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Carlin Carr, Mumbai Community Manager

In February 2010, 12-year-old Rouvanjit Rawla, a student at a prestigious school in Kolkata, committed suicide after being humiliated and caned by his principal. The Rawla incident set off a firestorm of controversy over widespread accounts of corporal punishment in India’s schools — from the most elite institutions to those run by the government. The Ministry of Women and Child Development subsequently banned physical punishment of students, stating of the consequences, “The first violation of the ban will invite up to one year in jail, or a fine of Rs. 50,000 or both. For subsequent violations, imprisonment could be extended to three years with an additional fine of 25,000 rupees,” says an article on the issue. Despite the measures, reports of students continuing to receive harsh physical and verbal abuses from their superiors continue to plague India’s school system.

A study conducted last year by the Parent-Teacher Association United Forum found that 100 percent of the 150 teachers they interviewed had used corporal punishment on their students. “The findings left school principals shocked,” says a Times of India report on the issue. The principals may not have known of the extent of the issue, because few incidents were actually being reported to them, neither by the students nor by the parents. Often, parents supported the idea of punishment by the teachers, stating that the child likely deserved it.

Pratham, one of the country’s leading education organizations, says that violence against children in many forms has been “alarmingly” on the rise. In response, Pratham’s Council for Vulnerable Children has partnered with child’s rights groups and government bodies to launch a campaign in Mumbai called “Children First.” Though still in the works, the initiative plans to tackle violence against children in two phases. The first will focus on “creating safety nets within the community by institutionalizing existing groups like child protection vigilance groups.” This phase will also advocate for policy and legal changes to protect child rights and also raise awareness around the issues. Phase two will tackle public institutions in which children engage on a daily basis, including schools, public spaces and public transport. “We are aiming at strengthening the current action along with starting new initiatives to address the issues of quality care and abuse,” says Pratham.

Meanwhile, Delhi High Court has taken action to protect the city’s children. In July, the court asked city officials to come up with a plan for a “zero tolerance” policy to put an end to abuses against students. The rules are to be framed and put up visibly in all schools. At the same time, teachers will need to undergo training to learn alternative actions to handle students and their classrooms. Some principals have already begun training teachers to discuss issues with students or have them write out what they did wrong.

Schools are meant to be safe spaces, and every child has the right to learn without fear of abuse. India is not alone in the situation; in fact, corporal punishment is still legal in 20 states in the U.S. The New York Times held an online debate on the issue; since hitting is still accepted by some communities, especially in the southern states, the practices continues. What are your thoughts? Should corporal punishment be banned outright? Is there ever a place for it? How has your community handled it?

Photo credit: Satish Krishnamurthy

Setelah banjir yang melanda pada pertengahan Januari hingga awal Februari mulai surut, maka mulai terlihat banyaknya kerusakan jalan di ibukota Jakarta. Jalanan rusak dan berlubang jelas sangat mengganggu aktivitas para pengendara, karena selain dapat membahayakan juga seringkali menyebabkan kemacetan. Berdasarkan data Dinas Pekerjaan Umum DKI Jakarta, ada 9.833 titik jalan rusak atau seluas 166.397 meter persegi. Melihat keadaan ini, Dinas PU DKI Jakarta terus bekerja secepat mungkin untuk memperbaiki kerusakan tersebut, Hingga hari Kamis, 6 Maret 2014 data dari Dinas PU menunjukkan sudah 70 persen jalan rusak yang diperbaiki, yaitu sebanyak 9.663 titik dengan luas 161.420 meter persegi. Sedangkan yang belum diperbaiki tinggal 170 titik dengan luas 4.977 meter persegi. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Fri, 03/14/2014 – 16:13

Seiring datangnya tahun yang baru, tahun 2014 ini, musim hujan pun datang di jakarta dan sekitarnya. Hal tersebut dinyatakan dengan status Jakarta siaga banjir, terhitung sejak tanggal 13 Januari hingga 12 Februari 2014. Turunnya hujan dengan intensitas yang tinggi dan selama berhari-hari didaerah Jabodetabek menyebabkan beberapa daerah di ibukota dan sekitarnya pun tergenang air banjir dengan ketinggian air yang beragam. Sungai-sungai yang meluap juga menenggelamkan pemukiman warga di sekitarnya. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Mon, 01/27/2014 – 13:05

Di bulan November ini warga dan pemerintah DKI Jakarta bersiap-siap menghadapi datangnya musim penghujan. Tentu kita masih ingat ketika banjir besar melanda ibukota di awal tahun 2013 ini, saat itu sebagian besar wilayah Jabodetabek terendam air karena intensitas hujan yang tinggi. Bahkan pusat kota Jakarta yang merupakan pusat pemerintahan dan bisnis distrik juga terendam karena peristiwa tanggul jebol di Jalan Latuharhari. Pemprov DKI Jakarta menargetkan pengerjaan persiapan antisipasi banjir selesai pada akhir Desember tahun ini. Pengerjaan tersebut terbagi ke dalam beberapa proyek seperti pengerukan 12 waduk, perbaikan pompa di rumah-rumah pompa, refungsi sungai, normalisasi kali, dan sumur resapan. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Tue, 11/26/2013 – 15:15

