O.N.E - April 2009

• How Clean are Hong Kong’s Clothes?

Corporate Social Responsibility in 26 Companies Oxfam releases Transparency Report II O.N.E Person, Kalina Tsang • Iraq – survey of 1,700 women • India – life for women after the tsunami in 2004 • ASEAN reform and the ASEAN People’s Center • The ageing of China’s society – a policy review

09 20 ril Ap

Time files. March 2009 marks the

rights of poor people, I am concerned

Another challenge arises with

second Transparency Report that

about the millions of factory workers

corporate donations. To practice

Oxfam Hong Kong has launched on

who struggle for a living in developing

w ha t we p re a ch , O x fa m ha s a

the garment industry in Hong Kong.

beiNg TRANSPARENt an essential part of being responsible

countries: low wages, long working

rigorous procedure for gathering

I feel encouraged. Good progress

hours, forced overtime, no proper

information about companies who

has been made since the first report

contracts, and many other abuses

wish to donate to us; my team is

in 2006. Back then, the majority of the

along the supply chain. As Hong Kong

responsible for reviewing the social,

companies were reluctant to respond

is a leading investor in Asia’s garment

environmental and human rights

to our survey, and with the highest

industry, it makes strategic sense to

records of a prospective corporate

Transparency rating being only 10

focus on this sector. Better labour

donor. The repor t s we compile

points out of 100, the results were

standards do make a difference,

include recommendations whether

We have trust in a good person,

in Hong Kong. Perhaps the workers

alarming. This time, the highest score

and companies should disclose these

Oxfam should accept funding or not.

and we have more trust in a good

– mostly women – are barely paid

is 70 and more and more companies

better policies so that investors and

Oxfam does not accept donations

system. In the world of finance, Hong

enough to suppor t themselves ,

have been in dialogue with us. In both

consumers can be aware of where their

from a corporation whose business

Kong people are very familiar with

let alone a family. Perhaps the

reports, Oxfam used the most rigorous

money is going.

is undermining the principle and

disclosure of corporate financial data.

factory pollutes. Perhaps there are

It is important for civil society

effectiveness of poverty alleviation: we

Many residents, within and outside

many injuries due to sub-standard

research methodologies to accurately

to push for higher standards, and

are particularly concerned about the

of the financial circles, are investors

equipment. While workers contribute

I remember when I first started

to endorse good CSR , not good

production and financing of weapons,

who make their decisions based on

time and energy to produce the

meeting with the companies. I was

public relations. Oxfam Hong Kong

as well as sub-standard social and

analysis of these data. Companies are

goods, often creating extra value,

almost always asked why Oxfam

wants to be constructive and to work

environmental practices and policies.

expected to provide the information

which eventually brings profits to the

is working on corp orate so cial

alongside companies in their efforts

Declining donations certainly affects

in a transparent manner, not just

company, do they themselves benefit

responsibility (CSR) with the garment

to improve. So, while we challenge

our income, yet we must uphold

because certain laws and regulations

proportionately? Some of us here in

sector in particular. Was it my intention

the practices of certain companies

our ethics and principles. A specific

require them to do so, but also

Hong Kong may benefit, if we have

to request donations? I would answer

even though we know we will face a

example of social responsibility within

because so many members of the

shares in the company, or if we buy

that CSR is not only philanthropy,

strong response from them when they

the agency is that companies making

general public rely on the data.

the products, which are good value

which can be seen to be primarily an

see their low Transparency rating, we

t-shirts for the organisation and its

Yet, corporate transparency is

act of charity. As a champion of the

also hope that a low score can be an

events must demonstrate good labour

broader than revealing financial

Oxfam Hong Kong calls on garment

impetus, an opportunity, for change.

standards and practices – certainly no

information. To be able to trust in

companies to be more transparent.

My experience over the years has

‘sweatshops’ are allowed!

a company, to be able to evaluate

Two years ago, when we undertook

TS Ka AN lin a G

benchmark corporate practices.

