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2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/highlights/30548

EDITORIALS: The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa comes into force this week. It's time to Smile, Woman of Africa, Smile!
- Pambazuka News begins a weekly feature on trade agreements between Europe and Africa
COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: WSIS aftermath: What happened to human rights?; Browse the WSIS bazaar
LETTERS: Readers on how the other half dies; the politics of fear in Ethiopia and the shame of Tunis
BLOGGING AFRICA: Sokari Ekine tells us what's being talked about in the African blogosphere
PAN-AFRICAN POSTCARD: Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem wants a Pan-Africanism for the people
BOOKS AND ARTS: Meet the Chairman of Fools in our latest review of novels from the African continent
CONFLICT AND EMERGENCIES: News from Darfur, Eritrea and Niger
HUMAN RIGHTS: Human rights defenders under threatening conditions in Ethiopia
REFUGEES AND FORCED MIGRATION: UNHCR office temporarily halts operations as asylum seekers go on hunger strike
ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE: Kibaki humbled as Kenyans say no to constitution
WOMEN AND GENDER: Women victims of "gendercide"
DEVELOPMENT: WTO ambush warning
HEALTH AND HIV/AIDS: Bird flu in Africa, dysentery in Zimbabwe
MEDIA: Uncertainty over release of journalist held for four years without charge in Eritrea
FUNDRAISING: Fundraising QuickGuides: Special offer for Pambazuka News readers
PLUS...Courses, jobs, e-newsletters, internet and campaigns

Smile, Woman of Africa, Smile!

Anne Kithaka

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/30542

This week holds two important events for African women. The 25th of November marks the start of the 16 Days of Gender Activism Against Violence, an international campaign meant to raise awareness about gender violence, strengthen the work of local organisations and demonstrate the solidarity of women around the world. Incorporating the International Day Against Violence Against Women (November 25th) and International Human Rights Day (December 10), the goal of the campaign is to link violence against women to the fact that it is a human rights violation. November 25 is also especially important for African women, as it is the day that the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa comes into force. Having been ratified by the requisite 15 African countries, this extremely important and progressive treaty has the potential to liberate and empower all African women to know and utilise their rights. That’s why A.N. Kithaka, in the article below, makes an eloquent plea for Kenya to ratify the protocol. Extolling the advantages that the Protocol will have on African countries, Kithaka argues that the work done by numerous groups around the globe is imperative to gender rights, and to leaving behind violence against women as a things of the past . below Kithaka’s article are a list of resources on 16 days and the Protocol - suggested websites, further reading, blogs and events. (French version available)


Women of Africa, we have cause to celebrate; the long awaited ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of the African Woman by the requisite 15 member states has just been announced. The Protocol will come to force soon (November 25). Those states that have deposited their instruments of ratification with the Executive Council will be at liberty to incorporate its provision into their domestic laws.

It has been a long journey; a journey and a battle well fought by national, regional and international lobby groups. Most of us were not aware of this but we are glad that their collective and consistent lobbying, cajoling and canvassing has finally born fruits. The Second Summit of the African Heads of Governments and States sitting in Maputo, Mozambique finally adopted the Protocol as a supplement to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The only rider was that it had to be ratified by 15 states out of a possible 53 member states. The fifteenth state to deposit its document of ratification with the Executive Council did so on the 26th day of October, meaning that within 30 days from this date, the Protocol will come into force! It has been correctly taunted as the Green Card that will usher us to a new era. It not only guarantees us a wider spectrum of human rights specific to our needs as the much oppressed and repressed creature of the old (and new!) millennium, but also allows us to seek redress in the yet to be constituted African Court of Human and Peoples Rights. Unfortunately, Kenya is yet to ratify the protocol, perhaps due to the present national preoccupation with the referendum. Nevertheless, it will not be an up hill task to nudge the government towards the right direction - it appears malleable.

The big question is, how soon will women in Kenya join the proud list of those countries that have chosen to give their women an early Christmas gift by ratifying the document? How long will the women in Kenya have to camp on this renegade side of the Red Sea as they wait for the magic word 'ratification' to part the raging waters and usher them to that other side where gender discrimination, repulsive FGM, forced marriages and widow inheritance, domestic and sexual violence, etc. are a thing of the past? Not long, I hope.

We must join hands to lobby for this ratification at all costs. Only then can we rise and say “Eureka!” Otherwise we may as well be content to sit on this side for an eternity, as we watch our sisters from Cape Verde, Mali, Malawi, Lesotho, Comoros, Libya, Namibia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Djibouti, Mauritius, Senegal, South Africa, Benin, Togo and Gambia take the first steps into the soggy sea bed to personal freedoms.

After ratification and domestication; we must move to the next important stage: that of educating the masses on its benefits, without forgetting to bring on-board our dear fathers, brothers, husbands and sons. Some of the opposition being waged against the Wako Draft Constitution is because it promises equal inheritance rights to women, especially married women. One would think that the Draft is introducing new concepts into our legal jurisprudence, yet the Succession Act has been around since 1981!

Most women have refused to enforce their rights, even when assured that the law is on their side. Others do not want the incessant fights over meager family resources with hostile male relatives; visits to infamous land offices make many cringe. They prefer to hide behind the mask of traditions as they denounce their shares in favour of their brothers.

Men fear losing control over their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. They subscribe to the primitive belief that the only way to subjugate and subdue a woman is by denial of basic rights and freedoms; and application of gender-specific violence; rape and physical assault being the most popular today. In our mother's days, denial to basic and secondary education was the weapon of choice, and being forced to resign from paying jobs in favor of 'staying-at-home –to-take-care-of-the-children' edicts. Even today's educated man wants to confine his woman to that perpetually smoky room called the kitchen (after work, that is!).

Dissenters are deserted, attacked, maimed and killed with impunity. Those lucky enough to escape and fend for themselves are given cold treatment by a society that brands them prostitutes, husband grabbers and social failures. Any property they acquire in their single state will be grabbed or inherited by their estranged husbands, brothers, uncles and fathers. Any children they leave behind, especially girl children, are mistreated, forced to leave school and become house girls, or married off to total strangers who profess kinship to their parents. Sometimes they are shunted off to rural areas where they are forced to undergo abhorrent traditional rites. Would it not be better for governments to facilitate the fostering of such children so that they can continue to live in the manner and style they were accustomed to when their mothers were alive?

That is why advocacy groups must do more than just lobbying for adoption of international legal instruments; they must help women from rural areas apply them to improve their lots and those of their children. Atieno from Ahero, Wanjiku from Waithaka, Kalekye from Katse and Naliaka from Narok must be facilitated, both materially and intellectually, so that she is aware of her basic human and women’ rights and how these can be enforced at the national, regional and international courts of justice. Let us gang up and apply the shock therapy to disgorge men from their entrenched prejudices; let us wean them from the present retrogressive and chauvinistic mindset that has been passed from generation to generation.

In his play, ‘Measure for Measure’, Shakespeare introduces a character called Angelo. He is the law enforcer who brokers no-nonsense deals when it comes to matters of justice. He refuses to temper justice with mercy and holds that the law must be obeyed to the letter - at the beginning of the play, anyway. What happens later is for the curious to find out. He is famously quoted as pontificating that 'we must not make a scarecrow of the law, setting it up to catch birds of prey till custom finding it harmless makes it their perch and not their terror'.

Our advocacy skills and efforts must translate to visible changes in the lives of our people; they must not remain mere 'open sesame' to donor funds; let us canvass for enactment of laws, but let us not leave them to be mere scarecrows that are set up to frighten birds of prey, and…men!

* A. N. Kithaka is an Advocate in Kenya.

* Please send comments to editor@pambazuka.org

Supporting organisations of the campaign for the ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Women

African Centre for Democracy And Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) http://www.acdhrs.org/
Akina Mama wa Afrika www.akinamama.org/
Association des Juristes Maliennes http://www.justicemali.org/ajm.htm
Cellule de Coordination sur les Pratiques Traditionelle Affectant la Sante des Femmes et des Enfants
Coalition on Violence Against Women www.covaw.or.ke
Equality Now-Africa Regional Office http://www.equalitynow.org/english/index.html
FAHAMU http://www.fahamu.org
FAMEDEV-Inter-African Network For Women Media, Gender and Development
FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network www.femnet.or.ke
Foundation for Community Development, Inter-African Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices (IAC)
Oxfam GB http://www.oxfam.org.uk/
Sister Namibia
Union Nationale des Femmes de Djibouti
Voix de Femmes http://www.voixdefemmes.org/
University of Pretoria Center for Human Rights http://www.chr.up.ac.za/
Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternatives
Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) http://www.wildaf.org/
Resources
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html
Peace Women http://peacewomen.org
Akina Mama wa Afrika http://www.akinamama.org/
Equality Now http://www.equalitynow.org/english/index.html
FEMNET http://femnet.or.ke
Feminist Africa http:/www.feministafrica.org

Blogs
Feminist African Sisters http://feministafricansisters.blogspot.com/
Diary of a Mad Kenyan Woman http://madkenyanwoman.blogspot.com/
Black Looks http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

Further Reading
Women Building Peace http://www.international-alert.org/publications/121.php
Trafficking in Women and Children in Africa http://www.unicef-icdc.org/publications/
African Experiences of Transnational Feminism http://www.feministafrica.org/2level.html

Pambazuka News Special Editions on the Protocol
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa: A Pre-condition for Health and Food Security http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?issue=190
The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Red, Yellow and Green http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?issue=213
Challenges of Domestication: The Protocol To The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on The Rights of Women in Africa http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?issue=222

Pambazuka Profiles on the Protocol
Land Rights - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30397
Women and Sustainable Development - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30299
Women in Armed Conflict - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30122
Female Genital Mutilation - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30050
Trafficking in Women and Children - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=29740
Female Refugees - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=29873

Events
Nigeria – Baobab Women http://www.baobabwomen.org/upcomingevents.html
South Africa – Women’s Net http://womensnet.org.za/16Days/calendar.shtml
Agenda in Durban, South Africa Contact editorial@agenda.org.za
Kenya – COVAW http://www.covaw.or.ke/
Ghana – Ark Foundation http://www.arkfoundationgh.org/news/home.htm
International Calendar http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit05/calendar.html

Sourit femme d’Afrique, sourit!
A. N. Kithaka
Cette semaine, deux évènements importants pour les africaines auront lieu. Le 25 Novembre marquera le début des seize jours d’activisme contre la violence à l’égard des femmes, une campagne internationale créée dans le but de sensibiliser l’opinion à la violence contre les femmes, de renforcer le travail des organisations locales et de démontrer la solidarité des femmes dans le monde entier.
Incorporant la Journée internationale pour l’élimination de la violence à l’égard des femmes (le 25 Novembre) à la journée internationale des droits de l’homme (le10 Décembre), le but de cette campagne est de relier la violence à l’égard des femmes au fait qu’il s’agit d’une violation des droits de l’homme. Le 25 Novembre possède également une signification importante pour les Africaines dans la mesure où il s’agit du jour ou le protocole entre en vigueur relatif aux droits de la femme en Afrique. Ayant été ratifié par les 15 pays africains nécessaires, ce traité extrêmement important et progressiste possède le potentiel d’émanciper les Africaines et de leur offrir la puissance que donne le fait de connaître et d’utiliser ses droits. C’est pourquoi A.N. Khitaka, se lance, dans l’article ci-dessous, dans un éloquent plaidoyer pour la ratification du traité par le Kenya. A.N.Khitaka vante les avantages que le traité offrira aux pays d’Afrique, elle assure que le travail effectué par de nombreux groupes dans le monde entier est d’une importance vitale pour les droits des femmes ainsi que pour faire de la violence contre les femmes une chose du passé. Au-dessous de l’article de A.N. Khitaka se trouve une liste de ressources sur les seize jours et sur le protocole : sites suggérés, lectures conseillées, blogs et évènements.


Femmes d’Afrique, nous avons une raison de nous réjouir, en effet nous avions longtemps attendu la ratification du protocole relatif aux droits de la femme en Afrique par les 15 pays nécessaires d’Afrique : elle vient d’être annoncée. Le protocole entrera bientôt en vigueur (le 25 Novembre). Ceux des états qui ont déposé leurs instruments de ratification auprès du Conseil Exécutif auront la possibilité d’en incorporer les articles au sein de leur droit national.

Ce fut un long voyage ; un voyage et une bataille bien menés par des groupes de défense des droits de l’homme nationaux, régionaux et internationaux. La plupart d’entre nous l’ignoraient, mais nous sommes maintenant ravis que leurs pressions, cajoleries et démarchages aient fini par porter leurs fruits. Le second sommet des chefs d’états et de gouvernement se tenant à Maputo, au Mozambique a finalement adopté le protocole comme supplément à la Charte africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples. La seule clause additionnelle était qu’il devait être ratifié par au moins 15 états sur les 53 états-membres possibles. Les 15 états à déposer leurs instruments de ratification auprès du Conseil Exécutif l’ont fait le 26e jour d’Octobre, ce qui signifiait alors que le traité devait entrer en vigueur à 30 jours de cette date ! Il a été correctement décrit de façon plaisante comme la « Carte Verte » qui inaugurera une ère nouvelle. Non content de nous garantir une palette élargie de droits humains répondant spécifiquement à nos besoins de créatures les plus lourdement opprimées et réprimées de l’ancien (et du nouveau !) millénaire, il nous permet de chercher réparation auprès de la future Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples. Malheureusement, le Kenya n’a pas encore ratifié le traité ; c’est peut-être dû à la préoccupation actuelle vis-à-vis du référendum. Cependant, pousser du coude le gouvernement dans la bonne direction ne devrait pas se révéler une tâche insurmontable : il a l’air influençable.

La grande question est la vitesse à laquelle les femmes du Kenya viendront s’ajouter à la fière liste des pays qui ont choisi d’offrir à leurs femmes un présent de Noël avant l’heure en ratifiant le document. Combien de temps les femmes du Kenya devront elles attendre de ce côté renégat de la mer Rouge que le mot magique de « ratification » ouvre les flots rageurs et les projette sur l’autre rive, là où la discrimination contre les femmes, la répugnante Mutilation Génitale Féminine (excision), les mariages forcés, la pratique du lévirat, la violence sexuelle et domestique sont des choses du passé ? Pas longtemps j’espère.

Nous devons à tout prix unir nos efforts dans un lobbying visant à obtenir cette ratification. Alors seulement pourrons-nous nous lever et nous écrier « Euréka ! » Sans cela, nous pourrions tout aussi bien nous contenter de rester éternellement sur cette rive pour regarder nos sœurs du Cap-Vert, du Mali, de Malawi, du Lesotho, des Comores, de Libye, de Namibie, du Rwanda, du Nigeria, de Djibouti, de l’île Maurice, du Sénégal, d’Afrique du Sud, du Bénin, du Togo et de Gambie faire leurs premiers pas sur le fonds marin détrempé qui les mènera vers la liberté de l’individu.


Après ratification et domestication nous devrons progresser vers la prochaine grande étape : celle de l’éducation des masses à ses bénéfices, sans oublier de prendre à bord nos chers pères frères, époux et fils. Une partie de l’opposition au projet Wako de constitution vient du fait qu’il promet des droits d’héritage égaux aux femmes, surtout aux femmes mariées. C’est à croire que ce projet introduit de nouveaux concepts dans notre système juridique, et pourtant le « Succession Act » existe depuis 1981 !

La plupart des femmes ont refusé de faire valoir leurs droits, même une fois assurées que la loi était de leur côté. D’autres ne veulent pas d’incessantes querelles au sujet de maigres ressources familiales avec des membres masculins de la famille. La perspective de se retrouver dans une sordide officine de province en fait reculer beaucoup. Celles-là préfèrent se réfugier derrière le masque des traditions en renonçant à leur part en faveur de leurs frères.

Les hommes craignent de perdre le contrôle de leurs mères, sœurs, femmes et filles. Ils adhèrent à la croyance primitive selon laquelle on ne peut dompter et soumettre une femme qu’en la privant de ses droits et libertés essentiels ainsi qu’en appliquant une forme de violence spécifique à sa féminité, le viol et l’agression physique en étant les moyens d’expression les plus populaires aujourd’hui. Du temps de nos mères, leur arme de prédilection était le refus d’accorder aux femmes une éducation primaire et secondaire; elles étaient également contraintes à démissionner de leurs emplois rémunérés par des décrets du type « mère au foyer avec enfants ». Même l’homme éduqué d’aujourd’hui tente de confiner sa compagne dans cette pièce perpétuellement enfumée qu’on appelle la cuisine (après le travail, bien entendu).


Les récalcitrantes sont abandonnées, attaquées, blessées et tuées en toute impunité. Celles qui ont la chance de s’en sortir et de subsister par leurs propres moyens sont traitées en parias par une société qui leur colle une étiquette de prostituées, de voleuses de maris et de rebuts de la société. Tout bien qu’elles acquièrent sous leur statut de célibataire sera saisi par les maris, frères, oncles et pères dont elles sont séparées ou leur sera offert en héritage. Tout enfant laissé derrière elles, sont maltraités, les petites filles surtout sont forcées à devenir servantes, ou bien l’on s’en débarrasse en les mariant à de parfaits inconnus se faisant passer pour un membre de la famille de leurs parents. Parfois on les expédie à la campagne où elles doivent subir d’odieux rites traditionnels. Ne vaudrait-il pas mieux que le gouvernement facilite l’adoption de tels enfants, de façon à ce qu’ils puissent continuer à vivre dans le style et la manière qui était les leurs du temps où leurs mères étaient encore en vie ?


C’est la raison pour laquelle les groupes de défense des droits de l’homme se doivent de faire davantage qu’exercer un simple lobbying pour l’adoption d’instruments légaux internationaux ; ils doivent aider les femmes des zones rurales à les faire appliquer afin d’améliorer leur lot quotidien ainsi que celui de leurs enfants. Il faut faciliter l’existence d’Atieno d’Ahero, de Wanjiku de waithaka, de Kaleyke de Katse et de Naliaka de Narok à la fois matériellement et intellectuellement pour qu’elles puissent prendre conscience de leurs droits de base en tant qu’êtres humains et en tant que femmes et de la façon dont il est possible de les faire respecter devant des tribunaux régionaux, nationaux et internationaux. Unissons nos forces afin d’appliquer une thérapie de choc qui obligera les hommes à renoncer à leurs préjugés les plus enracinés ; corrigeons-les de l’actuel état d’esprit rétrograde et phallocrate qui leur a été transmis de génération en génération.


Dans sa pièce intitulée Mesure pour mesure , Shakespeare introduit un nouveau personnage nommé Angelo, le régent qui rend de dures sentences en matière de justice. Il refuse de mêler la miséricorde à la justice et déclare que la loi doit être suivie à la lettre : au début de la pièce en tout cas. Nous laisserons aux curieux le soin de découvrir ce qui se passe ensuite. Lors d’une réplique célèbre, il pontifie sur le fait suivant : « l’on ne doit point faire de la loi un épouvantail, le préparant à attraper des oiseaux de proie, jusqu’à ce que l’habitude le leur faisant juger inoffensif ils en viennent à en faire leur perchoir au lieu de leur terreur ».


Notre dextérité et nos efforts dans la défense d’une cause doivent se traduire par des changements visibles dans les existences des gens de notre peuple ; elles ne doivent pas rester un simple « Sésame » pour nos donneurs de fonds, militons pour la promulgation de lois, mais ne les laissons pas devenir de simples épouvantails à oiseaux de proies et ... à hommes !


*A.N.Khitaka est défenseur des droits des femmes au Kenya

*Prière d’envoyer vos commentaires à : editor@pambazuka.org

Organisations soutenant la campagne pour la ratification du protocole relatif aux droits de la femme

African Centre for Democracy And Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) http://www.acdhrs.org/
Akina Mama wa Afrika www.akinamama.org/
Association des Juristes Maliennes http://www.justicemali.org/ajm.htm
Cellule de Coordination sur les Pratiques Traditionelle Affectant la Sante des Femmes et des Enfants
Coalition on Violence Against Women www.covaw.or.ke
Equality Now-Africa Regional Office http://www.equalitynow.org/english/index.html
FAHAMU http://www.fahamu.org
FAMEDEV-Inter-African Network For Women Media, Gender and Development
FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network www.femnet.or.ke
Foundation for Community Development, Inter-African Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices (IAC)
Oxfam GB http://www.oxfam.org.uk/
Sister Namibia
Union Nationale des Femmes de Djibouti
Voix de Femmes http://www.voixdefemmes.org/
University of Pretoria Center for Human Rights http://www.chr.up.ac.za/
Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternatives
Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) http://www.wildaf.org/
Resources
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html
Peace Women http://peacewomen.org
Akina Mama wa Afrika http://www.akinamama.org/
Equality Now http://www.equalitynow.org/english/index.html
FEMNET http://femnet.or.ke
Feminist Africa http:/www.feministafrica.org

Blogs
Feminist African Sisters http://feministafricansisters.blogspot.com/
Diary of a Mad Kenyan Woman http://madkenyanwoman.blogspot.com/
Black Looks http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

Lectures conseillées
Women Building Peace http://www.international-alert.org/publicatio ns/121.php
Trafficking in Women and Children in Africa http://www.unicef-icdc.org/publications/
African Experiences of Transnational Feminism http://www.feministafrica.org/2level.html

Editions spéciales de Pambazuka News sur le protocole
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa: A Pre-condition for Health and Food Security http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?issue=190
The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Red, Yellow and Green http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?issue=213
Challenges of Domestication: The Protocol To The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on The Rights of Women in Africa http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?issue=222

Articles de Pambazuka sur le Protocole
Land Rights - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30397
Women and Sustainable Development - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30299
Women in Armed Conflict - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30122
Female Genital Mutilation - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=30050
Trafficking in Women and Children - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=29740
Female Refugees - http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=29873

Évènements
Nigeria – Baobab Women http://www.baobabwomen.org/upcomingevents.html
Afrique du Sud – Women’s Net http://womensnet.org.za/16Days/calendar.shtml
Agenda à Durban, Contact Afrique du Sud editorial@agenda.org.za
Kenya – COVAW http://www.covaw.or.ke/
Ghana – Ark Foundation http://www.arkfoundationgh.org/news/home.htm
Calendrier international http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit05/cale ndar.html

Trade agreements between Europe and Africa

Stephen R. Hurt

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/30549

It seems as if trade agreements are impossible to understand. They’re characterized by complex jargon and detailed economic analysis that's far away from the everyday concerns of most people. The current negotiations over Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states and the European Union are no different. Yet what is the nature of these negotiations and the likely end agreement? What kind of relationship between Africa and the European Union does it represent? And what will be the impact of this trade agreement on the social and economic fabric of our societies? Following on from our special edition on EPAs in July, Pambazuka News is retaining the focus on trade between Africa and Europe by running a series of articles on the subject, beginning with this edition and running through until the end of the year. In the first article, Stephen Hurt looks at the shifting power relations in international trade between the ACP states and the EU. The conditions of the current EPAs can be understood by looking at the historical relationship between these groupings - and actually reflect EU ambitions that date back to the early 1970s. (See below for French version).


The European Union (EU) is a major trading partner of sub-Saharan Africa. Both critics and supporters of the current negotiations towards Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) tend to agree that they are likely to have a significant impact on the development prospects of many African states. The particular importance of EPAs, which are part of the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, is that they represent a return to non-reciprocity in trade relations. Therefore they can be seen as a substantial change in EU development policy. The current emphasis on trade, and the associated relative decline of European aid going to Africa, represents a reversal of the approach adopted in the early years of the relationship. Then the focus was predominantly on aid rather than trade. In order to understand how the current situation has arisen, it is necessary to put the EPAs into historical context. By doing so it becomes clear that precedents have been set in the past. Moreover, it is apparent that since the 1980s the EU has been moving inexorably towards its current position in its relationship with Africa.

To understand the dynamics that have driven the historical development of the EU’s relationship with Africa it is important to consider the wider global context of North-South relations. As I seek to demonstrate in this article it is both material and ideational developments within this structural context that condition the policy decisions taken by government and bureaucratic elites within both the EU and African states.

Decolonisation and the Yaoundé Conventions

The EU’s relationship with Africa has been formalised since the very creation of the organisation in 1957. Due to the insistence of the French government, the Treaty of Rome included articles providing for the association of African colonies. Thus, in terms of trade and aid arrangements, a special relationship between the EU and Africa has been in existence for almost five decades. The agreement gave both member states and their colonial dependencies preferential trade access. This meant that EU member states received preferential trade terms with the associate states in comparison with third parties and vice versa. These rather humble beginnings provided a lasting legacy for the EU’s relationship with Africa, and the developing world more generally. As Holland argues ‘historical ties rather than need’ have been the criterion for determining preferential trade and aid relations (2002: 27).

Following the independence of a number of African states during the 1960s, the EU’s relationship with Africa was reorganised through the Yaoundé Conventions of 1963 and 1969. These acknowledged, to a degree, the political independence of the associate states; joint institutions were established, including an Association Council and a Parliamentary Conference. However, as Koutrakou (2004: 122) suggests, the main driving force of this relationship was the continued economic interests of the EU’s member states in Africa. This self-interest was reflected in the fact that preferential trade access remained reciprocal.

Lomé I

By the beginning of the 1970s the dominance of francophone Africa in the EU’s relationship with the continent was already being significantly reduced. In 1971 the EU introduced its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which reduced its external tariff for trade with all developing countries. This served to erode the relative benefits of the trade access enjoyed by the signatories of the Yaoundé Convention. However, the most significant development in this period that led to a reappraisal of the EU’s relationship with Africa was the confirmation of the United Kingdom as a European member state in 1973. Members of the Commonwealth, who were at a similar stage of development to the 18 Yaoundé states, united to form the ACP group.

The European Commission was strongly behind the idea of negotiating a new agreement with this enlarged group of developing states. Negotiations began in July 1973 and eventually culminated in the Lomé Convention. Despite the fact that the ACP was a rather heterogeneous group of states, they displayed a striking level of unanimity in the negotiations (Holland 2002: 33). The unity of the ACP group was further strengthened by the global context of the early 1970s. The Bretton Woods System had collapsed and Third World states had become increasingly forthright in their desire to improve their position in the world economy. These developments resulted in the call, chiefly within the United Nations General Assembly, for a New International Economic Order (NIEO). As a result the ACP states adopted a negotiating stance with the EU based closely on this NIEO agenda.

