Medical Students blogging for Human Rights

Human Rights Day 2007

2007-12-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

Just 59 years ago the human race witnessed the birth of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The 10^th of December is still commemorated in numerous countries around the world as Human Rights Day.

“Each and every person from around the world is to be respected and acknowledged for the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. These rights, which we know to not always be respected, include the right to life and liberty within each person’s social sphere. We also stand for the right to freedom of thought and expression, and most especially equality before the law.”

Thanks to the work of many medical students from around the world we have been able to present this to you in languages other than English.

Arabic - Anas Eid and Nada Qawasmi

Traditional Chinese – Eric Tam

Simplified Chinese - Eric Tam

English – Jonathan Mamo

French – Zied Khediri and Skander Mzah

German - Annika Hanning
Hebrew - Ephi Sachs

Italian – Federico Longhino and Claudia Amadasi

Japanese – Taketo Tanaka

Maltese – Daniel Azzopardi and Jonathan Mamo

Polish – Beata Syzdul

Portuguese - Geisa Graziela Perez

Spanish – Rebecca Molina

Swedish – Johanna Norenhag

The IFMSA.org link:

http://www.ifmsa.org/ifmsa/activities/standing-committees/scorp/human-rights-day-2007/

Please forward to your relevant servers wherever possible. The statement will be forwarded to IFMSA's Partners and External Organisations by the respective Liaison Officers as has always been done in the past; however, should you wish us to forward this statement to any people or organisations in particular please do let us know!

If you would like the document to be translated to your language for when we send the documents to our external partners please do contact us as soon as possible!

Regards,

Jon. - on behalf of the SCORP Team!

P.S. Once again thanks to all those who made these translations possible.

Jonathan P. Mamo MD

Director on Human Rights and Peace Issues (SCORP-D) '07 - '08

International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA)

UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY

2007-11-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

On the annual occasion of Universal Children's Day, the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) would like to call upon all the people and the governments around the globe to keep up their commitment towards the welfare of children. Let us keep to our promise as stated in the Fourth Millennium Development Goal and act to reduce the mortality rate among children under five, by two thirds.

Dear IFMSA - 20th of November 2007 - UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY!

Please follow the link to the ifmsa.org website to download the document if you cannot access it from this e-mail.

http://www.ifmsa.org/ifmsa/activities/standing-committees/scorp/scorp- statements/
or

http://www.ifmsa.org/ifmsa/activities/standing-committees/scorp/scorp- statements-page/

The statement is also available in the following languages:

Arabic - translated by Anas Eid (IFMSA-Palestine)

Dutch - translated by Mahsa Montazeri (IFMSA- the Netherlands)

German - translated by Christoph Bader (BVMD Germany)

Portuguese - translated by Thatyana Ernani (IFLMS Brazil)

Spanish - translated by Dani Rodriguez (IFMSA-Spain)

English - "translated" by Jonathan Mamo and with the help of numerous Officials and SCORPions.

By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each considers appropriate. The date 20 November, marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

Thanks to all those who helped in the creation of this statement...

Peace,

Jon.

Jonathan P. Mamo MD
Director on Human Rights and Peace Issues (SCORP-D) '07 - '08
International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA)

_______________________________________________________

Every year, over 10 million children live and die before they reach their fifth birthday. This means 30,000 children every single day. Most of these children live in developing countries and die from a disease or multiple illnesses that could be treated or prevented easily. Malnutrition contributes to over half of these deaths. And we have not yet mentioned the problems with child trafficking, child prostitution, child labor exploitation and slavery.

Children are the seeds of our world’s future. They symbolize our prosperity and our immortality. Any yet we still see countless examples by which children are abused and maltreated. IFMSA is bound to help, wherever possible, to promote better welfare and a better future for children of all ages and races.

IFMSA’s Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace (SCORP), over the past few years, has extensively focused on projects and activities regarding children, with special emphasis on refugees and illegal migrants. These projects have ranged from Christmas parties in refugee camps to basic health care, from children’s art exhibitions to education meetings and social events of all kinds. Countless projects have been set up over the years to raise awareness amongst school children regarding important issues such as conflict prevention, refugees and asylum seekers, and reproductive health.

This year, IFMSA will be collaborating with the WHO to further enhance medical education with regards to pediatrics. This “global survey on pediatric curricula” aims to ensure a greater understanding of pediatric diseases and health care requirements by the doctors of tomorrow.

Being the voice of medical students worldwide, IFMSA and its members have always felt their responsibility in improving the life of the younger generation, regardless of their social status and country of origin.

IFMSA is one of the largest student organizations in the world with over one million members in over 100 countries worldwide and is recognized as the international voice of medical students around the globe. IFMSA has been in official relations with the WHO since 1969 and is partnered with numerous organizations including both UN Agencies and other student organizations. IFMSA’s activities include over 8,000 medical student exchanges a year and a wealth of student-led projects which fall into four main fields of interest: medical education, public health, human rights and peace, and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS. Many IFMSA activities have the ultimate motive of and preventing conflicts through friendship and increased global understanding.

