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Leila Zand
- Program Director at F.O.R U.S.A
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Leila Zand's Page
Latest Activity
candle light Vigil at any where you are
July 3, 2009 from 7pm to 8pm
On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air flight #655, killing all 290 civilians on board. The tragedy received brief media attention in the United States, and U.S. military officers actually received medals and commendations for the act…
Dear Leila,
Thank you very much for your suggestion and advise, I have bee written from couple of decade on different issues, epecialy peace, love and hope, Insha Allah sooner i'll be submitted in english for our universal colleagues and friends esp…
looking forward to received them. you also could translate just some of the poetries which basically talk about peace and nonviolence. if you had a chance please check our website at www.forusa.org
peace and pray for peace,
leila
Dear Leila Zand,
Thank you very much for your response. No doubt we are facing very critical situation regarding law and order, economics and development. Spider net of different problems are covering us day by day and time to time, please pray for…
Dear Ramzan, thank you very much for your support. I am sorry for what is happening in Pakistan these days, and hopeful one day our people and countries live in peace and happiness.
please e-mail me some of your poetries-if you like-, we would be ho…
Dear Leila Zand,
Greetings from Pakistan,
I appriciate your strugle for solidarity of Iranian and neighbours, no doubt we are living between the hope and dispair, and breathing smoke of weapons, and counting fire. I am with you on national national…
Profile Information
- What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?
- working for a peace and nonviolent organization and looking around the word
- Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise
- Middle East
- What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?
- USA
- What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?
- Program Director at F.O.R U.S.A
- What is your personal or organizational website?
- http://www.forusa.org
Leila Zand's Blog
Solidarity with Iranians
Dear colleagues,
The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) invites you to join us in a two-part campaign this coming month focused on a tangible act of building peace and solidarity between the people of Iran and the United States. This effort is organized in memory of 290 people who lost their lives on July 3, 1988, when the USS Vincennes, a U.S. navy vessel, shot down an Iranian airliner in the Persian Gulf. (For more information please check our website at www.forusa.org or our blog at www.forp… Continue
The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) invites you to join us in a two-part campaign this coming month focused on a tangible act of building peace and solidarity between the people of Iran and the United States. This effort is organized in memory of 290 people who lost their lives on July 3, 1988, when the USS Vincennes, a U.S. navy vessel, shot down an Iranian airliner in the Persian Gulf. (For more information please check our website at www.forusa.org or our blog at www.forp… Continue
Posted on June 5, 2009 at 6:00pm — 5 Comments
Comment Wall (9 comments)
- At 11:45am on February 8, 2010,
Dr.Arun Kumar Goswami said…
- Very nice to learn about your skills and areas of activities. Wish your success...
Arun Kumar goswami
- At 2:29am on August 7, 2009,
Waheed Ahmad said…
- Human Rights Committee Meeting Minutes
A meeting of Human Rights Committee, Lahore High Court Bar Association under the presidentship of Mr. Munawar Iqbal Gondal President Lahore High Court Bar Association was held on 04-08-09 and the following members of Human Rights Committee of Lahore High Court Bar Association were present:
1. Waheed Ahmad Ch.
2. Ch. Muhammad Shahid Iqbal.
3. Sheikh Imran Mahfooz
4. Syed Adeel Abbass Tirmizi.
5. Muhammad Afzal Khuram
6. Rana Rahan
In the meeting the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the emergency imposed on 3rd November, 2007 by ex-military dictator Gen. Pervez Musharraf was highly appreciated rather admired. This decision was unique in the history of Pakistan which is unequivocally in line with the freedom of the Human Rights and Rule of Law. This decision will be a landmark which could stop future military intervention and not dare devil of the dictator. A wave of joy spread in whole of the country. It was a victory and a triumph after a long and protracted movement carried out by the lawyers.
As duration movement two members of this Human Rights Committee of Lahore High Court Bar Association namely Mr. Waheed Ahmad Ch. and Mr. Ch. Muhammad Shahid Iqbal had been victimized to the extent pushed behind the bars, prosecuted and tortured but they did not subdue to follow the dictator’s directions.
Very tyrannical situation had come across to the members of the bar leading in the movement resultant into ultimate success by restoration of Independent Judiciary and Rule of Law. In spite of very dreadful and formidable circumstances the struggle was not rendered to a slow down point. Due to persistent and untiring efforts and with the indomitable spirit and stamina the efforts were proved to be successful as the dictator is gone, the Rule of Law and Civil Rights have been restored, however, there are still very important rather mountainous tasks are still ahead for the complete restoration of Human Rights, the discovery of the missing persons who had been taken under the darkness of night from their homes during the pervious dictator’s regime, the provision of justice to a common man speedily, very stick law and order for the safety and security of common man, the procedure and system to be streamline for expeditious redressing of grievances of common man by the regime which could be implied as good governance for the cardinal principles to be practically implemented aimed at by the Human Rights Committee Lahore High Court Bar Association.