By Wong Kwok Ho

for the money.

shown me that there are huge gaps,

The fiscal year in Hong Kong

whether it is run ethically or

the first transparency research on the

or even a strong mistrust in some

has come to a close. In 2009-10, we

not, requires more information.

disclosure of labour practices by Hong

cases, between the NGO community

will launch a second CSR Survey of

Companies should also report their

Kong garment companies, the results

and the corporate world. It has

the Hang Seng Index Constituent

social and environmental impacts,

were disappointing. The majority of

taken me many, many meetings with

Companies as well as Good Fashion:

including labour standards. Imagine

companies scored zero, indicating that

some companies to reach a common

A Guide to being an Ethical Clothing

a manufacturing company which has

they had virtually no system at all for

understanding of terms, working

Company. Watch this space.

factories in a developing country.

such information disclosure. In the

Perhaps the working conditions there

latest research, we revisited the issue

are not as satisfactory as workplaces

once again, this time with a larger

methods and principles. It has been worth it.

Kalina Tsang coordinates Oxfam’s private sector engagement efforts. She is based in Hong Kong.

number of garment companies. Credit

in this survey. Another five have scores

Equally impor tant, Oxfam

should be given to those companies

ranging from 10 to 33. Esquel is the

acknowledges the role of the individual

who score higher, albeit a few, and

only company with a rating of over 40;

in shaping corporate practices. The

those who engaged in dialogue with

they were awarded 70 points, which

consumer is encouraged to urge his

Oxfam and the consultant, CSR Asia,

is comparable to the highest scorers

or her favourite brand to disclose

during the research process. In general,

in a survey of the Canadian market in

their labour practices; the consumer

however, the majority of companies are

2006/07.

can also exercise consumer rights by

still far from satisfactory in terms of

Transparency is an essential step to

choosing to purchase only ethically

transparency in their labour practices.

corporate social responsibility. It opens

produced clothes. By the same token, an

Nineteen of t went y- six sur veyed

companies’ conduct to public scrutiny.

investor can make investment decisions

companies in fact received 0 out of 100

Transparency, and subsequently social

to support these same companies. A

and environmental reporting, is in

socially responsible investment strategy

fact a corporate mechanism to hold

should maximise both financial returns

itself responsible. A company that acts

and the social good.

irresponsibly is likely to cover things

Corporate transparency is not an

up. They generally dislike transparency

end itself. It is a stepping stone to

and reporting, and if done at all, it

good practices of corporate social

is likely nothing more than window

responsibility, and eventually the well-

dressing. On the contrary, a responsible

being of poor people.

company is usually eager to inform their customers and investors. The company benefits from the greater transparency and the better corporate image, which helps build links to extra business opportunities.

“Transparency Report II: Have Hong Kong Garment Companies Improved their Reporting on Labour Standards?” is available as a free download from the Oxfam hong Kong website.

Please visit: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/ contents/54193 Wong Kwok Ho worked on Transparency Report II and is a member of the Policy, Campaigns, and Communications Unit of Oxfam Hong Kong. He is based in Hong Kong.

At a Hong Kong-owned factory in Cambodia; Hong Kong is the biggest investor in country's garment industry / Fiona Shek, Oxfam Hong Kong

IRAQ: IN HER WORDS

The women of Iraq have been

in Iraq’ issued in 2007, when one

caught in a silent emergency for

third of Iraqis were in need of

the past six years: poverty among

humanitarian assistance. No Oxfam

women is increasing, basic health

staf f members have been based

and education services are collapsing,

in Iraq since August 2004 due to

more and more women are the sole

security risks, yet Oxfam Hong Kong

head of the household, and violence

has supported various humanitarian

against women remains high. The year

efforts, including peace advocacy,

2009 looks harsh: women are worried

water and sanitation work, and public

that the fall in oil prices will make it

health projects.

hard to earn an income.

