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ANTI TERROR LEGISLATION AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

Rotimi Sankore

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/4520

The surprisingly quick collapse of the Taliban over the past month has seriously embarrassed Western political commentators, military analysts, ex-Russian soldiers defeated by the Mojahedin and the Taliban who were all united in their warnings of tough battles ahead and about Afghanistan being "the graveyard of foreign invaders."

Three key factors contributed to the retreat of the Taliban and the victories of the Northern Alliance. Firstly and most importantly, the end of the cold war meant that the US Air Force had a free hand to utilise superior air power to its full advantage and drop almost everything except tactical nuclear weapons on the Taliban. The second and no less important factor contributing to the collapse of the Taliban, is the fact that most Afghans had suffered enough of Taliban extremism. Imprisonments and punishments for listening to non Taliban music or watching television, no cinemas, no libraries, no schools or jobs especially for women, forced growing of long beards for men, dehumanisation of women, arbitrary executions and sustained human rights violations have all exhausted the Taliban's political capital. The third factor, which the Taliban did not at all consider was that the US government, would by pass the public relations tragedy of engaging the Taliban directly with American troops. By utilising the Northern Alliance as a first wave following the massive bombing campaign, the US military was able to sidestep the most potentially potent weapon of the Taliban – the sight of US troops on international news attacking and occupying a Moslem country.

This means that unlike during the Soviet invasion when the US government supported the Afghan and Arab fighters with over $300m a year over ten years and CIA and military training, the Taliban have nowhere to turn to for support. Even Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that had previously provided financial and strategic support have now turned against them leaving them isolated. Putin’s co-operation is not without benefits. The US government attacks on Afghanistan, has done the dirty work for the Russian government of destroying the training bases of Chechen separatists. Putin also has a "free hand" to crush Chechen rebels and other internal dissent without worrying about any serious Western objections.

It is not only in Chechnya that human rights have been sacrificed in order to build and sustain the "anti-terror coalition". As regards rights violations, the major difference between the Saudi regime and the Taliban is GDP and Per Capita Income. In Pakistan the fact that General Musharraf heads a military regime that ousted an elected government has been buried by the "strategic" need to win over the Pakistani government. Musharraf in turn has opportunistically become "civilised" and sacrificed his Taliban friends for Western support, which will bolster his consolidation of power. It is almost impossible to believe that this is a regime that was only recently suspended from the Commonwealth. In China, Chinese Foreign ministry officials have linked "Chinese support for the global campaign against terrorism to US support for China's campaign against those advocating independence for Tibet and the Muslim province of Xinjiang."

The new wave of anti-terror legislation across the world threatens to undermine democracy especially in Africa where in the past, proxy wars resulting from cold war rivalry between the "East and West" led to full support and recognition of all sorts of dictatorships for decades. Now it appears that all any corrupt, undemocratic or insecure government needs to do to ensure the support of the "West" is to sign up to the anti-terror war and introduce "anti-terrorist" legislation which is sure to be used to suppress or undermine democratic opposition and humans rights. At best, even if not put to immediate use against civil society, such laws are likely to be a sword of Damocles dangling over the neck of anyone overly keen on exercising democratic rights even in the most peaceful and law abiding way possible.

For instance, journalists, lawyers, trade unionists and human rights organisations in Nigeria are alarmed at recent statements by representatives of the Nigerian Police about "the need to revive" the Anti-Terrorist Squad set up by the late dictator General Sanni Abacha. In all its years of existence, not a single terrorist was arrested or prosecuted. Instead, it was used to terrorise the media, human rights community, the pro-democracy movement and other real and imagined enemies.

In Uganda, critics of the government have stated that "the Anti-terrorism Bill seeks to lower the standard of proof on which one can be held and convicted on a terrorism charge. If passed in the present form, the Minister of Internal Affairs will be given powers to add any organization to the terrorist list. By the stroke of a pen, the minister can add all opposition parties to the terrorist list, and its leaders will be rounded up and thrown in jail" In South Africa, the government is currently preparing a terrorism bill to comply with calls for a clampdown on terrorism in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States. The bill, which was originally drafted to replace the draconian apartheid anti-terror act, which was used to suppress opposition to white minority rule, may now be fast tracked and become law by mid 2002. Many South Africans are alarmed that the proposed bill contains clauses, which allows for detention without trial for interrogation purposes. The recent memories of Apartheid and the persecution of "freedom fighters" as terrorists means that in South Africa at least any anti terror laws are likely to meet stiff resistance if they are perceived as anti democratic. Many lawyers have stated that they would oppose "any detention for the purpose of interrogation."

In countries such as Zimbabwe where regardless of any merits for the argument for land distribution, Robert Mugabe has wielded the entire matter like a cudgel against all opposition, any accusations of terrorism are sure to be accompanied by very severe repercussions. For instance, the Zimbabwean government has recently accused journalists of being "agents of terrorism" which is no small misdemeanour considering the local political climate.

This trend will no doubt be spurred on by the introduction of anti-terrorist legislation in the US, UK Italy and other Western countries which more or less give governments "dictatorial" powers to detain people [foreigners or not] indefinitely on mere suspicion and without charge or any publicly stated reason. In some cases, even the detained persons will not be told of the reasons for their detention and if charged, will have lawyers chosen for them or be tried by military tribunals. The well publicised statements of the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi likening anti-globalisation protesters to terrorists or boasting about the alleged superiority of western civilisation over other civilisations will not comfort those that fear these laws will be abused.

Considering, that the United States government is likely to push for African governments to "demonstrate full commitment to tackling evil" and "make it impossible for terrorists to operate within their borders", it is no exaggeration to caution that democracy on the African continent may be in for a rough ride. The number of Muslims in countries in Africa and Asia that indicated their opposition to the attacks on Afghanistan on religious grounds will not have escaped the attention of the US government and such counties in particular may come under pressure to "act swiftly against terrorists." As can be seen with the case of Pakistan, the terrorist atrocities in the US has been clearly seized as an opportunity for an undemocratic government to reintegrate itself into the respectable ranks of "the international community" and address the United Nations General Assembly after being suspended from the Commonwealth.

No matter how unpopular it may seem, the point must be made that it will be a serious mistake to sacrifice democracy in Africa on the altar of "eradicating Bin Laden and Al Queda". The ‘rise’ of the likes of Saddam and Bin Laden also shows clearly that short 'termism' in foreign policy is to put it crudely "a ticking bomb." The only way to defeat and keep terrorism and its sympathisers out of Africa and by doing so reducing their potential bases, is to ensure more, not less democracy. Africans must make it clear, that while they condemn terrorism, the fight against it cannot be used as an excuse to create more Mobutu’s on the continent. The tragedy of these latest developments, is that by introducing legislation in their countries which before September 11 would have been unthinkable, the governments of the US, UK other Western countries may have robbed themselves of the moral right to speak up when similar laws are introduced and used to undermine democracy in Africa and strengthen governments which may in the long run turn out to be eventual enemies of "civilised values."

*The above is an excerpt from an article on "The Anti-Terrorism Campaign Democracy and Human Rights" For full article click on the link below.

Rotimi Sankore is a Human Rights Campaigner and Journalist with a keen interest in Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights.
THE ANTI TERRORISM CAMPAIGN
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
BY ROTIMI SANKORE

The surprisingly quick collapse of the Taliban over the past month has seriously embarrassed Western political commentators, military analysts, ex-Russian soldiers defeated by the Mojahedin and the Taliban who were all united in their warnings of tough battles ahead and about Afghanistan being “the graveyard of foreign invaders.”

Three key factors contributed to the retreat of the Taliban and the victories of the Northern Alliance. Firstly and most importantly, the end of the cold war meant that the US Air Force had a free hand to utilise superior air power to its full advantage and drop almost everything except tactical nuclear weapons on the Taliban. In the days of the cold war, the US Army, Navy or Air Force could never have moved into any country or territory bordering the Soviet Union without risking a serious military confrontation, and plunging the world into potential nuclear annihilation. All this is underlined by the fact that while Kabul fell, Russian President Putin was a guest of President Bush in Texas. The circumstances were so unreal to many Americans that President Bush found it necessary to repeatedly explain to confounded Texans fed on cold war propaganda by Ronald Regan and Bush Senior amongst others that Russia was no longer the “evil empire.” That role he implied has now been taken over by Osama bin Laden and Al Queda. Putin, the former KGB Colonel obliged by playing along and informing sceptical Texans that “they” had always known in Russia that “Texas” not Washington “is the most important place in America.”

This means that unlike during the Soviet invasion when the US government supported the Afghan and Arab fighters with over $300m a year over ten years and CIA and military training, the Taliban have nowhere to turn to for support. Even Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that had previously provided financial and strategic support have now turned against them leaving them isolated.

Putin’s co-operation is not without benefits. The US government attacks on Afghanistan, has done the dirty work for the Russian government of destroying the training bases of Chechen separatists. Putin also has a “free hand” to crush Chechen rebels and other internal dissent without worrying about any serious Western objections.

