1. Recently released UN-WHO data show numbers of older women (60+) in the world population at an all time high, growing and the proportion figures in the population growing even in the developing world.
2. Grandparents have become primary caretakers of vast numbers of the worlds’ children due to various factors including the following:

·        More childbearing women working outside the home

·        Increased rates of factors associated with social and cultural dislocation and dysfunction such as alcoholism, drug addiction and divorce

·        War and civil violence

·        Effects of diseases such as HIV-AIDS and also stress related diseases such as heart and vascular problems and stroke appearing among women in alarming numbers.

3.  In the most stricken areas of the world, it is literally only the Grandmothers left to care for the children, provide food for subsistence and hold together the fabric of community and civil society.
4. In order to function effectively in all these ways the older woman needs to maintain her health, vitality and confidence.
5. Even among women in more fortunate circumstances longevity is increasing so dramatically, we must focus as much on  “adding life to years” as on “adding years to life”.
6. Research in North American populations demonstrates the elderly benefit from exercise physiologically and psychologically as do youth. 

• Cardiovascular respiratory indicators improve with aerobic participation
• Joint range of motion increases with flexibility participation
• Muscle mass builds with strength programs and age related loss of muscle mass is retarded
• Reduced depression anxiety and stress, body dissatisfaction (especially among women)
• Increases in self confidence, self esteem, capacity to sleep and awaken feeling rested, and purpose to life.

7. In work with the elderly team approaches are best.(nurse, physician, physical therapist, dentist, social worker, pastoral counselor, speech and hearing therapist dietician, physical educator and exercise psychologist)
8. Negative stereotypes and myths to be overcome:

• The elderly need less exercise
• Exercise is dangerous for the elderly
• Elderly have no capacity to improve and learn

 IMPLICATIONS : There is need as never before for families communities and nations to commit resources for research programs for program implementation and for evaluation in order to fully engage 60+ women in ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

From : Carole

*


* Human Rightis : Follow-up to the Decade at the international level

List members commented on strategies at the international level, pecifically the role the United Nations (UN) can play. The UN and other international organisations should monitor government's compliance with HRE commitments but NGOs should also take the initiative on this.

It was recommended that NGOs coordinate their efforts in publishing regular regional or international reports on HRE as a tool of pressure on their governments and the existing regional and international structures.
In addition, States should be required to report extensively on HRE and UN comments on their report, which can be the basis for a long-term strategy.  Exercises such as this on-line forum could be turned into a formal report to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). This report could include systematic elaborations of HRE obligations, survey results on people's knowledge of human rights, rejected needs for HRE to fill this gap, and reports on "best practices"  and could be the basis for future OHCHR actions. Guidelines should be formulated for what constitutes the basic minimum understanding that rights holders should have of their rights and duty bearers should have of their duties. This effort could be included as a General Comment on the human Right to Human Rights Education for one of the human rights treaty bodies at the UN.

Members pointed out that there is a need to take stock of the global impact of HRE; a need to work more to develop a framework to examine HRE curricula, study materials, and modes of teaching/training.

Several participants agreed that the Decade needs to continue because HRE s a long-term process. HRE programs need to be evaluated, followed up, and programmes developed that have an impact that are measurable. If the decade finishes within such a short period of time it will make it more difficult for NGOs at the local level to insist that governments and other nstitutions continue to implement, support and develop programmes.

A member pointed out that the UN Decade for HRE has been a useful framework that gives HRE a certain status and importance. A number of Amnesty International sections and structures, for example, have lobbied and worked with governments to include human rights within the curriculum.
The Decade has provided a central focus and as a UN initiative is more likely to be taken seriously.

If a second decade is initiated, however, more precise benchmarks need to be defined on what needs to achieved in each region, in each country, .g. how many states do we want to ratify the international and regional instruments during the Decade; what are minimum standards related to HRE;  etcetera. Another participant supported the idea of second decade provided that the international community recognises that the majority of countries have still to take the necessary initiatives as suggested during the current Decade.

Some skepticism was expressed as well: "I do not believe that Decades, Centuries, Centenaries or any other memorials do much good. The only real achievement can be made slowly, against all odds, in the school, the family, the community, by enthusiasts, NGOs, their groupings and best of all by young people", according to a member from the Czech Republic.

The idea of a Special Rapporteur on human rights education was raised once more.

Some felt that NGOs should make better use of political opportunities presented by OHCHR to engage governments in pushing for reforms, including more systematic HRE programs and the government budgets required for these.

Finally, a practical suggestion was made regarding funding for HRE activities. NGOs should look to donor agencies, such as the IMF and World Bank, and lobby them to support HRE and human rights reforms through national or regional offices.

From : <hr-education@hrea.org>

***


7 - Livres / Books

* Cahiers du Genre

n°32-2002  : Travail des hommes / Travail des femmes
Le mur invisible
Coordonné par Danièle Kergoat


Les résumés sont consultables sur le site Internet :
http://www.iresco.fr/revues/cahiers_du_genre

From : Danièle Senotier


*