• 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