The Dorothy Cotton Institute (DCI) has just launched its first major international initiative. As part of its Palestinian/Israeli Nonviolence Project, the DCI led a delegation of leaders from the U.S. Civil Rights movement, both veteran and younger human rights activists, writers and educators to visit Israel and the West Bank. This historic coalition of African Americans, Jews, Christian and Jewish clergy and social justice advocates met with Palestinians and Israelis who are at the forefront of the grassroots nonviolent movement working for justice, democracy, dignity and human rights for all in both Palestine and Israel. The delegation toured the region from October 11-24, moving through a remarkable itinerary planned in partnership with Inter-Faith Peace Builders, an organization that has brought over forty groups to the area.
Throughout our travels, we witnessed and learned more about the realities of Palestinian life under Israeli occupation, including house demolitions, confiscation of Palestinian land, destruction of ancestral olive groves, legalized policies of “separation” (apartheid), severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinians both within the Occupied Territories and beyond, long “administrative” (military) detentions without clear charges or legal representation, and the myriad other traumas and humiliations to which the Palestinian people are subjected daily. We were particularly horrified to learn about the abuses of Palestinian children (some as young as 12 years old) within the Israeli military court system, which have been carefully documented by Israeli and Palestinian human rights attorneys and NGOs. The valid security concerns of the state of Israeli in no way justify the serious violations of human rights and international human rights law that we observed. Sadly, much of what we heard and saw during our travels is frighteningly familiar and similar to injustices and human rights violations in our own country – both past and present.
At the same time, we have been inspired by the many Palestinians and Israelis who are working courageously to end injustice. The Palestinian nonviolent resistance movement — which has existed for decades — is not well known in the U.S. At this time it is a small but dedicated movement that is bolstered by the support and direct action of courageous Israeli and international allies. We spoke with many Palestinians and Israelis who are steadfast in their determination to end discrimination, human rights violations and injustice through nonviolent resistance. They were deeply moved and encouraged to have the DCI delegates bear witness, share their own experiences of struggle and express their solidarity with the Palestinians and their Israeli allies.
We saw clearly the central role that the United States plays in supporting these disastrous policies through political support, joint military action, and unconditional economic aid. The DCI delegation will work to bring visibility to the ongoing violations of human rights of Palestinians and help inform people in the U.S. about the situation, with a focus on changing the role of our own country from supporting the status quo to fostering positive change.
Contact Person:
DCI Project Fellow, Rabbi Brian Walt
508-560-0589 or rabbibrianwalt@gmail.com
DCI is in the Spotlight!
Read a great article about the DCI in the Center for Transformative Action’s newsletter, written by Liz Field.
http://centerfortransformativeaction.org/news/60.html
Remember December 19, 2011 as a date to celebrate. We will provide a link to the text of the official version of the Declaration as soon as it is published.
Congratulations to all of us who believe all people have a right to know their rights!
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS THE
DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING
On December 19, 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations officially adopted the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. This landmark document recognizes the right of every one of the plant’s seven billion people to have access to human rights education, a lifelong process involving all ages, all parts of society, and every kind of education, formal and informal.
The Dorothy Cotton Institute, based in Ithaca, NY, has been promoting Human Rights Education and Training in the Tompkins County region for the past 18 months, introducing over 250 teachers, school administrators and community educators to a K-12 human rights curriculum. The DCI is proud to be part of a of a growing human rights education network, promoting awareness and the realization of our full human rights locally, nationally and around the world.
The Declaration specifies not simply what one should learn about human rights, but also how (“through human rights, which includes learning and teaching in a way that respects the rights of both educators and learners”) and also why (“for human rights, which includes empowering persons to enjoy and exercise their rights and to respect and uphold the rights of others”).
For American educators, the Declaration presents a distinct challenge and a great opportunity. It names the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the primary basis for this learning. Yet a national survey conducted in 1997 showed that over 90% of people in the United Sates had never even heard of this fundamental document. Because you cannot graduate from any high school in this country without a course in US history and government, most Americas can name many of their Constitutional rights. However, very few would recognize health care, shelter, or a living wage as a right, all of which are guaranteed in the Universal Declaration. The Declaration thus provides an opportunity for Americans to expand our understanding of fundamental human rights, the building blocks of representative democracy.