On Behalf of the IFMSA Team of Officials 2007 – 2008

My definition of SCORP

2007-11-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

By Skander M’zah

SCORP is the Standing committee on Human right and peace.

In all SCORP’s session or SCORP’s works we hear about:

The right to self-determination
The right to Autonomy
The right to life, liberty and security of person
The right to family support
The right to a nationality
The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
The right to respect of the private life
The right to justice
The right to safety
The right to protection against torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
The right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state
The right to own property alone as well as in association with others
The right to education
The right to rest and leisure

All of these are human rights and it’s logical to talk about it in SCORP sessions but don’t all of these rights aim to one goal? To one fundamental right, “Right to happiness”. So this committee is made to promote happiness. But sometimes we forget that. We want to make lots and lots of projects just to feet on the theory of this committee works. We forget that our goal is trying to make people reach happiness.

When someone say “I’m a doctor” most of the time he insists on the “I” and less on “Doctor”. But before being a doctor or a benevolent, you were and even if you are a doctor you are also a person. The problem is that people focus more on their person than on their job. We invest more on the role than on the function.

Frank Ostaseski said: “Helping others gives us power and a respectability which we need. We collect them in weekend like wages. But if we aren’t careful, this identity will become our prison and the prison of those we serve. In fact if I want to help, I have to find somebody who needs assistance!”

I want to insist on this point HELP. The helper is most of the time seen like the one who has the power. There is a difference between HELP and SERVE

Frank Ostaseski also says: “In helping you are aware of your power but you don’t use it for serving cause you serve with what you are. Helping is creating an unequal relation an unbalanced exchange. You decrease by this way the vision of the own value and the own regard of the one you are helping… Helping creates a debts but serving is reciprocal.”

I worked for a long time with children with cancer and after going out for the hospital I feel recognition and not satisfaction. I feel recognition because these children with their innocence with their pain made stronger and more aware of the value of life and of every second on earth. They gave to my life a goal, a direction and consistency. They gave me more than I gave them and more than I could never give them. These children show me how to live my life and how to really LIVE. When you serve someone you serve with all your being with your scars and your strength. Helping and serving are different visions of life.

If you look after someone you have to be able to bring with you, your pain, your sorrow, your passion and your whole being. You have to destroy the wall between you and this person. You have to destroy the wall that separates helper from helped. Because this exploration of your own suffering is what creates a bridge between you and the person you are serving. When you want to really serve someone you serve him with your compassion. And compassion means “suffering” (passion) “with” someone (con) and it’s quite different from pity which is suffering “for” someone. Pity is really negative for you and the one you serve. We shouldn’t see our job like “repairing” people because when you repair something you admit that this thing is broken. Repairing includes a judgement which separates you from this person and creates a distance. When you help you see the broken and negative parts you see the weaknesses. When you serve you understand that this person’s suffering is also your suffering, his pain is your pain, and his smile is your smile. At this moment you serve this person with your whole compassion. When we serve someone we are aware that we can be useful and we want to be useful under the service of the totality.

By this text I want to beg all SCORPions and all the benevolent to serve with their heart. And as Frank Ostaseski said: ”All of us know that a big part of happiness is contained on giving”.

I want you to believe in human fundamental kindness. And even if someone is malicious you must think that he is not and this normal way of being he is nasty because he is suffering.

Even if the sky is grey, sun still shine under the clouds.

Skander M’zah

International Women Day

2007-03-10T23:23:00.000-08:00

Article written by Jonathan P. Mamo (Malta)

SCORP celebrates Human Rights day within its respective NMOs by organising activities which have some form of relationship, be it direct or indirect, to a particular group of human rights. Each project strives to be as successful as possible and in most cases the results are phenomenally positive. I was reading through this blog the other time and had to ask myself… WHY was this day chosen? And what was it initially chosen to represent? So to answer this question I conducted some research and came up with the following;

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10th of December. The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on the 10th of December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global enunciation of human rights. The UN’s General Assembly invited all interested organisations to celebrate the day as they saw fit. The day is a high point in the UN calendar and is normally marked by political conferences, meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. Many governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as the IFMSA, active in the human rights field, also schedule special events to commemorate the day. The theme of the day for 2006 was the fight against poverty as a human rights issue.

Human Rights are concerned with the relationship of people with their society. It involves the rights and responsibilities that the society affords and the duties and obligations that are implied. Every woman, man and child has the human right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, without discrimination of any kind. Enjoyment of the human right to health is vital to all aspects of a person's life and well-being, and is crucial to the realization of many other fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Promoting and protecting health and respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights are inextricably linked. Violations or lack of attention to human rights can have serious health consequences such as expressed in the issues of slavery, torture and violence against women and children – these, unfortunately, being ever present in our advancing societies. Vulnerability to ill-health can be reduced by taking steps to respect, protect and fulfil human rights (e.g. the right to health, food, nutrition, education and housing). In learning about human rights, we learn about ideas of respect, fairness, justice and equality. We learn about standing up for our own rights and about our responsibility to respect the rights of others. There are a number of basic rights that people from around the world have agreed on, such as the right to life, freedom from torture, other cruel and inhuman treatment, rights to a fair trial, free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to health, education and an adequate standard of living.

