Asia

CIDSE Member Organisations working in Asia focus on sustainable rural development, human rights, health and education.  The aim of CIDSE Member Organisations and their Partner Organisations is to improve the standard of living of the poorest and most vulnerable people through practical solutions and through education and empowerment. 

Working towards practical solutions

Projects include innovative and practical methods to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development, the management of natural resources such as water, disaster risk reduction and micro-credit schemes to help groups and individuals build and maintain secure, independent livelihoods.  Member Organisations also provide humanitarian aid and rehabilitation in response to natural disasters and conflicts. 

Education and empowerment

Much of the work in Asia focuses on human rights issues – the rights of workers and children – and empowerment of groups and communities through education and training.  This includes working to strengthening democracy, women’s empowerment and the empowerment of Dalits.  CIDSE Member Organisations work to build peace and constructive inter-faith dialogue, particularly in areas with diverse cultures and religions. 

CIDSE focused on the following issues and events in 2008:

Cyclone Nargis
After the Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in April 2008, CIDSE Member Organisations used the network to share information on emergency response and access to Myanmar.  The European Council held an Extraordinary Meeting in May 2008, to call for the Burmese authorities to offer free access to international humanitarian experts and to facilitate the flow of aid and work of NGOs in Myanmar after the cyclone.  On 29 October, representatives of the CIDSE Myanmar Working Group attended the conference “Burma/Myanmar: Prospects for the future,” organised in Brussels by the Inter-Church Organization for Development Cooperation, the European Commission, the Euro-Burma Office and the Burma Center Netherlands.  The CIDSE Working Group continues to exchange information on rehabilitation and funding for projects in Myanmar. 

Caste Discrimination in South Asia
On 3 June 2008, CIDSE representatives attended the European Parliament Hearing “Caste Discrimination in South Asia: 260 million reasons why Europe should act,” organised by the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and chaired by Jean Lambert, MEP (Greens, UK). Experts from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal gave a briefing on the discrimination that is still exercised in South Asia on the basis of caste.  The panel then held a debate on the question “how can the EU work to eliminate caste discrimination?” with the urgent call by MEPs to bring an end to institutionalized caste discrimination and human rights abuses. 
Margrete Auken, MEP (Greens, DK) opened an exhibition of photographs by Jakob Carlsen which document the lives of Dalits in South Asia.  The photographs were commissioned by the IDSN to raise international public awareness of caste discrimination and can be viewed online at www.idsn.org/wearenotuntouchable

Violence in Orissa – CIDSE Press release September 2008
In August 2008 violence erupted in Orissa, east India, following the killing of a prominent Hindu leader and four of his followers. The killing was claimed by the Naxalites, a Maoist guerrilla group, but Hindu leaders accused Christian militants of being responsible for the attack.  The result was a backlash of violence towards Christians, with over 35 deaths and 4,000 homes and 45 churches damaged or destroyed.  CIDSE issued a press release to highlight the situation at the international level, and to call for the Indian government to provide protection and adequate aid to the population of Kandhamal, Orissa.  Bernd Nilles, CIDSE Secretary General said “India is known for the peaceful cohabitation of different religious communities.  We are deeply concerned that this peace is under threat.  Immediate reaction by the international community and immediate action by the Indian government are the only ways to bring back peace, law and order in Kandhamal and to provide protection for the population concerned.”