The second and no less important factor contributing to the collapse of the Taliban, is the fact that most Afghans had suffered enough of Taliban extremism. Imprisonments and punishments for listening to non Taliban music or watching television, no cinemas, no libraries, no schools or jobs especially for women, forced growing of long beards for men, dehumanisation of women, arbitrary executions and sustained human rights violations have all exhausted the Taliban’s political capital. All governments based on fear and intimidation loose their moral authority and will sooner or later become overripe fruits ready to fall at the slightest gust of wind. Twenty years of war and drought that had already created a refugee crisis even before September 11 also meant that millions starving to death welcomed any change even if it is the Northern Alliance that massacred an estimated fifty thousand civilians during its four year rule which was characterised by factional fighting and was ended by the Taliban. At the time, the Taliban were also similarly welcomed as “liberators.”

The third factor, which the Taliban did not at all consider was that the US government, would by pass the public relations tragedy of engaging the Taliban directly with American troops. By utilising the Northern Alliance as a first wave following the massive bombing campaign, the US military was able to sidestep the most potentially potent weapon of the Taliban – the sight of US troops on international news attacking and occupying a Moslem country. If this had happened, not only would it have generated massive protests which would have destabilised the mostly undemocratic governments of the middle east, any serious American casualties would have also strengthened the anti-war movement in the US and Europe.

The second and third factors have made it easier for some key local warlords to switch sides without blinking and transfer loyalties from the Taliban to the Northern Alliance overnight.

THE UNDECLARED WARS ON HUMAN RIGHTS

It is not only in Chechnya that human rights have been sacrificed in order to build and sustain the “anti-terror coalition”. As regards rights violations, the major difference between the Saudi regime and the Taliban is GDP and Per Capita Income. For instance, although Saudi women are better educated than Taliban women, they are still subject to similar level of restrictions and are segregated in public institutions such as banks, schools and restaurants and are not permitted to drive. Also, every Friday, “convicted criminals” are beheaded and amputated in what has been described by some publications as “Chop Chop Square”. Alleged vices of western materialism such as cinemas are banned and the religious police roam the streets searching for offenders just as in Afghanistan. More importantly, democratic opposition to the Saudi ruling family’s autocratic rule is virtually a criminal offence. But as a Western ally, the fact that no elections are held and that democratic opposition is not tolerated does not attract Western condemnation, just as human rights violations in Afghanistan were condoned when the Taliban and Mujahedin where on the ‘right’ side of the cold war.

In Pakistan the fact that General Musharraf heads a military regime that ousted an elected government has been buried by the ‘strategic’ need to win over the Pakistani government. Musharraf in turn has opportunistically become “civilised” and sacrificed his Taliban friends for Western support, which will bolster his consolidation of power. It is almost impossible to believe that this is a regime that was only recently suspended from the Commonwealth. Tony Blair and Colin Powell’s visits to Pakistan, and Powell’s talk of “strengthening relationships” and “long term cooperation” all but restore credibility and recognition to the regime. There is little doubt that in the short and long term, any democratic opposition to Musharraf will be ruthlessly crushed in the “war against terrorism” and will be sacrificed by the “international community” as the regimes reward. If this happens, what will be the long-term implications for democracy, and how the UK and US governments are perceived by civil society in Pakistan? Muslim fundamentalists will no doubt again tap into any resentment of apparent western support for a military dictatorship.

In China, Chinese Foreign ministry officials have linked “Chinese support for the global campaign against terrorism to US support for China's campaign against those advocating independence for Tibet and the Muslim province of Xinjiang.” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao has been quoted as stating, "The United States has asked China to provide assistance against terrorism. China, by the same token, has reasons to ask the United States to give its support and understanding in the fight against terrorism and separatists." President Bush’s surprise visit to China which was unthinkable prior to September 11, appears to provide this ‘understanding’. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have for a while now been highlighting the Chinese government campaign called "Strike Hard," aimed at people suspected of supporting independence in these two ethnic minority regions. The campaign has led to many arbitrary arrests and summary executions, with little or no due process.


ANTI TERROR LEGISLATION AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

The new wave of anti-terror legislation across the world threatens to undermine democracy especially in Africa where in the past, proxy wars resulting from cold war rivalry between the “East and West” led to full support and recognition of all sorts of dictatorships for decades. Now it appears that all any corrupt, undemocratic or insecure government needs to do to ensure the support of the “West” is to sign up to the anti-terror war and introduce “anti-terrorist” legislation which is sure to be used to suppress or undermine democratic opposition and humans rights. At best, even if not put to immediate use against civil society, such laws are likely to be a sword of Damocles dangling over the neck of anyone overly keen on exercising democratic rights even in the most peaceful and law abiding way possible.

For instance, journalists, lawyers, trade unionists and human rights organisations in Nigeria are alarmed at recent statements by representatives of the Nigerian Police about “the need to revive” the Anti Terrorist Squad set up by the late dictator General Sanni Abacha. In all its years of existence, not a single terrorist was arrested or prosecuted. Instead, it was used to terrorise the media, human rights community, the pro democracy movement and other real and imagined enemies.

In Uganda, critics of the government have stated that “the Anti-terrorism Bill seeks to lower the standard of proof on which one can be held and convicted on a terrorism charge. If passed in the present form, the Minister of Internal Affairs will be given powers to add any organization to the terrorist list. By the stroke of a pen, the minister can add all opposition parties to the terrorist list, and its leaders will be rounded up and thrown in jail”
In South Africa, the government is currently preparing a terrorism bill to comply with calls for a clampdown on terrorism in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States. The bill, which was originally drafted to replace the draconian apartheid anti-terror act, which was used to suppress opposition to white minority rule, may now be fast tracked and become law by mid 2002. Many South Africans are alarmed that the proposed bill contains clauses, which allows for detention without trial for interrogation purposes. The recent memories of Apartheid and the persecution of “freedom fighters” as terrorists means that in South Africa at least any anti terror laws are likely to meet stiff resistance if they are perceived as anti democratic. Many lawyers have stated that they would oppose “any detention for the purpose of interrogation."
In countries such as Zimbabwe where regardless of any merits for the argument for land distribution, Robert Mugabe has wielded the entire matter like a cudgel against all opposition, any accusations of terrorism are sure to be accompanied by very severe repercussions. For instance, the Zimbabwean government has recently accused journalists of being “agents of terrorism” which is no small misdemeanour considering the local political climate.
This trend will no doubt be spurred on by the introduction of anti-terrorist legislation in the US, UK, Italy and other Western countries which more or less give governments “dictatorial” powers to detain people [foreigners or not] indefinitely on mere suspicion and without charge or any publicly stated reason. In some cases, even the detained persons will not be told of the reasons for their detention and if charged, will have lawyers chosen for them or be tried by military tribunals. The well publicised statements of the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi likening anti-globalisation protesters to terrorists or boasting about the alleged superiority of western civilisation over other civilisations will not comfort those that fear these laws will be abused.

Considering that the United States government is likely to push for African governments to “demonstrate full commitment to tackling evil” and “make it impossible for terrorists to operate within their borders”, it is no exaggeration to caution that democracy on the African continent may be in for a rough ride. The number of Muslims in countries in Africa and Asia that indicated their opposition to the attacks on Afghanistan on religious grounds will not have escaped the attention of the US government and such counties in particular may come under pressure to “act swiftly against terrorists.”

As can be seen with the case of Pakistan, the terrorist atrocities in the US have been clearly seized as an opportunity for an undemocratic government to reintegrate itself into the respectable ranks of “the international community” and address the United Nations General Assembly after being suspended from the Commonwealth.

No matter how unpopular it may seem, the point must be made that it will be a serious mistake to sacrifice democracy in Africa on the altar of “eradicating Bin Laden and Al Queda”. The ‘rise’ of the likes of Saddam and Bin Laden also shows clearly that short 'termism' in foreign policy is to put it crudely “a ticking bomb.” The only way to defeat and keep terrorism and its sympathisers out of Africa and by doing so reducing their potential bases, is to ensure more, not less democracy. Africans must make it clear, that while they condemn terrorism, the fight against it cannot be used as an excuse to create more Mobutus on the continent. The tragedy of these latest developments, is that by introducing legislation in their countries which before September 11 would have been unthinkable, the governments of the US, UK other Western countries may have robbed themselves of the moral right to speak up when similar laws are introduced and used to undermine democracy in Africa and strengthen governments which may in the long run turn out to be eventual enemies of “civilised values.”

Sankore is a Human Rights Campaigner and Journalist with a keen interest in Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights

GIRLS FOR SALE -- BUILDING A COALITION TO FIGHT TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA

2001-11-29

http://www.advocacynet.org/nigtraffick_girlsforsale_6_25.html

Hundreds of Nigerian women and girls have been lured into prostitution in Europe and the Middle East, where they are vulnerable to abuse and violence. This website profiles those who are campaigning to put an end to this insidious trade.

NetAction's Guide to Using Encryption Software

2001-11-29

http://www.netaction.org/encrypt/

Encryption is a software tool that uses scrambling to make data unreadable to anyone other than the intended recipient. It is useful to ensure the privacy of data that you store on your computer, or that you want to email to someone else. Do you need it?

Dr Johnson Nkuuhe

Parliament of Uganda

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/4525

Ivan semakula

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/4526

I think Iam obliged to say a word or two to you and the entire :KABISSA-FAHAMU SANGONET NEWSLETTER. First and foremost, thank you so much for the tireless efforts you have always put in by providing the most accurate info and also fighting for the marginalised communities. This is a work well done.
Thank you so much.