Although the final agreement of Lomé I did reflect some of these influences the concessions made to the ACP states were qualified in a number of ways. For example, the trade provisions were based on a shift away from reciprocity towards preferential access solely for ACP states exporting to the EU. However, this access to the EU market was limited in the export of agricultural commodities, one of the key sectors for many African states, by the non-inclusion of products covered by the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This remains a contentious issue thirty years later. In addition fairly stringent rules of origin and a safeguard clause allowed the EU to retain a significant degree of control over trade matters.

From Lomé to Cotonou

Looking back, Lomé I can be seen as the peak of the EU’s willingness to accede to the demands of African governments. In fact ‘the history of European development cooperation from this point onwards can be understood as the steady erosion of these limited concessions, and the increasing adoption of neo-liberal thinking’ (Hurt 2004: 158). This process ultimately resulted in the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and ACP states, which was signed in June 2000.

During the 1980s no substantial progress was made by the ACP states during the two renegotiations of the Lomé Convention. However, a strong shift towards neo-liberal thinking in the global North coupled with the Third World debt crisis significantly altered the context of the EU’s relations with Africa. These changes were reflected in the introduction of structural adjustment in Lomé IV, which was signed in 1989. This moved the EU’s approach significantly closer to the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. In developing its policy on structural adjustment the EU claimed it had devised a more pragmatic approach than that adopted by the IMF and World Bank, which would take greater account of the impact of such policies on vulnerable groups. This claim has been contested by a number of critics (see for example Brown 2002 and Parfitt 1996).

The genesis of the Cotonou Agreement can be traced back as far as 1992 when the European Commission released a document called ‘Horizon 2000’. This paper argued for both an increase in conditionalities attached to aid and a shift in trade policy towards the benefits of multilateral trade liberalisation rather than preferential regimes. These concerns were partially addressed in the mid-term review of Lomé IV but the limitations of working within the existing framework made more substantial alterations to the trade pillar particularly unfeasible. Hence the European Commission published a Green Paper in 1996, which presented an overall assessment of the EU’s relationship with the ACP states and outlined the reasons for an overhaul of the relationship (European Commission 1996). It was argued that the creation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the associated pressures for multilateral trade liberalisation made the EU’s preferential trade relationship unsustainable. The effectiveness of non-reciprocal trade preferences was also questioned due to exports from the ACP group having shown a steady decline as a proportion of total exports to the EU. These were views that were accepted by a majority of African state elites reflecting the increasing consensus on neo-liberal thinking.

What were the major causes of the abandonment of the Lomé Convention in favour of the Cotonou Agreement? During the 1990s significant changes in both geo-politics and the global economy had an impact on the nature of the EU’s relationship with Africa. The end of the Cold War led to significant alterations in the priorities of the EU’s foreign relations. In particular, the expansion programme of the EU saw trade and aid flows being redirected towards Central and Eastern Europe (Koutrakou 2004: 125). Consequently a rather sharp decline in the proportion of EU aid going to ACP states took place. In 1989 the ACP group received 63.5 per cent of total EU aid, but by 1998 this proportion had fallen to just 29.1 per cent (ECDPM 2001 (Part 5): 3).

In the global economy, since at least the early 1980s, neo-liberalism as an idea has become increasingly dominant. This is significant because when ideas assume such a position, debates on policy are framed in a narrow fashion. The influence of the hegemony of neo-liberal development thinking is readily apparent in the EU’s claim that the Cotonou Agreement and the negotiation of EPAs are necessary to meet the global rules of free trade embodied in the WTO. This position neglects the obvious fact that the rules of the WTO are not ‘fixed and immutable’ but a ‘political construct’ (Hurt 2003: 174). If the focus of the EU’s relationship was truly developmental it could seek to alter the very rules of the multilateral trading system that it claims limit its options.

There is a clear precedent for the moves towards the EU developing reciprocal trade relations with Africa. Soon after the end of apartheid in South Africa, the EU began negotiations with the new government led by the African National Congress (ANC). Eventually a bilateral Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) was agreed in October 1999 after four years of negotiations. The trade pillar of this agreement was the creation of a Free Trade Area (FTA) between the EU and South Africa. Although the trade agreement includes an element of asymmetry in the time periods of liberalisation required by each party, by 2012 ‘substantially all’ trade will be accorded duty free access. At an early stage in the negotiations South Africa had requested full membership of the Lomé Convention. The EU had responded by arguing that South Africa was sufficiently developed in comparison with the rest of the ACP group that it would be able to withstand the adjustment costs of reciprocal trade liberalisation (Hurt 2000: 72-73). This may have been a questionable assessment of the situation in South Africa. Moreover, with hindsight it is ironic that the uniqueness of reciprocal trade relations deemed only relevant for ‘developed’ South Africa, have since become applicable to the rest of Africa.

Conclusions

The ACP group of states has been unique to the EU’s external policy with the developing world. The relative unity and negotiating strength of this grouping is clearly challenged by the current negotiations of EPAs on a regional basis. As I have demonstrated in this article, this is just one of the many differences with the period during the early 1970s when Lomé I was negotiated. The ‘normalisation’ of the EU’s relations with Africa manifested in the Cotonou Agreement actually reflects ‘the long-held wishes of the EU that actually date back to the early 1970s and the negotiations prior to Lomé I’ (Hurt 2004: 170). There exists a stark contrast between the instability of the world economy coupled with the relative negotiating strength of African states thirty years ago, and the dominance of neo-liberal development thinking embodied in the rules of the WTO in recent years. This change has allowed the EU to move away from preferential trade access and towards the negotiation of EPAs that African states are presently faced with.

* I use the term EU throughout this article to represent the European Union and the organisation, pre-Maastricht Treaty.

* Stephen Hurt is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Oxford Brookes University, UK. (shurt@brookes.ac.uk)

*Please send comments to editor@pambazuka.org

* For further reading on this topic, please visit http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?issue=216

References

Brown, W. (2002) The European Union and Africa: The Restructuring of North-South Relations, London: I. B. Tauris.
ECDPM (2001) Cotonou Infokit: The New ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, Maastricht: ECDPM.
European Commission (1996) Green Paper on Relations between the European Union and the ACP Countries on the Eve of the 21st Century: Challenges and Options for a New Partnership, COM(96) 570, 20 November, Brussels: European Community.
Holland, M. (2002) The European Union and the Third World, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Hurt, S. R. (2000) ‘A Case of Economic Pragmatism? The European Union’s Trade and Development Agreement with South Africa, International Relations, 15 (3): 67-83.
Hurt, S. R. (2003) ‘Co-operation and Coercion? The Cotonou Agreement between the European Union and ACP States and the End of the Lomé Convention’, Third World Quarterly, 24 (1): 161-176.
Hurt, S. R. (2004) ‘The European Union’s external relations with Africa after the Cold War: Aspects of continuity and change’ in I. Taylor and P. Williams (eds) Africa in International Politics: External involvement on the continent, London: Routledge, pp. 155-173.
Koutrakou. V. N. (2004) ‘New directions in the EU’s Third World policy: from aid to trade under the watchful eye of the WTO’ in V. N. Koutrakou (ed) Contemporary Issues and Debates in EU Policy: The European Union and International Relations, Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 120-133.
Parfitt, T. (1996) ‘The Decline of Eurafrica? Lomé’s Mid-Term Review’, Review of African Political Economy, 23 (67): 53-66.

WSIS aftermath: Who cares about human rights?

Patrick Burnett

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/30543

Just days before the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) got under way in Tunis last week, United States State Department spokesman Adam Ereli expressed concern about restrictions on freedom of speech and political activity in Tunisia (http://tunis.usembassy.gov/tunisian_cooperation.html). Over the next few days, the Tunisian government made quite clear that it would not tolerate freedom of expression. Journalists were harassed and beaten, an alternative civil society meeting was effectively shut down, and meetings discussing human rights and freedom of expression were disrupted. This prompted the official US delegation to the United Nations sponsored summit to express some disappointment at the role of the Tunisian government. “We are therefore obliged to express our disappointment that the government of Tunisia did not take advantage of this important opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression and assembly in Tunisia,” said a press note issued by the delegation (http://tunis.usembassy.gov/tunisian_cooperation.html).

Interestingly, at the same time as the US decries the human rights situation in the country, Tunisia remains an important ally in the US ‘war on terror’. The US Department of Defence International Military Education and Training (IMET) program has trained over 3,600 Tunisian military officers and technicians since its inception in the mid-1980’s. In 2004, 87 Tunisian military personnel took part in the IMET program at a value of $1.88 million. The U.S. Department of Defense also supports Tunisia’s counter-terrorism program through bilateral training exercises and special counter-terrorism training courses for selected Tunisian participants. (http://tunis.usembassy.gov/tunisian_cooperation.html)

The US has previously supplied the Tunisian government with military hardware in the form of aircraft parts, machine guns and ammunition (http://www.fas.org/asmp/profiles/655-2002/FMS/Tunisia.pdf). According to a 2005 report from the World Policy Institute, Tunisia received $4,646,000 in military assistance despite a poor human rights record and serious abuses by the government (This figure is for 2003, the latest year for which details are available).

The report’s executive summary is worth noting: “Perhaps no single policy is more at odds with President Bush’s pledge to ‘end tyranny in our world’ than the United States’ role as the world’s leading arms exporting nation. Although arms sales are often justified on the basis of their purported benefits, from securing access to overseas military facilities to rewarding coalition allies in conflicts such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, these alleged benefits often come at a high price. All too often, US arms transfers end up fueling conflict, arming human rights abusers, or falling into the hands of US adversaries.” In 2003, the report notes, more than half of the top 25 recipients of US arms transfers in the developing world were defined as undemocratic by the US State Department’s Human Rights Report because their citizens did not have the right to change their own government. (http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/wawjune2005.html)

US companies also assist the Tunisian regime in its crackdown on dissenters. Software from US company Secure Computing, called SmartFilter, is used by the Tunisian internet agency to block websites that the government does not approve of. One of the websites blocked during the course of the summit was that of the Citizen’s Summit on the Information Society (CSIS). The CSIS event ended up not taking place due to the efforts of the Tunisian government to shut it down. It was supposed to provide a forum where issues that were not a part of the main summit venue could be discussed, but the Tunisian government feared it would be used as a platform to denounce its human rights abuses. Websites mentioned in a training session on how to circumvent internet filtering were also blocked, although its not clear if they were already blocked or had been blocked during the course of the summit.

According to a Human Rights Watch report released at the summit, the Tunisian Interior Ministry employs 500 people to monitor electronic communication. Activists told Human Rights Watch of email arriving late or not at all, of responses to emails coming from third parties posing as the recipient when the intended recipient said he never received the original message, of email inboxes being filled to saturation by repeated emails saying only, for example, “You are traitor.”

The report says Tunisia has cited counterterrorism and the need to curb incitement to hatred and violence as among its justifications for censoring information online. However, tests carried out for the report showed that only four out of forty-one radical Islamist web sites were actually blocked. “The pattern of Tunisia’s online censorship suggests that, in practice, its policy has been guided less by a fear of terrorism or incitement to violence than by a fear of peaceful internal dissent,” says the report (http://hrw.org/reports/2005/mena1105/7.htm#_Toc119125755). In the name of the ‘war on terror’, the US, though its military and commercial support, is therefore propping up a regime that uses repressive policies against its own people in order to stay in power.

At the conclusion of the summit media and freedom of expression
groups called for a full investigation by the United Nations into attacks on human rights and freedom of expression that took place in Tunisia during the summit. Steve Buckley, President of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and Chair of the Tunisian Monitoring Group of freedom of expression organisations said: “Never again should a United Nations World Summit be held in a country that does not respect its international commitments to human rights and freedom of expression.”

“This week in Tunis, both inside and outside the official Summit, we have witnessed serious attacks on the right to freedom of expression including harassment of delegates, attacks on Tunisian and international journalists and human rights defenders, denial of entry to the country, the blocking of websites, the censorship of documents and speeches, and the prevention and disruption of meetings.” (http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/1029, http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15613)

The worrying trend highlighted by the holding of the WSIS in Tunisia, is the ease with which issues such as freedom of expression are sidelined as an important footnote, or simply sidelined all together. This approach allows governments to present glossy figures on their internet rollout while at the same time escape criticism over their human rights records.

Freedom of expression is a core component of a future information society and it should not be sidelined in the interests of diplomacy – nor should organisations working in the field of information and communications technology fail to acknowledge that this is an issue that should be at the centre of the agenda.

Tunis has highlighted issues related to human rights in the information society, but it should be clear that the problem is not confined to Tunisia. Efforts by governments to control internal dissent through repression, including through internet censorship, are on the increase, and pose a very real threat to the future structure and form of the information society. It will take a united front to reverse the trend.

* Please send comments to editor@pambazuka.org

WSIS: Welcome to the bazaar

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/30551

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was essentially a big information and communications technology bazaar. Hundreds of organisations and thousands of their representatives all crammed into a big warehouse on the outskirts of Tunis and set up shop in the exhibition area of the summit. Networking and knowledge sharing was the order of the day for those who were there, but for those who weren’t the collective resource might as well not have even existed. Pambazuka News has listed some of the organisations, innovations and publications that were on show so that if you weren’t there you can browse the links, network and learn from what others are doing. View photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fahamu/

Association of Progressive Communications (APC)
www.apc.org
APC is an international network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information and communications technologies (ICTs).

Base Network Africa
teambasenet@yahoo.com
Base Network Africa is a youth led not for profit organisation geared towards guiding rural teenagers using information and communication technology.

Behind the Mask
www.mask.org.za
Behind the Mask aims to empower and support LGBT people throughout Africa – politically, culturally, socially and economically, by the gathering and dissemination of information via the internet.

Centre for International ICT Policies Central and West Africa (Cipaco)
www.cipaco.org
Cipaco is a Panos Institute West Africa project aimed an strengthening the capacity of West and Central African stakeholders for a better participation in international decision-making processes.

Computer Aid International
www.computer-aid.org
Computer Aid international is the world’s largest not-for-profit supplier of quality refurbished Pentiums to schools and community organisations in the developing world.

Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org/
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that offers flexible copyright licenses for creative works

Freedom Toaster
www.freedomtoaster.org
A Freedom Toaster is a conveniently located unit where users bring their own blank CDs and make copies of the FOSS and open content they require, at no cost.

Frontline Defenders
www.frontlinedefenders.org/
Front Line is the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, defending those who champion the Universal Declaration of Human rights.

Gender and ICTs network
www.famafrique.org/regentic/accueil.html
The Gender and ICTs Network promotes gender analysis of the information and communications sector in Senegal and initiates a dialogue between the regulation authorities, women’s organisations and civil society

GenderIT.org
www.GenderIT.org
GenderIT.org is a tool for women’s movements, ICT advocates and policy makers to ensure that ICT policy meets women’s needs and does not infringe on their rights.

Global Knowledge for Development List
www.gkdknowledge.org
The GKD list is a powerful source of high quality expertise and vital information on ICT for development.

Global Knowledge Partnership
www.globalknowledge.org
The GKP is the leading international multi-stakeholder network committed to harnessing the potential of information and communications technologies for sustainable and equitable development

Global Voices Online
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/
Global Voices is an international effort to diversify the conversation taking place online by involving speakers from around the world, and developing tools, institutions and relationships to help make these voices heard.

Human Rights in the Global Information Society
www.mitpress.mit.edu
The contributors to this volume examine the links between information technology and human rights from a range of disciplinary perspectives.

Human Rights Watch: False Freedom – Online Censorship in the Middle East and North Africa
http://hrw.org/reports/2005/mena1105/
This report looks at the spread of the internet and how governments have moved to crack down on its potential as a tool for freedom of expression.

Kewl.NextGen
www.avoir.uwc.ac.za/kngfiles
KEWL.nextGen (Knowledge Environment for Web Learning, the next generation), is a free software e-learning system from the African Virtual Open Initiatives and Resources Project and the University of the Western Cape.

Kubatana
www.kubatana.net
Kubatana is Zimbabwe’s civic and human rights web site incorporating an online directory for the non-profit sector.

Mainstreaming ICTs: Africa lives the information society
www.womensnet.org.za
A handbook for development practitioners that acts as a contribution towards efforts to bridge the “policy-practice” divide. The book is aimed at development practitioners and ICT innovators interested in inventive technology applications.

Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
mxgmnv@hotmail.com
The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement is an organisation whose mission is to defend the human rights of Africans in America and promote self-determination.

NGO-in-a-box
www.tacticaltech.org/ngoinabox
NGO-in-a-box offers a set of reviewed and selected Free and Open Source software (F/OSS), tailored to the needs of NGO's. It provides them not only with software, but also with implementation scenarios and relevant materials to support this. Its aim is to increase the accessibility of F/OSS to non-profits in developing and transition countries.

Open Knowledge Network
www.openknowledge.net
Open Knowledge Network is an initiative to support the creation and exchange of local content in local languages across the South, supported by a range of information and communication technologies (ICTs)

Panos West Africa
www.panos-ao.org
Panos West Africa informs and communicates a culture of democracy, citizenship and peace in Africa.

Schoolnet Namibia
Schoolnet Namibia provides sustainable, low cost technology solutions and internet access, as well as technical support, training support and rich educational content to schools, community based educational organisations and educational practitioners throughout Namibia.

The Free and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA)
www.fossfa.net
FOSSFA is an organisation that was formed to promote the use of open source software in Africa.

The Information Revolution and Developing Countries
www.mitpress.mit.edu
In this book Ernest Wilson provides a clear, nuanced analysis of the major transformations resulting from the global information revolution.

Ungana Africa
www.ungana-afrika.org
Ungana Africa aims to address the technology capacity crisis by building innovative support programmes and tools that are empowering the development community.

Voices
www.voicesforall.org
Voices was born out of a realization that people’s empowerment through different forms of communication plays a critical and vital role in the process of socio-economic and political change.

Witness
www.witness.org
Witness uses the power of video to open the eyes of the world to human rights abuses. By partnering with local organisations around the world, Witness empowers human rights defenders to use video as a tool to shine a light on those most affected by human rights violations.

Women’s statement on the human rights situation in Tunisia
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=r&x= 91870

WSIS gender caucus
www.genderwsis.org
The WSIS Gender Caucus is a multi-stakeholder group promoting gender integration and women's rights in the WSIS process.

WSIS youth caucus
http://www.wsisyouth.org/
The Youth Caucus of the WSIS is a loose group of youth who are active leaders in all kinds of areas.

WSIS Draft Civil Society Statement
http://wsis.ecommons.ca/node/view/659

Taking Pan-Africanism to the people

Tajudeen Abdul Raheem

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/panafrican/30541

At a meeting of African heads of state in Nigeria recently, the thorny issue of African unity was debated. While the leaders busied themselves with discussing a union of states, Tajudeen Abdul Raheem writes that what unity should really be about is a unity of people. Pan Africanism, he writes, needs to leave the conferences and executive mansions and become a part of the lives of ordinary people.


On November 12th and 13th at the Banquet Hall of Nigeria's State House (more popularly known as Aso Rock), President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his capacity as the chair of the African Union, hosted a conference on ‘Africa and the Challenges of the Global Order: Desirability of the Union Government’.

Five heads of state and government including President Thabo Mbeki (South Africa), John Kufour (Ghana), Abdulaye Wade (Senegal), Prime minister Meles Zenawi (Ethiopia) and President Boutefleka (Algeria) - represented by his prime minister - along with several foreign ministers and ambassadors were present.

A number of civil society activists, academics, international policy makers including Mahmood Mamdani (Columbia University), Adebayo Olukoshi (CODESRIA), Wangari Mathai (President of ECOSOCC), Gertrude Mongela (speaker of the Pan African Parliament), Ezra Mbogori (Mwengo) and others were also present to dialogue with the leaders on the best means of proceeding with the agenda of unity.

The meeting was a direct result of the directive given by the Shirte Summit in July based on the resolution put forward by the Libyan leader, Muammar Al Gaddafi demanding that a Union of African states be formed as a further step in advancing the Pan-Africanist idea. Libya is anxious that in spite of recent progress in the Union the demands and pressures of globalization are such that only a faster march to Unity will prevent Africa from being re-colonised.

As in 1999 not many African leaders were too enthusiastic about Libya 's proposals in July. However, as has become the practice, whatever Libya pushes it has enough material and diplomatic clout in the Union for it not to be ignored. The strategy of other powerhouses in the AU - especially Nigeria and South Africa - has always been how to contain Libya’s militancy. The matter was thrown at a High Level Panel headed by President Obasanjo along with Zenawi, Mbeki, Wade, Boutefleka, Museveni and Kufour. This Panel is due to submit its report to the next summit in Khartoum in January 2006.

In Abuja the Libyans - represented by their minister for Africa Ali Treiki (called by many "The Tricky man' for his long term survival of many sharp knives in the corridors of power) - put more flesh to their proposals in terms of a time table beginning in 2006 with the removal of tariffs and visas, the establishment of a central bank, and the formation of one army all of which would lead to the creation of a Union of African States in 2009.

Libya obviously wants a United Africa as a present for the 40th anniversary of the Al Fatah revolution! These are no doubt very revolutionary proposals given the slow take off of all the institutions of the new Union. Caution will dictate that we work on making existing structures work before taking another leap forward.

In a rare display of executive candor and public engagement the leaders present did not hide their disagreement with Libya's proposals. Thabo Mbeki led the charge, raising doubts about his ability to persuade reluctant South Africans to surrender sovereignty to an entity outside the country that they did not vote for. He expressed pessimism about common tariffs, drawing his conclusion from the slow progress of common tariffs and the customs union of SADC countries.

Zenawi argued that the proposals were full of old rhetoric without adequate research and analysis. He asked if Africa's underdevelopment is the result of lacking a union government or if a union government will make Africa develop. Obasanjo drew attention to the ECOWAS region which made great progress in the area of free movement but had not proceeded to other levels of integration.

Wade suggested that the integration of Africa is impeded by dependence on aid and the collective loses that Africa suffers from the export of its precious raw materials and mineral resources like oil, gold, diamond, etc. He caused some exchange of executive banter between him and his host when he asked for the right to share in Nigeria's fuel resources. Obasanjo retorted that he could not be giving Senegal cheap oil while it uses foreign exchange to buy imported rice which he is trying to dissuade Nigerians from eating.

The concerns raised by the leaders and others are genuine but I believe they are agonising instead of organising. I do not believe that Africans anywhere on this continent or in the Diaspora will not vote overwhelmingly for visa-free freedom of movement across Africa. The scandalous situation that degrades and humiliates us at the moment needs to be addressed immediately. How can an American, Canadian or Australian and virtually all Europeans have easier access to our countries while we treat fellow African as 'aliens'? Despite all the sensitivities and reactionary politics surrounding citizenship across Africa would it not be easier to recognise all Africans as Africans with full citizenship rights, wherever they may be in Africa? Mamdani, combining both personal experience and professional interest did not allow Wade's executive fiat to stop him from completing his presentation on this issue. Drawing from his book, ‘Citizens and Subjects’ Mamdani showed how the citizenship laws of today are a carry over of colonial divide and rule and a pluralism of legal regimes that made Africans into tribes subjected to native or customary laws. That pluralism has made it difficult for many African countries to create political communities with a sense of shared future.

Olukoshi took on the argument of ECOWAS not making progress since it introduced freedom of moment. Freedom of movement alone would not lead to integration if it was not accompanied by integrative infrastructure through transport, communication, education, commerce and trade, etc.

It is clear that we are back to the debates of the 1960s about how far and fast we should proceed to unity. The answer that our painful history teaches us is that slow progress has lead us to the slaughter house of neo-colonialism and impoverishment in the midst of abundant human and material resources. We have no choice but to move faster because the rest of the world will not wait for us.

It is now widely recognised that Pan Africanism needs to leave the confines of conferences and executive mansions of our leaders and become part and parcel of all our lives building from the down-up. A number of issues are clear. One, the heads of state want a union of states while what we need is a union of peoples. If people are at the centre of the agenda many of the contradictions and anxieties the leaders are obsessed with can be confronted together instead of dealing with them individually. Two, some states are more willing than others. And it may be necessary that instead of constantly waiting for everyone to come on board those who are ready should go ahead. Three, the Libyans have to learn how to be thorough and strategic in mobilising both leaders and civil society instead of wasting enormous resources as sweeteners to reluctant heads of state. The biggest obstacle to their good proposals is the way they do things rather than what they are putting forward. The crucial stage we are now at requires a broader alliance owned and led by our peoples to bring the frontiers down and release our energies for creative union that serves the people.

* Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem is General-Secretary of the Pan African Movement, Kampala (Uganda) and Co-Director of Justice Africa

* Please send comments to editor@pambazuka.org

How the other half dies

Ursula Troche

2005-11-23

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/30524

I was excited to read Stephen Lewis' article on 'How the Other Half Dies'. It immediately clicked in me that this is the same title that already appeared as a title of a book by Susan George back in 1977: 'How the Other Half Dies: The real reasons for world poverty.'

I thought it would be interesting to let you, readers and Stephen Lewis himself know (maybe he does, I don't know, am curious), so that we remember who has already fought in the struggle with exactly the same headline.

Race and the Rise of the Republican Party

James D. Bilotta

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/30434

A book suggestion for your readers:  Race and the Rise of the Republican Party, 1848-1865,  3rd edition.  This is a serious treatment of US racism/ethnocentrism.  Thank you.

The politics of fear in Ethiopia

Anonymous (by request)

2005-11-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/30424

I am trying to publicise as widely as possible what is happening now in Ethiopia - but without jeopardizing the possibilities for getting a visa to go back asap. So please do not mention my name if you decide to publicise the following.

I was in Addis working with ILO last week during the strike. Reports were very varied and contradictory, but what seems to have happened is:

1) the opposition had called for a one week strike immediately following Eid to enable Muslims also to join the protest against Meles’ rigging of the elections.

2) something sparked resistance early. This led to at least 50 people shot dead at random by the military – they do not speak the same language and have also been trained to be extra aggressive. The deaths included children and women trying to prevent their sons being taken away. Most of the resistance from the people was just in the form of roadblocks and stones. At least one person was shot dead just in front of a factory I was visiting.

3) 3,000 at least have now been detained and shipped to detention camps in the desert including all opposition leaders, human rights activists and journalists.

4) Government is also blocking any forms of communication it can eg the independent Amharic station.

