BLADE

In Focus: a Nordic Blog on Asia

In Focus is the blog of Asiaportal, the Nordic information portal for researchers, students, government officers and journalists with an interest in Asia. Its content is primarily based in the Social Sciences and Humanities. 

This week’s blog entry is on the war crimes tribunal in Cambodia that got under way in February.

In Focus welcomes researchers, students, experts and others to comment on the article or to contact them on bib@nias.ku.dk if you are interested in participating with a blog article in future.

Journalist Ahmed Rashid paints bleak picture of Pakistan’s future

Amila de Saram Larssen

Ahmed Rashid, well known Pakistani author and journalist, is in Oslo and presented his thoughts on “What next for Pakistan? Domestic and Regional Challenges” at a standing-room only talk at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) this morning.

Rashid listed some of the most pressing challenges facing Pakistan including its history of poor civil and military relations, an economic meltdown, the growing threat of extremism and worsening relations with India.

Treating severely affected children in West Africa

(Photo credit: Amila de Saram Larssen)

Amila de Saram Larssen

This is Part 2 of a series of blog posts dealing with psychosocial support interventions for vulnerable children in West Africa.  Click here to read Part 1.

In the following audio clip, Dr. Alice Behrendt (in the photo above), a project manager for psychosocial support interventions for affected children in West Africa for Plan, talks about some of the innovative methods used to treat severely affected children, particular in post-conflict situations. 

The interventions Behrendt describes include both indigenous methods and Western strategies adapted to the West African context.

The short film mentioned by Alice in the interview above on girl child soldiers in Liberia can be accessed here: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW0O38fh03U

Imams and rabbis in Paris to promote peace

The Third World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace kicked off yesterday in Paris.  The event is hosted by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and aims to bolster peace in the Middle East.  

The congress is expected to draw 85 participants, including 45 Palestinian imams, Israeli rabbis and Christians.  Religious leaders and experts from nearly two dozen countries are also expected.

Outcomes are expected to include the adoption of a final declaration and the setting up of a monitoring group to support initiatives promoting peaceful coexistence and dialogue.

Why are aid workers increasingly viewed as legitimate targets by armed opposition groups?

(Photo: Patrick Kinuthia/IRIN)

Amila de Saram Larssen

This question was one of many interesting questions posed at a conference titled, “Roles and Responsibilities: challenges and opportunities for civil, military and humanitarian actors in Afghanistan” hosted by the Norwegian Red Cross and PRIO today.  

President of Mali opens Timbuktu Manuscripts Photographic Exhibition and Book Launch

Amila de Saram Larssen

President of the Republic of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré launched the book, "The Hidden Treasures of Timbuktu" by John O. Hunwick & Alida Jay Boye, photos by Joseph Hunwick, in Oslo yesterday. The book launch was accompanied by an exhibition of photographs from the book. The event was part of Oslo´s annual International Week.

Madrassahs in Pakistan are important educational resource

Amila de Saram Larssen

(Photo: Atle Hetland)

Madrassahs have received some bad press in the post 9/11 era, and have been, at times, portrayed as hotbeds of radical Islam and even incubators for future terrorists. 

In a recent article entitled, “Religious Education,”  Atle Hetland, a Norwegian social scientist who has worked with education issues related to refugees and other needy groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan, highlights the importance of madrassahs in the education of children in Pakistan. 

According to Hetland, madrassahs contribute significantly to education in Pakistan, mostly of boys, but also of girls.  Most madrassahs teach regular school subjects, in addition to religion, philosophy and ethics. Some even offer vocational training.