the Mexican army 
and paramilitary groups. The purpose of a Human Rights Observer is to 
document and report any human rights abuses that may occur, thus giving a 
voice to those who have historically been silenced by oppression. At the 
same time, the presence of members of national and international observers 
in communities under threat serves as a deterent for such abuses to occur, 
while supporting communities that are struggling for justice, freedom, 
democracy and self-determination in the face of increased repression.

Since the Mexican government's military offensive into Zapatista communities 
in 1995, Civilian Peace Camps have been established throughout the region in 
the goal of creating civil spaces for the respect of the communities' 
construction of self-determination. Human rights observers are invited by 
the community and act in respect of the community's own dynamics and 
self-determination. The need for Human Rights Observers in Chiapas continues 
to this day, with paramilitary threats and aggressions against Zapatista 
community members increasing in recent weeks and months.

STAC has been organizing caravans of international volunteers to Chiapas 
since 1999. This session would also be of great purpose to those who are 
interested in participating in the upcoming summer Chiapas Education 
Delegation for Peace, which will be visiting various Zapatista autonomous 
communities from July 25 to August 7 (for more info on the upcoming summer 
caravan and registering, please email us).

The upcoming weekend training will take place in a cabin in the Laurentians 
(approx. 1 hour from Montreal), from Saturday (May 8) morning to Sunday (May 
9) afternoon. Transportation will be organized for participants, who will 
meet Saturday morning to travel together. During the weekend, vegetarian 
food will be cooked collectively, although participants are recommended to 
bring their own comfort foods if they so desire. Please bring your own 
sleeping bag and other necessary material for accommodation (sleeping pad, 
etc.).

The cost of this training session will be a sliding scale that will help us 
cover the expenses of organizing the session (transportation, food, 
photocopies, etc.). The price will be determined in the near future, 
although we are committed to making this popular education session 
accessible to all.

** Spaces are limited, so please contact us ASAP if interested **
(If you have access to your own means of transportation, please contact us 
so we can carpool)

==> Cette session se tiendra en Anglais, mais la traduction simultanee au 
Francais est disponible sur demand 72 heures a l'avance
==> Esta capacitacion se hara en ingles, pero la traduccion simultanea al 
espanol estara disponible con pedido anticipado de al menos 72 horas

In solidarity,

    STAC
-- www.stacmontreal.net --
-- info at stacmontreal.net --

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