The adoption of this new Declaration also offers the American educators and policy makers an occasion to reassess state and national policies and priorities in the light of international standards. If as the Declaration states, “human rights education and training is essential for the promotion of universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,” then human rights education is not only the entitlement of every American, but also a necessity for responsible citizenship, both of this country and of the world.
The Dorothy Cotton Institute is a project of the Center for Transformative Action (CTA).
To get involved or for more information, please contact Kirby Edmonds, 607.277.3401
This vision was first created in images by over 100 local residents. The pictures showed people of all ages, in the city and in rural areas, celebrating life, experiencing an abundance of local food, engaged in a thriving local marketplace rich in culture and diversity, using renewable energy, and connecting across former divides.
In words, we envision a community that is earth-centered, people-centered, fair, equitable. We envision a Tompkins County that identifies itself by its human rights and ecojustice values, and exemplifies for other regions and communities throughout the nation how to live by these values. In this vision, all citizens can be heard, recognize their interdependence and are active in shaping the priorities of this community. Our commitment to Tompkins County is not isolationist; rather, it is made with a view toward maximizing the benefits of our actions with respect to other communities, ecosystems, and people across the world.
Key Elements of a Sustainable Future, as derived from Building Bridges discussions:
Equity:
Our social economic and political structures are based on equality, inclusion and fairness. This means:
Environment:
Our social, economic and political decisions are framed by respect for the earth and our local and regional ecosystem. This means:
Economy:
Our economy supports the well-being of everyone who lives or works in Tompkins County including previously marginalized communities and individuals. This means:
Please view this as a living document that will be revised periodically. Please post your comments and suggested additions below.
http://www.bioneerslive.org/liveWEBCAST.html
Youth Leadership Development WorkThe DCI Youth leadership development program:
-participate in the global human rights movement
-develop their leadership skills
-develop relationships with young people from around the globe through a network of young human rights
leaders and activists.
DCI’s youth education and leadership development work builds on the following opportunities:
Human Rights Education
Youth Leadership Development Workshops
Field Trips
Youth Gatherings
DCI, working with other human rights education organizations, develops and promotes the distribution of human rights core curricula in public schools. DCI also, again in partnership with other human rights educators, develops and provides training for public school teachers in the use of human rights core curricula.
Youth Leadership Development:
DCI will through its fellowship program and in partnership with community youth programs (e.g. community –based programs, religious institutions and schools) provides:
Anticipated impact and outcomes:
The Dorothy Cotton Institute’s Fellowship Program supports the efforts of human rights activists in their communities, helps close the gap between their work and scholarly research, and establishes the core of a think and do tank to develop effective strategies, identify projects and areas of research for DCI fellows, and contribute to a growing knowledge base.
The DCI’s Fellowship Program builds on the following opportunities:
Identifying and providing support and networking opportunities to practitioners and scholars working in the area of civil and human rights is the core function of the DCI fellowship program.
Fellows may be:
-How to assess where a nation or organization is on the continuum of respect and protection of human rights.
-Which public education practices are most likely to produce a citizenry that understands human rights and is
able to meet the responsibilities of exercising their rights and protecting the rights of others.
The fellowship program provides a combination of financial, programmatic, administrative and/or intellectual support to these fellows through stipends, grants, scholarships, mentoring, training, seminars and access to its network of practitioners, artists, performing artist and scholars. Their work will then be included in ongoing participatory research to assess the effectiveness and reliability of particular organizing tools, methods and strategies.
Interns:
The DCI identifies interns and placement opportunities for interns.
Interns have the opportunity for short-term employment or volunteer work in organizations doing human rights education and/or advocacy work.
Think and Do Tank:
The DCI through its Website, Annual Gathering and the activity of its fellows will provide both a virtual and actual think and do tank to:
Populations Served:
Links to Other Program Components:
The fellowship program will be fully integrated into the other program areas in that Fellows will be both the beneficiaries of and the authors of much of what is written and produced in the DCI’s Education and Training work. Fellows will be conferees and presenters at the Annual Gathering. Some of them will be the leaders of youth development programs. Some of the activities fellows participate in will take place in the Education and Visitors’ Center and some of their work will be among the exhibits for public display. For fellows engaged in the performing arts, some of their work will be presented to the public at the Education and Visitors’ Center. Some of their work will also be available on the website.