Linked with Adivasi.
He is Teaching assistant (Lehrbeauftragter) at the University of Kassel, Germany.
UN Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations: Theodor Rathgeber, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, April 2006 – Theodor Rathgeber summarizes the essential arguments for attributing responsibilities for human rights to transnational corporations, seeking in particular to respond to the concerns of trade unionists, but also business representatives. He reminds that on the whole, past experience with voluntary codes indicates the need for a coherent approach that can subject the natural dynamics of global systems to minimum standards of human rights. The easiest way to organize a body of rules like this would be within an international institutional framework that can apply a minimum of democratic, transparent and participatory procedures to implementing the contractual instruments … (Read all on Geneva-Office of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung).
Theodor Rathgeber – Germany / see a better photo on Adivasikoordination.
He works for the German Human Rights Forum of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Germany. And he works for the Adivasikoordination.
Read: NGOs call on Member States to adopt Draft Convention on Enforced Disappearance, March 22, 2006.
Reform of the Commission on Human Rights: An introduction into the present debate on the reform of the Commission on Human Rights was given by Theodor Rathgeber on the basis of his paper “Reforming the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Perspectives for Non-Governmental Organisations”. The discussion at the expert roundtable meeting dealt with three major topics: Firstly, the current reform process itself, secondly, the nature of reforms that would be necessary, and thirdly, the role of NGOs within the reform process and more generally the possibilities to improve NGO participation in the field of human rights at the international level. The general judgement of the reform process was mixed: The participants criticized a certain neglect of substantial questions within the reform debate as the governments tend to focus rather on formal aspects as for example the future composition of the human rights body. Some therefore saw the risk that the reform result could possibly be restricted to technical amendments, lacking substantial improvements. Penny Parker reminded that the term “reform” had a rather negative connotation within the human rights community. In the past, positive changes in the international human rights system were normally not related to what would be called a “reform-process”. Nevertheless, she – and several other participants – expressed optimism on behalf of the current reform debate, still seeing the possibility to come to a positive outcome. (Read the whole long article on: Report on the Expert Roundtable Meeting “Reform of the Commission on Human Rights – Options for Non-Governmental Organisations” …
57th Subcommission, de-briefing for NGOs and the way forward for the reform of the CHR, April 21, 2005 – … Theodor Rathgeber raised the necessity for civil society to articulate self-criticism on NGOs participation. He drew attention to the gap between very professional NGOs and smaller ones often representing victims. Specifically on the work of the CHR, he disapproved the ambiguity of double-standards, and raised the question of how civil society can deal with such situations. The proposed Council on Human Rights could be a chance, but change in the current political character of the debate on HR issues is also required. Lastly, he asserted that NGO participation achieved a lot but also need many improvements within the CHR … (Read the whol long article on ngoCHR).
links:
Handbook for Human Rights Work, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung;
European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid;
MUNDOS MAGICOS, EL ORO ROJO Y LA BIOPIRATERIA;
Zeitschrift für bedrohte Völker;
DisasterInfo.net, in spanish;
Indigene Völker und die ILO-Konvention;
Adivasi, download of german and english texts;
Adivasi, german newsletter.