AFRICULTURES NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 2001

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/books/4418

The latest information on African art from Africultures.
NEWSLETTER AFRICULTURES NOVEMBER 2001

PARTNER EVENTS
Mémoires coloniales, Zoos humains, 30 October - 18 December, Paris.
The programme of conferences, forums and seminars organised by the
Association Connaissance de l'histoire de l'Afrique contemporains (Achac)
and the CNRS takes human zoos as a starting point for trying to understand
the complicated meanderings of colonial memory, up to current stumbling
blocks in North-South relationships and immigration policy. Institut du
Monde Arabe, gdrcorps@hotmail.com, memoire.coloniale@achac.com

Fest'Africa 2001, 12 - 17 November, Lille. This 9th edition is based around
the theme of " Amours de Villes, Villes africaines " [City love, African
cities]. The book festival will be held from 15 - 17 November with the
launch of an anthology entitled " Amours de villes. Villes africaines "
featuring romanticised accounts by eight authors of life in their city and
co-published with Editions Dapper. festafrica@nordnet.fr,
www.nordnet.fr/festafrica

Les Wodaabé, Peuls du Niger, 16 November - 24 December, Brussels, Belgium.
Three-part exhibition focusing on the Peul culture, especially the Wodaabe
people who live in northern Niger. wodaabe@moba.be


WHAT'S NEW ON AFRICULTURES.COM

SEPTEMBER ISSUE - A NEW SOUTH AFRICA?
"The black community offers the best images", interview with Alf Kumalo
"Are Western criteria applicable in Africa ?", interview with Stephen Hobbes
"The group still outweighs the invidual", interview with Peter McKenzie

OCTOBER ISSUE - AFRICANITY : QUESTIONS AND ISSUES
Editorial 41 "Making oneself indiscernible"
"African filmmakers' new strategies" by Olivier Barlet
"Africanity and Contemporary Creation", round table, by Sylvie Chalaye

Coming soon:
NOVEMBER ISSUE - CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DANCE

Don't forget to keep checking the English homepage for new translations from
previous issues http://www.africultures.com/indexbis_engl.htm

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
(see www.africultures.com for details)
- Scotland: W.E.B. Dubois & Frantz Fanon: Postcolonial Linkages and
Transatlantic Receptions. Call for contributions for this international
interdisciplinary conference to be held 16 - 17 March 2002 in Scotland.
- Publication on V. S. Naipaul: Call for contribution to "Moving Worlds", a
publication dedicated to V.S. Naipaul, to be published May 2002.
- African literature: Alternative Modernities in African Literatures and
Cultures, for publication in a special edition of "The Journal of Literary
Studies", University of South Africa.
- North African Expressions: The Revue de la Coordination Internationale de
chercheurs sur les litteratures du Maghreb is seeking submissions.

CONFERENCES
- Solidarity week, 17 - 25 November, France. lasemaine@lasemaine.org
- Conferences in Bordeaux, 19 - 23 November. Coinciding with the "
Cooperation et solidarity internationale " week.
www.cean.u-bordeaux.fr/lettre.html
- Rencontres d'Averroes, Penser la Mediterranee des deux rives [Thinking
both sides of the Mediterranean] - Les femmes dans la cite [Women in the
city], 23 - 24 November, Marseille.
- Rencontres Franco-maghrebines " Culture et Psychiatrie ", 8 - 9 November,
Nice.
- Aguda : aspects of Afro-brazilian heritage in the Gulf of Benin, 26 - 30
November, Porto-Novo, Benin. www.epaprema.net/aguda.htm


FINE ARTS
Check out the Africultures exhibitions online at
http://www.africultures.com/expo/expos.htm

France

- Kin, 13 November - 26 January, Fnac Montparnasse Paris. Exhibition of
works by Titouan Lamazou who depicts Kinshasa's enduring creative genius.
- Métaphores angolaises (1900 - 2001), 7 - 30 November, Grande Arche de la
Défense, Paris. Panorama of fine arts photography. In conjunction with a
seminar on the political, cultural and economic situation in Angola.
- Moussa Sène Absa, paintings on canvas and gourdes, to 31 December, Musee
de l'Homme, Paris.
- " Pas de printemps pour Geronimo " by Diagne Chanel, 14 November - 20
December, Porte 2a, Bordeaux, mca.association@libertysurf.fr
- ADEACA, the association for the distribution and exchanges in contemporary
art, has been running residencies for African and French artists for the
past year. Dominique Zinkpe (Benin) and Christophe Roggero (Marseille) will
be comparing their artistic viewpoints until the end of the year. During
the residencies, Dominique Zinkpe has created three lifesize " taxis " to
reflect daily life - conversations, music, etc. The three mobile works of
art will travel between Cotonou, Niamey and Dakar until 30 November.
- Artistic exchanges : Young Artists from the French overseas territories
will be participating in the Salon France Outre-Mer from 30 November - 2
December. The young DEFI JEUNES prize winners would like to set up an
exchange with African artists. For further information consult
www.defijeunes.fr

ELSEWHERE
- " Maroc contemporain : peinture et livres d'artistes ", to 21 November,
Centre culturel flamand De Markten, Brussels. Exhibition of around 100
works by some of the Morocco's major contemporary artists, including Azouzi,
Belkahia, Benbouchta, Binebine, Kacimi, Kantour, Miloudi, Sadouk, Selfati,
Yamou.

EXHIBITIONS ALREADY PRESENTED
- USA: The Short Century - Independance and Liberation Movements in Africa,
1945-1994, in Chicago to 30 Dec, then New York (10 Feb-5 May 2002).
Exhibition of 60 contemporary African artists, plus films, theatre and
music.
- The Museum of Contemporary Art; www.mcachicago.org/ - Call: 312.397.4067
- Egypt, Alexandria: Alexandria Biennale, 25 Oct-25 Dec.
- French sculptor Claire Bretou meets Anglo-South African painter Bruce
Clarke, at Galerie Agbe & Gbalicam, Paris, 21 September - 4 November. Both
artists use newspaper as their primary material and, after having met before
the exhibition, have developed a real thematic complicity concerning
Afro-European relations.
- New Works, Zimbabwean sculptors and African artists, 13 September -15
November, Galerie Art-Z, Paris. An exhibition of sculptures by: Fanizani
Akuda, Colleen Madamombe, Anderson Mukomberanwa, Lincoln Muteta, Richard
Mteki, Zachariah Njobo (Zimbabwe), and Philippe Desloubieres; and paintings
by: Simon Binna (Cameroon), Diako (Cameroon), Charly d'Almeida (Benin),
Granete Ngirandi (Zimbabwe), et Anderson Mukomberanwa (Zimbabwe). (01 42 09
85 94 - www.art-z.net)
- Blanc Mesnil "L'Afrique par ecrit", Calligraphy by Aboubakar Fofana, 29
September - 1 December. Hieroglyphs, ideogrammes and alphabets from Africa.
- Blanc Mesnil - Dessins choisis d'Ethiopie et d'ailleurs, to 1 December.
Selection of drawings from Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Ethiopia
reflecting the Ethiopian tradition of therapeutic, religious or cosmogonic
art work. In the presence of two Ethiopian artists. Forum culturel - 01 48
14 22 35
- Lam Metis, to 20 January 2000, Musee Daper, Paris. Works by Cuban artist
Wilfredo Lam.
- Aux frontieres de l'Art Brut II, to 6 January 2002, Halle Saint-Pierre,
Paris. Works by self-taught artists on the edge of raw art and traditional
Naif art. www.hallesaintpierre.org
- Online exhibition: Works by 35 African artists from around the world.
www.africaserver.nl/kunstcultuur/index_uk.htm
- USA: Uganda's International Art Renaissance, to 31 March 2002, The Art
Room, San Francisco. East Africa's visual history is redefined by
international expansion of Uganda's post-war art renaissance. Leading
artists of this movement offer renewed perspectives for their growing global
audience in the 21st Century. Featured artists include James Kitamirike,
Dan Sekanwagi, David Kibuuka, Bruno Sserunkuuma, Fred Makubuya and Derek
Kaggwa. Exhibited works are scheduled to change periodically during the
exhibition. www.theartroom-sf.com USA: Encounters with the Contemporary,
Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington. to January 2002:
Recent Acquisitions; to January 2002: Beautiful bodies: Form and
decoration of African Pottery. www.si.edu/nmafa
- Italy: The 49th Biennale in Venice will host "Authentic/Ex-centric:
Africa in and out of Africa", curated by Salah Hassan and Olu Oguibe, to 4
November. The exhibition includes works by Willem Boshoff, Maria Magdalena
Campos-Pons, Godfried Donkor, Rachid Koraichi, Berni Searle, Zineb Sedira
and Yinka Shonibare.
- - France, Rouille: Terre d'Empreintes, Senegal Rurart, to 20 December
2001. Exhibition of works by Senegalese artists, Semi Camara, Serigne
M'Baye Camara, Viye Diba, Ibrahima Konate. www.rurart.org

