In CIVICUS' newsletter focusing human rights, Robert Leigh, UNV Senior Policy Specialist, argues against the perception that access to volunteering opportunities is not perceived as a right, or being a "one-way" process with the rich helping the poor. He discussed the shift in volunteering as a two-way process and illustrated this through UNV's project involving people affected with HIV/AIDS.  Read article

This three-part volunteer story, written by Jessica Teicher, speaks of the joys of teaching English to Uzbek kids and knowing Uzbek culture and its people while volunteering. But it was dampened when the government refused to extend the volunteers' visas. They left after only five weeks instead of staying for two years as planned.  Read article

London, UK: Peace Brigades International (PBI), a human rights organization, is recruiting international volunteers to work in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Indonesia to help protect organizations and individuals threatened by political violence.  Read article

Bonn, Germany: Many of the 123 National Committees and partner organizations for the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001 will commemorate the role of volunteer advocates striving for indigenous human rights on this, the seventh International Day of the World's Indigenous People.  Read article

Volunteers in Bosnia and Herzegovina have marked the first World Day of Refugees in Mostar by launching the country's International Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV) National Committee.   Read article