I do hope you can make these facts widely known so the repression can stop and the detainees released – and also use any networks you have to update/correct any of the above information. Unfortunately all my contacts are too scared to speak at this time.

It seems the only way of getting world attention is to blow up a few tourists or set a few cars alight in the streets of Paris. BBC and CNN seemed more interested in Charles and Camilla's visit to US.

The shame of Tunis

Mawutodzi Abissath

2005-11-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/30423

I have just finished reading your comprehensive editorial on events unfolding in Tunis and send my sympathy to journalists in general and human rights activists in particular.

I think the UN must not sit down unconcerned for that country's authorities to treat communicators as common criminals. What is the purpose of the Summit in the first place? What a shame!

Who's the failure?

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/30540

1- Go to Google (http://www.google.com )

2- Type in the word "Failure"

3- Instead of clicking "Google Search," click "I'm Feeling Lucky."

4- Giggle

5- Spread the word before the people at Google "fix" it.

* Chairman of Fools

Shimmer Chinodya

2005-11-23

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/books/30529

Published by: Weaver Press, 2005
Distributed by: African Books Collective Ltd (www.africanbookscollective.com)

Set in Zimbabwe, Chinodya’s “Chairman of Fools” tells the story of a successful academic and writer returning home after an overseas teaching position. Returning to find his family changed, but his culture and traditions the same, Farai Chari slips into a dark and frightening paranoia. Reality and hallucinations intertwine for Farai, and Chinodya does an excellent job of weaving the two together. At the same time, the book raises important social issues, questioning the relationships between men and women, the expectations placed on men, how people with mental illnesses are treated and the changes Zimbabwe is going through,

“Chairman of Fools” presents an interesting story. Farai represents middle class male chauvinism, and that his story is one of unhappiness and illness makes for a narrative that is curious. Upon his immediate return Farai finds that his wife has become more and more involved in her church, and his children are distant. His professional success has made him materially comfortable, but hasn’t made him happy, and indeed, has trapped him into a life that he must work to continue sustaining. Tradition also binds him to his wife – his family and community would never allow for him to leave. His drinking problem, combined with his wife’s newfound religious zeal, make for a strain in their relationship, and even the intervention of numerous family members has little impact.

Farai slips deeper and deeper into a scene that includes alcohol and prostitutes, and finally spins out of control with a car accident. This is the beginning of his paranoia, which eventually lands him in a mental institution – everything Farai has gone through, and his alcoholic reaction, have aggravated a mental illness – he suffers from bipolar disorder. Suffering from mood exaggerated mood swings – mania and depression, Farai can no longer hide the fact that he is at times delusional. At the mental institution he meets a number of colorful patients, each battling their own afflictions. He is crowned “Chairman of Fools,” by them, and is put in charge of their complaints regarding the day to day running of the mental ward. But he is also introduced to people so different from himself, and from this, learns some important lessons.

The book ends quietly. Life slowly, simply returns to normal, with no big changes. Balancing out his illness with medication, he is deemed well enough to return to the US to teach. Farai and his wife reconcile softly, each admitting their shortfalls. While Farai wants his wife to be someone, something else to him, she will never be this woman who he can be freely himself with. Life continues – it doesn’t get better, or worse. Farai simply gets used to it.

While clearly representing an upper-middle class socio-economic status, Chinodya’s character is one that men in general can relate to. Masculinities in Zimbabwe, and indeed, around the globe, are such that men are often put into positions of expected power, success and responsibility. Should they not meet these expectations, their masculinity can be called into question, affecting not only their own identity and self-esteem, but the ways in which they relate to their families and communities. “Chairman of Fools” is a dark, and at times depressing representation of the despair that can consume, but also demonstrates the very real effects of the pressure often put on male heads of family.

* Reviewed by Karoline Kemp, a Commonwealth of Learning Young Professional Intern with Fahamu.

African Philosophy: The Pharaonic Period: 2780-330 BC

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/books/30482

The long awaited English translation of Théophile Obenga's AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY: The Pharaonic Period: 2780-330 BC is finally easily available in the United States by placing your orders with Vitabu Vya Africa Books, POB 2847, Berkeley, CA 94702., or calling 510-848-9485 At a list price of $32.50 (plus state tax --California's residents-- shipping and handling), the 671 pages volume is a bargain as the back cover presentation makes clear: "Was ancient Egypt African? A century ago, the answer from scholars with little knowledge of hieroglyphs and less of Africa was dismissive, racist: no. Today, a major intellectual shift is under way. New African scholarship, grounded in accurate multidisciplinary research and first-hand expertise in ancient Egyptian, contemporary African languages, Greek and Latin, has unearthed oral and written data clarifying Africa's history, philosophy, literature and culture from the upheavals of today all the way back to the beginnings of human society in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Nubia and Egypt."
PRESS RELEASE:
THEOPHILE OBENGA'S AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY

The long awaited English translation of Théophile Obenga's AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY: The Pharaonic Period: 2780-330 BC is finally easily available in the United States by placing your orders with Vitabu Vya Africa Books, POB 2847, Berkeley, CA 94702., or calling 510-848-9485

At a list price of $32.50 (plus state tax --California's residents-- shipping and handling), the 671 pages volume is a bargain as the back cover presentation makes clear:

THE TEXT: Was ancient Egypt African? A century ago, the answer from scholars with little knowledge of hieroglyphs and less of Africa was dismissive, racist: no. Today, a major intellectual shift is under way. New African scholarship, grounded in accurate multidisciplinary research and first-hand expertise in ancient Egyptian, contemporary African languages, Greek and Latin, has unearthed oral and written data clarifying Africa's history, philosophy, literature and culture from the upheavals of today all the way back to the beginnings of human society in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Nubia and Egypt.
PROFESSOR OBENGA is a pacesetter for the new scholarship. Here, in English translation, he presents key Egyptian hieroglyphic texts, with line-by-line transliterations and translations, giving new readers access to the ancient documents. Lucid, detailed commentaries guide readers toward a linguistic and philosophical appreciation of the texts, and offer specialists fresh insights, enhancing the usefulness of this extraordinary book.

THE AUTHOR: Professor Théophile Obenga, Egyptologist, historian, linguist and philosopher, holds doctoral and post-doctoral degrees from Bordeaux, Paris, Pittsburg, Geneva and Montpellier. A member of the French Association of Egyptologists and the UNESCO team that produced the eight-volume General History of Africa, he has taught history, languages and philosophy at universities and research institutes in Africa, europe and America.

THE PUBLISHER: PER ANKH, is an African publishing cooperative founded and funded by an intercontinental association of friends. It is based in the seaside village of Popenguine, Senegal, West Africa.

Other Per Ankh titles available from VITABU:
By Ayi Kwei Armah:
Healers ($17.00 --$18.48 with tax)
Two Thousand Seasons ($16.00 --$17.40 with tax)
KMT: In the House of Life ($16.99 --$18.47 with tax)

Children books:
Ayi Kwei Armah and Aboubacry Moussa Lam. Hieroglyphics for Babies ($5.75 --$6.25 with tax)
Maty Thioune. New Friends: A Story of Caring and Growth ($6.00 -- $6.52 with tax)


Please note
Discounts of 10% will be given on orders of 6 copies or more.
For Shipping and Handling, add $ 1.50 per book
Make checks out to VITABU VYA AFRICA BOOKS

Compendium of Key Human Rights Documents of the African Union

Centre for Human Rights and University for Peace

2005-11-24

http://www.chr.up.ac.za/pulp

This is a valuable collection of key documents relating to human rights adopted by the African Union and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, and includes selections of decisions and resolutions of the Africa Commission on Human and People's Rights. The book also contains relevant documents from NEPAD. It will serve as a useful reference text, and has useful short annotations that help the reader understand the significance of decisions and resolutions. Published by Pretoria University Law Press (PULP), ISBN: 0620346728

Legacies of Power: Leadership Change and Former Presidents in African Politics

Roger Southall; Henning Melber (eds.)

2005-11-22

http://www.hsrcpress.ac.za/index.asp?id=2114

It was a widely dominant perception until the early 1990's that African rulers do not vacate their office alive. But even in the brutal reality of African politics, transition takes place and different former presidents have dealt with how to maintain power and privilege very differently. With new case studies examining the post-presidential years of the iconic Mandela in South Africa, Daniel arap Moi in Kenya, Nyerere in Tanzania, Rawlings in Ghana, Charles Taylor in Liberia, as well as the experience of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi, and Nigeria, this volume examines the dilemmas which demands for presidential transitions impose upon incumbent rulers and analyses the relationships which are evolving between new regimes and their predecessors.

Africa Blog Roundup: A week in the African blogosphere

Sokari Ekine

2005-11-23

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/blog/30526

Somali blog, Ayaan Hirsi Ali - Ayaan Hirsi Ali (http://ayaanhirsiali.web-log.nl/log/4184803) which is dedicated to the work of Dutch Somali MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali reports that the “once tolerant Dutch society has been transformed by the action of Islamist murders and threats”. Film director Theo Van Gogh was murdered last year by an Islamic extremist because of the film he made with Hirsi Ali which exposed domestic violence in Islam. Since then Hirsi Ali has been under 24 hour protection. She is now in the process of making another film about homosexuality in Islam which no doubt will put her in even more danger.

The Big Pharaoh – The Big Pharaoh (http://bigpharaoh.blogspot.com/2005/11/islamist-gains-in-egypt-give.html) reports that the recent gains by Islamists in the Egyptian elections will give George Bush “pause for thought”. He believes this to be good news as it may slow down the democratic process which will put more pressure on the present Egyptian regime.

“That's good news. I have always argued for a slow transition to democracy in Egypt. In other words, pressures to be added on the regime so it opens up a bit by bit. Abrupt democracy and sudden elections are not necessary the best way forward.”

Coalition for Darfur - Coalition for Darfur (http://coalitionfordarfur.blogspot.com/2005/11/uganda-un-to-step-up-support-for-2.html) reports that the UN is planning to increase its activities in Northern Uganda where the Lord’s Resistance army rebels are based in order to provide support to some 2 million refugees displaced by this conflict.

“Nearly 2 million people have been displaced by the 19 year-old conflict, 1.7 million of whom live in over 200 squalid and overcrowded camps, relying largely on international assistance to survive. Estimates indicate that more than 1,000 people a week die from disease or violence, according to a July 2005 Ministry of Health/UN World Health Organization (WHO) mortality survey.”

Kenyan blogger Mshairi - Mshairi (http://mshairi.com/index/index.php) posted a roundup of Kenyan blogs on the Kenyan Constitutional Referendum held on Monday 21st November – [url=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/2005/11/21/kenya-and-the-constitutional-referendum/]
Kenya and the Constitutional Referendum[/url] (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/2005/11/21/kenya-and-the-constitutional-referendum/)

“In brief, the draft constitution proposes investing the presidency with greater powers, the main area of contention for the Orange campaign, which favours a constitution where a prime minister shares executive powers with the president. While both the Yes and No campaign have concentrated campaigning around this issue, attention has shifted from other proposals such as the call for radical land reform, the outlawing of gender and other discrimination and the inclusion of clauses providing for affirmative action.”

Mzansi Afrika - Mzansi Afrika (http://mzansiafrika.typepad.com/mzansi_afrika/2005/11/apartheid_era_m.html) reports on the mass graves uncovered in Namibia which date back to the Apartheid era when South Africa occupied Namibia.

“The graves were found near Eenhana 850km north-east of Windhoek. This was a military base for the South African army's 54 Battalion. Over 300 people are said to have died as a result of the fighting. According to Peter Tseehama, the Namibian Minister Safety and Security, "some of the bones were children's, possibly siblings of former freedom fighters". He said other items found were guns, bullets and parts of what might have been explosives. "The bodies appeared to have been burnt before being thrown into the graves.”

The bodies are believed to have been SWAPO soldiers blind folded and executed then dumped in the graves.

Black Looks - Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2005/11/i_would_rather_.html)has a report on the Ugandan lesbian and gay activist who has been in hiding in Kampala for the past 4 months. Ms Mukussa went into hiding following a raid on her home by security forces and the arrest of her Kenyan house guest. She has now decided to sue the Ugandan security official responsible for the raid in order to highlight the human rights violations faced by the Ugandan Lesbian and Gay community.

“By taking the matter to court JM hopes to use the case as a tool in the advancement of gay rights in Uganda and elsewhere in East Africa. By declaring the violation of her rights she is making a larger statement about the rights of LGBT and human rights advocates to be able to carry out their work and live their lives without treat of invasion.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to editor@pambazuka.org

Africa: Celebrating the protocol

2005-11-25

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/30558

This 25 November, 2005, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights relating to Women's Rights in Africa enters into force. It is with a great delight that we celebrate the event, which marks a significant turning point in the history of African women’s struggle for the recognition and the respect of their basic human rights.


WOMEN IN LAW AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA (WiLDAF)
FEMMES, DROIT ET DÉVELOPPEMENT EN AFRIQUE (FeDDAF)
WEST AFRICA SUB-REGIONAL OFFICE / BUREAU SOUS-RÉGIONAL – AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST
B.P. 7755, Lomé, Togo – Téléphone (228) 222 26 79 - Fax (228) 222 73 90
Email : info@wildaf-ao.org - Site : www.wildaf-ao.org

TODAY 25 NOVEMBER, 2005
LET CELEBRATE THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS RELATING TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS


This 25 November, 2005, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights relating to Women's Rights in Africa enters into force.

It is with a great delight that we celebrate the event, which marks a significant turning point in the history of African women’s struggle for the recognition and the respect of their basic human rights.

From this 25 November, 2005, date that we wish to engrave in gold lettering in the history of our continent, this instrument likely to do justice to women and girls of the continent will apply from now on.

On this occasion, WiLDAF would like to pay a deserved tribute to all women wherever that they are, and to women's rights activists in general, for the work, the support, courage and perseverance they showed during these last ten (10) years so that the protocol relating to women's rights has today legal existence and has force of law.

WiLDAF salutes those States that have ratified the protocol and in which the instrument can thus be applied. These are: Benin, Cape Verde, Comoros, Djibouti, The Gambia, Libya, Lesotho, Mali, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal and Togo.

We also take advantage of this opportunity to thank the following active organisations from the very start of the process for their vision and their commitment from the very beginning, and for their active involvement in the various stages of the process of the protocol. They are: WiLDAF, African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Inter-African Union of Human Rights (UIDH), the Inter-African Network for the Fight against Violence perpetrated against Women (RIAF-DLVF), the Sub-Regional Council for the fight against Harmful Practices to Mother and Child Health (CPTN), Women in Law in Southern Africa Research Trust (WLSA), Women and Law in Eastern Africa (WLEA), Alliance of Jurist Women (Tunisia), Concertation of Women Association Collectives of the Great Lakes sub-region, the African Centre for Gender and Development (CAGED/CEA), Femmes Africa Solidarity (FAS), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We are delighted that other organisations joined the action at the eve of the 2nd meeting of experts and also pay tribute to their determination to add their contribution to the process of adoption, ratification and implementation of the protocol.

It is appropriate, while celebrating the entry into force of this instrument, to recall in few words the course of this significant instrument.

Fruit of an exemplary collaboration between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the civil society organisations, the protocol was considered as a priority for the promotion and the protection of African women's rights during a workshop held in March 1995, organised by the African Commission in collaboration with WiLDAF/FeDDAF and the International Commission of Jurists based in Geneva.
The recommendations of the workshop advocated that a protocol on women's rights is established and that a Special Rapporteur on women's rights is appointed. The Conference of the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU) gave mandate to the Commission to initiate and coordinate the development process of the draft protocol. A working group was set up to propose a text.
From the very beginning, the process was very participatory. The civil society organisations were mobilised to enrich the first version drafted by the working group. The mobilisation increased throughout the process. For, more and more organisations were interested in all the stages of the protocol development. Indeed, to a certain stage of the process, the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices having Harmful Effects on Women’s and Children’s Health submitted its own convention to the OAU Secretariat. The Secretariat deemed advisable to integrate this draft relating to a specific aspect of women's rights to the existing draft Protocol and to submit only one document to the General Meeting of OAU. The numerous episodes which marked out the process sometimes put the civil society in a cold sweat. One of the most difficult times was the long waiting time between the first and the second meeting of experts due to the successive deferments for absence of quorum.

But the efforts of lobbying of the civil society and the determination showed by the African Union officials responsible for the dossier forced the holding of the second meeting of experts. It was followed by that of Ministers concerned by the protocol, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs which met prior to the Summit of the Heads of States and Government thus put the dossier of the protocol on the agenda of this summit in July 2003. Eight years after the start of the process, the protocol was thus finally adopted by the Heads of State.

Once this stage passed, then began another struggle that is its entry into force. To achieve this, 15 ratifications were necessary. The optimism that spurred on women’s rights activists shortly after the adoption of the text made them believe that the instrument could come into effect latest a year after its adoption that is in July 2004. But we had to face the evidence because one year after, only 3 countries had ratified and deposited their instrument of ratification with the African Union. Then, a new campaign was intensified towards the Heads of State and Government for a speed up of the ratification process. The latter adopted during their Summit of July 2004 a declaration known as Solemn Declaration on gender equality in which they committed themselves to make the protocol enter into force latest by the end of 2004 and to ensure that it will apply in 2005.

Confident of this commitment, women’s rights activists tried extra hard. Once again, the expectations were not met. By the end of 2004, only 3 other countries joined the list. Women organisations reinforced their strategies of lobbying from the very start of 2005. This was profitable, since on 12 October, 2005, Togo ratified the protocol and deposited the instrument of ratification on the 26th day of this month, being thus the 15th country whose ratification was expected. Finally the dream became a reality!

This is the place to pay a deserved tribute to all the partners who supported us throughout the process. I want to mention the Canadian Centre for study and International Cooperation (CECI-DCF), which supported WiLDAF and human rights organisations and women associations since the phase of development until the eve of the adoption of the protocol. We also wish to extend our acknowledgment to Open Society Institute in West Africa (OSIWA) for its support how much invaluable during the ratification phase. Finally we express our gratitude to GTZ, which also supported us.

Why the protocol is so important?

For African women, the entry into force of the protocol is an essential stage towards the recognition of rights whose daily violations cause huge sufferings. The protocol provides, as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), a reference legal framework enabling various stakeholders and populations to daily work towards the respect of women's rights.
But more than the CEDAW, the legal framework of the protocol is the reflection of the specific violations against African women. The preamble justifies the adoption of the protocol by the maintenance of discrimination against women and harmful traditional practices, and this despite the commitments made by States on international and regional levels. It also expresses in a solemn manner the accession of leaders to the principle of gender equality.

Beyond these declarations, the protocol will allow, through its provisions, for addressing as crucial issues as the multi-sided violations of rights in marriage, violence, serious attacks to life, physical and moral integrity to women and girls security, of which no one can deny the yelling reality in our societies. While its entry into force coincides with the launching of the 16 days activism on violence against women, it is necessary to outline the particular place that the protocol as legal framework and tool must occupy from now on for the fight against gender violence in Africa.
The entry into force of the protocol provides an irreplaceable framework to put an end to violations of which women and children, particularly girls, are victims in period of conflict, as civilians, refugees or soldiers, and to take up the challenge of peace in Africa, indispensable condition for development.
The struggle against traditional practices harmful to the health of women and girls has to be backed by the protocol, which provides guidelines for their elimination. The economic and social rights, also vital as the right to health, including reproductive health, the right to education and the rights to succession of widows and girls, which are daily scorned by ignorance or intentionally, would be better protected if the actions taken could be built on adequate measures like those recommended by the protocol. Ultimately, there is no doubt that in the interest of hundreds of thousands of women and girls in Africa, the protocol relating to women's rights will provide a priceless support to the work of women’s rights organisations in the daily fight for a fairer world.

Finally, the entry into force will enhance the credibility of AU, which showed its commitment to promote women’s participation and gender equality, particularly parity within the AU Commission and equitable representation of Judges at the African Court of Humans and Peoples’ Rights in order to show consistency and constancy.

The entry into force of the protocol marks, all things considered, a decisive stage towards the rooting of a culture of respect and exercise of women’s human rights in African societies.

We are conscious that the work must be pursued so that the protocol experiences a full application and that it truly serves for the protection of women's rights on the continent. We therefore commit ourselves to pursue the mobilisation at all levels. From now on, our work will aim at ensuring that all the 53 African States ratify the protocol, that legislative reforms start, that the provisions of the protocol apply in our courts and finally that the settlement of any dispute involving a woman is based on the provisions of the protocol in order to do justice.
Then, we call on those countries, which did not ratify to date the protocol, to do it without delay and reservation so that all women of the continent can effectively profit from this instrument likely to encourage their full development and participation in a sustainable development
We urge Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mauritania, and Zambia which have already caused their Parliament to adopt the law authorising the ratification of the protocol to take all actions to submit with the African Union Commission the instrument of ratification.

We call on those States who have ratified the protocol with reservations to withdraw these reservations.
We invite all the stakeholders who worked so far and others who will want to join us to do every thing possible to provide women’s rights and human rights organisations in general, with capacities necessary so that they can monitor and evaluate the implementation of the protocol.
Finally we want to seize the opportunity to welcome the election of Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as President of Liberia. This election is of good sign for the application of the provisions of the protocol, particularly its Article 9.1a which states that women shall take part in all elections without any discrimination.



Women in Law and Development in Africa/ Femmes, Droit et Développement en Afrique (WiLDAF/FeDDAF) West Africa sub-regional office
info@wildaf-ao.org
www.wildaf-ao.org/eng

To keep up to date on signatures and ratification, go to www.africa-union.org and check Treaties, conventions and Protocols etc. under Official Documents section.

Africa: Leadership realising gender equality

2005-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/articleList.aspx?area=general_africa

Gender equality is "taking root" in African leadership, Pan African Parliament (PAP) president Gertrude Mongella said in Midrand on Monday (November 21). Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's election as President of Liberia shows "the equality of women and men in organs of power is taking root on this continent", Mongella said on the first day of the PAP's fourth ordinary session.

Global: Women victims of "gendercide"

2005-11-23

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/International/Nov05/InsecureWorld.html

There is a shortfall of some 200 million women in the world -- "missing' due to what a three-year study on violence against women calls "gendercide." The number of what the study describes as 'missing' women is based on the random birthrate of males and females and how many fewer women there are than what would be expected in the world population, said Theodor Winkler, head of a research center that directed the project. Winkler told a news conference at the United Nations that gender-related abortions and infanticides were the leading causes for the shortfall in the female population. Another factor was domestic violence, including so-called honor killings in some cultures.

Global: Women's Access to Land & Resources will Enhance Progress to MDGs

2005-11-22

http://tinyurl.com/bmhvk

According to the Millennium Campaign, over 90 activists, academics, members of government and community women from India and Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Nigeria, Krgystan, and Uganda assembled at UNDP hall, New Delhi, on November 13th and 14th for an International Consultation on Women's Land and Resource Rights. Community women's experiences were supplemented with legal and conceptual information from people who have worked on the issue at the policy and law reform level.

Global: Women’s participation in disaster relief and recovery

2005-11-22

http://digbig.com/4fhsw

This article explores the gender-differentiated effects of natural disasters. It aims to fill a gap in understanding issues such as women's losses relative to men's, how women's work time and conditions change, both in terms of care-giving and income-generating work, or how disaster-related aid and entitlement programmes include or marginalise affected women.

South Africa: Guns and gender violence - a lethal combination

2005-11-23

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50137

Victoria [not her real name] thought she had the law on her side when she left her abusive partner and successfully applied for a protection order against him. According to provisions set out in South Africa's 1998 Domestic Violence Act and reinforced by recently enacted firearms legislation, the order gave the police powers to confiscate the gun that had repeatedly been used to terrorise her. According to the Medical Research Council (MRC), a woman is shot dead by her current or former partner every six hours, and such cases rose by 78 percent between 1990 and 1999.

South Africa: UNICEF project lets girls have their say

2005-11-22

http://tinyurl.com/8g7zk

Hundreds of schoolgirls from disadvantaged backgrounds in Inanda, Durban, had their chance this week to showcase their strengths and highlight their needs to international visitors during a Girls' Education Movement (Gem) session. It is aimed at highlighting issues affecting girls. And with a recent financial injection of about R4-million from Barclays Bank for the project in this country, it is anticipated that up to 1,5-million children will be helped.

Zimbabwe: AIDS orphans and vulnerable children bear the brunt of collapsing economy

2005-11-23

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50110

She's a sex worker, but not many passers-by would suspect that the slight figure standing in a narrow street opposite a nightclub in Zimbabwe's gold mining town of Kwekwe is also a university student. Tracy Bunjwali, a second-year business studies scholar and part-time prostitute, says her biggest fear is that she might bump into somebody she knows while out on the streets waiting to be taken to a nearby hotel-cum-brothel.

Africa/Global: Commonwealth human rights forum meets in Malta

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/30545

On 20th and 21st November 2005 – just prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 25th to 27th - human rights activists from across the Commonwealth met in Valletta, Malta, for the second Commonwealth Human Rights Forum. The Forum recommended that governments should ensure that human rights norms are not compromised using security as an excuse and that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group should investigate the situations in Uganda and the Maldives, and the Commonwealth should stay engaged with Zimbabwe. Read the full statement by clicking on the link below.

COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
November 20th and 21st, 2005, Valletta, Malta

CONCLUDING STATEMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

1) That there should be a formal report-back to the next CHOGM on the implementation of Heads’ commitments for human rights in Valletta


2) That governments should ensure that human rights norms are not compromised using security as an excuse

3) That the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group should investigate the situations in Uganda and the Maldives, and the Commonwealth should stay engaged with Zimbabwe

4) That there should be a Commonwealth Expert Group on the future of policing

5) That the Commonwealth should agree that all members should offer a standing invitation to UN Rapporteurs and other UN investigators as a commitment to transparency

Introduction

On 20th and 21st November 2005 – just prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 25th to 27th - human rights activists from across the Commonwealth met in Valletta, Malta, for the second Commonwealth Human Rights Forum.

Members of human rights non-governmental organizations, National Human
Rights Institutions and other civil society actors participated in the meeting, as well as a representative of the Commonwealth Secretariat as observer .