The attainment of human rights for all will be achieved only when each individual acknowledges the validity of these rights. Therefore, an understanding of human rights begins with the individual. Recognizing one's own basic human rights is the first step in the quest for achieving human rights for all. It is IFMSA’s role to educate both other medical students and also our respective communities about these basic rights. We are also duty bound to support other NGOs which work towards the same common goal.

And now… in just a few days time, on the 8th of March, the UN celebrates its next big event; International Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace – the one day chosen for a global celebration for the economic, social, political and scientific achievements of women. Whether you’re a woman or not; celebrate this day because without women none of us would be here to promote the rights which belong to us all. So make a difference, think globally and act locally! Make everyday an International Women's Day. Let’s all do our bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal and safe. For more information about the event please do browse the site http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Art without borders

2007-01-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

Written by Albert Delia, sent by Claude Bajada (Malta).

Like almost all other such initiatives, art without borders was born in pretty much the same way; an idea uttered during one of the organisation’s meetings. In a chorus of opinionated voices one pensively said “How about an art exhibition for refugee and local children?” The pint glasses went down slowly on the table tops and the bar saw for a brief moment a short period of contemplative silence, before again the voices started again, this time however following a single stream of thought.

The idea started gathering its own momentum and practically started moving perpetually, propelled by a lingering sense of smiling satisfaction everyone who came in contact with it was awarded after having helped. Although this article is intended to promote the opening of the exhibition on the 10th of December, and its duration till the 17th of the same month, I feel that it is only fitting that the readers know what was happening behind the scenes.

Most saw squiggles, stick figures, brightly (and at times mismatched) colours filling in the patchwork of simple yet expressive shapes that signify so much to a child’s mind. Others analysed scrupulously the subtexts of these paintings and, like a title-less book, tried to figure and read the contexts of the young hand out of which it came; and rightly so.

However, to those that were there drawing with the children, these little masterpieces are considerably more value-laden, since in addition to the memories the paintings themselves hold, with them are also those shared during our little makeshift art lessons. The assistance we got from people we met at times by chance was overwhelming, so to all those who helped; thank you.

The aim of our exhibition was always that of integration, inspiration and (to a degree) entertainment. The children, both those local and not, started originally drawing individually and finally together on the very day of the opening of the exhibition. This meeting of diverse youthful experiences is to commemorate Human Rights Day on the day of the opening of the exhibition.

The children themselves always greeted us with expectant smiles (at times toothless ones too). Enthusiastic shouts of “More paper please!” filled the air most of the time. Concentrated glances stared at coloured sheets contemplating on the next creature that will shortly inhabit their rainbow coloured lands. At times their passion inspired us too, catching the occasional adult scribbling away at his little canvas wasn’t a rarity; pictures screamed nostalgia. Soon we became the messengers to old St Nick being given requests for paint brushes, paints and paper for Christmas, not to mention the new friends we’ve made along the way. As much of a cliché as some of the above is I really do have to say that there really was some Christmas spirit lingering in the air.

However, kids will be kids, there can’t a painting lesson without the occasional a poster coloured smudged face, an unplanned palm print on a wall, a paint stain on one’s shirt, irony is the kids where cleaner then I was. As I write what you are reading, behind me lies a stack of paintings, a month’s worth of Sunday afternoons, although I believe that the worth of these sheets is considerably more profound then just the time spent on them, 30 of them will be exhibited. Side by side the works of younger versions of yourself will be hung for public display each little artist having his own individual and diverse back-story. Stories spreading across continents and savannas, as well as stories from the villages we all know so well. This truly was an experience of collaboration through the universal language that is art.

Human Rights Day: A mark in IFLMS-SCORP

2006-12-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

By Thatyana Ernani (Brazil). Translations: Portuguese.

Human Rights Day was remarkable in the still recent SCORP history within IFLMS. SCORP activities, up until now, were limited to the local committee from Faculdade de Medicina de Marília – FAMEMA. In this special SCORP date, however, two other local committees, from Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC and Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UPE, also celebrated Human Rights Day.

UFC, in partnership with the Associação Comunitária de Ajuda Mútua do Pirambu – ACAMP, visited the slum quarter of Pirambu, one of the largest in Latin America. On Saturday, the 9th, along with the social photographer Robson Oliveira, the students met and photographed everyday scenes of the slum quarter. The scenes were shocking: kids playing in big, open air garbage disposals, a group of youths bathing in an extremely dirty beach, and so on. Along their walk, students from UFC talked to the inhabitants – and only by getting some attention, they were already very happy.