Oxfam International’s report, In

AN ALTERNATIVE regionalism

By Alexander C. Chandra

Her Own Words – Iraqi women talk

TO WORK IS TO PRESERVE YOUR HONOUR

about their greatest concerns and

This is a first-hand account of a

challenges, presents the real-life

50-year-old woman who wishes to

situation of women in five provinces

remain anonymous. She lives in a small

Regionalism is not new to Southeast

society groups. Policy makers generally

make ASEAN genuinely inclusive

across the country. The survey of

wooden hut on an unpaved road, with

Asia. After World War II, the region

pursue these initiatives with little or

and developmental. Civil society

1,700 people and the 8 in-depth case

no air-conditioning and electricity

experimented with the formation of

no consultation with the public, and

engagement with ASEAN is critical

stories were collected by two Iraqi

for only three hours a day at best.

several groupings, from the USA-backed

in general, only elite intellectuals and

to achieve sustainable, pro-poor

organisations, Al-Amal and Women

In the summer, she sleeps outside,

Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation

business people have been able to

development, and Oxfam sees that

for Peace, and then analysed by a

hoping for a breeze. The nearest

( SE ATO ) a n d th e A s s o cia tio n of

participate. For these reasons, civil

an alternative regionalism is needed,

researcher at Baghdad University. It

health services are far away, and

Southeast Asia (ASA) to Maphilindo,

society groups began to mobilise to

one that attends to poor people’s

is a follow-up to the Oxfam report

unaffordable. A widow, she supports

named using abbreviations of its then

reform the ASEAN. The mid-2000s was a

basic needs and rights.

‘Rising to the Humanitarian Challenge

the family herself by working in Najaf,

three member countries: Malaysia, the

turning point in their efforts: there was

Early on, in 2008, Oxfam supported

Philippines and Indonesia.

a strong call for a more people-centred

an initiative by the Southeast Asian

These efforts culminated in the

organisation, an ASEAN that would,

Committee for Advocacy (SEACA) to

establishment of the Association of

in effect, put people at the centre

organise a national level consultation

Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 8

of its policy-making processes. The

within the CLMV countries, as the

August 1967, in Bangkok. The founding

population of ASEAN member countries

four countries are the least developed

members were the governments of

reaches 560 million people.

nations of Southeast Asia. SEACA

Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

ASEAN responded slowly to people’s

and other groups helped enable

demands. For example, late last year,

poor people to make their needs and

The fall of the Berlin Wall gave

with the launch of the ASEAN Charter,

rights known: various actions in the

way to a multi-polarisation of global

one of the most important documents

CLMV countries were conducted in the

a four-kilometre walk away. For 10

AN OVERVIEW •

60% of women respondents say safety is their top concern

•

as incense and candles at a cemetery there, accompanying visitors to their deceased relatives’ graves, sprinkling

35.5% are now heads of

water on the tombs and burning

households

incense. There is no set income for

• about 45% earned less

income in 2008 than in 2006 and 2007 •

years, she has been selling items such

33% have received no

this work – she receives what people are willing to pay. She says she could make a better living if safety could be ensured.

politics and the strengthening and

that bind the memb er countrie s

run-up to the 14th ASEAN Summit in

emergence of existing and new regional

together, civil society groups had

February 2009.

political - economic arrangement s

pushed hard for the removal of an

Oxfam has also supported the

around the world. ASEAN attracted new

outdated clause known as the ASEAN

establishment of a new regional

memberships from Cambodia, Laos,

Way, which dictates the modus-operandi

organi s ation , w hich op ene d in

Myanmar and Vietnam (also known

of the grouping. Apart from giving

January 2009. Based in Jakarta, the

as the CLMV countries), and now has

importance to the non-interference

ASEAN Peoples’ Center has been

ten members – all the countries in the

principle, the clause allows member

in the planning for several years,

region – except for the relatively new

countries to turn a blind eye to gross

and is especially needed now, with

40% of the women who

Celsius. I have to rely upon passersby

nation of Timor Leste, which will join

violations of human rights throughout

the recent launching of the ASEAN

have children can not send

to give me water, if not, I remain

by 2011.

the region.