Complementing the official CHOGM theme of “Networking the Commonwealth for
Development”, participants focused on “Networking for Human Rights” and
examined the reality of space available to civil society for human rights
within member countries and the Commonwealth as an association.
Participants shared experiences and discussed how to raise the profile of
human rights within the Commonwealth system.

Participants of the 2005 Commonwealth Human Rights Forum:

Note that the association has always acknowledged that principles of human
rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law are central to the
Commonwealth, as outlined in varied Commonwealth declarations, most
importantly the Harare Commonwealth Declaration.

Note that the Commonwealth has repeatedly recognized the importance of
civil society participation, and yet civil society involvement in
Commonwealth processes such as CHOGM remains limited or tokenistic.

Note that for civil society to play its full role in human rights issues,
an enabling environment must be provided through legislation, policies and
processes by the association and its members.

Note that the existence of democracy is not sufficient in itself for
guaranteeing human rights and space for civil society.

Note that constitutional protection for human rights is important.

Recognise the importance of raising awareness of human rights in Commonwealth countries to enable the development of local ownership over these issues; and the value of sharing human rights experiences across the Commonwealth.

Reaffirm that economic justice, sustainable development and the eradication
of poverty are pressing human rights issues and require a rights-based
approach with the active engagement of civil society.

Note that a lack of information leads to a lack of accountability.

Note the importance of an independent judiciary to the realization of human
rights, and that therefore the judiciary must be sensitized to human rights.

In addition, participants agreed that for free and effective networking and activism for human rights, some particular thematic areas of concern must be considered, namely: a rights framework that ensures enjoyment of rights that facilitate this activism; the provision of an enabling environment through rights-friendly laws and practices; and ensuring that the excuse of security concerns is not used to justify restrictions on civil liberties and civil society space.

In relation to an enabling rights framework, participants:
Recognise that the genuine realization of a range of rights is essential for the health of civil society, including: freedom of association, assembly, expression and information.

Note that all government policies must conform to international and
national human rights standards.

Note that as well as an enabling legislative framework to provide space for civil society, the broader environment must be conducive to the full enjoyment of these rights.

Note the importance of varied players in civil society, including the
importance of the media to freely source and impart information, which is
crucial to the development of a genuinely democratic form of governance.

In relation to the legislation, rules and regulations that regulate civil society, participants:
Recognize that abiding by good governance principles ensures the legitimacy of civil society.

Note that legislation must contain clear definitions, objective criteria and open processes for the creation and working of civil society organizations, and is not designed to control the breadth of their activities.

Note that the process of developing legislation must include civil society
in a meaningful way.

Note that certain countries’ laws, such as those relating to the funding of
organizations, particularly related to receiving foreign funding, place
undue restrictions on the work of legitimate civil society organizations.

Further note the disturbing practices in some Commonwealth countries to
deregister or limit the activities of civil society organizations that
focus on advocacy and human rights activities, particularly when they have
taken a critical stance.

In relation to security issues, participants:
Recognize the duty of the state to provide safety and security, but were
deeply concerned at the trend of governments to curb civil liberties and
civil society activities and particularly target dissenting voices on the
excuse of terrorism and security. Such attacks on civil liberties of
citizens can never be justified.

Note with concern the many countries, recently including Australia and
United Kingdom, where anti-terrorism legislation has been passed or
proposed that violates human rights standards and that increases repressive
measures such as prolonged detention without charge and risks criminalizing
certain communities.

Note that the lack of adequate oversight of police and security forces in
many countries means that these agents of the state continue to act with
impunity, which in turn leads to a loss of trust by the community.

Participants discussed the human rights situation in a number of Commonwealth countries, but felt that the crisis in some specific countries deserved particular mention and as such draw the attention of the Commonwealth to Uganda, Maldives and the former Commonwealth country Zimbabwe:

In relation to Uganda, participants:
Note that the human rights situation in Uganda has recently deteriorated with the recent attacks on free political expression and intolerance of opposition.

Further note that the next CHOGM is expected to be hosted by Uganda in 2007
and that holding a CHOGM in a country where the Harare Commonwealth
Principles are being disregarded risks making a mockery of the
Commonwealth’s commitment to its founding principles and standards.

In relation to the Maldives, participants:
Note that the Maldives has persistently failed to fulfill its obligations
in the Commonwealth by not abiding by the Harare Principles, and should be
on the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.

Note the ongoing engagement by the Commonwealth with the reform processes
in the Maldives, but state that more is needed to be done by Commonwealth
groups and other actors.

Further note that on some points there have been improvements on paper, but that these have not always been implemented; for instance concern was raised over the refusal to register non-governmental organizations, and the restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly political expression.

In relation to Zimbabwe, participants:
Note the ongoing crisis situation in Zimbabwe, the deteriorating state of human rights evidenced by restrictive media laws, politically targeted evictions, nreasonable restrictions on the right to associate and assemble and harassment and intimidation of civil society.

Recognize that while the government of Zimbabwe has withdrawn from the Commonwealth to avoid continued suspension it is important that the Commonwealth and civil society groups remain engaged with the Zimbabwean
government, opposition and people.

Participants of the 2005 Commonwealth Human Rights Forum made the following
recommendations to the Commonwealth Heads of Government, that they:

Call on all member governments to ratify and domesticate core human rights treaties.

Implement past commitments to human rights to ensure that the realization
of human rights is a reality in all Commonwealth countries.

Further their past recognition of the value and importance of civil society
by providing appropriate Commonwealth fora and processes for engagement and
partnership with civil society.

Consider practical suggestions for such engagement, such as meeting with
civil society as part of the CHOGM events to develop a joint statement with
agreed action by both government and civil society to be reported on by
both parties after two years.

Develop a mechanism to keep members accountable for commitments made in
Commonwealth fora, such as reporting at CHOGM on progress made since last
CHOGM.

Provide the in-country environment required for the effective functioning
of civil society groups, particularly those engaged in human rights and
advocacy.
This involves:
- updating legal frameworks (using participatory processes) to ensure they
are in accordance with international standards and best practices; and
- not using registration processes as a means of restricting the voices of
civil society.

Issue a standing invitation to United Nations rapporteurs and relevant
human rights bodies as an indicator of their commitment to openness.

In accordance with their commitment in 2003 to the right to information,
pass laws in compliance with international best practice to provide
citizens with access to information.

Mandate the Commonwealth Secretariat to develop and implement an information disclosure policy in compliance with international good practice.

Ensure that human rights are not compromised on the excuse of “security”.
In particular Commonwealth governments should not derogate from
internationally accepted norms on detention without charge and fair trial.

Develop effective in-country mechanisms to stop the abuse of power by the
police and security forces, including the development and sustainability of
civilian oversight bodies.

Ensure, in conjunction with National Human Rights Institutions, greater
protection for human rights defenders.

Establish a Commonwealth Expert Group on policing to develop guidelines on
training, accountability mechanisms, legal regimes and mutual professional
support to ensure democratic policing.

Investigate and keep under review the situation in Uganda and ensure that
it is complying with the Harare Commonwealth principles and the expected
2005 Declaration on Tolerance as a condition for hosting CHOGM in 2007.

Expand engagement with the Maldives to encourage genuine and time-bound and
verifiable reform to ensure that the Maldives abides by the Harare Principles.

Include the Maldives on the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.

Continue dialogue with the Zimbabwean government - as occurred during the
suspension / withdrawal periods in Nigeria and South Africa – and not
abandon the people of Zimbabwe.

Encourage Heads of State of SADC countries in particular, to demand greater
adherence to human rights norms by the Zimbabwean government.

In addition, participants recommended that civil society should:

Provide support and solidarity to human rights defenders and other civil
society groups in other Commonwealth countries and Zimbabwe.

Publicise their efforts to advocate on human rights issues within the
Commonwealth.

Monitor member states’ implementation of Commonwealth commitments.

Conduct a fact-finding mission to Uganda to assess compliance with
international human rights standards and the Harare Principles, as a matter
of priority in the context of Uganda’s proposed hosting of CHOGM in 2007.

Investigate and report on the objectives and financing of Commonwealth
agencies, in the context of the diminishing funding provided to the
Commonwealth agencies to conduct their activities.

ENDS

PS The parts involving Zimbabwe have been highlighted in bold and italics by the IntLO of the ZHRF.

Africa/Global: UN says World Bank and IMF "bound by international law"

2005-11-23

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/article.shtml?cmd[126]=i-126-7947e0909c95e8e7b7edcc1302d106e0

Bold statements made by the UN special rapporteur on the right to food argue that international law is binding on organisations such as the World Bank, IMF and WTO, reports the latest update from the Bretton Woods Project. In his September interim report to the UN General Assembly, Jean Ziegler analyses negative impacts of the policies of the World Bank and IMF on the human rights of vulnerable populations in the South. Given that the power of nation-states is often "eclipsed by other actors", the traditional boundaries of human rights to regulate the power of other international actors such as the BWIs should be extended, and systematically elaborated.

Africa: Rebuilding Communities

2005-11-24

http://www.newtactics.org/main.php/RebuildingCommunities

This New Tactics for Human Rights training programme talks about building local and long-term capacity building within communities to address massive human rights atrocities. The Center for Victims of Torture has instituted an intensive training and supervision model for refugees to develop local capacity for providing understanding and skills for mental health support to rebuild communities after massive human rights atrocities. CVT has instituted the training model in refugee camps in Guinea and Sierra Leone for refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Ethiopia: Human Rights Defenders under threatening conditions

Press statement

2005-11-21

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/30426

Professor Mesfin Woldemariam 75, former chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), has lately started a hunger strike, calling upon all people touched by the on-going human rights violations to join him until justice prevails in the plight of the Human Rights Defenders under threat in Ethiopia. EHRCO is a co-founder of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDN).
EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK

Public Statement

EHAHRDN Index: ETHIO 0011/003/2005 (Public)
13 November 2005

KAMPALA: Human Rights Defenders under threatening conditions


Professor Mesfin Woldemariam 75, former chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), has lately started a hunger strike, calling upon all people touched by the on-going human rights violations to join him until justice prevails in the plight of the Human Rights Defenders under threat in Ethiopia. EHRCO is a co-founder of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDN).

EHAHRDN remains deeply concerned about the health and treatment of Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, suffering from a painful back, as well as about the future of those living under fear of arrest both within and outside Ethiopia as a result of their names appearing on the most wanted list recently publicized by the police. Besides, his family members were reportedly denied access to him up to his court appearance on 7 November.

EHAHRDN has been monitoring recent developments and expresses concern over the detention of innocent civilians with imminent likelihood of prolonged pre-trial detention in harsh conditions, and a risk of ill-treatment. The Network has also received information to the effect that the Ethiopian Government has expropriated all the victims’ belongings, which leaves their future terribly at stake.

Available information indicates that on 7 November 2005, police in Addis Ababa brought 24 people to court and distributed a “wanted” list with the photos of 34 others. The court ordered them in custody to be detained for a further 14 days for police investigations into suspected violent conspiracy in connection with the previous week’s demonstrations, although no one has yet been formally charged with any offence. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on 5 November that all 58 would be charged with treason, which carries a possible death penalty.

The 24 detainees include Hailu Shawel, aged 70, president of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party; Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, 75, former chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO); Dr Yacob Hailemariam, a former UN Special Envoy and former prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; Ms Birtukan Mideksa, CUD vice-president and a former judge; and Dr Berhanu Negga, the recently elected Mayor of Addis Ababa and university professor of economics, among others.

The Network (EHAHRDN) has notably realised with concern that some of the members on the police list of most wanted individuals were particularly not in the country at the time of the protests. They and a number of others were attending the inaugural conference for Human Rights Defenders Network in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region held at Entebbe, Uganda. There’s no way therefore they could have participated in the protests to prompt their arrest, given the fact that they have no record of involvement in inciting violence of any kind. In a joint resolution, the Human Rights Defenders representing the sub-region and beyond, condemned the government’s actions targeted at innocent Human Rights Defenders.

“It is the duty of the Ethiopian Federal Government to observe the provisions of the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and other Human Rights Instruments to which it is a signatory,” says Hassan Shire Sheikh, the Chairperson for EHAHRDN. “The defenders of the rights of Ethiopians deserve no less than the full protection of their governments and the international community.”

Article 12 (1 and 2) of the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders states that “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and that The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”

Furthermore, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 13(1), 19 and 20(1) emphasizes that “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state; Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers; Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.”

Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights adopted on June 27, 1981 provides that Everyone shall have the right to liberty and security of his person, No one may be deprived of his freedom for reasons and conditions previously laid down by law, and no one may be arbitrarily arrested or detained. Article 7 of the same Charter continues that “Every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard...”

APPEAL:

EHAHRDN is deeply concerned about the likelihood of treason or and violent conduct charges levied against opposition party leaders et al including Hailu Shawel, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, at least seven members of parliament and several journalists, most of who have no dent given their work aimed at achieving absolute human rights observance.

The Network therefore appeals for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees and calls for: urgent attention to Professor Mesfin Woldemariam’s health condition; urges the authorities to allow all the detainees immediate access to their families, legal counsel and any medical care they require; calls for all detainees arrested in the protests, numbering over 4,000, to be treated humanely and either charged without delay with a recognizable criminal offence or released immediately.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In Addis Ababa between 1 and 4 November, police shot dead 42 demonstrators and wounded 200 others. CUD had called for a stay-home strike in protest against alleged election fraud but demonstrations erupted into violence when police began shooting. CUD denied any violent conspiracy. CUD subsequently called for a further strike and boycott of government businesses for the following week. Smaller protests occurred in other towns, but with fewer deaths and arrests than in Addis Ababa. More than 4,000 people have been detained, including many unemployed youth protesters in Addis Ababa, and taken to remote prisons in rural areas where conditions are harsh. Some 285 have been released but others are still held without charge. Arrests in Addis Ababa and in other towns are continuing.



Brief background of EHAHRDN:

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDN) brings together over 65 human rights organizations from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland, Sudan including Southern Sudan, Tanzania including Zanzibar, Uganda and International Partners; Canada, Germany, Norway, UK, and the Netherlands,

The Network with its Secretariat in Kampala, Uganda, envisions a region in which the human rights of every citizen as stipulated in the UDHR are respected and upheld. Its mission is to maximize the protection of Human Rights Defenders working in the Region and to enhance the awareness of human rights work through linkages with national, regional and international like-minded entities.

The Objectives of the Network are:
To protect and defend HRDs in the region
To build the capacity of HRDs and
To advocate and raise public awareness and profiles of HRD



For further information, please contact:

Tumusiime Kabwende Deo
Media and Communications Officer of EHAHRDN
Phone: +256-41-510263/ext.112
Mobile: +256-71-943390
Fax: +256-41-510498
E-mail: ehahrdp@yahoo.ca, tumusiimedeo@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.yorku.ca/crs

Namibia: Namibia seeks help in grave probe

2005-11-24

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4463504.stm

Namibia has asked South Africa to send forensic experts to help investigate at least five mass graves discovered in the north of the country. The graves, near a South African army base, are thought to date from South African occupation of Namibia. Before independence in 1990 South African was engaged in conflict with Namibian Swapo liberation fighters in northern Namibia and in Angola. Police say clothes found at the site resemble those worn by Swapo fighters.

Nigeria: A Season of Ethnic Discontent

2005-11-22

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=31067

The release and re-arrest of members of a Yoruba organisation this week (November 17) have marked the latest chapter in Nigeria's bid to contain ethnic unrest in various parts of the country. Fredrick Fasehun and Gani Adams, leaders of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), were initially jailed with four other members of the group after clashes broke out in the commercial capital of Lagos last month between rival OPC supporters.

Rwanda: Ex-Mayor admits genocide

2005-11-22

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4449154.stm

A former mayor accused of helping to kill several thousand people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has changed his plea from not guilty to guilty. Paul Bisengimana, the former mayor of Gikoro, changed his plea after prosecutors dropped 10 other charges. He told a war crimes court that he was a witness to, and had participated in, the massacre of thousands of ethnic Tutsis seeking refuge in a church.

Uganda: Political Repression Accelerates

2005-11-24

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/11/24/uganda12089.htm

The Ugandan government should reverse its ban on speech and demonstrations linked to the trial of the main opposition candidate for president, Dr. Kizza Besigye, and end its intimidation of the courts, Human Rights Watch said this week. The government issued the ban on speech and demonstrations on November 22 following criticism of the security forces’ interference in a hearing related to the Besigye case. “In an eight-day span, the Ugandan government has seriously damaged its human rights reputation by riding roughshod over the rights of political opponents and the courts,” said Jemera Rone, Uganda researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The government has arrested the main presidential opponent, used commandos to intimidate the judiciary and banned all public protests, radio discussions and even posters on the subject.”

Zimbabwe: A Joint Appeal to African Leaders to address the human rights situation in Zimbabwe

Joint Appeal

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/30430

"Through the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) African Heads of State and Government have made a commitment to human rights and accountability in Africa. We are calling on African leaders to honour these commitments and end their long silence on human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Today in Zimbabwe, hundreds of thousands of people are internally displaced and destitute, not because of a war, an earthquake or a tsunami, but because their own government has forcibly evicted them, demolished their homes, and destroyed their property and their livelihoods. These acts, totally unjustifiable under international law, have been widely condemned. However, African States have remained conspicuously silent and have not demonstrated the political will to respond to the human rights crisis in Zimbabwe."
A Joint Appeal to African Leaders to address the human rights situation in Zimbabwe
Amnesty International
16 November 2005

Through the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) African Heads of State and Government have made a commitment to human rights and accountability in Africa. We are calling on African leaders to honour these commitments and end their long silence on human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Today in Zimbabwe, hundreds of thousands of people are internally displaced and destitute, not because of a war, an earthquake or a tsunami, but because their own government has forcibly evicted them, demolished their homes, and destroyed their property and their livelihoods. These acts, totally unjustifiable under international law, have been widely condemned. However, African States have remained conspicuously silent and have not demonstrated the political will to respond to the human rights crisis in Zimbabwe.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan, has described Zimbabwe's mass evictions as "a catastrophic injustice...carried out with disquieting indifference to human suffering".

UN Special Envoy on Human Settlement Issues, Anna Tibaijuka, has reported that the government's Operation Murambatsvina directly affected 700,000 people, indirectly affected at least a further 2 million people and "has precipitated a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions".

Human rights are being further violated in the context of the humanitarian crisis. There is considerable evidence that the Government of Zimbabwe is unable or unwilling to ensure that those affected have access, at the very least, to minimum essential levels of food, water, shelter and medical care. It is denying victims the humanitarian help they so desperately need:
Thousands of people, including children, the ill and the elderly, are facing the rainy season with little or no shelter. The government is not providing basic shelter for those in need, and it is blocking the UN and churches from doing so; police have forced destitute people from churches at night.
More than four million people need food aid, but the government is limiting food aid distribution, having also blocked a UN appeal for humanitarian aid and forced tens of thousands to return to rural areas where food security is already low.
Tens of thousands need clean water and sanitation, but the government is restricting the work of aid agencies that are trying to assist.
Despite the already grave humanitarian and internal displacement crisis the government has continued to evict people; some families have been forcibly evicted and moved several times in the past few months.
Zimbabwe's consistent failure to respect human rights has been well documented, including in reports published in 2005 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) and the UN Special Envoy on Human Settlement Issues. In the face of such clear, well-documented and large-scale violations, member States of the AU and UN have a duty to ensure that the recommendations of such regional and international problem-solving mechanisms are implemented in order to address the present deprivation of African citizens and deter such harmful practices in the future.

The silence of African States in the face of the grave suffering caused by forced evictions, in Zimbabwe and elsewhere on the continent, has created the regrettable impression of tacit approval of forced evictions as a policy option.

Today, we call on African States, individually and in their capacity as members of the AU, to:
Publicly express concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe, including the human rights violations that have been a direct consequence of Operation Murambatsvina;
Publicly encourage and offer support to the Government of Zimbabwe to implement the recommendations contained in the reports of the ACHPR and the UN Special Envoy on Human Settlement Issues, as a matter of urgency;
Place the human rights and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe on the agenda of the AU January 2006 Assembly of Heads of State and Government;
Condemn the refusal of the Government of Zimbabwe to cooperate with the Special Envoy of the African Union Commission when he visited Zimbabwe in July 2005 and insist that he be allowed to return to Zimbabwe, fulfil his mandate and report to the AU on the situation of internally displaced people in Zimbabwe;
Call for the immediate lifting of all unnecessary restrictions on the provision of humanitarian assistance, including restrictions on the provision of temporary shelter.
Call for the provision of effective remedies for the victims of the mass evictions and demolitions and all other human rights violations, including access to justice, reparations, guarantees of non-repetition, compensation and restitution where possible;
Call for an end to impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations in Zimbabwe and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
Pledge to seek alternatives to forced eviction in their own jurisdiction.
We also call on African States as members of the UN to:
Give full support to the UN initiatives aimed at addressing the human rights and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe and to put pressure on the government to allow independent human rights monitoring in Zimbabwe, including UN Special Rapporteurs.
In particular, we call on African members of the UN Security Council (Algeria, Benin and Tanzania) and those States that will become members in January 2006 (Ghana and Republic of the Congo) to allow the Security Council to be regularly informed on the situation in Zimbabwe, including the situation in respect of the UN’s humanitarian access to displaced and vulnerable people.
Supporting organizations:

ANGOLA
Associacao Justica, Paze Democracia (AJPD)

BOTSWANA
Amnesty International - Botswana
Ditshwanelo (The Botswana Centre for Human Rights)
Women in Law in Southern Africa - Botswana

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)
Association Africaine de défense des Droits de l’Homme (ASADHO)
Collectif des Jeunes du Sud-Kivu (COJESKI)
Comité Droits de l’Homme Maintenant
Fondation Bill Clinton
La Voix des Sans Voix
Ligue des Electeurs
Mouvement des jeunes et Etudiants pour la Patrie
Observatoire Congolais des Droits de l’Homme (OCDH)
Réseau Provincial de Défense des Droits Humains-Kin (REPRODHOC)
SADC-Youth Movement
Toges Noires

EGYPT
Afro- Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organisation (AAPSO)
The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights

ETHIOPIA
Initiative Africa (IA)

ERITREA
Human Rights Concern

GHANA
African Women Lawyers Association
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (Africa)
Media Foundation for West Africa
People's Dialogue for Human Settlements
The Arc Foundation

KENYA
Amnesty International - Kenya
Association of Media Women in Kenya
Basic Rights
Citizens Coalition for Constitutional Change
Hakijimii Trust
Independent Medical Legal Unit
FIDA Kenya
Kenya Medical Association Human Rights Committee
Kisumu Urban Apostolate Programmes - Pandipieri
Men to Men
Men for Gender Equality
OIKEDOME
People Against Torture
Release Political Prisoners Group
Social Reform Centre
Umande Trust
Young Women Leadership Institute

LESOTHO
Federation of Women Lawyers
Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA)
Lesotho Closthing and Allied Workers Union
Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations
Lesotho Durham Link
Lesotho Society for mentally Handicapped Persons
Lesotho Youth Federation
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Lesotho
NGO Coalition on the Rights of the Children
Women in Law in Southern Africa - Lesotho
Young Women Christian Association

LIBERIA
Amnesty International - Liberia

MALAWI
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR)
Civil Liberties Committee
Institute of Policy Interaction (IPI)
National Media Institute of Southern Africa (NAMISA)
Women in Law in Southern Africa - Malawi

MOZAMBIQUE
Women in Law in Southern Africa - Mozambique

NAMIBIA
Association for Children with Language, Speech & Hearing Impairments (ClaSH) of Namibia
Big Issue Namibia
Clement Daniels Legal Practitioners
Katutura Community Radio 106.2 FM
Legal Assistance Centre of Namibia
Namibia Development Trust
Namibia NGO Forum
!Nara Training Centre
National Society for Human Rights (NSHR)
People's Education, Assistance and Counselling for Empowerment (PEACE) Centre
Sister Namibia
The Rainbow Project
Women Leadership Centre of Namibia

NIGERIA
Civil Resources Development & Documentation Centre (CIRRDOC)
Concerned Professionals (CP)
Gender Development Action (GADA)
Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP)
Prisoners Rehabilitation & Welfare Action (PRAWA)
Projekthope
Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC)

SENEGAL
Amnesty International - Senegal
Convergence Africaine pour la Democratie et les Droits Humanins (CADDU)

SOMALIA
Justice Watch Association (JUWA)
National Union of Somali Journalists
SADO
Somali Human Rights Defenders Network

SOMALILAND
Samotalis Coalition for Human Rights
Somaliland National Human Rights Network

SOUTH AFRICA
Action Support Centre
Action Support Centre and Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA)
Amnesty International - South Africa (AISA)
Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa)
Association for Community and Rural Advancement (AnCRA)
Association of Rural Advancement (AFRA)
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
Centre for Rural Legal Studies (CRLS)
Coalition for Peace in Africa
Community Law Centre
Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe
Eastern Cape Agricultural Research Programme (ECARP)
Free State Rural Development Association
Heal Zimbabwe Trust
Karoo Centre for Human Rights
Land Access Movement of South Africa
Land for Peace
Lawyers for Human Rights - Stellenbosch Office
Legal Assistance Centre
National Land Committee (NLC)
Nkunzi Development Association
Peace and Democracy Project
Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) - University of Western Cape
Rural Legal Trust (RLT)
South Africa National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO)
Support Centre - ACTION for Conflict Transformation
Southern Cape Land Committee
Solidarity Peace Trust (SPT)
Southern African Women's Institute of Migration Affairs
Southern Africa Litigation Centre
TRAC Mupumalanga
Transkei Land Services Organisation
Treatment Action Campaign
Women on Farm Project
Zimbabwe Action Support Group
Zimbabwe Advocacy Campaign (ZAC)
Zimbabwe Exiles Forum
Zimbabwe Human Rights Lobby Group
Zimbabwe Political Victims Association (ZIPOVA)
Zimbabwe Torture Victims Project (ZTVP)

SUDAN
SIHA Network

SWAZILAND
Coordinating Assembly of NGOs (CANGO)
Women in Law in Southen Africa - Swaziland

TANZANIA
BEB Rural Development Option
Grassroot Initiative Support Trust
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Tanzania
Same Network of NGO/CBOs
Tabora Development Foundation Trust
Tabora Development Society
Tanzania Christian Farm Development Trust