Di Bulan Oktober ini, Pemerintah DKI Jakarta memulai pembangunan dua sistem transportasi massal berbasis rel, yaitu MRT dan Monorail. Gubernur Jakarta Joko Widodo meresmikan pembangunan awal stasiun kereta transportasi massal cepat (MRT) di kawasan Dukuh Atas, Jakarta Pusat, pada hari Kamis 10 Oktober 2013. Jalur MRT ini merupakan tahap pertama yang akan menghubungkan kawasan Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, Blok M hingga Lebak Bulus. Rencananya pemerintah Jakarta akan membangun proyek MRT lanjutan yang menghubungkan berbagai wilayah di Jakarta. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Thu, 10/24/2013 – 15:10

Kebijakan pemerintah pusat mengenai low cost green car (LCGC) atau yang lebih dikenal masyarakat sebagai “mobil murah” menimbulkan pro dan kontra. Pemerintah pusat, dalam hal ini Kementerian Perindustrian, menyatakan bahwa dengan adanya LCGC ini akan menumbuhkan industri otomotif dalam negri karena dibuat di Indonesia dan memakai komponen buatan Indonesia. Aturan mengenai LCGC ini tertuang dalam Peraturan Menteri Perindustrian (Permenperin) Nomor 33/M-IND/PER/7/2013 tentang Pengembangan Produksi Kendaraan Bermotor Roda Empat yang Hemat Energi dan Harga Terjangkau. Permenperin itu merupakan turunan dari program mobil emisi karbon rendah atau low emission carbon yang telah diatur dalam Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 41 Tahun 2013 tentang kendaraan yang dikenai Pajak Penjualan atas Barang Mewah (PPnBM). Peraturan itu antara lain menyebutkan tentang keringanan pajak bagi penjualan mobil hemat energi. Hal ini memungkinkan produsen menjual mobil di bawah Rp 100 juta. Dengan peraturan itu, mobil dengan kapasitas mesin di bawah 1.200 cc dan konsumsi bahan bakar paling setidaknya 20 km per liter dapat dipasarkan tanpa PPnBM. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Mon, 09/30/2013 – 10:26

Tentu kita masih ingat mengenai proses normalisasi waduk pluit yang dilakukan beberapa bulan lalu dan sempat menuai banyak protes dari warga setempat. Namun proses normalisasi waduk tersebut tetap terus dilakukan oleh Pemerintah daerah DKI Jakarta dengan tujuan mengembalikan fungsi waduk seperti semula yaitu tempat penampungan air. Bantaran waduk yang dulu menjadi tempat pembuangan sampah dan pemukiman kumuh, kini menunjukkan penampilan yang berbeda. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Tue, 09/03/2013 – 14:37

Selama sebulan terakhir, dimulai pada 2 Juni sampai 3 Juli 2013 yang lalu, Kota Jakarta sedang mengadakan rangkaian perayaan hari ulang tahun yang ke-486. Dengan mengusung tema “Jakarta Baru, Jakarta Kita”, perayaan ulang tahun Kota Jakarta tahun ini terasa berbeda. Dalam merayakan HUT Jakarta tahun 2013 ini, Gubernur DKI Jakarta Joko Widodo lebih banyak menggelar acara yang konsepnya terbuka dan melibatkan masyarakat. Pria yang akrab disapa Jokowi ini mengharapkan, dengan acara-acara yang jenis itu, akan semakin timbul rasa cinta warga terhadap Kota Jakarta. Dari rasa kecintaan ini akan timbul kesadaran untuk menjaga, merawat dan memajukan kota. Jokowi mengungkapkan mulai 2013 dan selama ia menjabat sebagai gubernur, tidak akan ada lagi kesan maupun kondisi eklusif dalam perayaan HUT Kota Jakarta. Semua lapisan warga harus merasa gembira merayakannya. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Wed, 07/24/2013 – 14:17

Sebagai ibukota negara dengan penduduk sekitar 10 juta jiwa, Jakarta menjadi kota dengan kepadatan lalu lintas yang tinggi. Kemacetan menjadi pemandangan sehari-hari bagi warga Jakarta. Meskipun begitu, transportasi publik tetap menjadi pilihan warga Jakarta untuk beraktifitas sehari-hari. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Fri, 06/21/2013 – 11:05

Pada awalnya Waduk Pluit memiliki luas 80 hektare. Sekarang luas waduk tersebut menyusut menjadi 60 hektare. Penyebabnya, 20 hektare luas waduk telah disesaki bangunan ilegal. Luas genangan waduk diperkirakan berkurang dari 80 hektar menjadi sekitar 60 hektar akibat maraknya hunian liar. Waduk juga dipenuhi sampah dan limbah buangan rumah tangga. Dampak berikutnya, terjadilah pendangkalan akibat sedimentasi. Dari kedalaman awal sekitar 20 meter, kedalaman rata-rata waduk seluas 80 hektar itu hanya berkisar 1-5 meter. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Mon, 06/03/2013 – 13:46

“Cities that fail to harness the power of innovation will eventually become the customers of those that do.” — Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola

I had to make a trip to Apapa, home to Lagos’ port (one of the busiest in Africa), a few weeks ago. It was a nightmare; I spent well over an hour getting to my destination. In the absence of a functioning rail system, the goods that come into and leave Apapa have to do so via trucks. Every day Apapa’s broken roads are crammed with hundreds, if not thousands, of trucks, going to, or leaving, the ports.

It’s the same story across the city. A combination of bad roads, too many cars (and trucks), and frequent accidents means that the city is often gridlocked. Everyone who can afford a car buys one, since what passes for public transportation is largely inhospitable — a network of tens of thousands of mini-buses known locally as danfos. In the last few years the government has introduced a bus system that takes advantage of dedicated lanes, but its capacity is a far cry from what is needed. In any case it still has to depend on the overburdened road network.