Charter and the strengthening of

their children to school

thirsty and become dehydrated by the

22% have experienced

time I get home.

the ASEAN Secretariat, also based in

•

better than nothing – my life depends

since 2003

on this as I receive no government

76% of widows do not

support for being a widow. Sometimes

receive a government pension

I spend the whole day on an empty

• about

25% do not have daily

access to drinking water •

“The work here is difficult, but it is

humanitarian assistance

stomach. I get so thirsty in this heat; in the summer the sun beats down on me – the temperature reaches 45 degrees

Throughout the late 1990s and

Despite efforts, the final draft of the

until today, ASEAN’s scope has been

Charter essentially remains the same as

expanding. Today, it covers a wide range

it has been since ASEAN’s establishment

There is a lot of work ahead, by

of issues, such as security, regional

in 1967. Moreover, although the Charter

the ASEAN Peoples’ Center and by

trade issues, and an ambitious project

also mentions the creation of an ASEAN

Oxfam alike, to make sure that the

their homes at least once

military checkpoints just to give me

since 2003

a sense of security, but nowhere is

Jakarta.

on a so-called ASEAN identity. The

Human Rights Body by the end of 2009,

needs and rights of the approximately

launching of Bali Concord II, which calls

it remains to be seen how effective this

560 million people living in the ASEAN

for the acceleration and strengthening

body will really be.

countries are accounted for in all of

of ASEAN integration through the

As a development organisation,

establishment of ASEAN Community

Oxfam has always been committed

by 2020 (later accelerated to 2015), put

to making sure that the voices of

the grouping in an active mode for the

poor and marginalised people are

first time in its history.

heard by policy-makers; and Oxfam

Yet, many of these initiatives fail

Hong Kong is taking the lead among

to reflect the interests of wider civil

Oxfam International in the effort to

ASEAN’s decisions. The process never ends.

Alexander C. Chandra is currently Senior Policy Advisor on ASEAN with Oxfam Hong Kong, but will soon take up a new post of Southeast Asia Regional Coordinator of the Trade Knowledge Network. See ‘New Partner Organisations’ section for a profile of the ASEAN Peoples’ Centre.

•

domestic violence •

55% have had to abandon

• Nearly 50% share their

homes with another family • More than 30% have a family

member who died violently • about 25% are not married –

“Sometimes, I hear gunshots nearby, and find murdered men and women in the streets. I approach

really safe.

“My work is degrading, dangerous, humiliating and tiresome, but what can I do about it? To work is to preserve your honour. It is better than begging. I have been able to

the number of men of

raise three girls and a son. I have been

marrying age has declined

able to survive all these years with this work.

TSUNAMI 2004, LESS POVERTY NOW Ceerwan Aziz / Oxfam

“My life has been made worse [since the US declared war on Iraq in 2003]. American forces bombarded the military unit where my son used to work. One of the bombs landed close to him. Ever since, he has had mental health problems. Five years have passed, and he still has no sense of what is going on around him; he receives no support at all from the government for his condition.

“The government neglects us here [in the neighbourhood]. It is deemed to be an illegal settlement. As a result of this, we struggle with most aspects of our lives. The water source at the end of our street is mixed with sewage, the pipe has been broken for some time but no one has fixed it; so we often have no choice but to drink sewage infested water. We do not have a sewage system so we discharge our wastewater into a pit beside the house and then into the street once it is full. We do this with our own hands. I had to undergo surgery to remove one of my kidneys because I have had to drink unclean water for so long.

“I am in dire need. I can't have what others eat. I hear about people since we tasted this, as it is far too expensive. Occasionally, the visitors to the graveyard give me some food, which I take back home. I rely upon myself. On a good day, I earn US$7 a day and that provides two meals for my son and me. I am a widow but I

training and counseling for sangam

for children aged 3 to 5, we provided

groups. Also, through the small loans

undergarments and sanitary napkins

provided for women by SNEHA ,

for adolescent girls, and we provided

women have been able to set up

women with cooking oil, cooking

small businesses: this change of status

My name is Jenitharani from

I slept on the street, in front of a

utensils and a small amount of cash.

has brought real changes in gender

Seruthur, a village in southern India.

shop. The next morning I walked to a

For infants, we provided milk, fruit

relations. More and more, women

This is my encounter with the tsunami.

small town named Thiruthuraipoondi

and nutritious biscuits.

are being seen as breadwinners. More

Please keep in mind that I am a

where there were relief camps. We

Yet, early on, we realised that

and more, women are gaining respect.

physically challenged person. (Editor’s

were placed at a school, where food

relief supplies alone would not be

And there is less and less violence, and

note: Jenitharani has a deformed foot

packets were distributed along with

sufficient. Many other aspects of life

less and less poverty.

and can not run easily.)

used clothes. My village of Seruthur

needed to be addressed, especially

The dawn of 26th of December

is known for our hard work and self-

for adolescent girls and women.