ZAMBIA
Anti Voters Apathy (AVAP)
Catholic Centre for Justice Development and Peace (CCJDP)
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace
Children in Need (CHIN)
Foundation for Democratic Progress (FODEP)
Justice for Widow and Orphans
Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
Southern African Centre for Conflict Resolution and Disputes
Women in Law in Southern Africa - Zambia
Women for Change
Zambia Association for Research and Development (ZARD)
Zambia Civic Education Association

ZIMBABWE
Counselling Services Unit
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT)
Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
Media Institute of Southern Africa
Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe
Nonviolent Action and Strategies for Social Change
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ)
University of Zimbabwe Legal Aid and Advice Scheme
Women in Law in Southern Africa - Zimbabwe
Women of Zimbabwe Arize (WOZA)
Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation (ZACRO)
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights
Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Zimbabwe Peace Project

INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE)
Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR)
CIVICUS - World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Cordaid
FIAN International
Habitat International Coalition – Housing and Land Rights Network
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
Network for Social Justice (FAHAMU)
Trocaire

Endorsed by NGOs in Asia, Europe and Americas
Amnesty International – India
A'idun Group
Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ)
Arcilla Research
Asociación Agenda Mujeres, Lima-Perú
Asociación de la Vivienda Económica (AVE)
Asia Pacific Socio-Economic Research Institute
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law & Development (APWLD)
Associação De Moradores Do Jardim Nova Esperança I E Ii - Sumaré/Sp – Brasil
Associação Grão - Diversidade e Cidadania
Association for Youth and Cultural Organisation
Barka Foundation for Mutual Help
C.D.D.H – Centro de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos, Brazil
Centre for Trade Union & Workers Services (CTWC)
Centro de Direitos Humanos de T.Otoni
Centro de Direitos Humanos, Brazil
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales/Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), Argentina
Centro de Estudos e Ação da Mulher Urbana e Rural - Brasil
Centro de Estudos e Defesa do Negro no Pará – CEDENPA
Charter on Poverty Issues (Canada)
Comité de Campaña por una vivienda Digna
Concordamos e assinamos esta Declaração Conjunta, Brazil
Condepe Conselho Estadual de Defesa dos Direitos da Pessoa Humana, Brazil
Corporación Humanas de Chile
Curitiba – Brasil
D.D.H – Centro de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos, Brazil
Educational Assistance Organs Federation
Ensan Center for Democracy and Human Rights (Palestine)
Entidade APJ - Aprender Produzir Juntos
European Roma Rights Centre , Hungary
Faorlist e da Comissão de Direitos Humanos da Alepa
FDDCA_ Frente de Defesa dos Direitos da Criança e do Adolescente do Vale do Mucuri;
Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional (FASE) (Social and
FOCO - Argentina
Foro de Mujeres del Mercosur, Paraguay
Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais da Bahia- Brasil
Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais/Paraná, Brazil
Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais/São Paulo, Brazil
Habitat International Coalition - Latin America
Human Rights Council
Igreja Evangélica Projeto Vida em Volta Redonda
Instituição: Missionárias de Jesus Crucificado, Brasil
Instituto de Desenvolvimento e Direitos Humanos (IDDH)
Instituto de Estudos Sócio Ambientais - IESA
Instituto Palmas
International Development Exchange
l'Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)
LANUD – Instituto Latino Americano das Nações Unidas para a Prevenção do Delito e
Macapá - Brasil
MAM FUNDACIONAL, Peru
Mines, Minerals & People (mm&P) - India
Movimento Nacional de Direitos Humanos (National Human Rights Movement), Brazil
Movimentos Sociais de Teófilo Otoni
NASA - Núcleo de Ação Solidáira à Aids, Brazil
National Alliance of HUD Tenants
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, USA
Núcleo de Atendimento as Vítimas de crimes Violentos NAVCV
Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, Brasil
Organização Ser Mulher – Centro de Estudos e Ação da Mulher Urbana e Rural - Brasil
Pastoral do Menor-Diocese de T.Otoni;
People's Movement for Human Rights Learning (PDHRE)
Peruvian Women Center Flora Tristan, Diverse Women Diary
Public Against Torture in Israel
SCANOVI - Associação de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis Teófilo Otoni, MG-BRASIL
Social Rights Advocacy Centre, Canada
Tratamento do Delinqüente, Brazil
União Geral Dos Moradores Dos Bairros Vilas E Jardins De Curitiba E Região Metropolitana -
Vânia de Melo vValadão Cardoso
Zimbabwe Watch

http://www.amnestyusa.org/stoptorture/document.do?id=ENGAFR460302005

Zimbabwe: Chilling Zimbabwe Footage shocks international parliamentarians

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/30546

Parliamentarians from the African, Caribbean and Pacific nations and the European Union on Saturday saw chilling footage of the devastation caused in Zimbabwe by the brutal clearances of poor urban districts started in May this year. The meeting in Edinburgh was organised by two human rights groups, Zimbabwe Watch and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, to draw attention of parliamentarians attending the ACP / EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly to the crisis in Zimbabwe. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly is meeting in Edinburgh November 21 to 24.
Press Release:
Zimbabwe Watch and Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

Edinburgh, Saturday 19 November 2005

Chilling Zimbabwe Footage shocks international parliamentarians

Parliamentarians from the African, Caribbean and Pacific nations and the European Union on Saturday saw chilling footage of the devastation caused in Zimbabwe by the brutal clearances of poor urban districts started in May this year.

The meeting in Edinburgh was organised by two human rights groups, Zimbabwe Watch and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, to draw attention of parliamentarians attending the ACP / EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly to the crisis in Zimbabwe. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly is meeting in Edinburgh November 21 to 24.

"Operation Murambatsvina (Operation Remove the Filth) is a man made national disaster, and should be declared as such," said Pondai Bamu, a researcher with the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, who came from Zimbabwe for the meeting.

Speakers urged the ACP EU JPA to press President Mugabe's administration to allow external humanitarian aid to the tens of thousands of victims living in inhuman conditions, often in the open without clean water or food 5 months after the operation. This operation was severely criticised by the United Nations and attracted criticism worldwide.

British member of the European Parliament Glenys Kinnock said the Zimbabwe authorities have employed the favourite tactic of authoritarian regimes, "One of the ways of creating fear is to move people and dump them in the middle of nowhere, making everyone feeling demoralised, destabilised and nervous."

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum consists of 17 human rights organisations in Zimbabwe: www.hrforumzim.com

Zimbabwe Watch is a consortium of Dutch NGO's concerned with the current situation in Zimbabwe: www.zimbabwewatch.org


For further information contact:
Pascal Richard, Coordinator, Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum: +31-6-28 91 31 81 (mobile).
Primrose Matambanadzo, Program Officer, Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights: +44-7932867081, or
Pondai Bamu, Researcher, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: +44-7888829551

Zimbabwe: Government faces grilling in Gambia over rights abuses

2005-11-22

http://www.theindependent.co.zw/news/2005/November/Friday18/3653.html

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has released a damning report on how government failed to comply with the African Commission on Human and Peoples_ Rights (ACHPR) recommendations to stop widespread human rights violations in the country. The report coincides with the African Commission meeting in Banjul, Gambia, the last week in November, which is expected to discuss the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

DRC: Fighting displaces 60,000 in Katanga Province

2005-11-23

http://wwww.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50253

Some 60,000 people fleeing fighting between the Congolese army and local Mayi-Mayi militiamen resisting demobilisation have now arrived in the village of Dubie in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Katanga Province, Roman Catholic Bishop Fulgence Muteba said. He said the 60,000 displaced in Dubie were in addition to another 16,000 people who fled the fighting against a local Mayi-Mayi leader he identified as Gedeon. So far, no other humanitarian agency has corroborated the number of displaced in Dubie.

Egypt: UNHCR office temporarily halts operations

2005-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50207

The Cairo office of the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, closed indefinitely on Sunday, bringing its operations relating to asylum applicants to a halt following a mass sit-in by Sudanese asylum seekers and refugees. Some 3,000 Sudanese, who have now been camped a mere 200 metres away from UNHCR premises for two months, also declared a hunger strike.

Sahara: Saharawi refugee camps - the story of a nation

2005-11-23

http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/PDFs/RSCworkingpaper29.pdf

As improbable as it may sound, a group of 170,000 refugees living in tents in the middle of the Sahara, sustained by international aid, have formed a nation in every sense of the word. This paper has provided a theoretical framework for explaining why and how this can occur, and just as important, has obtained and highlighted empirical data to support it. As a result, it better enables one to hear, and to truly understand, the stories of a nation.

South Africa: Living on the margins: Inadequate protection for refugees and asylum seekers in Johannesburg

2005-11-21

http://hrw.org/reports/2005/southafrica1105/

This 66-page report documents how refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa’s largest city often encounter abuse by police and other obstacles throughout the refugee-status determination process. “On paper, South Africa has exemplary laws to protect refugees and asylum seekers,” said Georgette Gagnon, deputy Africa director of Human Rights Watch. “But in practice, the government is failing to provide protection to these vulnerable individuals.” South Africa hosts approximately 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Many of them have fled conflict areas and persecution in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe.

Uganda: "There are no refugees in this area": Self-settled refugees in Koboko

2005-11-22

http://www.refugeelawproject.org/papers/workingpapers/RLP.WP18.pdf

The following study focuses on self-settled refugees who were once living in camps, but are presently self-settled and living in Koboko. Most of these refugees fled the settlements due to insecurity, others left in search of economic opportunities in town, yet others were used to an urban lifestyle in their home countries and are altogether ill-equipped for life as subsistence farmers in refugee settlements.

Yemen: Somali refugees demand justice

2005-11-22

http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=896&p=front&a=1

Hundreds of Somali refugees have been protesting for almost a week in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) premises. With their families and children, they staged a sit-in and expressed their demands for improving their current legal, economic and social living condition. They demanded equal consideration similar to other refugees such as the Ethiopians, whom they claim have better treatment. Yemen hosts a number of refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iraq and Palestine, along with other small numbers of refugees from other countries.

Burkina Faso: Compaore wins new mandate in country’s first multiparty race

2005-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50188

After 18 years at the helm of Burkina Faso, President Blaise Compaore has won a new five-year term, garnering a massive 80.3 percent of the vote in the country’s first multiparty presidential race. Releasing the results of the 13 November poll, the head of the Independent National Election Commission, Moussa Michel Tapsoba, said that the closest runner-up, opposition leader Benewende Stanislas Sankara, won 4.94 percent of the vote.

Chad: Embattled president turfs kinsmen from military leadership

2005-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50166

Vowing defiance in the wake of a series of incidents that may have loosened his grip on power, Chad’s President Idriss Deby has removed members of his own ethnic group from the military’s top posts. Speaking on Wednesday (November 16) to hundreds of supporters gathered outside the presidential palace, an embattled Deby pledged to stand firm despite recent desertions and attacks on the military.

Egypt: 200 Islamists arrested ahead of vote

2005-11-22

http://tinyurl.com/bnfyj

Close to 200 supporters of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood were arrested before the start of the second phase of polling in Egypt's parliamentary elections opened on Sunday (November 20), security sources said. According to the Mail and Guardian, around 100 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood were detained in the Fayyum governorate about 100km south of Cairo, the sources said.

Kenya: Constitution defeated

2005-11-23

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4459824.stm

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has conceded defeat in a crucial vote on a new constitution. "My government will respect the will of the people," he said, looking sombre, in a live television address. The BBC's Adam Mynott says the result is a huge setback for Mr Kibaki who led the "Yes" campaign. Many used the poll to protest at Mr Kibaki's leadership.

* Related Links:

- Perspectives on the November 21st Referendum
http://kenyasocialist.org/kswsfiles/2005/kenya_referendum_perspectives.htm

- Congratulations to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on winning the November 21st Referendum
http://kenyasocialist.org/kswsfiles/2005/congratulations_to_odm.htm

Kenya: Let us think beyond November 21, please

2005-11-23

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/elections/30510

Kenya has just come out of a period of voting for a Constitution. As Maina Kiai argues, what is at the core of this Constitution is not really what it claims to be, instead it is about power and ethnic politics. Kiai describes the political climate behind this referendum, but also offers some suggestions for solidarity and action. Communities of faith must gather together and make any efforts, no matter how small or symbolic they may be, to show Kenya and its government that it is peace and tolerance that is needed.
Let us think beyond November 21, please

By: Maina Kiai

There is no doubt now. This referendum is not about the Constitution at all. It is about power and ethnic politics.

It is about unfinished political squabbles, reinvention of politicians with skeletons in their closets and the support for politicians engaged in new corruption. It is about the Banana side maintaining power and the Orange side wresting it.

And we, the majority non-politician Kenyans, are the cannon fodder, the pawns in this zero-sum contest for power between a very small clique of political players with a knack for manipulation for power, self-interest and illegally generated wealth.

We have all heard, via the media or directly, statements from the political leaders on both sides that leave no doubt in the mind that this whole referendum has moved past the Constitution and is about power and ethnicity.

The Yes side is not discussing the merits and demerits of the proposed Constitution so that voters can make up their own minds. They are using public servants - who should be neutral - to run their campaigns.

Can there be any doubt when the No side bashes the Government - not the Draft - and asks Kenyans to "teach the Government a lesson" by voting No? Or when their most prominent member publicly declares that he is ashamed of being in the Cabinet? Yet that same person decides that staying in a position of power is bigger than his shame. Many of those supporting Yes are doing so because they do not like one or the other of the leading lights in the No side; do not like the history of some in the No side; or on ethnic basis.

Similarly, many of those supporting the No side do so because they don't like the arrogance of one or another in the Yes side; want to teach those currently exercising power a lesson; or believe that, by voting No, their ethnic group will come to power.

Of course, there are some on both sides who believe - for whatever reason - that their side is right. And there are others with strong convictions either for or against the Draft, but find the politicising of the process discomforting for various reasons.

Yet, there are many of us who don't like either option; who don't want to be part of the machinations and manipulations of the political class and are reluctant supporters of either side simply for lack of alternatives.

And that has led to confusion and frustrations, because we know that this process is not about what the political class is telling us. And we are struggling to find appropriate "space" that can validate the disgust we have with the process and the political elite.

We are frustrated since it seems we are heading into the confusion of November 21 referendum without brakes.

We know that the referendum should be about making a decision on a draft document marked by principle, information and consensus, but recognise that this is not the reality we are dealing with at present and will likely stay this way till November 21.

Ideally, a constitution reform process is meant to bring a country together on basic values that identify it as one country with agreed principles and aspirations.

It sets the ground rules for governance, accountability and justice, affirming the responsibility and limits of government and hereby creating a social contract between the governed and the government.

Our process - especially since Bomas in 2003 - has been everything else but that. It has been about maintaining or getting power. It has been about emphasising the national divisions - whether ethnic or religious - as a means of capturing or maintaining power, contrary to the expectations of civil society and religious groups that championed this cause in the 1990s.

And it has been about political payback with little room for principles, values and the aspirations of Kenyans.

Moreover, the deepening divisions based on ethnicity and personal power politics are worrying to many Kenyans looking beyond November 21. The inability - on both sides - to articulate a vision of unity, tolerance and respect after November 21 has raised sky-high the stakes in this referendum.

How do both sides intend to start healing the rifts they are creating with their abusive language, the use of ethnicity as a tool for gathering votes and by abusing power?

And let us not think that chaos is impossible. Just last week, Addis Ababa was rocked by clashes, violence and riots from the discontent and divisions stemming from the elections in May, six months back!

With our economy on a recovery path now, what would be the impact on, say, tourism, if we have chaos in Nairobi after November 21? What price will local shopkeepers, hawkers and others pay if we are unable to manage our divisions in a civilised manner?

So is there anything that we can do? I believe so, even if in a small way. First, we must keep focusing on the need for peace, tolerance and stability after November 21 even if the political leaders don't seem concerned to reach out to one another in a spirit of tolerance and compromise.

If ever there was a time to pray for Kenya and for continued improvement in our economy, this is the time. Any chaos after November 21 will clearly have been precipitated by political leaders on both sides, intent n showing each other who is the "man" and leaving the ordinary Kenyan to suffer the consequences.

And we should resist - as strenuously as possible - the selfish attempts by the political leaders to create "ethnic kingdoms" that "speak with one voice."

Nothing could be more dangerous for our fledgling democracy as this trend, as it portends, eventually, five or six men - the ethnic kings - deciding the fate of the entire country any way they want through horse-trading based on their individual desires.

And that will eventually mean more corruption, more ethnic conflicts and more tensions in Kenya, whether we pass this draft or not.

In practical terms, here are some ideas of what we can do:

-Start two weeks of prayers, fasting and/or meditation from November 19, for peace, stability and good governance;

-As Kenyans of goodwill and peace - notwithstanding our stands in the process so far - let us wear something green or white as a symbol of peace till Christmas (or after). Green reflects "new beginnings" and is a neutral but strong colour while white stands for peace in our flag.

-Every day at 5pm from now till the end of December, hoot all vehicle horns for two minutes as a message to politicians that they must start listening to us, the ordinary Kenyans. And if you have no access to a vehicle, blow a whistle, bang on a sufuria, or whatever, for two minutes.

-Call on our churches, mosques, temples and pagodas to set up tables where we can collect signatures on our desire for peace and tolerance within the existing political leadership with the goal of presenting at least one million signatures to our political leadership expressing our views on the current divisions.

Yes, these are small efforts, and even if we don't get the political class to change before November 21, let it be said that all peace-lovers played their part and that when the country counted more than the selfish power interests of the political class, we stood up and were counted.

Mr Kiai is chairman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights

http://allafrica.com/stories/200511140190.html

South Africa: ANC maintains a united front

2005-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50217

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party emerged from a crisis meeting of its top executive at the weekend to deny claims of internal divisions in its ranks. The ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting was called to heal a rift between President Thabo Mbeki and the party's former deputy president, Jacob Zuma, which has degenerated into the worst crisis the ANC has faced since being elected to power in 1994.

Uganda: President to stand again

2005-11-22

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4453554.stm

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said he will stand for re-election in next March's polls. Mr Museveni, who came to power 20 years ago, was due to step down but speculation had been rife for the past two years that he would stand again. His announcement comes at the end of a week of riots and controversy surrounding the arrest of his main political rival. Dr Kizza Besigye is in prison awaiting trial for treason and rape.

Chad: Aid Groups Press World Bank On Chad Oil Profits

2005-11-23

http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=119944&src=0

International aid groups last Thursday called on the World Bank and other donors to suspend support for Chad if the government changes a law that ensures oil profits from a major oil pipeline benefit the poor, reports Reuters. In a statement, Oxfam America, Bank Information Center, Environmental Defense and Friends of the Earth France said Chad should explain its current liquidity crisis, which has prompted the planned change to the World Bank-backed revenue management law. They also called for an independent audit of the country's public finances, as well as steps to improve transparency and efficiency of the budget system.

Liberia: Ellen Seeks Corruption-Free Officials

2005-11-22

http://admin.corisweb.org/index.php?fuseaction=news.view&id=119300&src=dcn

As she prepares to take office on January 16, 2006, President-in-waiting Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf says officials wishing to work in her government will have to abide by a code of conduct that will guide them against corruption, dishonesty, inefficiency and human rights abuses. "Anybody who will work for the government will have to abide by that code of conduct," she told reporters Saturday in the village of Korma, her ancestral home, over 15 kilometers northwest of Monrovia, where she had traveled to thank the people "for standing behind me" in her quest for the presidency. "If they (officials) violate public trust through dishonesty, inefficiency and human rights abuse, they will be penalized in accordance with the law as prescribed by the code of conduct."

Mozambique: Guebuza lambastes corruption in justice system

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/corruption/30435

President Armando Guebuza made what AIM called "his strongest criticisms yet of corruption, sloth and ineffectiveness within the country's judicial system, which was effectively denying the rights for which the liberation struggle had been fought", in a speech to senior legal figures on 5 November. To turn the system around, Guebuza said, "we cannot continue tolerating indifference and apathy in our administration of justice, using the pretext that a huge amount of work has accumulated - when we know perfectly well that the greatest problem is the spirit of 'don't bother' - expressed in the lack of timely orders to undertake specific actions, or, if they are ordered, failure to check that they are carried out".
Source: News reports & clippings no. 89 from Joseph Hanlon (j.hanlon@open.ac.uk), 14 November 2005

GUEBUZA LAMBASTES CORRUPTION
IN JUSTICE SYSTEM

President Armando Guebuza made what AIM called “his strongest criticisms
yet of corruption, sloth and ineffectiveness within the country's judicial
system, which was effectively denying the rights for which the liberation
struggle had been fought”, in a speech to senior legal figures on 5
November.

To turn the system around, Guebuza said, "we cannot continue tolerating
indifference and apathy in our administration of justice, using the
pretext that a huge amount of work has accumulated - when we know
perfectly well that the greatest problem is the spirit of ‘don't bother’ -
expressed in the lack
of timely orders to undertake specific actions, or, if they are ordered,
failure to check that they are carried out".

Justice Minister Esperanca Machavela recalled that in March Guebuza had
warned that lack of justice "leads to frustration among those seeking the
restoration of rights that have been violated and weakens the democratic
authority of the state". But she admitted that "the message reaching us
from the communities” is that little changed in the subsequent six months.

Isabel Rupia has been relieved of her duties as head of the
anti-corruption unit (UAC). The official reason is that the UAC no longer
exists; under recently approved legislation, it has been replaced by the
Central Office for the Fight against Corruption (GCCC), which will be
headed by Rafael Sebastiao. But this is little more than a change of name.
Like the UAC, the GCCC will operate under the office of Mozambique's
Attorney-General, Joaquim Madeira. Both Rupia and Sebastiao are assistant
attorney-generals No explanation has yet been given as to why Rupia has
been replaced, but she was seen as lacking a clear strategy and had not
brought many successful prosecutions.

Meanwhile, various senior people accused by the media of corruption have
been dismissed in recent weeks:
+ Vicente Veloso, chairperson of the Mozambican publicly-owned electricity
company, EDM, was dismissed on 8 November. He denied charges of corruption
levelled against him in the press, but has not brought any libel actions
against the newspapers.
+ The Labour Ministry delegate in South Africa, Pedro Taimo, was sacked
without warning on 17 October, after 14 years at the post. "Mediafax" said
the decision was taken "after noting various irregularities in his
performance, including financial mismanagement". Because of the large
number of Mozambican miners in South Africa, the post is politically and
financially important.
+ Aguiar Mazula resigned as chairman of the board of the
corruption-riddled National Social Security Institute (INSS) in late
October. AIM notes that “resignations are very rare in Mozambique.
Presumably Mazula believed that his position at the head of an
organisation that has been racked by scandal in recent months was no
longer tenable.” Mazula's resignation follows the sacking in August of the
INSS chief executive, Elina Gomes, accused of serious mismanagement of the
funds of the institution. Mazula formerly held posts as Minister of State
Administration, Minister of Labour and Minister of Defence.
+ Jose Solomone Coss was dismissed as chairman of the board of the
Mozambique Airports Company (ADM) on 25 October.
+ Daniel Fumo was sacked as chairman of the board of the National
Engineering Laboratory (LEM) in July. "Mediafax" reported that Fumo was
accused of extremely poor relations with the laboratory's workforce.
Complaints against Fumo date back to 2002, but the workers say that the
previous minister, Roberto White, paid no attention. Workers also say they
failed to receive backdated pay rises and that the money has gone missing.
Fumo was sacked by Minister of Public Works and Housing, Felicio Zacarias,
who earlier removed three directors of the National Roads Administration
(ANE), and the head of the state housing fund. In September he dismissed
senior housing officials in Maputo and Nampula, saying "there are serious
problems of theft" in the state
housing agency, APIE.

Meanwhile, Jorge Microsse, the director of the Maputo central prison, was
murdered on 21 October. The press reported he was killed by Paulo
"Dangerman" Estevao, an inmate of the top security prison who is awaiting
trial for his part in the attempted murder of lawyer Albano Silva in 1999.
It is claimed “Dangerman” left the prison on the afternoon of the crime,
disguised as a policeman, and accompanied by two prison guards. There have
been other press reports over recent years of top security prisoners being
released to carry out assassinations. As the Mozambican news agency AIM
points out, if the stories are true, ”this raises the terrifying
possibility that a top security prison has been converted into a reservoir
of hired killers with the full complicity of some of the police guards.”

Nigeria: Nigerian bank fraudsters guilty

2005-11-22

http://admin.corisweb.org/index.php?fuseaction=news.view&id=119276&src=dcn

A court in Nigeria has delivered two more guilty verdicts in the country's biggest ever international fraud trial. Two defendants, Frank Nwude and Nzeribe Okoli, were found guilty of swindling a Brazilian bank out of $242m. The pair deceived an employee at the Banco Noroeste of Sao Paulo into transferring large sums of the bank's money to accounts around the world. In return the man had been promised kickbacks from a fictional Nigerian state contract.

Zimbabwe: State drops charges against Mugabe's nephew

2005-11-22

http://admin.corisweb.org/index.php?fuseaction=news.view&id=119276&src=dcn

Zimbabwean prosecutors have withdrawn corruption charges against President Robert Mugabe's nephew, Leo Mugabe. Leo Mugabe and his wife, Veronica, walked free Wednesday [16 November] before they had entered their pleas. Mugabe and his wife were facing charges of contravening the Grain Marketing Board [GMB] Act and the Customs and Excise Duty Act. They were arrested three weeks ago after police acted on claims that in 2003, the two diverted 30 tonnes of flour worth 147m Zimbabwean dollars to Mozambique without having been cleared in terms of the law.

Africa/Global: Harnessing trade for development

2005-11-23

http://www.id21.org/insights/insights59/art00.html

Developing countries cannot achieve sustainable growth and poverty reduction unless they integrate into the world economy. Trade reforms are necessary, but not enough to maximise the potential benefits of trade. Negotiations at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December, 2005 should also focus on establishing an 'aid for trade' mechanism, reports ID21, the development communication web portal.

Africa/Global: IFI ‘aid for trade’ carrot ahead of Hong Kong trade summit

2005-11-23

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/article.shtml?cmd[126]=x-126-438378

Official hyperbole reached fever pitch last month with Bank president Paul Wolfowitz, in a 24 October op-ed for the Financial Times, saying that a deal in Hong Kong would mean "the difference between a healthy life or an early death from a preventable disease" for tens of millions. The World Bank predicted two years ago that a global trade accord would be worth as much as $500 billion to the economy. However, EU and US resistance to cuts in agriculture subsidies, has led Uri Dadush, the Bank's trade director, to tone down official exuberance: "Let's say all we're talking about in the current context is a gain of $20-$30 billion for developing countries."