INTERDISCIPLINARY

- Rencontres 2001, culture and social transformation : new initiatives, to
11 November, La Villette, Paris. www.villette.com
- Mali - Kow, mythes, secrets et realites, 7 November - 24 February, La
Villette, Paris. This exhibition explores the multiples realities of
today's Mali through a view that doesn't simply reduce the other to a series
of convenient regional characteristics.
- Burkina Faso: Le Festival des Arts de la rue de Ouagadougou, 23-25 Nov
(Ouagadougou Street Arts Festival). Art, dance, music, theatre, comedy,
sport in the streets of Ouaga. Details on the "Evenements" pages of
Africultures (Africultures is a partner of the FAR).
- Belgium, Watermael-Boitsfort: 8eme Quinzaine Africaine, 12 Sept-18
November. Information is available on 02/663 85 50
- France, Paris: Exhibitions, concerts, meetings with writers, films,
debates on the question of torture during the Algerian war of liberation, at
the Algerian Cultural Centre. Details on www.cca-paris.com
- France, Valenciennes: Congo, L'itineraire noir, 4 Oct-27 Jan. Exhibition
of central African art, plus conferences, workshops, music, stortytelling.
Musee des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes - www.ville-valenciennes.fr
- France, Grenoble & region: Festival Afrique 2001 : quel espoir? 1 Oct-10
Nov. Exhibitions, forums, conferences, films, concerts, theatre, meetings
with writers and artists, festivities. Contact : CIIP 04 76 87 59 79 -
ciip@wanadoo.fr

HISTORY/SOCIETY
- Questioned about reparations following the debates at the Durban
Conference against Racism, Aime Cesaire replied: "It is already something
that Europe has come to admit the reality of the slave trade, a criminal
traffic of human beings. But I am not really in favour of repentance or
reparations. In my opinion, there is even a danger in the notion of
reparations. I wouldn't want Europe to say one fine day: "There you go,
there's the cash or the cheque, now let's drop it!" There can be no
reparation for the irreparable, which cannot be quantified." (l'Express, 13
Sept. 2001)
- ADRI (the agency for the development of intercultural relations), has
produced a CD-Rom with 2000 contacts involved in social integration of
immigrant populations in France.

PHOTOGRAPHY
- Austria : Flash Afrique, to 11 November, Vienna. Photographic works by
Malick Sidibe, Philipp Kwame Apagya, Bouna Medoune Seye, Doris Haron Kasco
and Boubacar Toure.

FILM
- 21st Festival International du Film d'Amiens, 9 - 18 November,
contact@filmfestamiens.org
- Afrique en Images 2001, 23 November - 8 December, Nice, Marseille, Cannes,
Fréjus, etc. This year's theme : childhood.
- 9th Journées du film d'Afrique et des îles, 25 November - 7 December, La
Reunion. Village.titan@wanadoo.fr, agili@guetali.fr
- African Diaspora Film Festival 2001, 23 November - 9 December, New York,
USA. With 50 films from 25 countries, debates, a seminar on professional
development, and more.
- On tour : Projection-debate based on " Vacances au pays " by Jean-Maris
Teno, to 13 December. Ecrans-nord-sud@wanadoo.fr, www.ecrans-nord-sud.com
" Afrique-cinema " discussion group on www.egroups.fr
- South Africa : The film festival held at the same time as the World
Conference on Racism in Durban (29 August - 7 September) screened 56 films
for around 11,000 spectators who also participated in debates following each
showing, in particular concerning the invisibility of minorities in films
worldwide, making the festival a big success. Filmmakers such as Lionel
Ngakane, Ingrid Gavshon, Zola Maseko, Dingi Ntuli and Heile Germina were
present.
- The Prix du Public at the 7th Journees du Cinema Africain in
Ferney-Voltaire was awarded to " Daresalam "by Issa Serge Coelo, Tchad,
2000. The Prix du Jury des Jeunes went to " Ali Zaoua, prince de la rue "
by Nabil Ayouch, Morocco, 1999.
- Haile Gerima, the acclaimed Ethiopian filmmaker, has been appointed patron
of the Newtown Film and Television School (NFTS) based in Johannesburg. The
famous filmmaker lives in the United States. Currently in Johannesburg,
Gerima will embark on a programme of film related activities in conjunction
with the NFTS and the month long Arts Alive cultural programme in Gauteng.
The NFTS has been a forerunner and home to many of the new faces on the
filmmaking scene in South Africa. Against all the odds, the NFTS has strived
to produce quality filmmakers who have a solid theoretical and practical
training background. (Source : African Film & TV).
- This year the scholarship attributed by the Agence internationale de la
Francophine to support a film from a developing country went to " Sia, le
rêve du python " by Dani Kouyaté (Burkina Faso).
- Mozambique : the FilmAfrik project, the Best of African Cinema aims to
show African films in existing video clubs in rural areas.
- At the Festival international du film francophone in Namur, Africa made a
splash, taking the Bayard d'Ord with " L'Afrance " by Alain Gomis
(France/Senegal). The Prix special du jury went to " Immatriculation
temporaire " by Gahitz Fofane (Guinea). Burkinabe actor, Sotigui Kouyate
won the Bayard d'Or for Best Actor for " Little Senegal " by Rachid
Bouchareb (the film also won the Bayard d'Or for best artistic contribution)
and the Bayard d'Or for the Best Scenario went to "Sia, la rêve du python "
by Sotigui Kouyate's son Dani Kouyate. The Bayard d'Or for Best Short Film
went to " Muno " by Bulli Lanners (Belgium).
- Tunisia : The Tunisian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali awarded Youssef
Chahine with the " Grand cordon de l'Ordre national au titre de la culture "
for his " oustanding artistic efforts that have greatly contributed to Arab
cinema ". He commended him for " the spirit of independence and freedom
that characterises his cinematographic works ". Youssef Chahine was in
Tunisia to present his latest film, " Silence, on tourne " featuring
Tunisian singer, Latifa Arfaoui, who is based in Cairo. The musical comedy
tells the story of a singer faced with choosing between her career and
private life. The film was presented out of competition at Venice this
year.
- Morocco : 11 Moroccan film were presented at the Marrakech International
Film Festival this year. The director of the CCM (Moroccan film centre),
Souheil Ben Baarka, voiced his concern over the number of theatres that have
closed recently, noting that there were 340 cinemas in Morocco in 1970,
compared with only 163 today. On the other hand, foreign films shot in
Morocco are enabling young Moroccan filmmakers to gain experience and are
proving to be an important source of revenue for the country. According to
Andre Azoulay, advisor to King Mohammed VI, the annual income from foreign
shoots (220 million Euros) has increased 10-fold over the last decade.

DANCE
- F ... (untitled) by Robyn Orlin, 3 - 11 November, Theatre de la Cite
Internationale, Paris.
- Danse en creations, Sanga II - 4th Rencontres choregraphiques de l'Afrique
et de l'Ocean Indien, 6 - 11 November, Tananarive, Madagascar.
- On tour : Yelemba, to 29 December, around France.


MUSIC

- Check out the Africultures web site for details of latest releases
http://www.africultures.com/actualite/sorties/sorties_fr.htm
- For news on concerts around France, consult the
www.africultures.com/actualite/concerts/concerts_fr.htm
- The first Confluence jeunes talents competition will offer the winner a
six-month residency with a recording studio, enabling them to create a demo
tape, perform live and work on creative, legal and technical aspects of the
production process. www.radioceros.com
- Jeux de la Francophonie : 16-year old singer, Mayra Andrade, from Cape
Verde beat contestants from 33 other countries to take a gold medal in her
event at the 4th Jeux de la Francophonie in Ottawa, Canada.

MUSIC ON TOUR
- Pecheurs de perles : Cannes, Seillans, Aubagne, Aix en Provence (France).
- Cesaria Evora : Toronto (Canada), Royal Oak (USA), Cleveland (USA),
Philadelphia (USA), Washington (USA), New Bedford (USA), New York (USA),
Englewood (USA), Boston (USA).
- Bonga : Oslo (Norway), Lyon and Paris (France).
- Teofilo Chantre : Nantes, Alencon, Vannes (France).
- Toups Bebey : Libreville (Gabon), Pointe-Noire (Congo), Brazzaville
(Congo), Kinshasa (DRC).
- Ernesto Tito Puentes : Toulon, Istres, Narbonne, Montpellier, Bordeaux,
Toulouse, Agen, Paris (France).
- Souad Massi : Bron, Strasbourg, Clermont Ferrand, Marseille, Saint Jean
de Vedas (France).
- Meissa : Paris (France)


LITERATURE
- 17th Salon du livre de jeunesse, 28 November - 3 December, Montreuil,
France. This year, Arab literature is being honoured.
- Alain Patrice Nganang has been awarded the Marguerite Yourcenar Prize 2001
(worth 10,000USD) for his novel "Temps de Chien". The prize is awarded to
writers living permanently in the US and writing in French. Patrice Nganang
is Assistant Professor of French and German at Shippensburg University.
"Temps de Chien" (Le Serpent, 2001) is written from the point of view of a
dog and discusses the fight for democracy in Cameroon during the 1990s.
- Literatures du Maghreb - Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, to 15 November, Maison
de la Mediterranee, Belfort, France.
- Paroles d'Hiver, 12th Festival du conte et de imaginaires, 27 November -
16 December, Cotes d'Armor and Dinan. The festival constitutes a melting
pot of francophone expressions, memory, peoples, and a chronicle of modern
times, exploring contemporary narrative through tales, music, poetry, song,
epic sagas, myths, lectures, high-tech, theatre and much more.
Pascal.deldin@oddc22.com
- 4th International Conference on Caribbean Literatures, 7 - 9 November,
Fort-de-France, Martinique. roman@calumet.purdue.edu
- Ecrits de femmes : feminine French-language literature. 15 November,
Casablanca, Morocco. alamez@syfed.refer.org.ma
- FILO 2001, Ouagadougou International Book Fair, 24 - 30 November,
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. mca@cenatrin.bf
- Bibliophilie' 01, Kinshasa Book Fair, 24 November - 1 December.
- Prix Bibliothèques partenaires France Afrique for partnerships between
libraries or associations from France and Africa that have contributed to
developing literacy in Africa. First prize goes to libraries from Athis
Mons, Essone and Filingue in Niger. Second prize goes to Pont-en-Royans,
Iser and Kidira from the Senegal river region. Third prize goes to the " A
la fontaine " association in Fontenay aux Roses (near Paris) and Tchekpo,
the prefecture in Yoto, Togo.