It is high time to propose rather request to also include our committee in the International Human Rights Forum to also contribute with devotion to aggrandize the Rule of Law and Human Rights world at large. With this inclusion of our committee we can share our experiences and also gain for the working more and more in judicious manner and with vigor and vitality. Hence, it is not out of place to request to please also invite the members of Human Rights Committee Lahore High Court Bar Association in all the international meetings to be held from time to time.
Waheed Ahmad
Advocate High Court
Secretary Human Rights Committee
Lahore High Court Bar Assocaition
waheed2000@yahoo.com
waheed2010@hotmail.com
+92-333-4639652
- At 12:47pm on June 27, 2009,
Rene Wadlow said…
- Dear Colleague,
Current events in Iran have focused world attention on the issue of fair elections and the role of international election monitors. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has taken a lead among intergovernmenmental organizations in training and providing international election monitors. The United Nations has done so only on an
ad hoc basis.
It would be useful for the United Nations to have an election-monitoring agency drawing upon the experience of the OSCE. With the attention on the Iranian experience, it should be possible to get a UN General Assembly resolution to create a study group to analyse the possibility of such an election-monitoring agency.
The first step is to contact national Foreign Ministries and national missions to the UN in New York with the proposal of such a study. During the summer months, preperations are being made by diplomats for the start of the UN General Assembly in September. As many of the ideas for such a UN agency are in my article, you could copy it with a short letter to national officials asking for such a study.
Thank you for your cooperation, Rene Wadlow
International Election Monitors:
Agents of Free Elections
Rene Wadlow*
The post-election demonstrations in Iran which have led to deaths and arrests indicate that a large number of Iranians believe that the election count has been the result of fraud. The regime had hoped to prevent a massive show of democratic stirring by a show of force and by cutting off means of communication — web sites and cellphones. However, the fact that hundreds of thousands came out on the avenues of Tehran and in less numbers in other cities indicates a failure of the repressive policies. Even if large protests do not continue, a ‘wind of change’ has blown over Iran.
The Iranian government had declined the offers of international monitoring of the elections, and thus the world community is left with only the word of the Iranian government that the election process was free and fair. The wide victory of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — 62.6 percent against some 34 percent for his main challenger, Mir Hussein Moussavi, goes against earlier opinion polls and an increasing popularity of Moussavi in the late stages of the election campaign. Mir Hussein Moussavi had been Prime Minister during the long and costly-in-life war with Iraq (1980-1988).
After four years of President Ahmadinejad’s weak economic policies as well as his confrontation with many other countries, many Iranians were looking for a change. For the elections, President Ahmadinejad tried to build his support in the rural areas with last moment rural development efforts which his opponents saw as transparent ‘bribes’. He had lost much support among educated Middle Class urban voters who wanted a better standard of living, employment opportunities for the young, and greater personal freedoms.
Thus, the election could have been close even if Ahmadinejad had won fairly, having the resources of the State at his control. Now, there is great scepticism concerning the outcome both in Iran and in the world community. The scepticism is so great that a promise by the Guide of the Iranian regime, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been made concerning a recount in certain contested areas. However, electoral fraud is rarely at the counting stage. One can recount a stuffed ballot box and come up with the same number of votes. This is why the whole electoral process needs to be monitored by independent election agents.
Citizens of the World have often called for international, basically UN supervision, of elections. The organization of elections remains a prerogative of the national – administrative sub-divisions of the State, and local governments. However, in cases where the election campaign can be tense and prone to violence as was the presidential election of Zimbabwe, or when there has been a past history of fraud, international, independent monitors are important agents of fair elections and help to protect human rights, to strengthen the rule of law and to ensure pluralistic democracy.
Election observation work is an important activity for the 56 member States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights housed in Warsaw, Poland. The Office for Democratic Institutions, originally called the Office for Free Elections, first played an important role in the democratic transition in post-communist countries. While its observation of elections is its most visible task, the Office also conducts a number of other useful election-related activities: reviewing electoral legislation, training observers, and publishing guidelines and handbooks about electoral issues.