Africa/global: WDR on equity: Practice what you preach

2005-11-23

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/article.shtml?cmd[126]=x-126-438408

Civil society organisations welcomed many of the findings of the latest installment of the World Bank's World Development Report (WDR) on equity and development. However question marks remain over its historical amnesia and the likelihood that the Bank will practice what it preaches in this instance. The Bank's flagship annual report which was published in September, is divided into three sections: part 1 considers the evidence on inequality of opportunity within and across countries; part 2 asks why equity matters; and part 3 asks how public action can level the playing field.

Africa/Global: WTO 'won't agree deal in China'

2005-11-23

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4461730.stm

Key World Trade Organisation (WTO) members have admitted they will not be able to agree a framework for a new trade deal at upcoming talks in China. But the five members did decide on a plan to conclude the current round of trade talks by the end of 2006. World leaders are seeking a breakthrough in the WTO's so-called Doha round of talks, which began in 2001 and aim to set out a system of trade rules that are fairer to developing countries.

Africa/Global: WTO ambush warning on services

2005-11-23

http://www.focusweb.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=685&Itemid=36

In yet another deceitful move by rich industrialised nations to aggressively access developing country markets, the just released draft WTO Ministerial text on Services is deliberately ambiguous on whether developing countries will have any choice but to enter into services negotiations when requested to do so. Such a process would be reminiscent of the disastrous negotiations which took place on Telecoms and Financial services in the WTO in 1997. Said Aileen Kwa of Focus on the Global South, “This is the real agenda in Hong Kong. Whilst Pascal Lamy downplays Hong Kong so that everyone else is caught off guard, what is really at stake is developing countries' control over their service sectors. And that includes essential services such as water, education and healthcare.”

Africa/Portugal: Three Decades After Last Colonial Empire Came to an End

2005-11-24

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=31142

The 30th anniversary of Angola's independence, commemorated this month, also marked the same period of time since nearly six centuries of European colonialism in Africa came to an end. As in Asia, it was the Portuguese who initiated the long era of colonialism in Africa, on Aug. 21, 1415, when Henry the Navigator's fleet landed at what is today the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, in modern-day Morocco. A total of 560 years passed before Portugal pulled out of its colonies. On Nov. 11, 1975, then governor of Angola Admiral Antonio D'Alva Rosa Coutinho, a member of the Armed Forces Movement, handed over the reins of power to independence leader Agostinho Neto, the first president of Angola, which was the last European colony in Africa.

Ethiopia: World Bank threatens aid

2005-11-22

http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2005

The World Bank, Ethiopia's largest donor, says it is considering cutting aid to the country if the current political impasse there continues according to a recent article in Voice of America by Ashenafi Adedje (16th November 2005). The Bank currently disburses four to five hundred million dollars a year in assistance to Ethiopia. However, Ishac Diwan, the World Bank’s country director for Ethiopia, noted that this amount will increase if governance improves or decrease over time if governance fails to improve. The World Bank representative declined to be more specific, saying the exact figures will have to be determined by bank management in accordance with prevailing circumstances.

Africa: Coping with the bird flu crisis

2005-11-24

http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/2179.cfm

Policy makers around the world are gradually coming to terms with the real possibility of a bird or avian H5NI influenza pandemic. From Washington, D.C., to London, Paris, and other industrialized countries, preparations to combat a possible pandemic among human beings are almost assuming war-like proportions as the bird flu influenza moves from Asia to parts of Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading a coordinated global response through a new World Bank funded initiative. However, to date there is no coordinated response from Africa, its regional institutions or national governments, says this article from World Press Review.

Africa: HIV/AIDS and the World Bank

2005-11-23

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/article.shtml?cmd[126]=i-126-412381aedf92dc0d550780c0f25fe48c

The World Bank states that as of the end of 2004, 39 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS, of which more than 95 per cent were in low- and middle-income countries. Nearly two-thirds are in sub-Saharan Africa, and nearly one in five in South or Southeast Asia. The World Bank has been carrying out efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS and mitigate its impact since the late 1980s. Most efforts have been over the last decade: only 9 free-standing AIDS projects and 22 with AIDS components of at least $1 million have been completed. Nearly two thirds of its global projects and commitments have been launched since 2000, the majority of which are accounted for in the Africa Multi-Country AIDs Programme (MAP).

Senegal: Yellow fever outbreak confirmed in South Kordofan

2005-11-23

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50239

Results of further tests on blood samples from South Kordofan have confirmed a yellow fever outbreak, the World Health Organization reported, adding that at least 121 people had died as of Monday. Initial field investigations and rapid tests conducted by the Sudanese health ministry had indicated a dengue fever outbreak. The tests followed earlier reports of a haemorrhagic fever outbreak in the area.

South Africa: Labour movement joins Aids fight

2005-11-24

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051123/wl_nm/aids_safrica_dc_1

South Africa's powerful labour movement vowed to add its muscle to the fight against Aids on Wednesday, heaping pressure on the government amid an epidemic killing some 900 South Africans each day. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), which claims a million members and has organized huge protests in the past, announced it was joining activist group Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) to push for a new approach to AIDS in the country worst hit by the worldwide pandemic.

South Africa: UNAIDS continue to paint bleak picture

2005-11-23

http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20031331

South Africa’s Aids epidemic, one of the largest in the world, shows no sign of relenting, while infection levels continue to drop in Uganda and now also in parts of Kenya and Zimbabwe, according the UNAIDS Aids Epidemic Update. Released this week, the annual UNAIDS Aids Epidemic Update continues to paint a bleak picture of an epidemic that this year alone claimed three million lives of which 570 000 were children. The total number of people living with HIV worldwide reached its highest level – an estimated 40,3 million people are now living with HIV while close to five million were newly infected with the virus this year.

Tanzania: Patients suffer as doctors' strike continues

2005-11-23

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50234

Patients at Tanzania's main referral hospital continued to be neglected on Tuesday as a strike by junior doctors and medical interns entered a sixth day, despite the government acting on their demand by almost doubling their salaries. Tanzania's chief secretary, Matern Lumbanga, told a news conference on Monday that the government had raised the monthly minimum salary for the doctors from 226,860 shillings to 403,120 shillings (1 US dollar = 1,180 Tanzania shillings) effective January 2006.

West Africa: Fungus could replace bed-nets in preventing malaria, researchers

2005-11-23

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50215

Fungus-impregnated fabric could soon replace chemically-soaked bed-nets as a defence against malaria, researchers claim. As a week-long international malaria conference wrapped up in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde this weekend, researchers unveiled findings that showed a fungus could be used to kill malaria carrying mosquitoes. Researchers sprayed black fabric with fungi spores which infected and killed mosquitoes in tests in a Tanzanian village.

Zimbabwe: Dysentery spreads

2005-11-24

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=13258

Four people have died of dysentery in northern Zimbabwe in what appears to be the first outbreak of the disease outside the capital, say reports on Tuesday. An outbreak of the highly contagious diarrhoeal disease was reported earlier this month in Harare and its satellite town of Chitungwiza. Two hundred people were taken to hospital.

Global: Open Educational Resources

2005-11-22

http://topics.developmentgateway.org/civic/rc/ItemDetail.do?itemId=1051624

The Development Gateway Foundation’s “Open Educational Resources” portal aims to equalize access to education and help people in developing countries improve their chances for a better life. The portal features free course materials and other educational content offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Chinese Open Resources for Education and other institutions around the world. The initiative is launched in partnership by the Development Gateway Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Malawi: USAID promises more support on education

2005-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200511210538.html

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged it would continue to support the education sector in the country as one way of achieving human resource for development. USAID Acting Mission Director Mary Lewellen made the pledge in Kasungu last week after being impressed by the progress and impact of the Malawi Education Support Activity (Mesa) which targets primary schools in Mzimba South, Kasungu, Machinga and Phalombe districts.

Namibia: Dropouts to Benefit from Simple Curriculum

2005-11-22

http://www.newera.com.na/page.php?id=5

Young people who drop out of the formal school system would no longer struggle to grasp concepts at vocational training institutions following the Namibia Training Authority (NTA)’s initiative to simplify the curriculum. This week, NTA handed over a unit of standards, curricula and training manuals for the bricklaying and plastering occupation and the hospitality industry.

South Africa: 'Massive' lack of education plagues Africa

2005-11-22

http://tinyurl.com/agb2u

“Massive" educational deprivation continues to plague sub-Saharan Africa, South African Minister of Education Naledi Pandor said, as reported by the Mail and Guardian. "Despite country reports of progress, it is clear that an extraordinary effort will be required to ensure that all countries are directly assisted to succeed," she told the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Edinburgh, Scotland. In South Africa, as in most of Africa, boys are pressured into dropping out of school to earn money for their families, while pregnancy is the main reason girls leave school.

South Africa: Afrikaners in a Tizz

2005-11-22

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=1778623

Will lectures in Afrikaans and English kill off the taal? Yes, reckons a very vocal band of current and former Stellenbosch University students, after the university recently approved the introduction of dual-medium instruction in the final undergraduate year of the arts faculty. For the past two months, a well-oiled media campaign has been raging in the letters and news columns of Die Burger, the largest Afrikaans daily in the country. From this it has been clear that not all Afrikaans speakers are happy that their language has to compete with 10 other official languages instead of being one of only two official languages.

South Africa: Post-Colonial Blacks

2005-11-23

http://www.nu.ac.za/ccs/default.asp?2,40,5,900

Mandisa Majuva writes in an article on the website of the Centre for Civil Society at the University of Kwazulu-Natal: "Postcolonial subjectivities are, among other things, concerned with ways to divest white supremacist thinking, ways to subvert and challenge social relations that reinforce white supremacy. In carrying out this project, postcolonial subjectivities interrogate literature – searching and questioning why certain oppressive personalities are being re-inscribed. They interrogate history books – searching and questioning why certain memories are not worth recording. In this globalised world, where there are “global movements”, postcolonial subjectivities investigate social movements – raising questions about who speaks for and write about movements, who informs the politics of social movements."

Africa/Global: World Bank and climate change: power failure

2005-11-23

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/article.shtml?cmd[126]=i-126-807c10e35443c0cd4093bd8a0bccd75e

In direct contrast to its newly-appointed leadership role to address climate change and finance renewable energy, a new report from Friends of the Earth (FOE) exposes the World Bank's failure to meet its own modest commitments to shift support away from dirty energy. The report points out that as "the world's foremost multilateral development institution", the Bank could be "in a key position to drive policy and financing for clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries". The report reveals that the Bank has failed to reach the commitment it made last year to increase its renewable energy financing by 20 per cent each year for the next five years, and has continued to pump massive amounts of low-interest loans into oil, gas and coal projects.

Africa: African Lakes Network

2005-11-22

http://www.osienala.org

"On the occasion of the Living Lakes Africa Conference in Kisumu and Mbita we have been discussing the idea to start an African Lakes network in order to raise awareness about the problems of Africa's Lakes, share information, transfer successful model projects and start joint cross-border activities. A first step on the way to establishing such a network of African lakes and lake organisations (NGOs) would be to form a working group constituting a steering committee in order to manage the process forward. We all shall try to raise funding in order to establish a Secretariat in Africa. Any input on this issue is very much welcome. In the meantime our Living Lakes partner organisation Osienala will be serving as a second focal point."

Global: Climate change could disrupt natural pest control

2005-11-22

http://tinyurl.com/8a9wa

As reported by SciDev, climate change could upset the balance between insect crop pests and the 'natural enemies' that control their numbers, say researchers. This might make pest outbreaks more frequent and severe, particularly in the tropics where the climate is naturally more consistent, they warn in a study published this week (11 November) in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.

Global: Lessons from African disasters

2005-11-22

http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/briefing/bp_disasters_nov05.pdf

What lessons can be learned by examining the economic and financial consequences of natural disasters in eight developing countries and droughts in sub-Saharan Africa? Produced by Overseas Development Institute, this paper offers perspectives on the effects of environmental disasters.

Uganda: Museveni chastised for anti-NGO remarks

2005-11-22

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/466130

President Yoweri Museveni's speech to the global conference on wetlands has angered delegates. Museveni criticised international environmentalists, accusing them of opposing development programmes to developing countries under the guise of environmental protection. Wetlands International chief executive officer Jane Madgwick said in a statement that she was shocked by the President's speech, adding that it was uncalled for.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe reveals uranium plan

2005-11-22

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4455324.stm

Deposits of uranium have been unearthed in Zimbabwe, the country's President Robert Mugabe has said. Mr Mugabe said Zimbabwe would use the uranium to boost its energy supplies, but would not pursue nuclear weapons. Zimbabwe has a chronic energy shortage, blamed on a lack of foreign currency for spare parts, and imports power from several neighbouring countries.

South Africa: Land struggles continue in Cape Town

2005-11-23

http://sa.indymedia.org/

Last weekend saw a continuation of the land and housing struggle of recent weeks in the Lavender Hill area of Cape Town, reports Indymedia South Africa. "On Saturday 19 November 2005, City Police and Cape Town City Council Law Enforcement arrived to mark shacks in the new settlement in St Montague Village. This settlement - which still lacks a name - is made up of about 500 families who settled on the land since last weekend (11 November 2005). On Friday they - along with many other Hillview and St Montague Village residents - were served with a court order prohibiting them from extending their shacks or putting up any further dwellings."

Zimbabwe: land reform programme blamed for severe food shortages

2005-11-23

http://www.ciir.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=92214

A Zimbabwean government minister has admitted that farm seizures have led to repeated crop failures and severe food shortages. Zanu-PF President Robert Mugabe has always blamed Zimbabwe's food and economic crisis on years of drought and on a conspiracy by Western countries to bring down his government because of his controversial land reform programme.

Africa: Voices for change through community radio

2005-11-23

http://www.id21.org/insights/insights58/art00.html

The impact of new information and communication technologies on development is a subject of extensive international debate, particularly at the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society. While much of the debate focuses on the Internet, many planners and practitioners have begun to realise that it is to traditional media, such as radio, that poor people are most likely to turn for access to information and voice, says ID21, the development research web portal.

Eritrea: Uncertainty over release of journalist held for four years without charge

2005-11-23

http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/70649/?PHPSESSID=6fc229ddf14f6727ff35e250f9322a81

The International Federation of Journalists has called on the Eritrean Government to end uncertainty over the release of Dawit Isaac, reporter from the former weekly Setit, who had been locked away without trial and without access to his family and colleagues since the crackdown on the private media by Eritrean authorities in September 2001. Dawit Isaac was released from Karcheli Prison in the Eritrean capital of Asmara last weekend after more than four years in prison. However, he has not yet received permission to leave the country.

Malawi: NAMISA presses MPs to open up

2005-11-23

http://www.journalism.co.za/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3370&CAMSSID=00158eb3b419918d367d728c7a67b384

The National Media Institute of Southern Africa (Namisa) in Malawi is taking Parliament to court for refusing to allow a private radio station to broadcast its proceedings live, writes Samuel Makaka in an article on www.journalism.co.za Zodiac Broadcasting Station has been refused permission to broadcast the proceedings. Charles Simango, Namisa national director, said in an interview that Parliament is a public entity. “Members of Parliament are accountable to the people who sent them to Parliament.”

Uganda: Uganda harrassment slammed

2005-11-23

http://www.journalism.co.za/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3371&CAMSSID=00158eb3b419918d367d728c7a67b384

Reporters Without Borders has called on the Ugandan government to come to its senses after a week of police harassment of the independent "Daily Monitor" newspaper, according to a press statement. The week culminated in a spectacular raid on its premises on the night of 17 November 2005, all of which were part of the government's efforts to neutralise support for imprisoned opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

Zambia: Journalist Arrested for Defamation

2005-11-23

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/30514

ARTICLE 19 has condemned the arrest of Fred M'membe, editor and CEO of Zambia's only private daily newspaper The Post, who has been charged under the country's defamation law for having insulted President Levy Mwanawasa.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10 November 2005

Zambia: Journalist Arrested for Defamation

ARTICLE 19 condemns the arrest of Fred M'membe, editor and CEO of
Zambia's only private daily newspaper The Post, who has been charged
under the country's defamation law for having insulted President Levy
Mwanawasa. M'membe who was released on bail yesterday and pleaded
non-guilty in court today, published an editorial on Monday which
stated among other things, that "the foolishness, stupidity and lack
of humility exhibited by Levy Mwanawasa ... is something that one can
never imagine to come out of the mouth of a president of this
country." The date for M'memebe's trial has yet to be set. The charges
against M'membe send a clear signal of the Zambian government's
growing intolerance over the past year of journalists critiquing it.
Indeed, in June of this year M'membe had been warned and cautioned by
authorities for another critical comment against the President, while
three journalists from The Post were detained and questioned over
statements made by opposition leader Michael Sata.

ARTICLE 19 believes that the use of criminal defamation claims rather
than civil ones are a serious deterrent to independent and critical
journalism. In its annual resolution on freedom of expression, the UN
Commission on Human Rights regularly expresses concern at the use of
detention, "including through the abuse of legal provisions on
criminal libel" against persons who exercise the right to freedom of
expression. Furthermore, a number of countries, such as Ghana, Togo
and the Central African Republic, have already decriminalised
defamation.

Moreover, the Zambian government has recently refused to include a
clause guaranteeing access to information in the new draft
constitution. It also has rejected provisions that would have provided
for freedom of all electronic and print media from interference and
protected journalists from disclosing their sources. The government's
overall stance on restricting freedom of expression and access to
information is therefore worrisome and requires that the international
community keeps close watch on Zambia's obligations under
international law.

For further information, please contact:

Alexandra Sicotte-Levesque, Africa Programme Officer

Tel: (+44) 20 7278 9292 or email: alexandra@article19.org





ARTICLE 19-Global Campaign for Free Expression

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's exiled press

2005-11-23

http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2005/DA_fall05/zim/zim_DA_fall05_2.html

Sandra Nyaira was on a career high when she left Zimbabwe three years ago. For her work as political editor of the country’s leading independent newspaper the Daily News, she had earned a prestigious Courage in Journalism Award from the Washington-based International Women’s Media Foundation. After traveling to the United States to receive the prize, Nyaira attended the journalism master’s program at City University in London on a scholarship. Nyaira expected to be back at her job in Zimbabwe in a year. She has yet to return.

Global/Africa: Ghanaian CEO Scoops Award

2005-11-22

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/diaspora/artikel.php?ID=93528

Ghanaian Frances Williams, CEO of London-based company Interims for Development (www.InterimsFD.com), was named 'Rising Star of the Year 2005' at the fiercely-contested UK Trade & Investment Black Enterprise Awards in London. Officially launched in Ghana in 2003 by the Ghana Government's Minister for Private Sector Development, Interims for Development works with African businesses and international companies operating in Africa to support their Human Resources, business development and capacity building needs.

Global: Beyond the Fire

2005-11-22

http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds2005/experiences-2934.html

This online interactive educational project features the stories of 15 teen refugees from 7 war zones (Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo, and Liberia) who are now living in the United States. Designed for young people and their teachers, this web documentary features an individualised virtual passport and travel diary, war zone timelines, and country quizzes. The primary strategy for engaging viewers in the teens' experiences is personalisation in the form of an online documentary "journey". The goal is to create a virtual peer-to-peer dialogue - bolstered by an educator-facilitated classroom experience - focused on conflict and its effect on youth around the world.

Darfur: The Failure of the African Union in Darfur

2005-11-22

http://www.sudanreeves.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=77

The ghosts of Rwanda are stirring ever more ominously in Darfur, writes Sudan watcher and commentator Eric Reeves. "Differences in geography, history, and genocidal means do less and less to obscure the ghastly similarities between international failure in 1994 and the world's current willingness to allow ethnically-targeted human destruction to proceed essentially unchecked," he writes.

Eritrea/Ethiopia: Eritrea says Ethiopia stokes border fears as ploy

2005-11-22

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21783625.htm

Eritrea's president has accused Ethiopia of raising the spectre of renewed conflict between the two neighbours over their disputed border as a ploy to distract attention from Ethiopia's domestic troubles. Military manoeuvres on both sides of an unmarked 1,000 km (620 mile) frontier between the feuding Horn of Africa neighbours have raised international concern about a possible repeat of their 1998-2000 border war that killed 70,000 people.

Ethiopia: Opposition activists denied bail

2005-11-22

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21230083.htm

An Ethiopian court denied bail on Monday to 23 opponents of the government accused of inciting violence in Addis Ababa in early November. At least 42 people were shot dead when police confronted demonstrators in the capital after the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) called for new protests against May polls it says the government manipulated. Four more people were killed in clashes elsewhere in subsequent days. The government denies ballot fraud.

Ivory Coast: No agreement over new Ivorian PM

2005-11-23

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4461876.stm

Three African presidents visiting Ivory Coast have failed to broker a deal over a new prime minister, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has said. Mr Obasanjo and the leaders of South Africa and Niger had hoped to choose a prime minister acceptable to President Laurent Gbagbo and Ivorian rebels. But Mr Obasanjo said he did not view the mission as a failure, adding that talks would resume within 10 days.

Niger: Niger 'faces second food crisis'

2005-11-24

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4463796.stm

Niger faces a second food crisis in the coming months unless the international community renews its efforts to help, the UN food agency (WFP) has warned. Many children remain malnourished and despite recent harvests, cereal stocks in many homes are low, it said. "It will take only the slightest adversity to push families over the edge again," said a WFP spokesman.

Sudan: Envoys try to unite Darfur rebel leaders ahead of talks

2005-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50206

African Union (AU) and United States mediators are trying to reconcile the divided leadership of the largest rebel group in Darfur ahead of the resumption of the peace talks later this week, an AU official said. The leaders of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) are under pressure to resolve their internal differences and present a united front at the next session of the delayed peace negotiations in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, which had been scheduled to start on 21 November.

Sudan: Oil Drives the Genocide in Darfur

2005-11-23

http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=8536&sectionID=2

A war of the future is being waged right now in the sprawling desert region of northeastern Africa known as Sudan, writes David Morse in this Znet article. "The weapons themselves are not futuristic. None of the ray-guns, force-fields, or robotic storm troopers that are the stuff of science fiction; nor, for that matter, the satellite-guided Predator drones or other high-tech weapon systems at the cutting edge of today's arsenal. No, this war is being fought with Kalashnikovs, clubs and knives. In the western region of Sudan known as Darfur, the preferred tactics are burning and pillaging, castration and rape - carried out by Arab militias riding on camels and horses." Morse argues that the war is a resource war over oil.

Uganda: Uganda rebels in daylight ambush

2005-11-23

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4456510.stm

At least 12 people have been killed in northern Uganda during an ambush by suspected rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army, LRA. The attackers shot at a minibus full of people in broad daylight as it approached the town of Pader. The minibus was set ablaze and as the passengers tried to escape from the burning vehicle they were attacked.

Zambia: Zambia declares a food disaster

2005-11-23

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4457814.stm

Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa has declared a national disaster and appealed for international food aid. More than one million Zambians face severe food shortages due to drought. Last week, Zambia appealed for $18m in aid to deal with the food crisis. Zambia is one of six countries across southern Africa facing a food crisis. The UN says some 12m people in the region need food aid.

Africa/Global: Open Access Archiving: The fast track to building research capacity

2005-11-24

http://www.scidev.net/ms/openaccess/

The science base in the developing world cannot be strengthened without access to the global library of research information. Currently, this is nearly impossible due to the high costs of journal subscriptions, with the result that even the most prestigious institutes in poorer countries cannot afford to buy the journals they need. With the advent of the Open Access (OA) initiative, the outlook for building science capacity in developing countries has improved significantly.

Africa: Pocket answer to digital divide

2005-11-22

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4446966.stm

Much of the debate about the digital divide centres on getting computers into the hands of budding digital citizens in developing countries. But there are those who are looking to existing mobile phone technologies as the way to connect the world. "Everyone is talking about the digital divide, but the real issue is getting phones in everyone's hand," Tom Phillips, the head of GSM Association's policy unit, told the BBC News website.

Africa: Twenty African countries have introduced broadband

2005-11-22

http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act_281.html

Two reports were released last week that chart the rapid changes taking place in African ICT markets over the last year, says issue 281 of Balancing Act News Update. The first looks at the rise of broadband access which has become increasingly available in Africa for the first time ever. The second report analyses the mobile handset market in one of the continent's largest markets, Nigeria and provides some useful pointers as to how that market will develop.

South Africa: OpenOffice in 11 South African languages

2005-11-22

http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=698&s=news

After 75 000 translated words and many months of hard work, Translate.org.za is scheduled to release OpenOffice.org 2.0.1 in all 11 official South African languages later this month. Translate.org.za director, Dwayne Bailey, says that 20 people - academics, translators and reviewers - were involved in the translations, most of whom are language practitioners in their respective fields.

Tanzania: ICT's in Tanzania - donor optimism or democratic development?

2005-11-23

http://www.id21.org/society/s4bcm1g1.html

A paper from the University of Leicester in the UK describes how Tanzanian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the cities of Arusha and Dar es Salaam make use of email and the Internet in their daily operations. The paper examines the role of ICTs within the wider context of liberalisation in Tanzania and the ways in which ICT usage among local NGOs reinforces specific relationships with Northern NGOs and donors.

Africa: Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)/Journalistes poue les Droits Humains (JDH)

2005-11-22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/J-H-R

Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)/Journalistes pour les Droits Humains (JDH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising general awareness of human rights issues in Africa by providing African journalists with the tools to report accurately and concretely about human rights issues. JHR's mailing list allows members to discuss issues related to human rights and the media in Africa. Members will also be informed of JHR's activities and events. Follow the link to join the email listserve.

Somalia: Monthly Watch

2005-11-23

http://www.socda.org/news.php?itemNo=18

The Somali Organisation for Community Development Activities (SOCDA) is a medium sized national Somali Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 1993 by a group of like-minded Somali professionals. Their newsletter is a watchdog of the Somali socio-political and economic landscape. Email socda@globalsom.com to subscribe.