MEDIA
- African media news: MediActu, a fascinating bulletin published by the West
Africa Institut Panos is available on line at www.panos.sn/actus/index.html
- The Eritrean government has suspended the country's private newspapers
until further notice. Newspapers affected include Meqaleh, setit, Tiganay,
Zemen, Wintana and Admas.
- Eritrea : a week after the country's independent newspapers were shut
down, security forces arrested nine journalists on the grounds of having
skipped military service.
- Liberia : T-max Jllateh, a journalist at DC 101.1, a private radio
station, was arrested on 17 September for airing auditors' comments about
the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA. The police took the
opportunity to close the station which was one of the first independent
radio stations in Liberia.
- Senegal : The CPJ has spoken out against increasing difficulties
encountered by independent journalists in Senegal. The organisation is
particularly concerned about the case brought against Alioune Fall, chief
editor of Dakar daily paper, Le Matin. Fall is accused of publishing false
information.
- Sierra Leone : Seven journalists who are known for their criticism of the
government have received anonymous death threats in the form of letters.
- South Africa : Pretoria, the diplomatic capital, has had a name change
and is now called Tshwane. www.tshwane.gov.za
- Satirical newspaper : Le Marabout, a new satirical paper is now available
at newspaper stands in nine African countries, or by subscription or on the
website. www.marabout.net


INTERNET
- Several French-language journals (including Africultures) specialising in
subjects concerning migrations and intercultural issues have grouped
together to create an Internet gateway presenting the journals and enabling
people to search for articles with key words. Each month, a series of
articles are presented around a given theme, and an editorial is contributed
by one of the journals. www.revues-plurielles.org
- Diego-Suarez' Malagassy association, ZOMARE ? 3Zomban' ny Moziky
Antsiranana - La Reunion " is now online at www.chez.com/zomare The
association promotes music from northern Madagascar.
- The new African Books Collective website has online shopping with secure
payments. www.africanbookscollective.com


TELEVISION
- Check the Africultures television pages for details:
www.africultures.com/actualite/television/page_tele.htm (in French).


RADIO
- Check the Africultures radio pages for details:
www.africultures.com/actualite/radio/page_radio.htm (in French)
- Ethiopia: a seminar on community-based radio in the Horn of Africa is due
to be held in Addis Adeba on 11-13 December.

COPYRIGHT
Full or partial reproduction in newsgroups of items from this newsletter is
authorised as long the source is mentioned. Africultures newsletter.
www.africultures.com (online archives). Month x/2001.

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Globalisation: Post-Neo dependency and Poverty in Africa

Daniel A. Offiong

2001-11-29

http://www.africanbookscollective.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_New_Titles_56.html#a850

Throughout the 1980s, incomes, living standards and investments in Africa plummeted, while poverty declined in South and East Asia. With world attention now focussed on global issues, not least damaging effects in Africa, this timely book argues that structural adjustment programmes in Africa, enforced by the international financial institutions, have produced a tighter dependency than colonialism achieved. 978156475X, 2001, Fourth Dimension.

Igbo Philosophy of Law

F.U. Okafor

2001-11-29

http://www.africanbookscollective.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_New_Titles_56.html#a882

This is a first attempt at the philosophical articulation and projection of the Igbo concept of law and the role of law in the traditional environment. In the Igbo traditional setting, the rules of law are uncodified. The author, who teaches philosophy of law and logic at the University of Nigeria, defines the law of a given community as the body of rules recognised as binding by its members. On this concept of law, he has based his attempt to elucidate the philosophical underpinning of those rules recognised in Igbo traditional legal system as law.

The Politics of Memory : Truth, Healing and Social Justice

Ifi Amadiume

2001-11-29

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1856498433/africapolicyinfo/104-4878312-2927959

Why does conflict deteriorate into violence and war? How does collective memory influence healing and social justice in post-conflict situations? This book brings together a distinguished group of scholars, policy-makers, justice workers and social activists to answer these questions. In a creative engagement with issues of human rights in relation to truth, healing and social justice, they look at how people rebuild broken communities and the tensions between reconciliation and social justice in post-conflict situations. Zed Books, 2001. ISBN: 1856498433

WHOSE LAETIE ARE YOU? MY SOWETAN BOYHOOD

Chimeloane, Rrekgetsi

2001-11-29

http://www.africabookcentre.com/abc/E150.htm

Growing up in a loving family, with the affection and support of his best friend Levi, and universal boyhood exploits - shooting rats with ketis, learning karate, stoning street lamps. Also more sinister experiences: dodging stones and avoiding enemies when you had to cross territories, running the gauntlet of dogs, bullies and thugs. The world Chimeloane sketches contained both the 1976 rising and endless wonder: the Valiant Regal taxi which produced money from its back seat, the magic of seeing bioscope and emulating the starrings, a world where you shared sweets with your chomis. Kwela Books, 2001, 0795701233.

AGENDA

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

2001-11-29

http:// www.agenda.org.za

Agenda is a feminist quarterly based in Durban, South Africa, now in its 14th year. The Editorial Advisory Group decides on themes in advance. Contributions on topical and current gender issues, gender analysis, reviews and interviews are welcomed. We seek ongoing contributions, particularly from women who have never published their research or writing.
AGENDA CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Agenda is a feminist quarterly based in Durban, South Africa, now in its
14th year. The Editorial Advisory Group decides on themes in advance (see
below). Contributions on other topical and current gender issues, gender
analysis, reviews and interviews are welcomed.

We seek ongoing contributions, particularly from women who have never
published their research or writing. Areas of interest include:
* Reports and research from feminists and gender activists on the continent
on women's organization in their countries and regions;
* Southern-based contributions - ie Latin America, India, the Caribbean and
other regions of the South.
* Case studies and examples of feminist and gender best practices;
* Leadership and entrepreneurship particularly in the context of
globalisation;
* Health issues, including reproductive rights;
* Policy review and critique of legislation in South Africa;
* Debate on the women's movement in South and Southern Africa;
* Feminist theory and discussion of feminist research methodologies;
* Gender analysis of disaggregated South Africa and Southern African
statistical data released by the state on employment, census/population etc
and data sets that indicate women's relative equality and inequality etc.
* Book and movie reviews, poetry, cartoons, photographs.

Agenda themes for 2002

* #51 Food and food policy
Deadline for submissions of articles of no longer than 6000 words, 11th of
January. Final date for shorter contributions, January 21st. Publication
early March 2002.

*#52 Focus on the Earth Summit - gender policy and environmental
sustainability issues.
Deadline for submission of abstracts February 15th . Publication June 2002.

*#53 HIV/AIDS, youth and violence. The issue will also seek to include new
research and carry updates on progress made in HIV/AIDS research on gender
and specifically around issues that affect women.
Deadline for submission of abstracts May 2002. Publication September 2002.

*#54 African Feminisms Two. The second in the three part series seeks to
solicit contributions from women writers on the continent, providing a forum
for women's research and scholarship from different regions of Africa.
Deadline for the submission of abstracts June 2002. Publication date
November 2002.

Themes under discussion for 2003 (still to be finalised)
Rights of the child;
Sexuality and reproductive health;
Information, media and society;
Migrancy, refugees and zenophobia;
Spirituality and religion;

Journal articles are peer reviewed in an anonymous process. Shorter
contributions, such as briefings, debate pieces (open forum), interviews,
profiles of organizations /programmes or people are reviewed for publication
by the Editorial Advisory Group.