The Office for Democratic Institutions is concerned with a wholistic approach to election monitoring including the following:
- Respect for basic fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of assembly, of association, and expression;
- Respect for the civil and political rights of the candidates and voters;
- Compilation of accurate voter lists;
- Equal opportunities to campaign in a free environment;
- Equitable access to the media;
- Impartial election administrative bodies;
- Unhindered access for international and domestic election observers;
- Effective representation and participation of women:
- Effective representation of national minorities;
- Access for disabled voters;
- Honest and transparent counting and tabulation of the votes;
- Effective complaints and appeals process with an independent judiciary.
The United Nations has no comparable permanent election monitoring office, but on an ad hoc basis the UN played an important monitoring role in the first multi-racial elections in South Africa, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has provided election aid and monitoring in countries such as Nepal as that country was coming out of a decade of armed violence.
The Iranian government would have been wise to request international monitoring for its presidential elections. Now it is too late. It is unlikely that a new election will be held to replace the contested one. The Iranian elections have indicated a wide current of support for change. The hesitations of the ruling circle concerning post-election manifestations have highlighted division of views within this ruling circle. The demonstrations have also indicated to the world community as a whole the need for independent election monitoring. Steps should be taken quickly for the UN to provide such services drawing on the rich experience of the OSCE.
*Rene Wadlow, Representative to the UN, Geneva, Association of World Citizens
- At 2:39pm on June 26, 2009,
Ramzan Laghari said…
- Dear Ms. Leila,
Where are you please?
I am anxciouslly waiting for your feedback and response regarding my mail and comments.
Thanks
Ramzan Laghari
LDM fellow Pakistan
- At 3:16am on June 13, 2009,
Ramzan Laghari said…
- Dear Leila,
Hope you are fine and in good health, May Allah Bless you, I hereby requisted that if posible kindly send me your personal Email address and cell phone, i would like to contact you for long term coordination. My Email and contact no: are bellow:
+92-333-2822030
ramzanrahi@hotmail.com, ramzanrahi@yahoo.com
Waiting for hearing from you as soon.
Thanks and Regards
Md. Ramzan Laghari
- At 1:18pm on June 11, 2009,
Ramzan Laghari said…
- Never Forget
Your presence is a present to the world.
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days, just one at a time.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through, whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.
Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal and your prize.
Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures are people . . . together.
Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have health, hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.
And don't ever forget . . .
For even a day . . .
How very special you are.
Author Unknown
- At 2:32pm on June 8, 2009,
Ramzan Laghari said…
- Dear Ms. Leila Zand,
Thank you very much for adding me a friend. I will try my best to continue this friendship for whole life with our sicerety and trustworthy.
Thank you
Ramzan Laghari
LDM Fellow Pakistan
- At 12:35am on June 7, 2009,
Sahar said… - Dear Leila,
Great job ! I posted the solidarity event through all my Iranian American friends through the facebook. Please let me know if Ican do anything more and being help. My epersonal mail address is sahar.nama@yahoo.com
Peace,
Sahar
- At 2:26am on April 1, 2009,
WARIS ALI said… - Hellow Leila
Very nice to see you at this fantastic Peace Portal.I am very glad to know that you are involved in World Peace.
Laila! it is the need of the hour & right time now that we all should unite and struggle for Peace.Thus we can have Real Better Globe free of War,Racism,Poverty etc for coming generation.
I am now a days at Lahore(Pakistan) and intend to move VA(USA) till June 2009.
Praying for World Peace
Waris Ali
Chairman Global Foundatin,Lahore,Pakistan.
Member Internatinal Peace Bureau,Geneva.
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Events
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UPEACE Extended Deadline Application
February 17, 2010 at 6pm to March 15, 2010 at 12pm – UPEACE Campus, Costa Rica
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trainingcourse Peacebuilding and Local Governance
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Nonviolence In The Context Of War Or Armed Conflict
June 18, 2010 at 6pm to July 5, 2010 at 7pm – Kurve Wustrow
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Bologna, Italy Symposium on Conflict Prevention, Resolution, and Reconciliation
June 19, 2010 to July 17, 2010 – Johns Hopkins SAIS Bologna Center
Latest Activity
trainingcourse Peacebuilding and Local Governance at The Hague
May 31, 2010 to June 11, 2010
The Hague Academy for Local Governance, together with the Barcelona International Peace Centre, is organising this 2-week training course to enhance understanding of the challenges that are faced by local governments in fragile situations.
Speakers…
Call for Applications The Gebran G. Tueni
Human Rights Fellowship
2010-2011
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp/opportunities/fellowsprogram/fellowsprogram.php
Opportunities Available: 2
Funding
Status: stipend available
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