The motorcycle taxis (okadas) that once dominated and defined the metropolis, providing an opportunity for time-challenged travellers to weave through traffic jams, have recently come under the government’s hammer. They are now restricted to plying side streets away from highways where they’re most needed. (Anecdotal evidence suggests that the traffic situation has since got worse, following the ban, since people now have to use cars where they once rode on okadas.)

The conclusion is obvious. Lagos is in a transportation crisis. A city of close to 15 million persons, larger than London, but without a train system corresponding to what is the London Tube.

Without radical and intelligent solutions the situation is bound to worsen, as Lagos is Africa’s fastest growing city, and the World Bank estimates that there will be more than 20 million people in it by 2020.

What is clear is that Lagos cannot hope to make a dent on its traffic situation without forms of mass transportation that can convey large numbers of people outside of the road network.

The solutions will lie on land — rail lines — and in the water.

A light rail system is under construction, for the first time in Lagos’ history.

What continues to remain underdeveloped, in my opinion, is the water transportation system. The government says it has plans to launch a network of ferry routes and build terminals, but it requires huge investments from the private sector to embark on this.

Lagos is a city that cannot be understood outside of its aquatic context. A fifth of the city is occupied by water. It sits on the Atlantic, and at its heart lies a lagoon. It is criss-crossed by a network of canals, creeks and wetlands. A properly developed water transportation system will take a lot of pressure from the roads. I had first-hand experience of the immense possibilities last week.

I had to return to Apapa a week after my initial trip, and decided, after that initial experience, that there was no way I was going to drive. And so I decided to go by ferry — a service that runs from the Marina across the lagoon, to a jetty that sits at the edge of a flour mill in Apapa.

The journey took only fifteen minutes, from the Marina, to Apapa. (And it was a pretty slow-moving ferry, so cutting journey times shouldn’t be a great challenge).

What surprised me, however, was how under-utilized the ferry service is. You’d have expected to see a fleet of boats departing and arriving by the minute. No. There was only one boat, which was not filled to capacity on any of the legs of my trip.

It’d be interesting to know why the service is not more popular. Of course one challenge is gaining easy access to the Marina jetty in the first place. As far as I could see it had no parking facility. I had to park my car at a mall some distance away, and board a tricycle to the Marina. At the Apapa end, because of the traffic, and absence of okadas, it was a very long walk to my destination. In a city that doesn’t place a premium on sidewalks.

On the whole no single solution will redeem Lagos. It’ll have to be a combination of innovative approaches, all connected to one another, synthesizing into an efficient whole.

The mass transport systems Lagos requires will have to combine affordability (in a city where up to seventy percent of the population ekes out a living in the informal economy) with levels of comfort that can attract the car-obsessed middle-class.

Catalina Gomez, Coordenadora da Rede em Rio de Janeiro

Os “Nem-Nem” são jovens entre 15 e 24 anos que nem estudam, nem trabalham, nem procuram emprego. Segundo dados do último censo, Brasil tem mais de 5 milhões de “Nem- Nem” no seu território, com grande concentração nas áreas urbanas. Rio atualmente tem mais de 150 mil “Nem-Nem”; preocupa que aquela população cresceu em 30 mil entre 2000 e 2010. Quais são as causas deste fenômeno? E quais são as respostas da cidade para enfrentar aquela situação?

Uma causa do fenômeno “Nem-Nem” é a desigualdade e a pobreza. A grande maioria da população carente urbana não tem oportunidade de receber educação de qualidade e porem fica desmotivada e descomprometida dos estudos. Não surpreende que as maiores taxas de abandono escolar sejam entre as populações de baixa renda.

Outro assunto relevante com implicações de gênero e igualdade, são as altas taxas de gravidez adolescente. Muitas das jovens que ficam grávidas interrompem os estudos e a procura de emprego por em quanto cuidam dos filhos. Mais o maior problema, além das implicações da maternidade adolescente, são as consequências negativas da falta de treinamento e experiência na procura de emprego, ficando cada vez mais complicada sua integração no mercado de trabalho.

Algumas das soluções têm sido propostas pela Secretaria Municipal de Educação, que esta ativamente no processo de melhora da qualidade da educação fundamental e segundaria, tentando priorizar as áreas de maior concentração de pobreza e vulnerabilidade. Algumas das ações de melhora da qualidade educativa têm a ver com a melhora dos quadros de professores e das sessões educativas com foco na aprendizagem e as aulas práticas. As Escolas do Amanhã, que tem sido destacadas no URB.im também contribuem na melhora da qualidade da educação nas áreas carentes e violentas da cidade.

Outra resposta importante, especialmente relacionada com aqueles adolescentes com filhos que ainda estudam o procuram emprego, é o aumento da cobertura de creches públicas para crianças de 0-3 anos, que passou de 7 por cento para 21 por cento entre 2000 e 2011. Este é um aumento significativo, mais ainda é preciso um esforço muito maior.

Nas escolas públicas, também existem esforços na melhora da educação sexual, incluindo mais troca de informação entre os jovens e mais dialogo aberto e guia profissional. Embora estes esforços, ainda é preciso ampliar as campanhas educativas e saúde pública para atender as jovens vulnerais e evitar que as meninas vulneráveis sejam a nova geração de “Nem-Nem”.