2004 started like any other day in my

reliance, and it was horrible for us

Many teenage girls, for instance, were

fishing village, where the men fish in

to stand in a queue for food and

being forced into marriage, often to

the sea and bring in the catch, and

clothing. I spent a week in the camp. It

older men who had been widowed.

then the women buy the fish, market

was difficult. There were no toilets for

Women were also being pressured

them and process them. Most of the

people with disabilities and no privacy

to have children; even women who

buying and trading is done right

for women when we bathed.

had had tubal ligation were being

I went home after a week. I was

pressured to have another procedure.

their usual morning chores, and the

determined to return, even though

Whole families were being given

children were playing. All of a sudden,

155 people in Seruthur had died.

more assistance after the tsunami,

I noticed a huge wave coming.

Actually, we all wanted to be home

such as the funds for a new house,

I had never seen a wave like

before 14 January, a big Tamil festival.

so people were quickly trying to

this. It was black. I was scared, and

Many noble - minded and good -

establish or re-establish a household

started going in the

hear ted people

status. Domestic violence was another

opposite direction,

had volunteered

concern, especially when men were

but due to my bad

to help, such a s

drunk, and since drinking is common

foot, I was not able

university students

among the men, battering was all too

to run fast at all.

who cleaned up our

frequent.

There was chaos,

village. Because I

With the support of Oxfam Hong

crowds, people

could not inform

Kong, SNEHA established a fund

– Chellammal, 52

SNEHA , the NGO

for people to repair their homes,

where I have been

regardless of their family status.

village, and everyone seemed to be

working since 2002, that I was safe,

V ill a g e r s d i d t h e co n s t r u c ti o n

going there.

they came to my village, to my house.

work themselves, with the process

O n e a f t e r a n o t h e r, t h r e e

They also ensured that they would

monitored by the community. Women

tremendously huge waves came.

support the village. I started work

were also supported to restart their

After the first wave which was the

again on 3 January 2005.

livelihoods, through training and

I have been in a SNEHA sangam for seven years now. It has strengthened me in so many ways. Initially, we joined because of the savings, only thinking that it will be some use in times of need, which it has been. But more than that, it has given me the awareness about so many problems and the realisation that there are so many problems in this world that are bigger than mine.

running. There is a sand dune in our

November 21 is World Fisheries Day, and SNEHA also initiated Fisher People Resurgence Day, on 26 December, the day of the tsunami

slowest, we ran to our boats and

Many NGOs offered assistance

small loans. As part of the partnership,

pushed them to safety. The second

to the wor s t disas ter in human

Oxfam urged SNEHA to continue to

and third came faster, which washed

history. On 16 January, shelters were

work against gender discrimination,

many people away. People who had

constructed in Seruthur. Up until

including domestic violence.

gulped the brackish sea water were

that time, homeless people had been

SNEHA took up the challenge to

vomiting. There was debris strewn

living with families in any house

address some of these problems with

everywhere, many houses were in

that was less damaged. While NGOs

shatters, destroyed. I found people

helped provide what was possible,

crying for their departed loved ones.

t h e s p e ci a l n e e d s o f c h il d r e n ,

Corpses were all around the village.

adolescent girls and adult women

The tsunami killed so many women

were not generally taken care of,

and children in particular: 88 women

initially. It was in this scenario that

died, 2 men, and 65 children. Women

SNEHA – which stands for Social Needs

and children comprised about three-

Education and Human Awareness

fourths of all deaths in India.

