New Database Additions  Short Summary Title Speaking Out: How the Voices of Poor People are Shaping the Future. All Papers (in English, French and Spanish) Author Rowlands, J. Publication Date November 2008 Publisher Oxfam Summary Source Summary adapted from source Summary Many poor people around the world are denied the opportunity to have their say - they are often excluded from decision-making on issues that directly affect their welfare and so are less able to hold decision-makers to account. As a result, progress towards the reduction of poverty and suffering is slow. This report brings together experiences, lessons, and good practice from Oxfam GB and its partners' global programme work on the theme of 'the right to be heard'. The papers highlight good practice for strengthening the participation of people in governance processes so that they can become active citizens and shape policy decisions. One example is a grassroots women's collective in Honduras, CODEMUH, organising around labour rights in the country's textile factories (maquilas) which ran a public campaign to raise awareness among women labourers and focused on building strategic alliances locally, nationally, and internationally.. One key recommendation emerging from their experience is that advocacy-training programme for women's organisations need to pay as much attention to building women's confidence and leadership skills as developing their technical skills and knowledge. Other gender-specific case studies include indigenous women in Guatemala mobilising against violence against women and using traditional justice systems to address rights abuses and the culture of impunity, in addition to appealing to the state justice system;.and a network of civil society organisations in Peru who worked to change a law that prevented children of single mothers from having a family name because they were not registered by both parents. Complete Document http://publications.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam/display.asp?K=e2008090217125666