Africa: The Banyan Tree Paradox: Culture and human rights activism

The Banyan Tree Paradox: Culture and human rights activism

The International Human Rights Internship Program (IHRIP) is pleased to announce the publication of "The Banyan Tree Paradox: Culture and human rights activism".

Drawing on the experiences and insights of activists in a range of countries, "The Banyan Tree Paradox" seeks to untangle some of the complexities and controversies that surround culture and human rights issues, in the hope of making the work a bit simpler and the way forward a bit clearer.

The enormous impact of various facets of globalization on cultures around the world challenges us, as human rights activists, to work more effectively with communities concerned about protecting their cultures--and thus leads to the question: How can we together better protect the right to culture?

At the same time, we are aware of the serious harm that can result from a range of cultural beliefs, institutions and practices. This gives rise to a very different question: How can we do a better job of protecting people from harms caused by cultural practices?

Protecting cultures and protecting people from culture-related harm are both difficult endeavors—and both are necessary.

IHRIP’s goal in developing "The Banyan Tree Paradox" was to better equip us as activists to do both.

The 140-page book contains the following chapters:

* What is culture?
* Culture and power
* Culture and gender
* Culture and human rights
* Culture and human rights activism
* Fact-finding and documentation on culture and human rights issues
* Developing strategies around culture and human rights issues

The book makes regular reference to and gives examples from the work of human rights NGOs and others on many of the topics addressed.

Appendices include:
* six case studies that raise important culture and human rights questions. These case studies were discussed at a workshop held in Siem Reap, Cambodia in August 2005;
* some international and regional human rights standards related to culture;
* some definitions of culture; and
* a short bibliography.

In the next several months IHRIP will be publishing Spanish, Arabic and French translations of the book.

The cost of the currently-available English version of "The Banyan Tree Paradox: Culture and human rights activism" is US$30 plus postage and handling.

A limited number of copies will be made available free-of-charge to human rights NGOs that will use the book in their work.

To order a copy of "The Banyan Tree Paradox", contact IHRIP at:

e-mail: [email][email protected]
tel: (1 202) 326-7725
fax: (1 202) 326-7763