– was par ticularly helpful. Af ter

With severe pain in my legs, I

discussions and needs assessments

walked 15 kilometres and reached

with self-help groups known as

the village of Thirukuvalai at night.

sangam, we provided educational

entire system is corrupt, I would need

The Elderly: Respect and Neglect

to have powerful connections in the

I n te r n a ti o n all y, a s o ci e t y i s

the Rights of Old People, was passed in

authorities departments before I can

considered to be aged if seven or more

1996, yet several Articles were in place

Some researchers urgently

get any help.

per cent of the population is elderly.

as early as 1982, when the current

call for a significant improvement

“The more security we have, the

In 2000, China’s population was nearly

Constitution of China was adopted

i n t h e i m p l e m e n t a ti o n of t hi s

more visitors are able to visit their

1.25 billion, with about 10 per cent

by the 5th National People's Congress.

comprehensive legislation, as elderly

dead relatives, and the more I am able

being over 60 years old, and 7 percent

Article 45 ensures material assistance

people, especially the rural elderly,

to sell goods and make profits. I wish

over age 65. According to projections

from the State and society for the

are becoming increasingly poor,

I could own a kiosk to protect myself

by the China National Committee on

elderly, and Article 49 requires citizens

v uln e rab le an d v i c timi s e d . F o r

from rain and sun. I am afraid that

Ageing, elderly people over the age

to support their elder parents and

instance, the ‘five guarantees’ have

things will become worse when I grow

of 60 will comprise about 18 per cent

prohibits ‘maltreatment’. Protection

hardly been a ‘guarantee’ for them

older and that I will have no salary to

of the population by the year 2020,

is further reinforced in Article 104 of

– instead, researchers identify ‘five

depend on. What will I do to provide

and the figure will reach 30 per cent

the General Principles of the Civil Law

vulnerabilities’: old age, loneliness,

for my son and me?”

by 2050 – this ratio will remain steady

of 1986. Another set of regulations

ill health, frailty and poverty. The

until about the year 2100.

passed in 1994 is directed specifically

words of Confucius, 不患寡而患不均

To read the full survey, released on 8 March, International Women’s Day, please visit: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/53307

– Saraswathi, 55

In all these travails, my sangam helps me to retain my sanity.

– Selva Sundari, 27

My sangam has been my best friend at many a crucial time.

– S. Rathinavalli, 55

The sangam meeting is my only respite in my otherwise ever busy life.

– Parvathi, 30

Jenitharani (right) and Jesu Rethinam (Director of SNEHA) in Hong Kong, being interviewed by the press / Oxfam Hong Kong

at the government offices but I was one to mediate for me. Because the

SNEHA, through our sangam, gave us all that we require to restart our livelihoods.

on the beach. People were doing

do not receive benefits, I enquired unable to get anything, as I have no

Jenitharani visited Hong Kong in February 2009 with the Director of SNEHA, Ms. Jesu Rethinam. They shared the successes of SNEHA with students, the media and with the general public. Oxfam Hong Kong assisted SNEHA with livelihoods, house-rebuilding, training and advocacy projects for three years, from 2005 to 2008.

Photos courtesy of SNEHA

eating meat, it has been so long

materials and helped open preschools

health care, and funeral services.

Many laws are in place to protect

for rural areas, and provides ‘five

or ‘problems arise not from scarcity,

the rights of elderly people. The central

guarantees’ for elderly people there:

but inequity’, seem operative, and the

piece of legislation, Law Safeguarding

adequate food, clothing, housing,

reality is that the hardship will worsen

traditional health cooperatives almost

discussion is the lack of attention paid to

collapsed. By the 1990s, health care was

the majority of the population who are

largely inadequate and unaffordable to

completely uncovered by formal pensions

most rural people, and with the government

– the rural elderly”. The study posits that

trying to privatise, clinics encountered

Confucian filial piety no longer maintains

insurmountable financial problems :

OXFAM in the NEWS

the traditional institution of family care

government funding of Township Health

CONGO

for the elderly, and that collectivisation

Centres fell to as low as 15 per cent and

under Communist rule had undermined

usage rate to 40 per cent.