For further information please contact Lou Haysom or Janine Moolman. E-mail
editor@agenda.org.za Visit the Agenda website for information on back
issues, editorials and articles www.agenda.org.za




_______________________________________________
Gain mailing list
Gain@lists.sn.apc.org
http://lists.sn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/gain

BURUNDI: WOMEN TRAINED IN PEACE-BUILDING AND COMMUNICATIONS

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/4403

UNIFEM and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in collaboration with ABANTU for Development, an African women’s NGO, held a ‘Peace and Communications Skills Workshop for Burundi Refugee Women’ from 1-4 October. The need for the workshop resulted from a UNIFEM Training Needs Assessment Mission for Burundi Refugee Women, conducted in June-July 2001. While the target beneficiaries were Burundi refugee women and men in Kibondo, Kasulu and Ngara refugee camps in Tanzania, participants also included key implementing partners of UNHCR who have a direct bearing on the lives of refugee women in the camps.
Source: UNIFEM CURRENTS
THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF
THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT FUND
FOR WOMEN (UNIFEM)

ACTIVITIES NOVEMBER 2001

BURUNDI WOMEN TRAINED IN PEACE-BUILDING AND COMMUNICATIONS
UNIFEM and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in collaboration with ABANTU for Development, an African women’s NGO, held a ‘Peace and Communications Skills Workshop for Burundi Refugee Women’ from 1-4 October. The need for the workshop resulted from a UNIFEM Training Needs Assessment Mission for Burundi Refugee Women, conducted in June-July 2001. While the target beneficiaries were Burundi refugee women and men in Kibondo, Kasulu and Ngara refugee camps in Tanzania, participants also included key implementing partners of UNHCR who have a direct bearing on the lives of refugee women in the camps.

UNIFEM also invited a representative from the Ministry of Home Affairs to participate in the workshop, given the role of the Ministry in securing the safety of refugees in Tanzania.

The 33 participants attending the workshop were trained in conflict resolution and mediation skills development, human rights, women’s rights, refugee laws and communication skills, by experts in the different fields. UNIFEM invited Ambassador Berhanu Dinka, the Chair of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) of the Burundi Peace Agreement to brief participants on the developments of the Burundi peace process and the role of the IMC in particular. Women refugees were able to meet with IMC members and exchange ideas and aspirations for a sustainable and Just Peace in Burundi.

Among the many recommendations proposed, the participants recommended that both UNIFEM and UNHCR organize a cross-border meeting between women refugees and those living inside the country.

For more information, please contact Hodan Addou, Regional Peace Project Coordinator, at hodan.addou@unifem.unon.org

Egypt: Overturn Boy's Conviction for Homosexuality

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/4419

A sixteen-year-old boy's prosecution and conviction for engaging in sexual relations with men violates international standards, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Egyptian authorities.
Egypt: Overturn Boy's Conviction for Homosexuality

(New York, November 20, 2001) - A sixteen-year-old boy's prosecution and
conviction for engaging in sexual relations with men violates
international standards, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Egyptian
authorities released today.

Convicted of "debauchery" on September 18 after police coerced him into
giving a confession, the boy received a sentence of three years'
imprisonment with labor followed by three years of probation. His
appeal, originally set for October 31, will be heard on November 21.

Human Rights Watch called on Egypt's prosecutor general to ask the
appeals court to overturn the conviction, citing discriminatory
application of the law, charges of torture during interrogation,
prolonged pretrial detention, limited access to counsel and family
members, and a failure to protect the boy's privacy during the court
proceedings.

"This case has been marred by a host of human rights violations," said
Clarisa Bencomo of the Children's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch.
"It should never have come to trial."

The youth has said that police extracted a confession from him after
subjecting him to painful beating on the soles of the feet. He did not
have access to a lawyer during his interrogation, and he was not allowed
to contact his family during the first two weeks of his detention. Press
and spectators were allowed to attend and report on the September and
October hearings, and the boy's name, photo, and accounts of the charges
and sentence have appeared in Egypt's semi-official press.

The boy was one of fifty-six people detained and charged with similar
offenses after a crackdown in May against men presumed to be gay. The
others, all adults, were prosecuted separately before an Emergency State
Security Court, which reached a verdict on November 14. Twenty-three
were sentenced to between one and five years of hard labor; twenty-nine
were acquitted.

Last week, Egyptian authorities made four additional arrests of men
presumed to be gay, according to reports in the Egyptian press.

Egypt does not expressly outlaw homosexual acts. Instead, authorities
initially accused the boy of "abuse of religion" (istighlal al din).
Interrogated before he was allowed to contact a lawyer, the boy denied
the initial accusation but admitted to engaging in sexual acts with men,
leading prosecutors to charge him with debauchery (mumarasat al fujur).
Three years' imprisonment followed by a similar period of probation is
the maximum sentence that can be imposed under this provision, contained
in Law No. 10 of 1961 on the Combat of Prostitution.

"Egyptian authorities targeted these individuals solely because of their
presumed sexual orientation," Bencomo said. "By discriminating against a
group of its citizens in this way, Egypt has violated a fundamental
principle of human rights law."

In addition, criminalization is not an appropriate response to sexual
activity on the part of a child, Human Rights Watch argued.
International law does not permit the criminalization of sexual
relations between consenting adults of the same sex; a child should not
be held criminally responsible for an act that would not, under these
standards, be subject to criminal responsibility if committed by an
adult.

The arrests and convictions also take place in a climate of serious
erosion of basic civil rights for Egyptian citizens. The country has
been under continuous emergency rule since October 1981, following the
assassination of Anwar Sadat. Following a resurgence of political
violence in the early 1990s, the government introduced antiterror laws
that gave the security and intelligence services greater powers of
arrest and detention, enabling them to round up thousands of suspects.

A copy of the letter sent Counsellor Maher 'Abd al-Wahid, Egypt's
Prosecutor General, can be found at
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/egyptltr1119.htm

For more information on the trials of gay men in Egypst, please see:


Egypt: Gay Men Convicted in Politically Motivated Trial (HRW Press
Release, November 14, 2001) at
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/egypt1114.htm

Egypt: Release Child Imprisoned for Alleged Sexual Orientation (HRW
Press Release, October 30, 2001) at
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/10/egypt1030.htm

Egypt: Emergency Court Trials for Homosexuality Suspects (HRW Press
Release, July 4, 2001) at http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/07/egypt0704.htm

==^================================================================
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Gender, Society & Development series

Call for Papers

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/4444

The Editorial Team of the Gender, Society & Development series is planning a book on 'gender/women and sustainable resources management' to be published in 2002. The book will be the 6th in the series produced by KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) and co-distributed by Oxfam GB. The Team is looking for authors, especially from the South, with practical experience in the field of integrating and mainstreaming gender/women' issues into the management and use of natural resources for sustainable development.
The Editorial Team of the Gender, Society & Development series is planning
a book on 'gender/women and sustainable resources management' to be
published in 2002. The book will be the 6th in the series produced by
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) and co-distributed by Oxfam GB. (For
information on the previous books:

www.kit.nl/information_services/html/gender_society_development.asp

The Team is looking for authors, especially from the South, with
practical experience in the field of integrating and mainstreaming
gender/women' issues into the management and use of natural resources
for sustainable development.

We would like to invite these persons to write a paper on their
experience, in particular the approaches used to integrate/mainstream
women, to institutionalize a gender approach or community-based
approach, the effects on women and men, constraints, lessons learned,
etc. The book will include 4-5 papers, complemented by an annoted
bibliography (150-200 references plus abstracts) and key internet
resources.

Persons who are interested in contributing a paper should note that
the paper would be required by the end of April 2002. More
information on the proposed book can be found in the attached file
'Proposal and background'. We would also appreciate suggestions of
possible authors as well as for improving the proposal.

Sarah Cummings, Henk van Dam & Minke Valk
Editorial Team, Gender, Society & Development
KIT Information Services
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
P.O. Box 95001
1090 HA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
m.valk@kit.nl
www.kit.nl

=======
Proposal and background for the 6th book in the Gender, Society &
Development series

This short text is meant as a background document for a forthcoming
publication in the Gender, Society & Development series produced by
Information Services, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT). It will be the 6th
book in the series, to be published in 2002, and distributed by KIT
Press and Oxfam GB.

Information about these books can be found at:
http://www.kit.nl/information_services/html/gender_society_development.asp

Proposal for the 6th book in the series
Provisional title: Natural resources management: what has gender got to do
with it? A global source book

Introduction:

A wise use of resources is the key to sustainable development, poor rural
people, women and men, are a key link to that use.

Women as well as men in the rural areas of developing countries depend on
natural resources such as water, soil, plants, and animals to secure their
livelihood. They are engaged in productive activities including farming,
animal husbandry and fisheries to provide food and an income to support
their families. Most of the people living in the rural areas are
poor, and often are forced to overuse the resources available to
them, thereby contributing to resources degradation.

On the other hand, they have developed diverse knowledge,
perceptions, skills and practices that are valuable for the
management of natural resources for food security and sustainable
development. Women in general are more at a disadvantage than men due
to their lower social and economic status and lack of decision-making
power. They have limited access to land, credit, capital, technology,
lack of education, training and information, and an unfavourable
legal and policy environment. This hampers their ability to use and
manage resources they need to make a living for themselves and their
families. Since the early 1980s considerable attention has been paid
to the relationship between women and the environment & natural
resources. In 1991 the Women's Action Agenda 21 was formulated and
elaborated in the run-up of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED). A major review and revision of the Women's
Action Agenda 21 is envisaged in the lead-up to Earth Summit
2002.

Increasing recognition of the interaction between poverty, and resources
and environmental degradation has led to the development of
interventions that put more and more emphasis on working with local
communities to improve the management of natural resources.
Participatory and community-based approaches to natural resource
management and sustainable development are being applied.
Participatory resource management projects that include women as well as
men are considered to hold the greatest promise for achieving
sustainable resource management and development, and social equity.
Understanding the environmental roles and responsibilities of women and
men in developing economies is critical to sustainable resource
management practices.