* QuickGuides: Special offer for Pambazuka News readers

2005-11-22

http://www.quickguidesonline.com

QuickGuides are 24 page books, readable in an hour, covering the fundraising and management needs of both large and small organisations. QuickGuides are the perfect way to learn about a subject quickly and easily, and because they are written and reviewed by knowledgeable professionals from all around the world they will be useful wherever you operate as they are not country specific. At £8 or US$14 per book, QuickGuides are accessible to all, and you can build your own library of expertise. And as a reader of Pambazuka News, you can take advantage of a special promotion of 3 books for the price of 2 until the end of March 2006. QuickGuides are a resource you can't afford not to have. Quote ref: pambazuka and order online now at our online bookshop www.quickguidesonline.com

Agenda Writing Programme

2005-11-22

http://www.agenda.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=74

Developing women's ability to write is essential to enabling women to express their needs, wants and demands effectively and to influence the development of society. The creation and dissemination of information about gender is essential for both men and women to challenge the gender status quo. These processes have been at the core of Agenda's mission and the Writing Skills Development Programme adds to this. The Writing Programme has two primary objectives: to develop the writing skills of women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and; to contribute to the development of gender-informed writers producing gender-informed media.

Communications Skills For Women In Politics

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/fundraising/30544

'Communication Skills For Women In Politics' is aimed at women in newly-established or impending Democracies or women fresh to politics in existing Democracies.  It has been designed as a practical tool-kit for trainers to use in workshops for future women politicians and for training activists campaigning for a rapid increase in women's participation in politics. Enquiries e-mail kethi@kethi.gr or Lesley Abdela, Senior Partner, Shevolution, on lesley.abdela@shevolution.com

Flying toilets to hit radio stations

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/fundraising/30483

Christian Aid is launching its gifts catalogue www.presentaid.org with a spoof Christmas single Feeling Flush this Christmas? on 17 November 2005 to help tackle sanitation problems such as 'flying toilets' which affect many people in third world slums. The single is a remix of the Christmas carol We Three Kings of Orient Are. No musical instruments are used. Instead the carol is composed of unusual sounds associated with gifts from the Present Aid catalogue. The 'musicians' include a mosquito choir, a chorus of cows, sheep, and goats as well as toilet flushes. The term 'flying toilets' might sound funny but it's deadly serious. In some African slums, such as Kibera, in Nairobi, up to 15,000 people could be sharing a single block of six toilets. Without running water people are forced to use plastic bags to defecate in. They then throw the bags into the street - and hence are known as 'flying toilets'.

Listen to the single by clicking on: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/news/presentaidmusic/3kingzzz%20.mp3
News release

Christian Aid Media office

FLYING TOILETS TO HIT RADIO STATIONS

Interviews, images and CDs available on request

Christian Aid is launching its gifts catalogue www.presentaid.org with
a spoof Christmas single Feeling Flush this Christmas? on 17 November
2005 to help tackle sanitation problems such as 'flying toilets'
which affect many people in third world slums.

The single is a remix of the Christmas carol We Three Kings of Orient
Are. No musical instruments are used. Instead the carol is composed
of unusual sounds associated with gifts from the Present Aid
catalogue. The 'musicians' include a mosquito choir, a chorus of cows,
sheep, and goats as well as toilet flushes.

The term 'flying toilets' might sound funny but it's deadly serious.
In some African slums, such as Kibera, in Nairobi, up to 15,000 people
could be sharing a single block of six toilets. Without running water
people are forced to use plastic bags to defecate in. They then throw
the bags into the street - and hence are known as 'flying toilets'.

Clean toilets drastically reduce diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria
and cholera. A donation of £55 would buy a latrine that really gets to
the bottom of things. And this is where the Present Aid catalogue
comes in.

People can log on to www.presentaid.org and choose a virtual present
for a friend, relative or colleague who will receive a card. A gift
then goes to help people in developing countries, wherever the need is
greatest.

David Pain, head of the Africa division at Christian Aid, said: 'It
was hard to conduct the rowdy choir of mosquitoes and get the goats in
tune, but we hope they will help us raise awareness about the
difficulties facing some of the poorest communities around the world,
not just at Christmas but throughout the year. A quirky gift from
presentaid.org will put a smile on the face of the person who receives
a card about it, but more importantly it will help people in
developing countries help themselves.'

Other presents on offer include a mobile clinic, fishing nets, a flock
of guinea fowl, sheep, cows and a sesame oil press. You can also 'buy'
a stethoscope for £7 and a community water tap for £24. The Present
Aid catalogue contains 23 gift ideas, ranging in price from £7 to
£8,000.

The money raised through people 'buying' gifts doesn't go directly to
a family in a poor country, but into one of the following funds that
are used to support Christian Aid partner organisations working with
some of the poorest communities in more than 50 countries:

- emergencies and disaster preparedness,

- agriculture and livestock,

- health including HIV/AIDS,

- water and environment,

- education and training,

- campaigning throughout the developing world.

Last year, almost £1 million were raised for Christian Aid's work
through this virtual gifts scheme.

Ends

For more information, radio plays, images, web clips or mp3 files
contact

Kati Dshedshorov on 020 7523 2452 or kdshedshorov@christian-aid.org

Notes to editors:

1. All gifts must be bought by 15 December 2005 in order for
them to be dispatched in time for Christmas.

2. The Christmas carol 'We Three Kings of Orient Are' has been
reworked by Goatherderz in association with Heavy Entertainment using
sounds related to the Present Aid catalogue:

· toilet flushes (representing latrines that help reduce
life-threatening diseases like diarrhoea, malaria and cholera)

· machine sounds (representing a sesame oil press that can
give a whole community the opportunity to work themselves out of
grinding poverty)

· animal sounds (cows, sheep, goats, guinea fowls are given as
a loan to farmers; once the animals have reproduced the loan is given
back to help another family)

· running water (symbolising water taps or wells)

· heart beat (representing a stethoscope which is a vital
equipment for local communities where tuberculosis, for example,
caused by poverty is still rife)

· mosquito buzz (representing life-saving mosquito nets in
areas where malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people every year)

No musical instruments have been used.

3. The website www.presentaid.org has been designed by digital
agency, RandomMedia, with the e-commerce functionality provided by
Venda.
An earthquake in south Asia, floods in Central America and drought in
Malawi have devastated tens of thousands of lives across three
continents. We need your help. Please give what you can to our
Emergency Crisis Fund.

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/crisis

Information on SACU

2005-11-23

http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~lmo5/politicalEconomy/SacuInfo.htm

Visit the website http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~lmo5/politicalEconomy/SacuInfo.htm for information on the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

2nd Reality Camp Program

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/30444

We wish to invite youth groups/youth leaders to send in indications of interest for the 2nd Reality Camp Program to be held at the St. Rita's Rural Center Kadi Valley, Kaduna from 11th – 17th December 2005. The theme for this year is Program Sustainability...sharing our experience.
10th November 2005.

Dear Friends,

Reality Camp Program

We wish to invite youth groups/youth leaders to send
in indication of interests for the 2nd Reality Camp
Program to be held at the St. Rita's Rural Center Kadi
Valley Kaduna from 11th – 17th December 2005 . The
theme for this year is Program Sustainability…..
sharing our experience.

The reality camp is used for sharing of ideas and
networking among youth leaders across the nation.
Letters of indication of interest should be sent by
E-mail to yut_4lif@yahoo.com on or before 4pm 7th
December 2005.


For more information or clarifications call at the
Family Resource Centre inside old ABUTH independence
way near Kaduna prisons or dial:- 0803 5930 433, 0802
3731 833, 0803 7908 604, 0802 7100 076.

Olebara C.C
Coordinator Children/Youth Program
Mothers Welfare Group
Kaduna

Call for Applications: Distance learning course on campaigning for access to information

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/30429

Global free expression group Article 19 and the human rights organization Fahamu invite applications for a distance learning course on Campaigning for Access to Information to be held from 3 January 2006 to February 2006.

Combining the freedom of information campaigning expertise of Article 19 with the extensive distance learning experience of Fahamu, this course is meant for people and organizations from a broad spectrum of areas in Africa who have an interest in the issue of access to information. This includes but is not limited to: trade unions, residents' organisations, environmental groups, women's groups, development organisations, human rights organisations and many others.

This course looks at why access to information is important, what an access to information law should contain, and how to set about campaigning for one.

Call for Applications: Distance learning course on campaigning for access to information

Learn The Why, What And How Of Access To Information
Global free expression group Article 19 and the human rights organization Fahamu invite applications for a distance learning course on Campaigning for Access to Information to be held from 3 January 2006 to February 2006.

Combining the freedom of information campaigning expertise of Article 19 with the extensive distance learning experience of Fahamu, this course is meant for people and organizations from a broad spectrum of areas in Africa who have an interest in the issue of access to information. This includes but is not limited to: trade unions, residents' organisations, environmental groups, women's groups, development organisations, human rights organisations and many others.

This course looks at why access to information is important, what an access to information law should contain, and how to set about campaigning for one.

While several countries in Southern Africa have draft laws to access to information in place, South Africa is the only country in the region that has a proper access to information law. But even when a law or a draft law is in place, it is important to have the ability to critique the laws in order to make sure that they have included the best provisions possible. And then it is crucial to ensure that the law is implemented properly.

This distance course lasts for seven weeks. Six weeks are spent working through a specially designed interactive CDROM, completing exercises and discussing the issues by email with others who are doing the course. The final week is devoted to an assignment that will involve designing a campaign plan for access to information in your country. This not only entails considering campaigning strategy and tactics, but also the substantive access to information issues that you are likely to encounter in your own country. It is intended that the product of this assignment will be something that you and your organisation can use in the future to help guide your campaigning work. You will be guided throughout the course by an online course tutor.

There are 15 sponsored places available on this course. Every participant who successfully completes this course will be awarded a certificate from Article 19 and Fahamu.

Applicants should send a one page summary CV, with a letter of 500 words explaining why they should be selected for this course. Applications should be sent to info@fahamu.org

For further information (including course dates, fees and registration forms please contact:


Hilary Isaac
EMAIL: info @ fahamu.org

* Fahamu (www.fahamu.org) is committed to serving the needs of organisations and social movements that aspire to progressive social change and that promote and protect human rights. Fahamu has extensive experience in distance learning for human rights organisations.

* Article 19 (www.article19.org/) works worldwide to combat censorship by promoting freedom of expression and access to official information.

Climate Justice Convergence Centre

27th November-8th December 2005

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/30467

The Climate Justice Convergence Centre is a space where the voices of those struggling against oil and coal extraction, refineries, pollution 'offset' projects, a destabilized climate, oil wars and all the other effects of fossil fuel dependence can be heard. Photo-exhibitions, films, speakers and workshops will examine issues ranging from energy use to tree plantations to the World Bank, the G8, carbon trading, nuclear power and genetic engineering.
CLIMATE JUSTICE CONVERGENCE CENTRE: MONTREAL
2070 Rue Clark (near Sherbrooke and St.Laurent)
4 Blocks Northwest of the Palais de Congres

27th November-8th December 2005


CLIMATE, OIL & RESISTANCE
Hear the voices of those directly affected by climate change, the oil and coal industry and carbon trading.

The Climate Justice Convergence Centre is a space where the voices of those struggling against oil and coal extraction, refineries, pollution 'offset' projects, a destabilized climate, oil wars and all the other effects of fossil fuel dependence can be heard. Photo-exhibitions, films, speakers and workshops will examine issues ranging from energy use to tree plantations to the World Bank, the G8, carbon trading, nuclear power and genetic engineering.

web: www.carbontradewatch.org/durban
blog: climatejustice.blogspot.com

Organizers: The Durban Group for Climate Justice, Sierra Youth, Energy Action, Indigenous Environment Network, Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative, FERN, Transnational Institute, Global Justice Ecology Project, The Corner House, Sustainable Energy & Economy Network/ Institute for Policy Studies, Chesapeake Climate Action Network


Programme of Events

SUNDAY 27TH NOV: 2-5PM
MEETING - Indigenous Peoples Caucus orientation: For Indigenous peoples and Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPO) participating within the COP11 meeting.
Coordinated by the Indigenous Environment Network

TUESDAY 29TH NOV-8TH DEC: 1-7PM EVERYDAY
PHOTO-EXHIBITION - “Where the Trees are a Desert” on the impacts of monoculture eucalyptus plantations in Brazil.

TUESDAY 29TH NOV-8TH DEC: 1-7PM EVERYDAY
FILM - Raised Voices: filmed testimonies of those living on the fenceline of the oil industry and views from people in the global South on issues related to climate change.

TUESDAY 29TH NOV: 2-4PM
PANEL - The lessons about pollution trading that Kyoto never learned from the US - Part I: The Kyoto Protocol is based entirely on US pollution trading models. Did these models succeed? Were they just? Did they save money, clean up pollution quickly, or foster innovation or public participation? Can they be applied to global warming? Reviewing the failures is a prerequisite for finding a better way. Speakers: Jutta Kill, Sinks Watch, UK, Prof. Michael K. Dorsey, Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, US and Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK

TUESDAY 29TH NOV: 6.30PM
OPENING NIGHT - The Climate Justice Convergence Centre welcomes all with a traditional ceremony lead by representatives of the Mohawk Nation of Kanawake. Food by People’s Potato with photo-exhibition, music, film and speakers.

WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV: 1-3PM
PANEL - Indigenous Youth, Climate Impacts and Solutions
Speakers: Wahleah Johns, Black Mesa Water Coalition (USA); Jennifer Duncan, Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance (Canada); Eddie Spears, Intertribal COUP (USA); Jihan Gearon, Climate Youth Corp – Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative (USA)

WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV: 4-6PM
BOOK LAUNCH - Trouble in the Air: Global Warming and the Privatized Atmosphere.

This joint publication of Centre for Civil Society in Durban and TNI explores the impacts of the carbon market in South Africa. Connecting energy privatization with issues around the enclosure of the atmosphere, this collection of essays gives a good grounding in the justice implications of the new carbon market. Speakers include writers in the book: Mpumelelo Mhlalisi & Muna Lahkhani, Earthlife Africa, Graham Erion, York University Law School and Larry Lohmann, The Corner House

WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV: 7.30-9.30PM
PANEL - Extraction, Pollution, Offsets, Hurricanes &Wars: Different Locations, Same Struggle - Part I: The climate is changing mainly because fossil carbon is being transferred from below ground to the atmosphere. Taking action means joining alliances against oil extraction, fossil fuel pollution, environmental racism and colonialism, oil wars, and carbon “offset” projects that threaten local livelihoods while licensing further extraction. Speakers: Charles Scheiner, LAOHAMUTUK, Timor-Leste, Ana Filipini, World Rainforest Movement, Uruguay, Asume Osuoka, Environmental Rights Action, Nigeria [tbc], Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network, US, Graham Erion, York University Law School, Canada, Daphne Wysham, Sustainable Energy and Economy Network, US, Wally Menne, Timberwatch, South Africa, Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK (moderator)

THURSDAY 1ST DEC: 1-3PM
PANEL - Indigenous Stories from the Struggle: Dialogue of Indigenous peoples from throughout the Americas, experiencing the links between oil and fossil fuel development, health, climate changes and Indigenous rights. Speakers: Faith Gemmill, REDOIL, Alaska (USA); Elaine Alexis, Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance Northwest Territories (Canada); Clayton Thomas-Muller, IEN (Canada); Indigenous Representative TBA, Oil Watch (South America)

THURSDAY 1ST DEC: 4-6PM
WORKSHOP - Forests and Climate Change - Why trading carbon credits from forests means more plantations not less deforestation: Carbon trading is often suggested as a way to finance forest conservation - or slow greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. Do the assumptions on which this approach is based, hold up? Why is it likely that carbon trading will fail to slow deforestation and lead to more monoculture plantations? Open discussion about the experiences with forest-related carbon 'offset' projects and the concerns about the carbon trading approach to forest protection. Speakers: Jutta Kill, FERN, UK Ana Filipini, World Rainforest Movement (Uruguay), Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, Wally Menne, TimberWatch (South Africa) Tom Goldtooth (IEN).

THURSDAY 1ST DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
FILM CLUB - Climate change impacts on the Pacific Islands: The film “Rising Waters- global warming and the fate of the Pacific Islanders” will be screened with the director to answer questions and a member of the Pacific Island community to speak. Speakers: Andrea Torrice (film director) and Pacific Islander tbc

FRIDAY 2ND DEC:10.30AM-12.30PM
PANEL - The lessons about pollution trading that Kyoto never learned from the US - Part II: The Kyoto Protocol is based on US pollution trading models. Did these models succeed? Were they just? Did they save money, clean up pollution quickly, or foster innovation or public participation? Can they be applied to global warming? Reviewing the failures is a prerequisite for finding a better way. Speakers: David M. Driesen, Angela R. Cooney Professor, Syracuse University College of Law, US, Dr. Michael K. Dorsey, Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, US, Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK, Jutta Kill, Sinks Watch, UK

FRIDAY 2ND DEC: 2-4PM
WORKSHOP - The World Bank, G8 & Climate Change: moving forward or backward? The World Bank has financed over $25 billion in fossil fuels since 1992, and is one of the largest carbon traders in the world. Other large banks like the IDB are following suit. Now the G8 have asked the World Bank to initiate a "new framework" on climate change. This workshop will give an
historical context for this latest challenge to climate stability, the problems with public fossil fuel and carbon trading projects, and ways you can take action to challenge it. Speakers: Daphne Wysham, IPS/SEEN, Nadia Martinez, IPS/SEEN, Asume Osuoka (TBC), Environmental Rights Action/FOE, Nigeria

FRIDAY 2ND DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
PANEL - Extraction, Pollution, Hurricanes, Offsets & Wars: Different Locations, Same Struggle - Part II: The climate is changing mainly because fossil carbon is being transferred from below ground to the atmosphere. Taking action means joining alliances against oil extraction, fossil fuel pollution, environmental racism and colonialism, oil wars, and carbon “offset” projects that threaten local livelihoods while licensing further extraction. Speakers: Arief Wicaksono, JATAM, Indonesia, Clayton Thomas-Muller, Indigenous Environmental Network, US, Norman Philip, Grangemouth community, Scotland, Jutta Kill, Sinks Watch (moderator), Lilliam Indira Marenco Leal, Oilwatch Mesoamerica, Nicaragua [tbc], Souparna Lahiri, Delhi Forum, India [tbc], Renodji Enoch Djimrabaye, RESAP, Chad [tbc], Fabian de Jesus Pacheco Rodriguez, Oilwatch Costa Rica [tbc], Jim Vallette, Sustainable Energy and Economy Network, US

SATURDAY 3RD DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
FILM CLUB - Video letters from the fenceline of the oil industry in Scotland: Community members living in Scotland with oil pollution on their doorstep learned how to use video and filmed their own stories of living on the fenceline of industry. These 5 minutes shorts will be followed by an opportunity to speak with one of the community members in person about their experiences. Speaker: Norman Philip, Scotland

SUNDAY 4TH DEC: 11-6PM
WORKSHOPS - Visions for the Movement: skills and tactics to be an effective climate activist. All emerging climate activists are invited to attend a day of essential hands-on trainings. Join Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network as he shares the lessons he’s learned fighting global warming for over four years. Then choose between eight workshops ranging from campaign strategy to direct action to climate justice. The best and the brightest will be in Montreal; don’t miss your chance to be trained by them! Lunch provided. Trainers hail from: Environmental Justice & Climate Change Initiative, Global Exchange, Greenpeace, National Environmental Trust, New Voters Project, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, SustainUS, Sierra Student
Coalition.

SUNDAY 4TH DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
PANEL - Visions from the Movement. What inspires you to fight global warming? Are you concerned with the issues of justice? Is it your moral responsibility? Are you excited by the grassroots mobilization efforts? Climate heroes from different aspects within the movement offer their unique and invaluable perspectives on what global warming means to them and how we can fight it. Speakers: Jerome Ringo, Chairman of the National Wildlife Federation; Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environment Network; Mike Tidwell, author and Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Interfaith Power and Light

MONDAY & TUESDAY 5 & 6TH DEC: ALL DAY FROM 9AM
ALTERNATIVE PEOPLE’S FORUM
Workshops by environmental justice activists and indigenous peoples groups. Topics include; Climate Justice Overview > Global Warming Solutions that ensure a Just Transition > Oil, Refineries, and Communities: Impacts and strategies for clean production > Indigenous Peoples Offer Viable Solutions to Reduce Carbon Emissions: Wind not War > The Global Warming Games > Climate Justice by and for the next generation > Lessons learned from Katrina and Rita > State and regional strategies for climate justice. Times to be confirmed. Organized by the Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative

MONDAY 5TH DEC: 2-4PM
PANEL - Who Says There are No Alternatives to the Kyoto Carbon Market? The History of an Insult: Today’s international climate negotiations revolve around building a global carbon market that has already proved to be both unworkable and unjust. The claim that “there is no alternative” insults both the wide-ranging and constructive work going on elsewhere and a centuries-long legacy of successful conservation and regulation of many kinds. Speakers: Ivonne Yanez, Oilwatch, Ecuador/Peru, Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK, Norman Philip, Grangemouth community, Scotland

TUESDAY 6TH DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
FILM CLUB - Nuclear power & climate change: The nuclear industry has recently reinvented itself as the solution to climate change with surprising support from environmentalists. This has invigorated a dying industry and much government action on climate change is centred around building new power plants. This film looks at the world trends towards liberalization of the nuclear industry and the discussion after looks at the connections with the climate debate. Speakers: Wendela de Vries (World Information Service on Energy, Netherlands) and Adam Ma’anit (editor New Internationalist magazine, UK).

WEDNESDAY 8TH DEC: 2-4PM
PANEL - GE Trees, Carbon offset plantations and global warming. Genetically engineered trees are being touted as part of way to solve global warming. Far from a miracle solution, however, genetically engineered trees have the potential to exacerbate global warming. The contamination of native forests with engineered traits will damaged these ecosystems, accelerating tree mortality. Additionally, plantations are rapidly replacing native forests, diminishing the carbon sequestering potential of the land. Global Justice Ecology Project and the STOP GE Trees Campaign will discuss the details of this flawed approach to addressing the climate crisis.Speakers: Anne Petermann (Global Justice Ecology Project, US) and STOP GE Trees Campaign


Contact: Heidi Bachram at heidi@carbontradewatch.org or Graham Erion at graham@erion.ca for more information.

Des efforts seront faits de fournir la traduction française quand necessaries

Forum on Governance in Africa

2005-11-24

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/30547

Since the 1980s, the African continent has been involved in major political, economic and social change processes (e.g. democratisation, withdrawal and decentralisation of the State, rise of civil society, etc.). At regional and sub-regional level, integration processes are taking place while the creation of the African Union (AU) reflects the determination to move forward in constructing an African citizenship and defining a new partnership with the rest of the world (amongst others through NEPAD). On the whole, populations aspire to more democracy, transparency, justice and room to develop their own initiatives. The Forum aims at constructing a Pan African alliance for change Both the African Union Commission and the Alliance for changing governance in Africa recognise that strategies aimed at transforming the way in which societies and public affairs are managed, will require a long-term perspective. This meeting of minds led to the decision to co-organise this Forum.
FORUM ON GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA
Co-organised by the Commission of African Union (CAU)
and the Alliance to lay new Foundations on governance in Africa
Addis-Ababa, from 24 to 26 November 2005

Context : Africa’s governance crisis

Since the 1980s, the African continent has been involved in major political, economic and social change processes (e.g. democratisation, withdrawal and decentralisation of the State, rise of civil society, etc.). At regional and sub-regional level, integration processes are taking place while the creation of the African Union (AU) reflects the determination to move forward in constructing an African citizenship and defining a new partnership with the rest of the world (amongst others through NEPAD). On the whole, populations aspire to more democracy, transparency, justice and room to develop their own initiatives.

Paradoxically, this slow yet real revival of Africa’s social conscience, manifested in a greater demand for democracy, has not been driven by a concomitant push for economic, political, social and cultural reforms. On the contrary, in many places the continent is caught in a negative spiral of poverty, insecurity and institutional instability. Africa is confronted with a governance crisis, reflected in the lack of legitimacy and effectiveness of its public institutions and their actions.
Governance presents itself as a key challenge for Africa’s future. Yet how can this cause effectively be advanced? It will be not be sufficient to enunciate new norms or produce action plans, based on solid analysis. Getting better governance in Africa will require profound changes in attitudes and aptitudes of the actors. This is a precondition for elaborating and implementing new forms of managing public affairs, based on values, references and principles that are known, recognised and agreed upon by all players in society.

The Forum aims at constructing a Pan African alliance for change
Both the African Union Commission and the Alliance for changing governance in Africa recognise that strategies aimed at transforming the way in which societies and public affairs are managed, will require a long-term perspective. This meeting of minds led to the decision to co-organise this Forum. From its creation, the African Union has promoted the vision of a « an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its people, a dynamic force in the world ». In this framework, the African Union Commission is involved in the development of common governance instruments, including a Convention to prevent and fight against corruption and above all, an African Chart on Governance. From its side, the “Alliance for changing governance in Africa” --an informal initiative born out of the work done in West and Central Africa by the Network for dialogue on governance in Africa since 1999 onwards-- seeks to connect African and non-African actors in a process of reflection and action on the topic of governance in Africa and on ways and means to change the management of societies and public affairs..
The aim of the Forum is to link the action of the African Union on governance with the numerous initiatives and innovating experiences that are being proposed and implemented by a variety of actors (e.g. state agencies, local governments, civil society, private sector, economic and social partners, regional organisations). The task at hand is to construct a pan African alliance for changing governance in Africa, under the political leadership of the African Union.