Foto: Secretaria Municipal de Educação de Rio de Janeiro

Catalina Gomez, Rio de Janeiro Community Manager

A “NEET” is a youth between ages 15 to 24 who does not study and does not work. According to the latest Brazilian census, there are more than 5 million “NEETs” throughout the country, mainly concentrated in urban areas. In Rio alone, there are more than 150,000, and the number is rising: between 2000 and 2010, there were more than 30,000 new “NEETs.” What are the causes of this phenomenon and what is the city doing to respond to this situation?

Two important causes of the “NEET” phenomenon are inequality and poverty. Many poor urban youth have access only to low-quality education that doesn’t engage or motivate them. It therefore isn’t surprising that the great majority of school dropouts are among the poorest population.

Another relevant issue that has enormous implications for gender inequality is the high pregnancy rates among teenagers, which is one of the leading causes of adolescent girl school dropouts. Many of these girls don’t study or work while they take care of their babies. Beyond the effects of adolescent parenthood, the problem with these adolescent mothers is that after caring for their babies, they become part of the “trapped” population that doesn’t have the skills or work experience required to find a job.

Solutions to these issues have been addressed by the Municipal Secretariat of Education, which is actively engaged in improving the quality of basic and secondary education, targeting the most vulnerable areas. Some of the main initiatives to improve education include the improvement of teaching quality, with greater focus on practical courses where students can learn skills and apply their knowledge. The Secretariat has also implemented the Schools of Tomorrow program (previously covered by URB.IM), which aims to improve education in the poor and violent areas of the city.

Beyond the support provided by public schools, the city promotes courses for youth and adults who have temporarily left the path of education, but want to continue their studies. These courses take place throughout the city, are free of charge, and offer flexible schedules and specialized mentorship, so that students can complete their basic education cycles.

Another important response, especially for the adolescent parents who are still studying or looking for a job, is the increased access to public child care for 0-to-3-year-olds: coverage went from 7 percent of children in 2000 to 21 percent in 2011. This in a significant improvement, but it is still insufficient to meet the great demand. In public schools there are also efforts regarding sexual education, which includes greater peer exchange, open dialogue, and guidance.

However, greater joint public health and educational campaigns are required to prevent vulnerable girls from becoming the next generation of youth that are trapped, not working, and not studying.

Photo credit: Municipal Secretariat of Education, Rio de Janeiro

Tal como lo comentamos en la entrada anterior, México está viviendo acontecimientos que hace algunos ayeres eran impensables: las tres principales fuerzas políticas del país están logrando acuerdos, cumpliendo compromisos y avanzando hacia las reformas que el país requiere.

El día de hoy, el Presidente Enrique Peña Nieto hizo oficial el Decreto de la Reforma Educativa, así como sus leyes secundarias (Ley del Servicio Profesional Docente, Ley General de Educación y la Ley para el Instituto Nacional para la Evaluación de la Educación). Lo anterior, sin duda alguna no se pudo haber logrado sin el gran apoyo por parte del presidente del Partido Acción Nacional (PAN): Gustavo Madero, del presidente del Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD): Jesús Zambrano y de la gran labor de cabildeo por parte de diferentes actores del Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI): Luis Videgaray, Manlio Fabio Beltrones y Emilio Gamboa.

Dicho instrumento es un paso importante para lograr abatir el importante rezago a nivel educativo que presenta el país respecto de sus similares en la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), por comparar con algunos. En este sentido, dicha organización realiza el Programa Internacional de Evaluación de Estudiantes (PISA, por sus siglas en inglés), con aplicación cada tres años desde 1997. México se incorporó al programa en el año 2000.

A continuación se muestra la siguiente gráfica para ver el historial de resultados que hemos conseguido hasta la fecha:

Lo anterior, se contrasta con lo observado, por ejemplo, en la evaluación del año 2009, de algunos países:

Los resultados de la prueba 2012, serán dados a conocer durante el próximo diciembre o durante enero del 2014. Para saber un poco más al respecto, a continuación se indican los niveles en los que la OCDE agrupa los resultados antes mostrados:

Competencia Lectora:

• Nivel 5, el más alto (con 625 puntos o más)
• Nivel 4 (de 553 a 625 puntos)
• Nivel 3 (de 481 a 552 puntos)
• Nivel 2 (de 408 a 480 puntos)
• Nivel 1 (de 335 a 407 puntos)
• Por debajo del nivel 1 (menos de 335 puntos)

Matemáticas:

• Nivel 6 (más de 668 puntos)
• Nivel 5 (de 607 a 668 puntos)
• Nivel 4 (de 545 a 606 puntos)
• Nivel 3 (de 483 a 544 puntos)
• Nivel 2 (de 421 a 482 puntos)
• Nivel 1 (de 358 a 420 puntos)
• Por debajo del nivel 1 (menos de 358 puntos)

Competencia en el área de ciencias:

• Nivel 6 (más de 708 puntos)
• Nivel 5 (de 633 a 707 puntos)
• Nivel 4 (de 558 a 632 puntos)
• Nivel 3 (de 484 a 557 puntos)
• Nivel 2 (de 409 a 483 puntos)
• Nivel 1 (de 331 a 408 puntos)

En este sentido, una de las ventajas que dicha prueba se repita cíclicamente es que facilita el seguimiento de los resultados de las políticas públicas adoptadas. “La gran cantidad de poblaciones participantes, que representa un tercio de la población mundial, enriquece las posibilidades de aprender de los resultados específicos obtenidos por los diferentes países en las políticas que van adoptando frente a los datos de la evaluación”.