Identifying and overcoming the barriers to women's and men's full
participation in the management of resources is a necessary first step
towards the ultimate goals of poverty alleviation and sustainable
development.

The book
The book aims to cover experiences with involving rural women and men in
sustainable resources management. It is meant for practitioners,
intermediaries and professionals working in the field of women/gender and
resources management. The focus is on interventions that aim to
incorporate women and gender dimensions, including participatory and
community-based interventions. The impact of interventions on women
and men and the gender relations, and on women's and men's ability to
use and manage natural resources in a sustainable way should be
highlighted. Analysis should show factors of success, constraints and
lessons learned.

The book will include 4-5 papers written by authors preferably from
the South, complemented with an annotated bibliography of relevant
literature and a section on key electronic resources. The papers
should comprise 8-10 pages including references, and editing will be
done by the Editorial Team. The book is published by KIT Publishers
and Oxfam GB.

Content of the papers
Questions that may be considered in writing:
 An introduction on how women and men are related to the natural
resources, i.e. what resources do they use, for what purpose, are there
availability problems, what are women's and men's priorities, do women and
men experience the same constraints; women's status vis a vis men's;

 What kind/type of intervention/development work has been
undertaken (community-based; project, programme; was it part of a
larger activity); have there been any benefits; if so have women and
men benefited equally;

 what type of organization has implemented the intervention
(NGO, government organization, etc.)

 how have the interventions been introduced and implemented;
was there a specific approach/method; has there been a gender
analysis prior to design and implementation; have the targeted women
and men participated in planning, implementation and decision-making;
if so, have women and men enjoyed equal opportunities for
participation;

 has the intervention affected the population's resource use,
management; has it affected the gender relations; have there been any
changes in women's and men's ability to gain access to, control over
natural resources

 were there any successes, constraints and lessons learned;
has it contributed to a more sustainable development; to empowerment
of women, and men

 What could be the way forward




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Sudan: MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN PEACE-BUILDING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

2001-11-29

mailto:hodan.addou@unifem.unon.org

UNIFEM, in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a policy seminar from 15-16 October in Khartoum, Sudan to integrate a gender perspective in the resolution of armed conflicts in the East and Horn of Africa region. The two-day seminar drew participants from the IGAD Member States, which included Ministers in charge of Women/Gender Affairs, Women Parliamentarians, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local women’s NGOs.
MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN PEACE-BUILDING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
UNIFEM, in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a policy seminar from 15-16 October in Khartoum, Sudan to integrate a gender perspective in the resolution of armed conflicts in the East and Horn of Africa region. The two-day seminar drew participants from the IGAD Member States, which included Ministers in charge of Women/Gender Affairs, Women Parliamentarians, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local women’s NGOs.

The seminar reviewed the involvement of women in relation to current peace initiatives of IGAD, identified gender gaps in the IGAD Conflict Prevention Management and Resolution and Human Affairs Programs, and recommended policy proposals in mainstreaming gender in IGAD’s existing mechanisms.

Some of these recommendations were adopted in the five-point Action Plan of the IGAD Gender Desk:
1. Establish a broad-based women's peace and development forum at the sub-regional and national levels and at the
cross-border areas;
2. Strengthen existing institutional mechanisms within IGAD to be more gender-sensitive and inclusive;
3. Develop and implement a comprehensive gender-responsive conflict resolution and peace building program for IGAD;
4. Research, document and disseminate women's and other population-based experiences on conflict and perspectives on
peace-building;
5. Establish and operationalize effective linkages and networking programs on conflict resolution, peace and development.

For more information, please contact Hodan Addou, Regional Peace Project Coordinator, at hodan.addou@unifem.unon.org

UNIFEM Director, Noeleen Heyzer

Day against Violence Against Women

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/4405

Violence against women is a universally devastating and often unpunished crime with far-reaching implications. As Dr. Heyzer says in her statement: "What happened in Afghanistan demonstrates that the way in which a country or community treats women and protects and promotes their human rights, is one of the best early warning indicators of its respect for international norms and standards ".
Statement for International Day against Violence Against Women



Dear Friends,
We would like to share with you UNIFEM Executive Director, Noeleen Heyzer's statement to mark the second anniversary of November 25-the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Two years ago a United Nations General Assembly resolution, designated 25 November as the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women in memory of the killing of the three Mirabel sisters in the Dominican Republic on the same date in 1961.

Violence against women is a universally devastating and often unpunished crime with far-reaching implications. As Dr. Heyzer says in her statement: "What happened in Afghanistan demonstrates that the way in which a country or community treats women and protects and promotes their human rights, is one of the best early warning indicators of its respect for international norms and standards ".

Please feel free to use the speech for any activities, events or media work that you are planning for the 16 days of activism beginning on November 25. We would appreciate feedback on how you have used this statement.

Regards,
Rema Nanda,
Acting Chief, Organizational Learning and Resource Development, UNIFEM.
23 November,2001




STATEMENT BY NOELEEN HEYZER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNIFEM
For the International Day against Violence Against Women
25 November 2001


It has been only two years since the UN General Assembly adopted 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The international community has recognized that efforts to confront gender-based violence are central to human security and development remain strong.

Women’s groups have been commemorating 25 November as a day to end violence against women for many years. Women and men in over 100 countries now hold public events and campaigns that begin on 25 November and culminate on Human Rights Day, 10 December. It is notable how the actions and networks to end violence against women have joined forces across nations, ethnicities, race, class, caste and other diversities. Violence against women is universal and the struggle to put an end to it involves each and every one of us.

We have seen, over the past few months, the threat to human and global security that intensifies to the breaking point when we ignore abuses to women’s human rights. We failed to act meaningfully when Afghan girls were prohibited from going to school, when Afghan women doctors and teachers were prohibited from going to work, when women were beaten for what they wore. What happened to women in Afghanistan was not just a women’s issue, an issue of tradition or culture, or a problem that needed to be dealt with in the private sphere. On the contrary, what happened in Afghanistan demonstrated that the way in which a country or community treats women and protects and promotes their human rights, is one of the best early warning indicators of its respect for international norms and standards.

We have achieved a great deal internationally and nationally in our advocacy and activism to end gender-based violence. And 25 November is the appropriate time to celebrate those achievements. We have a UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, agreed to in 1993. We have a UN Special Rapporteur on the Issue of Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences appointed in 1994. We have a Trust Fund to End Violence against Women established by the General Assembly in UNIFEM in 1996. We have achieved the recognition of rape as a war crime against humanity in 1998. And in 2000, we had a historic session on Women and Peace and Security in the Security Council which produced the landmark SC Resolution 1325 and heightened interest in understanding the impact of war and armed conflict on women and the roles of women in peace-building. Most importantly, at the national level, laws that recognize domestic violence and rape as crimes against women are being passed and implemented in an increasing number of countries. We have accomplished so much, and yet the scourge of violence in general, and violence against women in particular, seems to be increasing.

We need to learn from the small victories and achievements in addressing gender-based violence that can be scaled up to become norms, standards and public policies. I would like to highlight three lessons that UNIFEM has learned from the ways in which women are organizing to address violence and build long-lasting peace:

· Women are developing innovative ways to challenge the use of tradition as a rationale for continued violence. Projects from UNIFEM's Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women, for instance, demonstrate how women's groups work with religious leaders, families and communities to change attitudes and practices towards female genital mutilation and so-called honour killings. Family by family, community by community, these projects are building respect for the lives of women and girls and an understanding that gender-based violations are not integral to any tradition or culture.

· Women are investing in long-term public education and awareness campaigns to reach people's minds and hearts. The UN Inter-Agency regional campaigns to end gender-based violence that UNIFEM coordinated in 1998 and 1999 developed powerful messages that resonated with policy makers and the public. The slogan " A Life Free of Violence: It's Our Right" was used for many of these campaigns. This slogan is equally relevant in the aftermath of September 11th to stimulate broader coalitions for peace and social justice. Over the past year, UNIFEM has convened groups in every region to learn techniques for strengthening advocacy strategies to end gender-based violence. These groups have affirmed that without changing people's attitudes and behaviour in the most profound ways, progress on eliminating violence will be limited.

· Women are linking the need for social and economic rights to notions of human security. Conflicts arising from the growing gaps between rich and poor must be addressed. The terror of poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, and inequality are the seeds that spawn social fragmentation and violence. UNIFEM is supporting women to build economic literacy, to understand economic policy-making, to analyze national budget processes from a gender perspective. These are the kinds of long-term efforts that will result in broad-based policy dialogue and the creation of sustainable solutions to social fragmentation and problems without borders.

The events of the past several months have demonstrated, as powerfully as ever before, the importance of coalitions to end violence, to value human rights, and to speak out forcefully against injustice. No single country, agency or sector of society – no matter how powerful – can ensure human security and confront massive abuses to human rights on their own. In an era of globalization, people, money and ideas move across national borders in the blink of an eye. In an era of globalization, the common values and ethics that we develop to guide our interactions with each other -- whether as states, organizations, or individuals -- are the best foundations to build a global dialogue on peace and craft a vision for a more secure human future.

What is Happening to Socialist Feminism?