On Sunday, the 10th, in ACAMP’s centre, the students had feijoada (a typical Brazilian dish with black beans and pork) for lunch. They had their meal with representatives from the Central Única de Favelas (CUFA), from the Movimento dos Sem-Terra (MST), and from the local community. Ana Débora Uchoa Soares, one of the students from UFC, described the rest of the day as the following:

"After that, there was a brief meeting, in which we showed the movie with the photos presentation, and discussed the subject! This part was really good! Listening to DIFFERENT opinions from DIFFERENT groups is a very enriching experience! Then came the time for games! Basketball in the square, volleyball on the beach! And of course, members of IFLMS were playing! The whole evening was about recreation, hip hop (yes, that’s it… we even had hip hop with the bros and the gals ;)), and an available microphone for whoever wanted to ask for something! The night was the most beautiful moment… We put up a white blanket on a barrack in the square, and projected on it the images of the previous day. Do you know what it feels like to see the children’s eyes shining as they see their photos projected so that everyone could see them?"

The inhabitants were very happy with the visit from UFC’ students, they thanked them a lot, and the movie that was made has already been sent to Fortaleza’s mayor, demanding action to be taken in Pirambu’s area. And of course, the students were even more motivated to continue with SCORP’s activities in their local committee!

In UPE, the campaign took place only on the 10th, just like in Marília, with FAMEMA. As the majority of the students was already on vacations, the activities were a lot simpler – but not less significant!

In the court of the cultural space of UPE, copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were distributed while a LORP, Diego, sang and played song related to human rights and peace.

IFMSA-SCORP… I wish one day I can say that these two committees that opened its doors to SCORP have motivated another two committees, and these two, another two, and so on, till every local committee from IFLMS has a very active SCORP!

Dia dos direitos humanos: Um marco no SCORP-IFLMS

2006-12-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

By Thatyana Ernani (Brazil). Translations: English.

O Dia dos Direitos Humanos foi marcante na história ainda recente do SCORP – IFLMS. As atividades do SCORP, até então, estavam limitadas ao comitê local da Faculdade de Medicina de Marília – FAMEMA. Nesta data especial para o SCORP, entretanto, outros dois comitês locais, da Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC e Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UPE, também comemoraram o Dia dos Direitos Humanos.

A UFC, em parceria com a Associação Comunitária de Ajuda Mútua do Pirambu – ACAMP, visitou a favela de Pirambu, uma das maiores da América Latina. No sábado, dia 9, junto com o fotógrafo social Robson Oliveira, os alunos conheceram e fotografaram cenas cotidianas da favela. As cenas foram chocantes: crianças brincando em lixões, um grupo de jovens tomando banho numa praia imunda e assim por diante. Ao longo da caminhada, os alunos da UFC conversavam com os moderadores – e só destes receberem atenção, ficavam muito contentes.

No domingo, dia 10, na sede da ACAMP, os alunos almoçaram feijoada com representantes da Central Única das Favelas – CUFA, do Movimento dos Sem-Terra – MST e com membros da comunidade. Ana Débora Uchoa Soares, participante da UFC, descreveu o restante do dia assim:

“Depois houve uma breve reunião, onde mostramos o filme com a apresentação das fotos e discussão do assunto! Essa parte foi muito boa! Ouvir opiniões DIFERENTES de grupos DIFERENTES é uma experiência engrandecedora! Daí veio a hora dos jogos! Basquete na pracinha, vôlei na praia! E é claro os membros da IF jogando! Foi a tarde inteira de recreação, hip hop (isso msm.. teve até hip hop com os mano e as mina;)) e microfone aberto pra quem quisesse reivindicar algo! A noite houve o momento mais lindo... Colocamos pendurado num barraco na pracinha um lençol branco e projetamos as imagens feitas no dia anterior. Sabem o que é ver o olhinho das crianças brilhando vendo a foto delas sendo projetadas para todos verem?”

Os moradores ficaram muito felizes com a visita dos alunos da UFC, agradeceram bastante e o filme que foi gravado já foi enviado para a prefeitura de Fortaleza, exigindo ações na área de Pirambu. E claro, os alunos ficaram ainda mais motivados para continuar com atividades do SCORP no comitê deles!!!

Na UPE, a campanha aconteceu apenas no dia 10, assim como na FAMEMA. Como a maioria dos alunos de lá já estava de férias, as atividades foram mais simples – mas nem por isso menos significativas!

No pátio do espaço cultural da UPE, foram distribuídas cópias da Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos, enquanto um LORP, o Diego, cantou e tocou músicas relacionadas aos direitos humanos e paz.

SCORP-IFMSA... Espero um dia poder dizer que destes dois outros comitês que abriram o SCORP, mais outros dois da IFLMS sintam-se motivados, e que cada um desses motive mais dois, e assim sucessivamente, até que todos os comitês locais da IFLMS tenham um SCORP muito ativo!

Derechos para todos los días

2006-11-22T01:47:00.000-08:00

By Thatyana Ernani (Brazil). Translations: English, Portuguese.
Traducido al castellano por Hsiu-Lin Ausón (Ecuador).

Hoy, cuando pensé en escribir sobre derechos humanos, lo primero que se me vino a la mente fue decir cómo ellos están presentes en mi vida diaria. Como estudiante de un curso PBL (Aprendizaje por resolución de problemas), tengo más libertad de discutir y cuestionar lo que quiero con mis amigos en los casos de estudio que recibimos.