Derivado de lo anterior, la principal ley secundaria que ha causado más furor dentro de un grupo del magisterio nacional es la denominada “Ley de Servicio Profesional Docente”. Para conocer un poco más al respecto, a continuación pongo algunos puntos que ésta involucra:

• Crea perfiles, parámetros e indicadores de los profesores de preescolar, primaria, secundaria y bachillerato.

• Vigila la aplicación de las evaluaciones por las autoridades educativas y organismos descentralizados para el ingreso, la promoción, el reconocimiento y la permanencia en el Servicio.

• Promueve la evaluación del nivel educativo de los alumnos.

• Evalúa el desempeño del docente al menos cada 4 años. Si el docente no aprueba en 3 oportunidades la evaluación, se dan por terminados los servicios que ofrece como profesor.

• Difunde los resultados generales de las evaluaciones obligatorias.

• Administrar la asignación de plazas con estricto apego al orden de prelación de los sustentantes que resultaron idóneos en el concurso.

• Capacita y actualiza continuamente a los maestros a través de programas y acciones específicas.

• Separa de la actividad docente a profesores que no asistan a sus labores por más de tres días consecutivos, siempre y cuando no exista justificación.

• Realiza concursos de oposición para garantizar que el profesor cuenta con las capacidades necesarias para ejercer la profesión.

• Involucra a los profesores seleccionados a un curso de inducción con duración de dos años. Las autoridades les realizarán una evaluación anual.

Tal como se puede observar, dicha ley es de suma trascendencia para el país, en especial, para la educación nacional; termina con el tráfico de renta, venta y asignación de plazas, logrando una capitación, actualización y evaluación periódica a los docentes.

En la siguiente entrada de este blog, señalaremos algunos aspectos del diagnóstico situacional actual del Sistema Educativo Nacional.

María Fernanda Carvallo, Mexico City Community Manager

Literacy, the ability to read and write, does not pose a big challenge for Mexico City. Instead, it is new and constantly changing technology and methods of communication that have pushed the population to suffer from a new kind of illiteracy: digital illiteracy. The fact that certain Mexico City residents are unable to communicate and receive information makes social inclusion impossible. In addition, basic computer skills are not enough to be digitally literate nowadays. The lack of skills needed to access technological tools limits the inhabitants of Mexico City from having their voices heard, which makes it difficult for them to fully exercise their democratic rights.

This new form of digital illiteracy is associated with various factors, including income, education, and age. The study “Technology in Mexican Civil Society” indicates that “the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) sector still faces difficulties in connecting low-income people in vulnerable areas to new technology and communication methods. Close to 30 million people without a mobile phone belong to low socio-economic classes.” Furthermore, the study argues that the high cost of telecommunication services in Mexico has prevented many people from accessing the Internet. According to Regina de Angoitia and Fernando Ramirez, both cited in the study, “among mobile phone users belonging to low social classes, 90 per cent have prepaid plans and use close to 10 per cent of their monthly income for communication services; in comparison, middle class families use around 3.7 per cent of their monthly income.”

The Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Asamblea Legislativa del Distrito Federal (Human Rights Commission of the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District) proposed the creation of a bill called Ley del Derecho al Acceso a Internet (the Right to Internet Access Act) in order to eliminate digital illiteracy, promote the development of society as a whole, and promote citizen participation. The Historic Downtown and the Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City currently offer free wifi Internet access. ALDF’s goal is to be able to serve vulnerable populations in areas that do not have Internet connections, such as Tláhuac, Gustavo A. Madero, and Iztapalapa. In order to make this possible, working committees were put in place with members of NGOs and of the Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología del Gobierno Capitalino (Ministry of Science and Technology of Mexico City) with the goal of developing a proposal that will be economically and technologically feasible.

Unfortunately, there is currently no working plan to make the free Internet access bill possible. However, there are efforts from civil society that should be noted. For example, el Comité para la Democratización Informática (the Committee for the Democratization of Information) is working on creating ICT community centers in low-income areas. Their aim is to empower marginalized youth through technology so they can become agents of social change. Similarly, in order to strengthen citizen participation, the Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social (National Center for Social Communication) works with NGOs, nonprofit organizations, and social movements by advising them with strategic and communication practices. This organization’s emphasis is helping people by spreading their message and by creating an online network using social media.

With the help of civil society, the bill for free Internet access can gain support and be strengthened. This bill would provide free Internet access to Mexico City’s residents, guaranteeing them the human right of access to information, and would therefore help eliminate social discrimination in various sectors of the population.

Photo credit: CDI

Rendy A. Diningrat

Sejak terpilihnya Jokowi sebagai gubernur, Jakarta terus mengalami pembenahan. Jika dalam masalah pendidikan dan kesehatan, pemerintah provinsi melancarkan gebrakannya melalui kartu Jakarta Sehat dan Jakarta Cerdas – kini kota yang menjadi pusat pemerintahan nasional tersebut juga memperbaiki kotanya melalui tata kelola pemerintahan. Reformasi birokrasi, begitu kiranya istilah yang dapat digunakan untuk mencapai Good Governance.

Good Governance merupakan istilah yang dipakai untuk menggambarkan suatau tata kelola pemerintahan yang baik. Menurut Prof. Dr. Sofian Effendi, Mantan Rektor Universitas Gadjah Mada, tatanan pemerintahan yang baik dapat berkembang subur bila ada kepercayaan (trust), transparansi, partisipasi, serta tata aturan yang jelas dan pasti. Good governance akan berkembang sehat dibawah kepemimpinan yang berwibawa dan memiliki visi yang jelas. Pilar-pilar inilah yang kemudian dibenahi Jokowi untuk menata Ibu Kota Jakarta.

