14th December, 2009
Dear All,
REF: INVITATION TO THE ANNUAL DUNIA MOJA HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Dunia Moja Trust is a Non Governmental organization that seeks to educate and galvanize the masses on their rights and civic duties through the use of audio visual materials. In line with our mandate, we organize a Human Rights Film festival each year. Dunia Moja Trust takes time during the annual film festival to showcase relevant films to different segregated groups like women, youth etc to provide them with information on the happenings on the ground, show them the occurrences in other countries that are/have been in transition and the strategies that these countries have adopted to rebuild their nations.
During the festival we also invite panelists from all sectors to engage the general public in debates as they disseminate more information on the topics at hand. This year’s festival shall be conducted at Alliance Francaise in the Nairobi CBD, from the 14th December to the 18th December 2009, with different pertinent issues discussed each day and each screening beginning at 6.00pm apart from Friday that begins at 5.30pm.
This year’s film festival schedule is as follows:
Day 1: Monday, 14th December, 2009
Topic: Addressing the challenges of Climate Change: How ready is Kenya?
Film: The Planet / Johan Soderberg & Michael Stenberg/ Sweden/ 2006/ 84min
Over the past two decades, environmental degradation, including land degradation has continued to worsen exacerbating further poverty and food insecurity. A case in point is the ongoing Mau Controversy in Kenya which has brought debates both in the Government circles and public fora. The Mau case presents a good example of how human exploitative activities disrupt the ecological balance of an area as well as the effects of such degraded environment on the quality of life of the local people and indeed for the whole country’s ecosystem. It is this background that will inform our debate on this day.
The panel discussions will happen immediately after the film screening. On this day we will have the privilege of hosting the following personalities as our moderator and panelists for the day.
1. Ms. Anne Tufvesson, First Secretary, Programme Officer Water and Sanitation, Humanitarian Assistance, Sida
2. Professor John Ng’ang’a – University of Nairobi
3. Cyprian Nyamwamu, NCEC
The moderator will be David Bwakali, UNEP and Chairperson of Africa Youth trust (AYT) board.
Day 2: Tuesday, 15th December, 2009
Topic: The Role of Journalists in Restoring Lasting Peace through Proper Human Rights Reporting
Film: Iseta-Behind the roadblock/ Juan Reina/ 2008/ 55min
Day in and day out, journalists traverse the continent in the quest of providing information to the masses. History has been recorded in Darfur, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Democratic republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya among others by these journalists. There have been major exposé’s on violations of human rights as well as the reconstruction of these collapsed countries, and all these have been done by dedicated journalists.
This forum aims to provide a platform for those engaging in journalism and interested in the role of journalism in peace building processes. The panellists will include:
1. Nick Hughes-Producer and Videographer of Iseta
2. Hassan Omar Hassan, Vice Chair – Kenya National Commission of Human Rights
3. Katharine Houreld, Reporter, Associated Press
Ms. Dana Hughes-African reporter, ABC news will be the moderator.
Day 3: Wednesday, 16th December
Topic: Transitional Justice
Film: Getting Justice: Kenya’s Deadly Game of Wait and See/ Maina Kiai/ Kenya/ 2009/ 64min
In 2008/9, Dunia Moja engaged in the transitional justice processes dubbed Reflections of Healings so as to promote healing and reconciliation in the rural and low income urban areas of Kenya. Dunia Moja’s goal is to contribute towards a peaceful human-rights centered – and a socially cohesive Kenya. It mainly aims to prepare communities to reflect upon, caucus and participate in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) mandate and other transitional justice and national reconstruction processes in Kenya following Kenya’s post 2007 elections violence.
The processes of healing are long-term. The indicators on the ground during our initial phase of the screenings in the rural and low income areas show that there is a lot of tension, especially in places such as Naivasha and Kibera. A multi-pronged approach would thus be more effective in dealing with these issues. Essentially the decisions and actions should involve actors and stakeholders that include the Governments, civil society, Community Based Organizations and Faith Based Organizations, traditional leaders, village elders and ordinary citizens.
The panel discussions will happen immediately after the film screening. On this day we will have the privilege of hosting the following personalities as our panelists for the day:-
1. Dr. Edward Kisiang’ani-Historian, Kenyatta University
2. Betty Murungi -Vice Chairperson; Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC)
3. Mr. Maina Kiai- Human Rights activist and former Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR) chairperson
With Samuel Mbithi (Governance Specialist – Embassy of Finland) as the moderator.
Day 4: Thursday, 17th December:
Topic: Should the youth rebrand themselves in order to have their interests considered in National Debates and ongoing reform processes?
Film: Peace Wanted a Life/ Judy Kibinge/ Kenya /2009/ 49min
Though many institutions and initiatives have been established to encourage youth participation in political processes, many youth remain apathetic and uninspired to indulge fully. The onus of giving Kenyan alternative leadership lies squarely on the youth. Electoral processes avail a real channel of ascending to leadership. The youth require endless civic education on the urgent need of keeping vigilance on malpractice in governance and dispensation of services.
The youth are compelled to rid themselves of ignorance and apathy and engage fully in the political processes of the day. To say that progress has not been made would not be fully accurate; Kenya has seen the creation of the youth Ministry, Free primary Education, the National Youth Policy Bill, Kazi kwa vijana, Youth Enterprise Development Fund etc. Though these have expanded the space for growth, corruption and impunity still flourish and continue to dismantle any progress made. To improve on this, it is important to distinguish priorities in different areas and backgrounds.
The panel discussions will happen immediately after the film screening and we will have the honor of hosting the following personalities as our panelists for the day.
1. Emmanuel Dennis – National Youth Convention (NYC) convener
2. Hon. Peter Kenneth, MP Gatanga
3. Fredrick Ouko – Chairperson Kenya Disabled Network
The moderator for this day will be, Osendo Con Omore, Programme Officer-Good Governance, Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
Day 5: Friday, 18th December
Topic: Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of CEDAW
Film: Enemies of Happiness/ Eva Mulvad, Anja Al-Erhayem / Denmark, Afghanistan/ 2006/ 59 min
As an international bill of rights, CEDAW has defined the elimination of discrimination against women through Gender equity as the basis for realizing equality between women and men, through ensuring women equal access to, and opportunities in the legal, political, economic, social, cultural, and familial environment. In assessing the progress in implementing the commitments made to women, the 1979, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women(CEDAW) provides a tool for holding Governments accountable, crafting legislation, and conducting awareness to protect, respect and advances women’s Human Rights.
The panel discussions will happen immediately after the film screening. On this day we will have the privilege of hosting Patricia Nyaundi (E.D –FIDA) as the keynote speaker, and the following personalities as our panelists:
1. Zebib Kavuma- Country Program Manager for UNIFEM Kenya
2. Priscilla Nyokabi- Executive Director – Kituo cha Sheria
3. Stella Agara, Programme Officer – Africa Youth Trust (AYT)
With Ms. Florence Jaoko – Chairperson, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights as the moderator.
We appreciate your roles both as individuals and organizations in the development of Kenya and for this reason we invite to participate in the film screenings and the debates held thereafter, that aim at creating a platform to share perspectives and ideas to forge a way forward on the ongoing national reconstruction processes.
The sahrawi activist Mohammed Ould Mohammed Mbarek, who is a member of Khad Chahid, a dissident faction of the Polisario Front, has considered the situation of human rights in Tinduf camps as “catastrophic”, calling the present leadership of the Polisario to resign and open the way for young sahrawis to lead.
good job you will definitely succeed one day