Ahora, al final del año, ha habido muchas discusiones sobre derechos humanos y salud. En un caso de estudio, fuimos guiados a verificar si había alguna ley en Brasil que proteja a los trabajadores juveniles. Leímos el Estatuto de los niños y adolescentes, y vimos cuáles son las leyes especiales y derechos que ellos tienen.

En otro caso, más polémico, estudiamos las interrogantes éticas y legales con respecto al aborto. En Brasil, el aborto legal ocurre en dos situaciones: 1) cuando la vida de la embarazada corre peligro y 2) cuando la embarazada ha sido violada. Luego surgió una pregunta: de acuerdo a nuestro código médico de ética, un doctor no puede ser forzado a realizar un procedimiento con el que no está de acuerdo. Por otro lado, nuestra constitución especifica que un doctor no puede negar tratamiento a un paciente. Qué pasa entonces? Cuál documento tiene mayor importancia?

Otra pregunta que siguió fue qué es la vida. Si todos tienen derecho a la vida; desde qué punto de partida, o a qué edad es válida esta afirmación? Y la píldora del día después, ya que éstas evitan la formación de la vida, va su utilización en contra de los derechos humanos? Y de quién, si ni siquiera se ha formado un embrión?

Mis colegas y yo hemos enfrentado muchas preguntas similares. Es por ello que no puedo estar de acuerdo cuando alguien dice que sólo las personas de las áreas sociales deben ocuparse de los derechos humanos y leyes. NO ES ASÍ!!!! Todos tenemos el deber de conocer y reclamar sobre derechos humanos –no sólo los nuestros- sino los de los demás. Están ahí para protegernos! Como estudiante de medicina, este es el instrumento más poderoso que podemos usar para ayudar a mejorar la calidad de vida y salud.

Esta es también la razón por la que la educación en derechos humanos es tan importante. Empieza por ti mismo/a. Conoces la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos? NO? Corre hacia lo correcto – infórmate.

Human Rights Issues in Mexico

2006-11-18T17:15:00.000-08:00

By Carlos Gómez (Mexico).

Hello everyone, im gonna post an old article i write a few months ago and send it to the yahoogroups, is about some human rights issues happening in Mexico, is a little old so i didnt mention Oaxaca, but that's the theme for another article.

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN MEXICO

Mexico has more than one hundred million habitants, it’s a country with a rich culture of thousands of years, we try to move on a globalizated world, with new technology, new discovers, a whole new way of thinking.

We are trying, but there is something that cannot let us move forward. A man can evolve only if he knows how to interact with others human beings. The intolerance, the discrimination don’t let us become a better country,

Honestly I don’t know where to start, every issue is important. The intrafamiliar violence is an issue that has been there like forever, this kind of violence is refer to all ways or situations of abuse or battered of any member of a family to another. The risk sectors of the family are the women, the children and the elderly people. There is a lot of causes, but the common cause may be the called “machismo”, ill explain the typical example of abuse, the father thinks he is the owner of the children and the wife, and so he believes he has the right to mistreat them. This is a vicious circle, the husband mistreat (in many possible ways) the wife, this can contain serious problems like alcoholism, then the wife tire of being abuse, discharge all her courage on the children, the children grows up thinking that is how life is, so he gets married and has children, and it goes on…

The education is the solution to this terrible problem, make stronger bonds between the members of the family. Actually the members of the families that suffer this problem can go the special agency of the government to solve the problem. A well know agency is the DIF (Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia - National System for the Integral Development of the Family), this agency gives social attendance to this people.

Also NGO’s gives this kind of attention, like the CNDH (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos – National Commission of the Human Rights), who cares about all Human Rights, from Children Rights to Prisoners Rights.

Another issue in Mexico is the migration, the immigrants rights, both mexicans going to USA and other people coming to Mexico. These immigrants most of them illegal suffer a lot of injustice during their way to USA. People who gives “rides” to the north border abuse of these people stealing their money. And also the police who catch them steal and abuse them.

There is the INAMI (Instituto Nacional de Migración – National Institute of Migration) cares about the dignity and the rights of the immigrants.

A big issue is about the murders of women in Ciudad Juarez (in the north border with el Paso, Texas). It has been more than 10 years when in 1993 the police found a woman that was reported as “dissappear”, dead in a place near Ciudad Juarez. More than 400 women has been murder and more than 600 has dissappear. No one can tell who kills these women, and why, there has been people arrested but even then the murders dont stop. A civil association called “Nuestras hijas de regreso a casa A.C” (Our daughters returning home) was created by the mothers of all those girls that has been killed or kidnapped.

The violation of the human rights by the public security forces (police) is a common topic. Recent events like the one in the community called “San Salvador Atenco”, when more than 4000 cops made a violent operation to evacuate landlords in order to evacuate them to build an airport in the lands.

The problem of who is the owner of the lands, the people from the community or the government is very complex. More than 200 people were arrested.