Menggebrak Tata Kelola Pemerintahan

Pembenahan tata kelola Jakarta dilakukan Pemprov DKI dengan mengajak masyarakat di dalam prosesnya. Sebagaimana wawancara Jokowi dalam Berita Satu yang menyatakan bahwa Pemerintah Provinsi DKI akan melakukan transparansi program-program pembangunan Jakarta selama 5 tahun ke depan. Transparansi tersebut rencananya diwujudkan melalui publikasi anggaran di spot-spot publik di 6 wilayah DKI Jakarta. Selain membentuk keterbukaan publik, hal ini sekaligus untuk mereduksi tindak kecurangan yang dilakukan oleh oknum-oknum pemerintahan.

Selain transparansi rencana pembangunan, upaya mememperbaiki tata kelola pemerintah, juga dilakukan Pemerintah Provinsi dengan membangun sebuah keomitmen bersama dengan masing-masing kepala daerah (red: walikota) di enam wilayah DKI Jakarta. Diantara komitmen tersebut, salah satunya dieujudkan melalui kesepakatan pemberhentian walikota bila tiap daerah yang dipimpinnya dinilai tidak mengalami kemajuan.

Ya, membenahi Jakarta memang tak cukup dengan kehebatan teknisnya saja. Profesionalisme dan komitmen kepala daerah menjadi hal yang sangat penting untuk “benar-benar” mewujudkan Jakarta yang lebih tertata. Apalagi saat ini Jakarta semakin dilihat dunia. Apakah dilihat dari segi masalah atau potensinya, pilihannya hanyalah di tangan kita. Pertanyaannya, mampukah semua aktor yang kini memadati ruang kota Jakarta bekerja secara sinergis untuk membenahi Ibu Kota Jakarta?

For over two decades, Brazil has been actively working to eradicate child labor, especially through legislation and by implementing effective interventions. A key step forward was the approval of the Child and Adolescent Statute in 1990, which sets out the rights of children and adolescents, and the Constitutional Amendment from 1998, which explicitly prohibits work by anyone who is 16 years or younger. Work conducted by a teenager aged 14 to 16 can only be training-related and should ensure the individual’s education, health, and overall wellbeing. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 06/10/2013 – 00:00

O Brasil vem trabalhando ativamente na erradicação do trabalho infantil, especialmente na formulação da legislação requerida e da execução de programas eficientes. Os primeiros avanços incluem a aprovação do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente de 1990 que resume os principais direitos desta população e da Emenda Constitucional de 1998 que aumenta a idade mínima para a entrada no mercado de trabalho. Com ela passou a ser proibido qualquer tipo de trabalho até os 16 anos. Entre 14 e 16 anos os jovens só podem exercer trabalhos remunerados na condição de aprendiz e sempre garantindo a proteção integral desta população, especialmente a frequência à escola. Leia mais ou discutir.

For over two decades, Brazil has been actively working to eradicate child labor, especially through legislation and by implementing effective interventions. A key step forward was the approval of the Child and Adolescent Statute in 1990, which sets out the rights of children and adolescents, and the Constitutional Amendment from 1998, which explicitly prohibits work by anyone who is 16 years or younger. Work conducted by a teenager aged 14 to 16 can only be training-related and should ensure the individual’s education, health, and overall wellbeing. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 06/10/2013 – 00:00

According to UNICEF, roughly 15 million children under the age of 14 were employed in Nigeria’s semi-formal and informal sectors in 2006. The most common forms of employment include street vendors, beggars, shoe shiners, mechanics, bus conductors, and domestic servants. This high incidence of child labor follows Nigeria’s high poverty rate: these children’s labour sometimes serves as the only source of income not only for themselves, but also for their families. Child labour has become an avenue for impoverished families in Lagos to provide basic needs for themselves, at the expense of the child. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Wura — Mon, 06/10/2013 – 00:00

Shubbo, an eleven-year-old boy from Dhaka, welds car parts for a living. Too young and skinny to carry parts, Shubbo carries out one of the most risky and demanding tasks while his boss sips tea. He works from morning until late at night, and earns less than a dollar a day. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Editor — Mon, 06/10/2013 – 00:00

Statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (the National Institute of Statistics and Geography) show that the child labor rate in Mexico City is 6.1 percent. According to Thais Desarrollo Social (Thais Social Development), child labor is a phenomenon that stems from many causes, including access to a proper education. However, poverty is the main factor that leads to child labor in Mexico City. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Maria Fernanda Carvallo — Mon, 06/10/2013 – 00:00

Estadísticas del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía indican que la tasa de trabajo infantil en el Distrito Federal es del 6.1 por ciento. De acuerdo a Thais Desarrollo Social, el trabajo infantil es un fenómeno originado por diversas causas como la falta de acceso a educación de calidad. Sin embargo, la pobreza es el principal factor que explica la incidencia de trabajo infantil en el Distrito Federal. Leer más o discutir.

Statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (the National Institute of Statistics and Geography) show that the child labor rate in Mexico City is 6.1 percent. According to Thais Desarrollo Social (Thais Social Development), child labor is a phenomenon that stems from many causes, including access to a proper education. However, poverty is the main factor that leads to child labor in Mexico City. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Maria Fernanda Carvallo — Wed, 06/05/2013 – 15:59

I work in three social projects in favelas of Rio de Janeiro — a daycare in Rocinha, a soccer program in Mangueira, and a digital literacy project in Cidade de Deus — all of which provide education and support networks for children and their families in extremely underprivileged communities. On a given day I probably interact with 20-70 kids depending on which project I am working at. From the moment I began working at these projects, it became clear that community integration is a central part of the environment in which these children live. Read more.