Join Oxfam’s campaign against climate change and poverty: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/climatechange

It is now over six months since the upsurge

the traditional role of the family years ago,

Some rural communities have been

of violence in September

especially the leadership position of the

able to revive their traditional health

2008, and the crisis in the

elderly in rural communities. Eventually,

cooperatives, and Oxfam Hong Kong

Democratic Republic of

older people had lit tle authorit y in

has enabled villages to establish self-

Congo (DRC) no longer

society, nor in the family. Later, with the

help initiatives such as community health

receives the same level of

introduction of economic reforms, when

funds which allocate some of the resources

diplomatic and media attention. Yet, people’s suffering continues:

more and more farmland was being

for elderly people’s needs. The central

Over one million people remain displaced and, on average, 1,100

with the ageing of Chinese society, and

redeveloped for other uses, and more

government has also made attempts to

women are raped each month. The 3,000 peacekeepers, authorised

the inequity will deepen with the uneven

and more youth were leaving to work in

reinstate rural health cooperatives, with

as a matter of urgency by the United Nations in November

urban-rural development.

the city, family structure changed again.

directives issued in 1991, 1994 and 1997,

2008, have still not been deployed. Violence is a daily threat for

The position of the older generation was

and since 2003, there has been an effort to

civilians.

weakened further.

reinstate cooperatives through combining

Mary Robinson traveled to the eastern part of the country in

An elderly farmer in Yunnan / Lai Tat Ho

A large-scale survey conducted by the China Old-Age Scientific Research Centre and officially approved by the National

According to the 2000-2006 study, many

central, provincial and individual financing.

March 2009 on a fact-finding mission. The Oxfam International

Bureau of Statistics of China reveals a

senior citizens are now ‘empty nest elderly’

Yet, affordability and sustainability still

President and former President of Ireland visited camps, a rape

significant discrepancy between the

(空巢老人) who live on their own, away

remain problematic.

crisis centre, a centre for former child soldiers, and met with

quality of life of older people in the urban

from their children and grandchildren:

At the policy level, while the 2002

President of DRC, Joseph Kabila. The next stops: interviews with

and rural areas. The study surveyed about

in cities, this comprises 49.7 per cent

White Paper on Labour and Social Security

the international press, and high-level lobbying in Rwanda, France,

20,000 people in over 2,800 communities

of the elderly population, and in rural

makes recommendations for social welfare,

Brussels and London. She was joined by Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda,

across 20 provinces, tracking them for six

areas, 38.3 per cent. Interestingly, the

it does not include health care and does

General Secretary of the World YWCA and a leading advocate for

years, from 2000 to 2006. When asked to

same study reveals that today’s elderly

not provide for the rural elderly. It speaks

women’s rights.

rate their own well-being, 56.9 per cent

people are embracing different ways of

of establishing the Uniform Basic Old-Age

of the urban elderly felt good about their

maintaining their livelihood. In 2006,

Insurance System for Enterprise Employees,

self and their lives, compared to only 33.1

as many as 50.3 per cent of the elderly

and subsequent efforts were initiated

per cent of the rural elderly. The average

people in cities chose “participating in a

in urban areas nationwide, but old-age

annual income was found to be 11,963

pension insurance scheme” as the best

insurance is infrequent in rural areas. The

Yuan for urban elderly while only 2,722

way to support themselves, up from 23.4

White Paper also mentions establishing the

Highly readable and with illustrations,

Yuan for rural elderly. The proportion of

per cent in 2000; in villages, 11.8 per cent

Basic Medical Insurance System for Urban

THINKING OUT OF THE BOX – PROFILE OF 10

elderly people entitled to any pension is 78

selected this as their first choice, compared

Employees, enforcing a basic medical

LOCAL SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS is the second

per cent in urban areas, and 4.8 per cent

to 5.1 per cent in 2000. Meanwhile, fewer

insurance system across urban China, but

book on social entrepreneurs in Hong Kong

in rural. Huge disparities lie in health care

and fewer elderly people, urban and rural,

there is no mention about health care for

edited by K. K. Tse, a retired management consultant who now

and education. In the cities, 74.1 per cent

are choosing to financially rely on their

the rural elderly.

promotes social entrepreneurship in southern China.

of the elderly are covered by some kind of

children: in the city, it stood at 52.3 per

To ensure that the rights of elderly

Published with support from Oxfam Hong Kong, the book

medical plan, but in rural areas, only 44.7

cent in 2000 and fell to 18.4 by 2006; in

people are met, government, family

outlines how 10 people have created successful businesses that

per cent are covered. In education, 83.6

the village, it fell from 80.8 per cent to

and community must all play their part.

have addressed a social issue and achieved financial sustainability.

per cent of urban elderly had attended

64.6 per cent.