After these people were liberated, they denounce acts of sexual agressions againts the women, and torture against the men by the police.

These are the main issues in Mexico that has been on the news for several months and years, but there are some more hidden, and i think is our duty to find them and denounce them.

Bibliography:

www.cndh.org.mx - National Comission of Human Rights
www.inami.gob.mx - National Institute of Migration
www.dif.gob.mx - Integral Development of the Family
www.mujeresdejuarez.org
www.violenciaintrafamiliar.org

The IFMSA Statement on Universal Children's Day

2006-11-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

By Yelena Petrosyan (Armenia).

20 NOVEMBER 2006 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE

On the occasion of Universal Children's Day, the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) calls on the world to keep its commitment and act to reduce the mortality rate among children under five, by two thirds, as per the Millennium Development Goal number four. The IFMSA Standing Committee on Reproductive health including AIDS (SCORA) is dedicating the November issue of its newsletter to the prevention of child labor, child prostitution and the right to reproductive health education. In addition, many active members of IFMSA Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace (SCORP) are organizing child art exhibitions, which include refugee and local children’s paintings.

Every year, almost 10.5 million children die before their fifth birthday - that's 30,000 children each day. Most of these children live in developing countries and die from a disease or multiple illnesses that could be treated or prevented easily. Malnutrition contributes to over half of these deaths. Since the beginning of time children had not only been the symbol of prosperous future of mankind, but also the most vulnerable step in generation change. Even in modern society where human rights are well protected, we can still see many examples of children’s rights abuse.

Over the past few years, IFMSA has extensively focused on projects and activities regarding children, with special emphasis on refugees and illegal migrants. These projects have ranged from Christmas parties in refugee camps to basic health care, children’s art exhibitions and even god parenting. A large number of projects have been set up to raise awareness amongst school children regarding important issues such as conflict prevention, refugees and asylum seekers, and reproductive health. Being the voice of medical students worldwide, IFMSA and its members have always felt their responsibility in improving the life of the younger generation, regardless of their social status and country of origin.

IFMSA is one of the biggest student organizations in the world with over one million members in 92 countries worldwide. In official relations with the WHO since 1969, IFMSA is recognized as the international voice of medical students. Its activities include 7,000 medical student exchanges a year and a wealth of student-led projects which fall into four main fields of interest: medical education, public health, human rights and peace, and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS. All IFMSA activities have the ultimate motive of and preventing conflicts through friendship and increased global understanding.

On Behalf IFMSA Team of Officials 2006 – 2007

Rights for all days

2006-11-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

By Thatyana Ernani (Brazil). Translations: Portuguese, Spanish.

Today, when I thought of writing about human rights, what came first to my mind was to say how they’re present in my everyday life. As a student from a PBL course, I have more freedom to discuss and question what I want with my friends in the case studies that we receive.

Now, at the end of the year, there’s been a lot of discussions on human rights and health. In a case study, we were led to verify if there was any law in Brazil to protect juvenile workers. We read the Children and Adolescent Statute, and saw which are the special laws and rights they have.

In other case, a more polemic one, we studied ethical and legal questions concerning abortion. In Brazil, legal abortion occurs in two situations: 1) when the pregnant’s life is in risk, and 2) when the pregnant has been raped. A question then popped up: according to our Medical Code of Ethics, a doctor can’t be forced to make a procedure he doesn’t agree with. On the other hand, our Constitution specifies that a doctor cannot deny treatment to a patient. What happens now? Which document has more importance?

Another question that followed was what is life. If everyone has the right to life, then starting from what point, or at what age, this counts? And the day-after pills, since they avoid the formation of life, does their use go against human rights? From whom, if not even an embryo has been formed?

My colleagues and I have faced many questions like these. This is why I can’t agree when someone says only people from the social areas should care about human rights and laws. IT’S NOT LIKE THIS! We all have the duty to know and to demand human rights – not only ours, but also for others. They’re there to protect us! As medical students, this is one more powerful instrument we can use to help improve life and health quality.

This is also why human rights education is so important. Start by yourself. Do you know the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? NO?! So run after what’s right – get informed.

Direitos para todos os dias

2006-11-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

By Thatyana Ernani (Brazil). Translations: English, Spanish.

Hoje, quando pensei em escrever sobre direitos humanos, o que logo me veio à cabeça foi como eles estão presentes no meu dia-a-dia. Como aluna duma faculdade cujo método é o PBL, em que não temos aulas e professores, somos mais livres para discutir e questionar o que quisermos dos casos clínicos que recebemos.

Agora no fim do ano, tem surgido várias discussões sobre direitos humanos e saúde. Num caso clínico, fomos instigados a verificar se havia lei no Brasil para proteger os trabalhadores infantis. Lemos o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e vimos leis e direitos trabalhistas especiais que eles têm.

Já num outro caso, mais polêmico, estudamos as questões éticas e legais acerca do aborto. No Brasil, o aborto legal, sem necessidade de julgamento prévio, é feito em dois casos: 1) quando a gestante corre risco de vida e 2) quando a gestante tiver sido estuprada. Nesses casos, então, surgiu uma dúvida: de acordo com o Código de Ética Médica, o médico não é obrigado a realizar um procedimento, caso discorde dele. Por outro lado, a Constituição estabelece que o médico não pode se negar a realizar um procedimento. E agora? Qual destes documentos tem mais peso?