Submitted by Editor — Tue, 02/26/2013 – 10:38

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) represents one of the many successful south-south relationships in Africa, connecting 15 West African states to promote mobility, trade, and ultimately faster growth of the member nations. These states include Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who have taken their relationships one step further to establish stronger trade ties. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Wura — Mon, 09/09/2013 – 00:00

The fastest growing urban centers are also home to the world’s worst commuter experiences. Eight of the top ten painful metro areas reported in IBM’s most recent Commuter Pain Index are in fast-growth economies. Development of public transit systems is moving at a rapid pace in many areas, and some places may be investing in more than they actually need or can afford. Read more.

Submitted by Tracey Grose — Wed, 06/26/2013 – 17:17

Sebagai ibukota negara dengan penduduk sekitar 10 juta jiwa, Jakarta menjadi kota dengan kepadatan lalu lintas yang tinggi. Kemacetan menjadi pemandangan sehari-hari bagi warga Jakarta. Meskipun begitu, transportasi publik tetap menjadi pilihan warga Jakarta untuk beraktifitas sehari-hari. Baca lebih lanjut.

Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Fri, 06/21/2013 – 11:05

Anyone comparing countries can quickly conclude there isn’t a direct fixed relationship between economic growth and quality public services. Per capita income can be terrible while total national income is high. Economic growth can be high yet maintain widespread inequality. This is not a sustainable way to run a country, yet this is how things are and have always been done in Brazil, the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery and today the world’s 7th largest economy where 21% of the population is still under the poverty line. Brazil today is 106th in GDP per capita. We also rank among the worst in inequality, at number 17, although this is a significant improvement over the 1st place position we occupied two decades ago. Read more.

Submitted by Catalytic Communities — Thu, 06/20/2013 – 11:08

Planning the medium and long-term development of a city is not an easy task — it requires a clear framework and effective tools. In order to understand how planning takes place in Rio de Janeiro, it is important to look at the highlights of the Brazilian planning framework, and then how it is implemented at the city level. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 05/06/2013 – 00:00

Planejar o desenvolvimento urbano das cidades no médio e longo prazo é um grande desafio. Para compreender melhor o processo de planejamento urbano no Rio de Janeiro, é importante descrever o marco do planejamento no Brasil para logo compreender melhor sua implementação ao nível da cidade. Leia mais ou discutir.

Planning the medium and long-term development of a city is not an easy task — it requires a clear framework and effective tools. In order to understand how planning takes place in Rio de Janeiro, it is important to look at the highlights of the Brazilian planning framework, and then how it is implemented at the city level. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 05/06/2013 – 00:00

Mumbai’s millions of commuters rely on a woefully outdated public transportation system. The two-and-only rail lines carry more than 7.24 million people every day. The dangerously overcrowded Mumbai locals, while surprisingly fast and frequent, have become increasingly life-threatening. An average of 12 people die every day on the suburban tracks. Any commuter who can afford to buy a car does so, leaving a traffic-tangled mess of cars, rickshaws, taxis, and worn-out busses on the dusty streets. The resulting emissions concerns have reached alarming rates as well. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Carlin Carr — Mon, 02/04/2013 – 23:00

Hoy en día el proceso de concentración de la población en las áreas externas de la Ciudad, como respuesta a la concentración humana, industrial, comercial y financiera, ha provocado cambios importantes en los patrones de viajes de la movilidad del D.F.. Mientras que en la década de los ochentas los viajes tenían origen y destino en las mismas Delegaciones, actualmente las distancias por recorrer son más largas e interdegacionales, inclusive hasta los municipios del Estado de México pertenecientes a la Zona Metropolitana. En este contexto, la administración del Gobierno del Distrito Federal desde el 2006 ha implementado diversas estrategias para transformar la movilidad y sentar las bases de una política pública de transporte integral. Leer más o discutir.

Submitted by Maria Fernanda Carvallo — Mon, 02/04/2013 – 23:00

The Complexo do Alemão is a agglomeration of several low-income neighborhoods in the North Zone of Rio, with over 90,000 residents. The Complexo is known for its precarious housing, its lack of urban and social infrastructure, and its crime-related past. Since late 2010, however, the Complexo has benefited from several interventions by the police and military; they expelled most of the drug trafficking groups in the area, resulting in a significant drop in crime and violence. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 02/04/2013 – 23:00

O Complexo do Alemão é um conjunto de favelas da Zona Norte do Rio de Janeiro onde moram em torno de 90.000 pessoas. O bairro é conhecido pela sua precariedade e carência de equipamentos urbanos e sociais. Além de suas carências básicas, o Complexo do Alemão tem sido vitima do crime organizado e no passado foi uma das áreas de maior violência da cidade. A partir do final de 2010, o complexo vivenciou uma das maiores operações de pacificação por parte da policia e das forcas armadas, expulsando facções criminosas e diminuindo drasticamente os crimes da área. Read more or join the discussion.

The Complexo do Alemão is a agglomeration of several low-income neighborhoods in the North Zone of Rio, with over 90,000 residents. The Complexo is known for its precarious housing, its lack of urban and social infrastructure, and its crime-related past. Since late 2010, however, the Complexo has benefited from several interventions by the police and military; they expelled most of the drug trafficking groups in the area, resulting in a significant drop in crime and violence. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 02/04/2013 – 23:00

María Fernanda Carvallo, Gestor Comunitario de Mexico D.F.