Chinese society has long stressed for the

According to Tse, entrepreneurship is by far the most important

The rural health care system is in

younger generation to respect and take

ingredient to their success.

disarray, and elderly people are at particular

care of elders. This is included in the

A unique feature of THINKING OUT OF THE BOX is an overseas

The tracking study confirms an earlier

risk, being comparatively more frail and

law. Yet, the duty of the State should

case story printed alongside each Hong Kong profile: a thought-

study, in 1998, by the Universit y of

infirm and more in need of check-ups and

not be overlooked. In the end, it remains

provoking comparison and contrast.

Toronto and the University of California-

treatment. The decline of the system has

responsible to address the needs of the

Davis, which points out that “one of the

been a long process. In the 1980s, the

people, all people.

school before, while only 48.6 per cent of rural elderly had.

5

N ew PartnerOrganisations

•

HER Fund

INDONESIA

•

KEMALA Foundation

REGIONAL

•

ASEAN People’s Center

which means both “no poverty” and “infinity”,

mission is to advocate for the reform of

highlights a different aspect of development

the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Center opened in January

in each issue. The Editor is Tung Tsz-kwan. The

2009 and is located in the heart of Jakarta,

April 2009 edition focuses on war and conflict.

in the vicinity of the ASEAN Secretariat,

To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5

Diplomatic Missions and ASEAN Country

Mokung is online at www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/category?cid=1017&lang=big5

Permanent Representative Offices.

ONE

The Center will be enhancing civil

such issues as the ASEAN Charter, the

HONG KONG

Editor : K. K. Tse, Chair, Hong Kong Social Entrepreneurship Forum Publisher : The Commercial Press Language : Traditional Chinese ISBN : 978 962 07 6405 9

magazine in Traditional Chinese. Mokung,

the ASEAN People’s Center, whose

CHINA (MAINLAND)

•

Social Entrepreneurs

Oxfam Hong Kong publishes this bi-monthly

In this edition of O.N.E, we highlight

Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works alongside hundreds of groups around the world, from small NGOs to international bodies, from government departments of developing countries to community groups based in Hong Kong. Here are 5 ‘partner organisations’ that we are supporting for the first time.

Institute of International Economy, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing Nanning Youth Health Service Association, Guangxi

In and Out of the Box:

MOKUNG

society advocacy, engaging with ASEAN on

•

OXFAM books

O.N.E – Oxfam News E-magazine – is

peoples’ issues, contributing to the task of ASEAN community building, acting as an

uploaded monthly at www.oxfam.org.

ASEAN information centre for NGOs, and

hk/one.

To receive a copy in your inbox, please subscribe – it is free.

liaising with international media.

Initially, the Center will focus on

To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html

A SEAN Human Rights Body, and the

governmental organisations, the Southeast

ASEAN Declaration on the Protection

Asia Committee for Advocacy and the Asia

and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant

Forum for Human Rights and Development.

Workers.

The Center is hosted by the Human Rights

The es tablishment of the A SE AN

Working Group of Indonesia, a coalition

People’s Center in Jakarta has been a

of 40 groups around the country. Oxfam

regional and national effort. The Center

Hong Kong began supporting the Center

is an initiative of two regional non-

in February 2009.

www.oxfam.org.hk Hong Kong

17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong O. N .E is also on-line: www.oxfam.org.hk/one Editor: Madeleine Marie Slavick

(emagazine@oxfam.org.hk)

COVER: DR Congo: At a youth centre / Caroline Irby, Oxfam

OXFAM ACTION

most striking features of current policy