Além da questão do médico, ainda discutimos o que é a vida. Se todos temos direito à vida, a partir de quando, de que idade isto é válido? E a pílula do dia seguinte, por evitar a formação duma vida, fere os direitos humanos? Os direitos humanos de quem, se um embrião ainda não foi formado?

Meus colegas de tutoria e eu temos nos deparado com questões deste tipo. É por isso que me indigno quando dizem que só o pessoal da área de humanas deve se interessar por direitos humanos e leis. NÃO É ASSIM! Todos temos o dever de saber e exigir nossos direitos e também o dos outros. Eles estão aí para nos proteger! Como alunos de medicina, este é mais um instrumento para ajudarmos a melhorar a qualidade de vida de nossos pacientes.

Por isso que divulgar direitos humanos básicos é tão importante. Comece por você mesmo! Você já conhece a Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos? NÃO?! Então corra atrás do que é direito e informe-se!

Understanding causes of death

2006-11-16T01:03:00.000-08:00

By Bruno Abarca (Spain).

"What is the commonest cause of death in a child with diabetes? The answer - from a global perspective - is lack of access to insulin"

Seen today in The Lancet.

In a world where effective medicines are not available to those who need them, we DO need to understand health from a global perspective...

Child soldiers

2006-11-08T15:45:00.000-08:00

by Bruno Abarca (Spain) Translations: Español.

“They give you a gun and you have to kill the best friend you have. They do it to see if they can trust you. If you don’t kill him, your friend will be ordered to kill you. I had to do it because otherwise I would have been killed. That’s why I got out. I couldn’t stand any longer.” 17-year-old boy, joined paramilitary group in Colombia aged 7. Colombia. (Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, 2002)

According to the UNICEF Cape Town Principles (1997), ‘child soldier’ makes not only reference to a child who is carrying arms, but to “any person under 18 years of age who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed groups in any capacity, including but not limited to cooks, porters, messengers and anyone accompanying such groups, other than family members. The definition includes girls recruited for sexual purposes and for forced marriage.”

Their health problems are not limited to injuries, as they may face violence, malnutrition, poor health care, physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and deprivation.

The Universal Children's Day (November 20) is approaching. Do we listen to their voices?

Niños soldado

2006-11-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

por Bruno Abarca (Spain) Translations: English.

“Te dan un arma, y tienes que matar a tu mejor amigo. Lo hacen para ver si pueden confiar en ti. Si tú no lo matas, pedirán a tu amigo que te mate a ti. Tuve que hacerlo porque si no me habrían matado. Por eso lo dejé y me salí. Ya no podía aguantar más.” Chico de 17 años, que se unión a un grupo paramilitar en Colombia a los 7 años. (Coalición para acabar con la utilización de niñas y niños soldado, 2002)

De acuerdo con los Principios de Ciudad del Cabo de UNICEF, el término "niño soldado" no sólo hace referencia a un niño que porta armas, sino también a “cualquier persona menor de 18 años que forma parte de cualquier tipo de grupo armado regular o irregular desempeñando cualquier tarea, incluyendo cocineros, porteadores, mensajeros, y cualquiera acompañando dichos grupos, sin ser familiares. La definición incluye niñas reclutadas para el abuso sexual y el matrimonio forzoso.”

Sus problemas de salud no se limitan a sus heridas, ya que también pueden tener que afrontar la violencia, la malnutrición, ausencia de atención sanitaria, abuso físico, explotación sexual, etc.

El Día Mundial de los Derechos del Niño (20 de Noviembre) se acerca. ¿Estamos escuchando sus voces?

Dignity and stereotypes

2006-11-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

by Bruno Abarca (Spain).

Last week I read something rather interesting. An article titled 'How (not) to write about Africa', published in 'Developments' (Did you know you can have a free subscription of this quarterly magazine?). It is a magazine published by the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom.

It was interesting to recognize some of the traditional cliches many authors employ to describe Africa and Africans. I think that the way information is written and described also affects the way people understand society, culture, and even conflicts or development processes. How often do we see (or read) marketing campaigns, articles, TV programs, trying to show an image of Africa and African people that: 1) does not respect the dignity of people, 2) is not truly real, 3) forgets to show other aspects of the same issue, maybe less "comercial" or "culturally acceptable" here, in "the north".

How do you feel about it?

Participate!

2006-11-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

Are you interested in getting involved in this project? We are, too. :D

You can contribute in different ways:

You can write articles!

The SCORP Blog gives you the opportunity to publish your ideas, opinions and thoughts on different topics. You can also link interesting information you found in the internet and make reference to a book or article you liked. Of course, if you are working in SCORP projects and activities, you can share information about them, show photos, and even suggest initiatives that could be developed somewhere else. This blog will be what you write.

You can translate articles!