Objectives of the Forum: dialogue and action on governance
The Forum is conceived as the first step in the process of constructing this pan African alliance. In this perspective, it has defined four main objectives for the meeting:
• To identify the limits and structural bottlenecks for governance in Africa and agree upon priority actions needed to improve governance ;
• To develop a common platform of priority areas and specific actions ;
• To build commitment among African and non-African actors to support a new framework for dialogue and concerted action, in partnership with the AUC;
• To facilitate a better coordination and collaboration between partners and actors involved in the strengthening of governance in Africa.
Added value and expected results
Governance has been the subject of many debates, studies and conferences. Recently, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has done comprehensive work on the topic . The Forum wants to make the best possible use of this existing material so as to ensure a genuine added value compared to previous dialogue processes. This added value is seen to lie in four main areas (and expected results):
• Linking and promoting synergies between different categories of actors. A wide range of interesting and innovating initiatives are going on in Africa, yet these experiences are not always known, let alone properly linked to similar initiatives elsewhere. The Forum seeks to better articulate actors engaged in governance as well as promising initiatives from the five regions with a view to elaborate shared governance agendas.
• Priority focus on implementation. There is no shortage of reform plans related to governance. Yet their effective implementation tends to seriously lag behind. The Forum will focus on the profound reasons explaining this gap between policy and implementation. It will seek to identify promising dynamics as well as ‘drivers of change’ that may help to accelerate the implementation of new forms of governance.
• Launching a dialogue process over time. The Forum of Addis Ababa at the Africa\n Union (29-31 October) is not a self-standing, one-off exercise. It is the starting point of a process aimed at constructing a pan African alliance for effectively changing governance in Africa. An ongoing dialogue at different levels (local, national, regional), including with external partners, is key to reshaping and moving the governance agenda.
• Articulation with the action of the African Union. In order to make progress, it is also essential to ensure the political leadership from the AU. To this end, the Forum will seek to establish a close link with the AU’s Strategic Plan and with the programming and implementation of the Commission’s future governance programmes.

Human Rights, Development and Social Justice (HDS)

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/30439

Are you interested in studying rights-based approaches to development? Do you wish to deepen your understanding of the impact of globalisation on human rights and social justice in the world? The MA specialisation Human Rights, Development and Social Justice (4 September 2006 – 14 December 2007) of the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands, provides students with a broad understanding of the theoretical and practical links between human rights, development and social justice, through a multidisciplinary examination of keyissues in these areas. For more information, including downloadable application forms, check www.iss.nl or contact the ISS student office (studentoffice@iss.nl) or, for substantive questions, the HDS Convenor, Dr. Karin Arts (arts@iss.nl). The application deadlines are 15 January 2006 for those who after admission wish to apply to the Netherlands Fellowship Programme, and 1 July 2006 for others. ISS also offers a 7 weeks certificate course for experienced human rights activists: 'Development, Law and Social Justice' which is designed to promote experiential learning and academic reflection on human rights issues and activism.

Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and Development 2006

2005-11-22

http://cddrl.stanford.edu/summerfellows/

The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, California invites policy makers and activists from countries undergoing political, economic and social transitions to participate in its second annual summer fellows program on democracy, development, and the rule of law to be held July 31 - August 18, 2006 at Stanford University on its California campus.

World Health Organization 15th International Safe Communities Conference, Cape Town, 9 -11 April 2006

2005-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/30449

The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa has won the bid to organize and will host the prestigious WHO 15thInternational Safe Communities Conference in Cape Town 9-11 April 2006 at the CTICC, for the first time on the African Continent. This conference is community-based and will focus on creating Safety Networks within the local communities, and it is more than likely that Cape Town might qualify to become part of the WHO International Safe Communities Network.
World Health Organization 15th International Safe Communities Conference, Cape Town, 9 -11 April 2006

The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa has won the bid to organize and will host the prestigious WHO 15thInternational Safe Communities Conference in Cape Town 9-11 April 2006 at the CTICC, for the first time on the African Continent.

This conference is community-based and will focus on creating Safety Networks within the local communities, and it is more than likely that Cape Town might qualify to become part of the WHO International Safe Communities Network.

The utmost importance of safe communities has been recently highlighted with the tragedies that occurred for instance with the Tsunami in South East Asia, the floods in New Orleans and the earthquake in Kashmir.

Cape Town also has been shaken recently with a large number of accidents, injuries, deaths and disappearances, in particular of children.

The central theme of this conference will be focused around three topics:

1. Creating a Safe Community
2. Creating Safe Schools
3. Creating a Safe Home


Since the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa is hosting this conference the Organizing and Scientific Committee have decided to particular focus on poor children in the developing world, since they are the most vulnerable and numerous.

It is intended to launch a New Global Initiative focusing on “A safer community for children in low-income regions”.

The deadline for abstracts is 30 November 2005.

Web Address 15th ISCC Cape Town:
http://www.uct-cmc.co.za/conference/2006/safecom/info.php
Email: mcollin@curie.uct.ac.za

Burundi: Education Advisor

Concern Worldwide

2005-11-22

http://www.concern.net/

The purpose of the job is to lead and develop Concern’s Education programme in Cibitoke. This is a two year contract and the applicant must be fluent in French.

Namibia and Mozambique: Short-Term Consultancy - Culture, HIV/AIDS and Women's Rights

SAfAIDS

2005-11-22

http://www.safaids.org.zw

SAfAIDS offers a short-term consultancy in two Southern African Countries - Namibia and Mozambique. SAfAIDS has become increasingly convinced of the critical role of culture in influencing the direction and rate at which social change around gender equality and HIV/AIDS prevention and impact mitigation occurs in communities.

Somaliland: HIV/AIDS Youth Worker

2005-11-22

http://www.ciir.org

The HIV and AIDS Youth Worker will work alongside GAVO, a local NGO in Berbera, Somaliland, to assist in devising and developing an appropriate response to HIV and AIDS for youth.

Sudan: Reproductive Health Manager

The International Rescue Committee

2005-11-22

http://ircjobs.org

The International Rescue Committee currently seeks a Reproductive Health Manager for its Sudan program, based in North Darfur. The position is based in El Fasher with daily trips to IRC's primary and reproductive health programs in Abu Shouk and As Salaam internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps.

Demand trade justice for the world's poor

2005-11-25

http://whiteband.org/Actions/wto/sth.en/takeaction?o=gao

Do you want trade justice for the world's poor at the WTO in Hong Kong in December? Do you want millions of people to be given a chance to trade their way out of poverty? On the 13th December the World Trade Organisation will meet in Hong Kong. As representatives from around the world sit down they must take decisive steps to ensure that trade justice is delievered to the world's poorest people. As the developing world's representatives, the leaders of the following five alliances have it in their power to stand up to rich countries pressure and continue to press for trade justice. Write to them to tell them that they must act.

GCAP news from Hong Kong civil society

2005-11-25

http://hkpa.does.it/

Many trade unions and civil society organisations are making their voices heard as governments prepare to gather in Hong Kong for the 6th Ministerial meeting of the WTO this December. The ITF does this mainly through the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), as well as through the broader alliance with hundreds of other social organisations linked through the Global Call for Action against Poverty (GCAP). The WTO came into being in 1995, taking over from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was founded half a century earlier. It has 148 members and engineers increasing liberalisation of trade in both goods and services under the new framework of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). It also makes and enforces trade rules. Issues under discussion are dealt with through a complex set of councils, meetings and other bodies between ministerial meetings, which take place every two years.

Global: Decent work and respect for workers' rights key ingredients in the poverty-reduction recipe

2005-11-23

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/gcap/30499

A Commonwealth People's Forum Symposium on the Global Call to Action Against Poverty today (November 22) called on Commonwealth governments to take decisive action to place job creation and decent work at the heart of
their poverty-reduction agenda.
A Commonwealth People's Forum Symposium on the Global Call to Action
Against Poverty today (November 22) called on Commonwealth governments to take decisive action to place job creation and decent work at the heart of
their poverty-reduction agenda.

Meeting just days ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,
scheduled to take place between November 25 and 27, the symposium
focused on the importance of ensuring transparent governance and respect
for human rights in achieving the UN's Millennium Development goals.

"Achieving economic prosperity means investing in people. And this,
first and foremost, means respecting fundamental human rights, amongst
them, workers' rights," Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ICFTU) said today.

"With major trade union rights violations occurring in countries such as
Nigeria, Swaziland, Nepal and Uganda, it is more urgent now than ever
for CHOGM to take the lead and establish a timeline for ensuring that
its members have ratified all core ILO conventions by 2010. The citizens
of Commonwealth countries deserve nothing less than freedom from slavery
and child labour and freedom of association, as a minimum," he
continued.

"Without these basic rights, the shackles of poverty will keep millions
of Commonwealth citizens without a hope of a decent education, job or
health system."

The symposium called on CHOGM to establish a tri-partite annual forum of
Commonwealth Labour Ministers which would engage citizens through their
democratically elected trade unions, along with employers, in dialogue
surrounding the challenges posed by globalization and the changes it
brings.

"The many challenges that commonwealth countries face, from HIV/AIDS
through to corruption and conflict must be met by a determination on
behalf of these governments to act. It is only by linking aid,
investment, good governance, the creation of decent jobs, reduced arms
spending and the fight against corruption that these challenges can be
meaningfully met," Ryder concluded.

Sponsored by the ICFTU's Commonwealth Trade Union Group (CTUG) the forum
heard from representatives of Maltese trade unions and civil society
organisations.

The CTUG represents over 30 million workers throughout the Commonwealth.

The ICFTU is a founding partner of the Global Call to Action against
Poverty, the world's largest ever campaign for poverty eradication.

http://www.icftu.org

Sugar reform in the common agricultural policy

2005-11-25

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/gcap/30556

At the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 22-24th November, Ministers from the 25 EU member states will decide on the future of the current EU sugar regime that is due to expire in 2006. Before the 25 Ministers is a proposal from the Commission outlining their proposed changes to the regime. In summary the main changes are:
* The EU internal (intervention) price will be cut by 39% over two years (2006-2008);
* 'Compensation' will be given to developing countries affected by loss of preferences within the EU sugar market. Currently the Commission proposes that the level of compensation would only be EUR40 million in the first year (no figures are provided for following years).
Media Briefing ActionAid International

For immediate release: Monday 21st November

News hook: EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 22-24th November

SUGAR REFORM IN THE COMMON AGRICULTURE POLICY-


A DEVELOPMENT TEST FOR THE EU PRIOR TO THE WTO HONG KONG MINISTERIAL

"Sugar production is critical to many farmers in the developing world but the European Commission's proposals would undermine the industry in many countries. The EU should be adopting policies in both the Common Agricultural Policy and at the WTO that deliver development and eradicates poverty".

Angela Wauye, Trade Policy Analyst , ActionAid Kenya

At the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 22-24th November, Ministers from the 25 EU member states will decide on the future of the current EU sugar regime that is due to expire in 2006. Before the 25 Ministers is a proposal from the Commission outlining their proposed changes to the regime. In summary the main changes are:



* The EU internal (intervention) price will be cut by 39% over two years (2006-2008);
* 'Compensation' will be given to developing countries affected by loss of preferences within the EU sugar market. Currently the Commission proposes that the level of compensation would only be EUR40 million in the first year (no figures are provided for following years)

ActionAid is critical of the proposals for the following main reasons:



* The internal (intervention) price is important because of preferential access to the EU sugar market for LDCs and some ACP countries. They currently get the higher internal price when they sell it into the EU. This price is due to fall quickly (ie in two years) making the sugar industry in some of these developing countries uncompetitive. At a final intervention price of EUR385.5/tonne, using European Commission figures, ActionAid anticipates that the following countries may well cease selling into the EU (or even cease production altogether), for example, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Jamaica, Madagascar, Burkino Faso, Tanzania, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritius, Cuba, Congo Brazzaville and Guyana. Some countries, such as Malawi, Senegal, Swaziland, Belize, India and Fiji, are likely to struggle.

The internal (intervention) price cut is thus too fast and too deep. ActionAid recognises that the EU sugar regime needs to change but a real development test for the European Union is to reduce and minimise the developmental impacts overseas. Price cuts should be imposed more gradually and be less severe.



* A restructuring fund of EUR4.2 billion over four years has been set aside for use within the EU to lure less competitive producers to leave the industry, compensate for closure and provide funds for affected areas. In contrast, just EUR40 million has been set aside in the first year to assist with adjustment costs in developing countries - for example to enable uncompetitive sugar producing countries to diversify. No sum has been committed yet for following years. The EU Development Commissioner has already accepted that this would not be enough. ActionAid would concur with this view estimating that the total costs of adjustment will run into billions of euros (total losses in export earnings alone from a 39% price cut would be up to EUR300 million a year.) The European Commission should come forward with a remunerative package that goes well beyond covering the costs of adjustment to developing countries.



* The EU has an obligation to come forward with an end date for export subsidies as part of the Doha WTO Round. Sugar exports are a major recipient of these subsidies. As a development test, the EU should come forward with an early and specific end date for these subsidies as part of any change to the EU sugar regime. Cost savings from the elimination of export subsidies should be ring fenced to pay for the remunerative package.

ends

For more information and to set up interviews with ActionAid representatives, please contact:

Alexandre Polack, in Brussels, tel:+ 32 (0) 4 73 86 18 92, alexandre.polack@actionaid.org mailto:alexandre.polack@actionaid.org

White Band Day 3: What we are Doing and Why?

2005-11-25

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/gcap/30554

The first two white band days, and two of the three major international political opportunities for the Global Call to Action against Poverty are over. Our attention now turns to the WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December, and to the run-up to that vital meeting. More than 30 million people have taken an action for GCAP in 2005 – whether that is from signing a petition, taking part in a rally, or wearing a white band. GCAP has shown that it can mobilise large numbers of people, in solidarity for our call to end poverty. We may not have won all the political decisions we had hoped for this year but we have made real progress. There is genuine political and civil momentum behind the call to end poverty. Ahead of major World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in December we must increase the pressure to make trade justice a reality.

White Band Day 3: What we are Doing and Why?

The first two white band days, and two of the three major international political opportunities for the Global Call to Action against Poverty are over. Our attention now turns to the WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December, and to the run-up to that vital meeting.

More than 30 million people have taken an action for GCAP in 2005 – whether that is from signing a petition, taking part in a rally, or wearing a white band. GCAP has shown that it can mobilise large numbers of people, in solidarity for our call to end poverty. We may not have won all the political decisions we had hoped for this year but we have made real progress. There is genuine political and civil momentum behind the call to end poverty.

Ahead of major World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in December we must increase the pressure to make trade justice a reality. Trade has the potential to lift millions out of poverty, but the rules that currently govern international trade have become the vehicle for the indiscriminate liberalisation of developing country economies and the imposition of harmful conditions. Instead of supporting sustainable development, poverty eradication and gender equity, world trade rules currently rob poor countries of $2.3 billion a day – 14 times what they get in aid. Changes in international trade could dramatically improve the lives of millions of the world’s poorest women and men.

Between now and the end of the year we must capitalise on the momentum GCAP has already generated and build on it further to ensure that we are putting a spotlight on trade injustice. We must show our strength and act in solidarity to demonstrate that we want trade rules and policies that ensure the right of developing countries to pursue their own development agendas, putting their people’s interests first.

This mobilisation guide gives an overview of the agreed actions and messages around White Band Day 3, discussed by the International Facilitation Group Meetings in Bangkok (July) and New York (September) and further elaborated upon by the GCAP Mobilisation groups. Of course, national coalitions will undertake their own events and actions, with their own messaging, but if we unite and speak with one voice, we can make a powerful impact and force leaders to take action before it is too late.

It is worth noting that many NGO’s already have active lobby and campaign strategies on trade and while their overall objectives are similar, they may have different views and positions on the current WTO-process. GCAP’s added value is through our capacity to mobilise large numbers of people to: demonstrate that millions around the world care about trade injustice; add additional pressure on politicians; to raise Southern voices on trade and to give a ‘human face’ to trade issues in the media.

GCAP messages the for WTO Meeting

At an international level, we will demand that rich countries and international institutions change trade rules to end trade injustice. We will press for Southern countries to stand up for the concerns of the world’s poor and not to compromise and accept less than trade justice in Hong Kong. We will demand that all developing countries are unified in their call for the right to determine their own trade policies and to choose for themselves how best to tackle poverty.

The slogan for GCAP actions for White Band Day 3 is “Spotlight on Trade Injustice”. Using a globally cohesive slogan, backed by joint actions, is a great way to show our unity and to demonstrate that GCAP is shining a spotlight on issues of trade and demanding that leaders deliver us trade justice in Hong Kong.

National campaigns are then encouraged to choose one of the following demands / slogans below to complement the theme:

- End Poverty Now!
- Trade Justice not Free Trade!
- Trade Justice or No Deal in Hong Kong!
- No Forced Liberalisation!
These are meant to act as a broad framework to unite GCAP coalitions: it is up to each national coalition to work on the slogans and combinations of messages to suit their own national context, but it is hoped that by speaking together our voice becomes more powerful.
During White Band Day 3, GCAP will focus on using the policy messaging from the Johannesburg Declaration – this is the policy platform adopted during the founding meeting of GCAP. Many organisations and national campaigns will have developed their own detailed policy messages, but for our coordinated GCAP efforts the Johannesburg document is the basis for our policy messaging. Please see Appendix A for a copy of the Johannesburg Declaration on trade issues.


White Band Day 3: Globally coordinated national actions

The suggested globally coordinated actions for GCAP national coalitions are intended to act as a broad guide for groups to incorporate into pre-existing plans for White Band Day 3 and to adapt to suit their local and national context – but please remember that when we unite in joint initiatives we are much more powerful.

We must act together to show the strength of public feeling against the current state of the WTO negotiations and other trade agreements. Through our actions we will demonstrate that we are putting the spotlight on trade injustice and that the world is watching - now is the time to deliver trade justice.
GCAP can play a vital mobilising and media role in the run-up to, and during, the WTO meeting. Our amazing strength lies in the ability of GCAP to mobilise and inspire millions of people across the globe to take action. In so doing, we can add our voice to the already massive movement calling for trade justice.
At this crucial time, it is also vital that we ensure we work together with trade activists, to strengthen all of our efforts to bring about trade justice. Many trade groups may already be planning things around the WTO meetings. Your coalition probably already includes the trade groups in your country and is already linked into, and synergising efforts with, regional trade groups and networks. However, in case you still want to find out more about regional / national trade activities, email trade@whiteband.org

Spotlight on Trade Injustice

During White Band Day 3, on 10 December, GCAP will be putting the ‘Spotlight on Trade Injustice’. 10 December is a critical day for reminding decision makers about their commitments, their failures to take bold enough steps so far this year, and the vital importance of their role in the Hong Kong ministerial, which starts three days later. It is also a moment for celebrating the strength of the GCAP coalition, the huge number of actions that have been taken, and the positive steps that have been taken by decision makers this year.

GCAP will be holding ‘spotlight’ mobilisations in as many countries as possible – showing that we are shining a spotlight on trade issues, on the governments and on the delegates. This will include candlelit vigils and marches, stunts with white bands beamed on buildings and monuments, torch events and more.

There are three broad areas of action under the ‘Spotlight on Trade Injustice’ actions:

1. ‘Spotlight on Trade Injustice’ Rallies, demos and marches
‘Spotlight on Trade Injustice’ events could take a number of forms, for example: a march or rally to Parliament Buildings followed by an all-night vigil, or surrounding parliament buildings in a large white band of light or shining a huge spotlight onto an important building or during the rally.
• Torch or candlelit rallies and marches: if you are holding a rally or march, try to target government buildings, holding flashlights, candles, lanterns or spotlights – as well as signs that demonstrate that we are spotlighting issues of trade injustice.
• All night candlelit / torchlight vigil: An all night candlelit vigil outside government buildings that ends in the morning with a big symbolic Spotlight on Trade Injustice action – perhaps with a march or festival, or with all the people attending shining torches onto a sign for trade justice
• Festival of light: You may feel that a more celebratory tone suits the mood in your country – perhaps you would like to focus more on what has already been achieved by GCAP this year – but with a reminder of the need for trade justice. If so, why not have a massive carnival, jamboree or festival of light.

2. Spotlight on Trade Injustice Lobby actions
Lobby actions taking place between now and White Band Day 3 are vital to build momentum and to really have an impact on the WTO negotiations. Try to organise lobby meetings with your delegation, or to undertake lobbying of your legislatures. Those involved in trade negotiations will generally be the Minister of Trade, Minister of Finance, Prime Minister or President. Parliamentarians can also indirectly place significant pressure on government ministers, as can opposition parties. If you can’t lobby all parliamentarians why not focus on those involved in the trade committee, those with an interest in trade and those in key positions in the opposition?

• Face-to-face meetings: Try to organize face-to-face meetings with people involved in trade negotiations within your country.

• Mass Lobbies: Many trade justice groups are already planning mass lobbies in a number of countries and GCAP is supporting these lobbies. These mass lobbies aim to simultaneously lobby as many parliamentarians, by as many activists on one day. To find out more about these mass lobbies, and to see if anything is happening in your country visit: www.globalmasslobby.org .A number of lobby actions have already been planned around this, in particular there are plans for a mass lobby in Brussels on 21 November.
• Hand-over of petitions / testimonies: Get as many people as possible to sign a petition or place their thumbprints onto a massive petition or white sheet. Hand this over to your government along with a set of national demands.
• Embassy actions: Embassy actions or letter writing could also be undertaken, focusing on key negotiating governments. More details and ideas on targeting key countries will follow in the GCAP Lobby Pack.
• Support GCAP’s email action: GCAP is also organising an e-action – focused on key negotiating targets to ensure they take the right measures between now and Hong Kong. The e-action is aimed at supporting GCAPs lobby work; calling for developing countries not to compromise and accept less than trade justice in Hong Kong, while also targeting key rich countries to change trade rules to end trade injustice. There will be two versions of the e-action:
1. The first one will support our call to Southern countries and will target key Southern alliances – such as representatives of the G20, G33 and African Union.
2. The second e-action will be targeted at the EU trade representative (the GCAP EU e-action will also be mirrored by a US targeted e-action, from the US GCAP coalition).

To find out more about the e-action, or to take the action please visit the GCAP website at www.whiteband.org and follow the links to the email action.

Please encourage as many of your national coalition members to disseminate the e-action as widely as possible, by posting on websites, advertising through your networks and taking the actions themselves.

Supporting lobby materials
The GCAP Lobby and Policy Sub-Group will be producing lobby support materials for use by GCAP coalitions. This will include a lobby pack, which outlines GCAP’s positions, as well as including lobby letter templates for adaptation by GCAP national coalitions.
To find out more about your delegation or to request lobby materials please email: trade@whiteband.org

3. Spotlight on Trade Injustice Media Work

While a wide range of individual NGO’s - many of which are part of GCAP - are targeting their media with policy messages, GCAP’s added value will be in giving a voice to those in the South and to the millions of people in the North who DO care and thus ‘humanizing’ trade issues. In this way, GCAP can further establish itself as the world’s largest ever anti-poverty campaign and to allow voices from the South and supporters in the North to be heard through media coverage.

Holding stunts or getting high-profile personalities involved, such as, religious leaders, actors, sports stars etc could generate additional media coverage. Get someone who has been directly affected by poverty to tell his or her story.

• Putting the Spotlight on Trade Justice media stunt: There are a number of possible exciting media stunts that could be adapted to fit in with the theme of Spotlight on Trade Injustice. For example, you could shine a spotlight with the letters ‘trade injustice’ or a symbol related to your campaign onto prominent buildings / landmarks or into the sky. Alternatively, you could have large ‘Trade Injustice/Justice’ letters made and shine a spotlight onto these for an amazing photo opportunity. GCAP is planning to hold a linked ‘spotlight’ media stunt in Hong Kong just before the WTO meeting beginnings (please see the ‘Global WTO based actions’ section below for more details on this). If you are holding a media stunt or photo opportunity try to make sure that you follow it up with a press conference or media briefing to outline the trade issues GCAP is putting a spotlight onto.

• Spotlight press conferences: Try to organise a press conference to brief the press on the issues we are shining a spotlight on. Brief the press on your national trade demands, on the White Band Day 3 global mobilizations and the global call to for rich countries to take action to end unjust trade rules, as well as our call for Southern governments to stand unified in upholding the needs of poor people. Try to ensure that you have authoritative voices speaking on trade issues but also try to ensure, where possible and appropriate, that you include the voices of poor people affected by trade injustice.


4. Additional ‘Dates for the Diary’
The WTO Meeting falls close to as well as on a number of other significant dates, including: 1 December, World AIDS Day and 10 December, International Human Rights Day. Our work should serve to compliment these pre-existing dates and show solidarity for actions that may already be planned to a mark these events.

In particular, a number of GCAP coalitions will be taking part in the Lesson for Life, organised by the Global Movement for Children on 1 December 2005. The 'lesson' on children, HIV, AIDS will take place simultaneously around the world. During the Lesson for Life, children will be learning about and planning how to take action in their communities on HIV/AIDS and children's rights. The theme of the campaign in some countries is 'treatment for all', linking HIV/AIDS to trade issues. An estimated 4 million children are so far taking part. If you're interested in introducing children to GCAP, and bringing children's rights organisations into your coalition, contact us to find out how to get involved. Email the Global Movement for Children at hivaids@gmfc.org or check out the contact details of more than 50 countries here: www.gmfc.org/index.php/gmc6/content/view/full/642


GCAP Actions Planned During the WTO Ministerial

As well as national level mobilisations taking place on White Band Day 3, a number of GCAP global events are also planned to take place, in Hong Kong, around the WTO meeting. These will link into the ‘spotlight’ theme for White Band Day 3.

However, GCAP will be mindful not to crowd out the pre-existing plans of many civil society groups in Hong Kong and will focus on one or two key GCAP ‘moments’ as well as raising the voices of the South. In addition, we will be giving our support to a number of groups already planning actions in Hong Kong.

GCAP will also ensure that Southern representatives are given the opportunity to speak out on trade issues in Hong Kong, particularly in media work.

If you want to find out more on plans for WTO, Hong Kong mobilisations, please email: trade@whiteband.org

Please tell us about your White Band Day 3 plans

It is really useful for us to know as much as possible about plans around the world. Please do email your plans to info@whiteband.org Emailing your plans will also ensure that your plans are included in international media work, as well as in newsletters and other communications. When emailing your country plans try to include the contact details of one media person and one general contact for your country coalition.

Also, don’t forget to email your pictures from events to the above email, as well as the GCAP website.


Appendix A: The Johannesburg Declaration on Trade

We want trade rules and policies that ensure the right of developing countries to pursue their own development agendas, putting their people’s interests first.

We call on the WTO, international financial institutions and national governments to:

? Enact measures to protect public services from enforced liberalization and privatisation, secure the right to food and affordable access to essential drugs, and strengthen corporate accountability.
? Increase accountability and transparency of governments and international organisations to their grassroots constituencies in the formulation of international trade rules and national trade policies, while ensuring consistency of trade policies with respect for workers’ rights, and human rights more broadly.
? Immediately end dumping and rich country subsidies that keep people in poverty.

Fahamu