De acuerdo a Juan José Calva, en el artículo “25 años de SIDA en México,” uno de los ejemplos mundiales en los países en desarrollo es Brasil, que ha logrado brindar acceso universal a tratamientos de terapia antirretroviral en su población afectada por el VIH/SIDA. El éxito en esta cobertura ha dependido de tres factores: el compromiso oficial a través de la legislación para asegurar que todos los ciudadanos que lo requieran reciban la terapia, la capacidad del sector público para manufacturar medicamentos, y una enérgica acción de la sociedad civil.

En comparación, en México se identifican grandes desafíos para tratar esta enfermedad. En primer lugar, es necesario lograr la cobertura universal, porque se encuentra un subregistro de personas asintomáticas que viven con VIH/SIDA y esto es un fenómeno recurrente que no permite identificar la cobertura necesaria. El segundo desafío es ofrecer mejor atención médica por profesionales altamente calificados que respondan ante las complicaciones de la enfermedad que abarcan diversas áreas de especialidad. Por último, el tercer reto es buscar medidas eficaces y éticas que garanticen la identificación temprana de las personas contagiadas y asintomáticas. De esta manera, los tratamientos tendrán mayor eficacia en mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas y en la reducción de la propagación del virus.

En este último factor, la Ciudad de México va avanzando en rumbo a la detección oportuna y a la atención universal de las personas que viven con VIH/SIDA. Un ejemplo es CAPPSIDA, una de las organizaciones en la Ciudad de México que brinda diversos servicios para la atención integral y que mantiene y mejora la calidad de vida de las personas con VIH/SIDA. Sus servicios van dirigidos a la prevención, atención y acompañamiento de la enfermedad. Algunos ejemplos son: la aplicación de pruebas rápidas para el diagnóstico de infección por transmisión sexual acompañada de consejerías pre y post-prueba; atención especializada para Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual; taller para padres sobre “La salud sexual y reproductiva”; terapias individuales, familiares y en pareja; atención domiciliaria; atención médica especializada y distribución de condones. Una de sus estrategias innovadoras son las jornadas de prevención que constan de aplicación de pruebas para el diagnóstico en las estaciones del Metro, reclusorios, ferias de salud municipales y visitas a instituciones.

Por su lado, el Colectivo Sol dio origen a la organización Condomóvil, una camioneta móvil que recorre la Ciudad de México y diversas rutas en el país y Centroamérica, para realizar campañas de prevención a través de la realización de pruebas, distribución de preservativos y talleres informativos con la asistencia de promotoras de salud sexual y reproductiva, las cuales realizan sus intervenciones caracterizadas de Dragg Queen. Esta unidad es una estrategia de alcance directo con la población, que ha permitido visitar zonas vulnerables de paso de migrantes en México en las rutas de Centroamérica a Estados Unidos a través del Latin Condom 2013, el cual parte desde la Cd. de México hasta Chile y es patrocinado por Aids Healthcare Foundation (Fundacion del Tratamiento de Salud para el SIDA), Positive Action (Acción Positiva) y Viiv Healthcare.

En este sentido, Condomovil es ejemplo de que un fuerte activismo en el tema atrae la sinergia de diversos actores para lograr un mayor alcance e impacto en las soluciones de las problemáticas sociales.

Foto: Condomovil A.C.

María Fernanda Carvallo, Mexico City Community Manager

In the article “25 Years of AIDS in Mexico,” Juan José Calva takes Brazil as a prime example of a developing country that has been able to provide universal access to antiretroviral therapeutic treatments for the population affected by HIV/AIDS. The success of this medical coverage has depended on three factors: the official legal commitment assuring that all citizens who need treatment will receive it, the capacity of the public sector to manufacture drugs, and a strong civil society.

Compared to Brazil, major challenges remain to treating the disease in Mexico. First, achieving universal coverage is necessary because there is underreporting of asymptomatic people living with HIV/AIDS. This is a common phenomenon that limits proper coverage. The second challenge is to provide better medical care by highly qualified professionals in a wide range of specialties who can respond to the complications of the disease. The third challenge is to find effective and ethical measures to ensure the early identification of infected and asymptomatic people. The treatments will therefore be more effective in improving the quality of life of patients, and in reducing the spread of the virus.

To address this third challenge, Mexico City is taking steps to provide early detection services and healthcare to those living with HIV/AIDS. CAPPSIDA is one of the organizations that provides services for comprehensive care to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Its services aim at prevention, care, and support for those with the disease. Some examples of services offered include the use of rapid tests to diagnose sexually-transmitted infections accompanied by pre- and post-test counseling; parent workshops on sexual and reproductive health; individual, family, and couple therapy; specialized medical attention; and condom distribution. The innovative prevention strategies include providing diagnostic tests in metro stations, prisons, health fairs, and in local institutions.

The Colectivo Sol established the organization Condomovil, a mobile van that drives through Mexico City and through various routes in Mexico and Central America, to campaign for prevention through testing, condom distribution, and information workshops run by sexual health promoters dressed as drag queens. This unit uses a direct outreach strategy that has been able to target vulnerable areas that migrants cross on their way to the United States from Central America, on the so-called “Ruta Latinoamericana-Latin Condom 2013”. This initiative is sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Positive Action, and Viiv Healthcare.

The example of Condomovil demonstrates that strong activism attracts the synergy of several actors to achieve a meaningful outcome and impact in the solution of social issues.

Photo: Condomovil A.C.