Not everybody reads english, and what's even more important, not everybody can write in english. It would be interesting to have articles translated to as many languages as possible. If you feel capable of translating an article from one language to another, it would be a great contribution.

You can link us!

In internet, it is very important to be linked from related sites. If you own a website or a blog, please, feel free to place a link to our main page.

You can comment on articles!

One of the main characteristics a blog has is the possibility to leave comments in every article. In this way, the contents of this website won't be just those written by "authors", but also by you. A comment provides feedback, ideas, discussion, debate, support, and even motivation for the person who wrote the original post. Everybody can leave a comment in an article.

If you want to contribute to this project in any of these ways, please, contact us at bruno.granada [AT] gmail.com, explaining who you are, where are you from, what your experience in the IFMSA is, and how would you like to participate.

We have been waiting for you!

Just beginning

2006-11-04T16:45:00.000-08:00

We are just beginning...

The aim of this first blog is not to remain isolated, but to become a starting point in the creation and development of a bigger platform of medical students and global health weblogs.

This blog only treats human right (and peace) issues, but there are still many topics that should be treated from different working groups, like SCORA (Standing Committee on Reproductive Health and AIDS), SCOPH (Standing Committee on Public Health) or SCOME (Standing Committee on Medical Education), as well as concrete projects like the Think Global Initiative Project or even medical students learning Global Health at International Health Centres and Universities.

Let's see if it works:

- Let's start with this blog. Contributions are needed! ¿Do you want to write an article?

- It is not easy to make it work. Articles may need to be translated to different languages, and people will have to learn how to use a blog. This will require people volunteering for different tasks.

- As soon as contributions arrive, it will become necessary to set up some basic guidelines about how to write, our policy on 'freedom of speech', and develop our first marketing campaign to promote it.

- If it works, other blogs could be created for the rest of Standing Committees of the IFMSA and other working groups.

- What about putting all these small projects together in a bigger platform of "Medical Students blogging for Global Health"?

Step by step. We are just beginning...

Partners

2006-11-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

IFMSA works together with many organisations, some of which (can) collaborate with us:

- Financing our own server and marketing campaigns.
- Writing articles about topics they use to work in.
- Linking our website from theirs.
- Support us with information and trainings about Human Rights, Conflicts, Refugees, and other SCORP issues.
- Contributing to the development of contents of this blog with articles written by medical students members of those organisations and research centres.

Bloggers

2006-11-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

Bruno Abarca is a 24 years old medical student from Spain. Bruno has been involved in the IFMSA since 2003 as Local Officer on Human Rights, National Public Health Officer, and now as NORP (National Officer on Human Rights and Peace). Articles by Bruno Abarca

Carlos Gómez studies Medicine in Mexico. He has participated actively in his IFMSA Local Committee (Puebla) with the Professional Exchanges Program and, now, the Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace. Articles by Carlos Gómez.

Claude Bajada, the Maltese NORP, is a 2nd year medical student, very passionate about SCORP and Human Rights issues. Articles by Claude Bajada.

Jonathan P. Mamo is a medical students involved in SCORP from Malta.

Thatyana Ernani studies medicine in Brazil. She is the National Officer on Human Rights and Peace for IFLMS-Brazil, and also works for the Standing Committee on Public Health at her Local Committee. Articles by Thatyana Ernani

Yelena Petrosyan writes from Armenia. She is a 20 years old medical student, and the current IFMSA SCORP Director for 2006-07. Articles by Yelena Petrosyan.

Who are we?

2006-11-04T06:22:00.000-08:00

Hi! Welcome to the SCORP blog!

We're just medical students. But HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS of medical students. :) And this is one of our projects.

Our Vision? A world where information is exchanged dynamically and effectively in order to share ideas and promote cooperation to develop critical thinking on human rights issues, as the starting point to make a difference.

Our Mission? Setting up a collaborative community of weblog writers and readers, as a platform for improving active international communication on issues such as human rights, refugees, conflicts and disasters, etc.

Of course, we have some objectives for this project:

- To give everyone an opportunity to express their opinions. What if YOU have something to say? We'll be here to hear you.

- Make SCORP’s response faster. In some ocasions, when an emergency occurs (as an example) fast communications are a cornerstone of our work. Communications (inside and outside of the IFMSA) must flow easily, and sometimes it needs at least a minimum infrastructure like this.

- To give a voice to SCORPions in the situation. Many medical students participate in SCORP activities and projects, and it would be really good if they could write about their impressions and experiences for all of us to read them.

- To motivate SCORPions to act, stimulating and sharing ideas. Medical students need to know about what other medical students are doing for Human Rights and Peace in order to start up their own projects. Information is the key!

- To create a dynamic flow of information with other organisations. Through this blog, SCORP and the IFMSA can stablish dynamic relationships with other organisations and networks which also work online.

- Give a voice to external contributors, IFMSA alumni and youth doctors who also want to tell us about their understanding of Human Rights issues.

If you want more information about our organisation, please visit the official website of the IFMSA, and our activities on SCORP.

Thanks!