Call for Papers: May 2002, Toronto, Canada

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/4448

Socialist feminism's synthesis of radical feminism with socialism seems to becoming undone. Many socialist feminists have become postmodernists or postmodern "materialists." Others, especially socialist eco-feminists, are drifting into cultural feminism. Some are calling for a move from socialist to Marxist feminism. Is socialist feminism necessarily "totalistic" and "essentialist"? Does postmodern feminism really defend "difference" and eschew grounding politics in "nature"? Is postmodern materialist feminism a coherent project? Is postmodern feminism anarchist? Is cultural feminism the "feminist" feminism? Is it "radical"? Can the domination of women and nonhuman nature be adequately addressed by Marxist feminism? How is the shift to postmodernism in theory affecting feminist practice, political engagements, and research? Please send completed conference form (below) and 100-word abstract, by January 15.
Call for Papers for Joint SSS/ESAC/CWSA Session at Congress

Session Title: What is Happening to Socialist Feminism?
Session Coordinator: Regina Cochrane

Abstract: Socialist feminism's synthesis of radical feminism with socialism
seems to becoming undone. Many socialist feminists have become
postmodernists
or postmodern "materialists." Others, especially socialist eco-feminists,
are
drifting into cultural feminism. Some are calling for a move from socialist
to Marxist feminism. Is socialist feminism necessarily "totalistic" and
"essentialist"? Does postmodern feminism really defend "difference" and
eschew grounding politics in "nature"? Is postmodern materialist feminism a
coherent project? Is postmodern feminism anarchist? Is cultural feminism the
"feminist" feminism? Is it "radical"? Can the domination of women and
nonhuman nature be adequately addressed by Marxist feminism? How is the
shift
to postmodernism in theory affecting feminist practice, political
engagements, and research?

Please send completed conference form (below) and 100-word abstract, by
January 15, to: rcochran@ucalgary.ca or to:

Regina Cochrane
Faculty of Communication and Culture
Social Sciences Building
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4

Presenters should be members of either SSS, ESAC, or CWSA. I hope to get
several panels on this topic including at least one focusing specifically on
eco-feminism.

Conference form / Formulario / Formulaire

Name:
Title of Session:
What is Happening to Socialist (Eco)feminism?
Session Coordinator: Regina Cochrane
Institutional Affiliation (if any):
Address:
Phone number:
E-mail:
Fax:
AV requirements (if any):
Title of paper:
Abstract: (100 words please)

Can Islam bring democracy to the Middle East?

2001-11-29

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/issue_novdec_2001/takeyh.html

A new generation of theological thinkers, led by figures such as Iranian President Muhammad Khatami and Tunisian activist Rached Ghannouchi, is reconsidering the orthodoxies of Islamic politics. In the process, such leaders are demonstrating that the Middle East may be capable of generating a genuinely democratic order, one based on indigenous values.

CONGO: Belgium behind icon’s murder

2001-11-29

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/archive/2001nov/features/23nov-drc.html

Belgian government ministers bore “moral responsibility” for events leading to the murder of the Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba in 1961, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

CONGO: New electoral criteria law for presidential candidates

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16089&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=CONGO

The transitional parliament of the Republic of Congo (ROC) in Brazzaville on Saturday adopted a new electoral law setting out conditions for presidential candidates, AFP reported on Monday.

DRC: Arrest and detention of RUP Leader

2001-11-29

http://www.omct.org

Mr. José Mafwata Shamba, Secretary General of the Rassemblement National Populaire (RNP) party, was arrested on October 4 and subesequently detained. He has not been allowed access either to legal counsel or to his family since his detention began, giving rise to fears that he may be being subjected to ill-treatment or torture, which are prevalent in the DEMIAP's jails and have even lead to deaths in detention.
Case COD 311001.1
Follow-up of Case COD 311001
Incommunicado detention/Fair trial

Geneva, November 22nd, 2001

The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new
information regarding the following situation in Democratic
Republic of Congo.

New information

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by
the Comité des Observateurs des Droits de l'Homme
(CODHO), a member of the OMCT network, of the continuing
incommunicado detention of Mr. José Mafwata Shamba in
Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the information received, Mr. José Mafwata
Shamba was transferred to the ANR-Intérieur prison in
Kinshasa on November 15th. He was arrested on October 4th,
having been summoned without reason and without an arrest
warrant by members of the Détection militaire des activités anti-
patrie (military intelligence)/Department of the Interior
(DEMIAP). He was being held in the DEMIAP jail proir to
having been transferred.

According to the information received, Mr. José Mafwata
Shamba, who is the Secretary General of the Rassemblement
National Populaire (RNP) party, has not been allowed access
either to legal counsel or to his family since his detention began,
giving rise to fears that he may be being subjected to ill-
treatment or torture, which are prevalent in the DEMIAP's jails
and have even lead to deaths in detention (see Case COD
240401). Under the auspices of the Republican Pact (Pacte
Républicain), signatories, which include the Congolese
authorities, have pledged not to harass political leaders who are
engaging in their professional activities.

Mr. José Mafwata Shamba is being held despite a lack of formal
charges having been pressed against him. He is reportedly being
held because he distributed party membership cards, despite the
fact that his party has not yet been officially registered. He has
not yet been brought before a judge, and OMCT fears that he
may be detained for a lengthy period before this is the case.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is deeply concerned by
this arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention, which
appears to have been conducted primarily for political reasons,
and fears that Mr. José Mafwata Shamba may be subjected to
torture while in detention.

Brief reminder of the situation

According to information received, Mr. José Mafwata Shamba
was summoned without reason and without an arrest warrant on
4 October 2001, in the Boulevard du 30 juin in Kinshasa,
outside the "Sabena" offices by members of the Détection
militaire des activités anti-patrie (military
intelligence)/Department of the Interior (DEMIAP). He was
then held in the DEMIAP jail and has not been allowed to
receive any visitors since he was arrested.

According to information received, Mr. Shamba is the Secretary
General of the Rassemblement National Populaire (RNP) party,
the president of which, Mr. Manda Mobutu, is in exile in France.
Mr. Shamba allegedly arrived in Kinshasa on 29 September
2001, not only for family reasons, but also to undertake the
formalities required to legalise the RNP.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo
urging them to:

i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of Mr. José Mafwata Shamba;
ii. order his immediate release in the absence of valid legal
charges or, if such charges exist, bring him before an impartial
and competent tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at all
times;
iv. intervene with the appropriate authorities in order to secure
that Mr. José Mafwata Shamba be allowed to meet with his
relatives and lawyer;
v. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national
laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

· President Joseph Kabila, Présidence de la République,
Kinshasa-Ngaliema, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Fax : (+243) 880 02 120

· Ministry of Justice, POB 3137, Kinshasa Gombé,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Fax (+243) 880 55
21

· Ministry of Human Rights, Fax (+243) 12 20 664

Please also write to the embassies of Democratic Republic of
Congo in your respective country.

Geneva, November 22nd, 2001

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of
this appeal in your reply.
Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)
8 rue du Vieux-Billard
Case postale 21
CH-1211 Geneve 8
Suisse/Switzerland
Tel. : 0041 22 809 49 39
Fax : 0041 22 809 49 29
E-mail : omct@omct.org
http://www.omct.org

EGYPT: the lawsuit against Nawal El Saadaoui

Publication of a Judicial Observation Mission

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/4441

The case against Nawal El Saadaoui fits in with the climate of intolerance prevailing in Egypt and stoked by Islamist thought, with silent consent from the authorities. It represents a permanent danger for freedoms of all sorts.
1/2
EGYPT

A female defender of women’s rights targeted by religious extremists: the lawsuit against Nawal El Saadaoui

Publication of a Judicial Observation Mission

The case against Nawal El Saadaoui fits in with the climate of intolerance prevailing in Egypt and stoked by Islamist thought, with silent consent from the authorities. It represents a permanent danger for freedoms of all sorts.

Nawal El Saadaoui, a historical symbol representing commitment to protection for the rights of women in Egypt was the victim of a very violent campaign orchestrated by Islamist extremists since 27 March of this year when an article was published on the rights of women that distorted her words. In April 2001 an lawyer, basing his request on old Moslem jurisprudence called the hisba, initiated legal action before the Cairo Civil Tribunal calling upon the court to annul the marriage of Nawal El Saadaoui and Sherif Hatata for heresy having caused apostasy.

The FIDH and the OMCT, within their joint program Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, mandated Ms. Alya Chérif Chammari, lawyer at the highest appeal court (Tunisia), as judicial observer, at the trial of Nawal El Saadaoui, which was held on 18 June 2001 at the Cairo Civil Tribunal.

On 30 July the case was thrown out of court for procedural reasons.

The lawsuit against Nawal El Saadaoui fits in with the present-day context marked by harassment against human rights defenders in Egypt. Actions by defenders are impeded by violations of freedom of assembly. Associations that accept foreign financing are automatically accused of having been bought by some foreign power; this conforms with the 1992 military decree no. 4 adopted by virtue of the 1981 law on the state of emergency. Hence it was that on 21 may 2001, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, director of the Ibn Khaldoun Centre for Human Rights was sentenced to 7 years in jail for having accepted funds from the European Union for his organization (see observatory report “legal and judicial assaults on human rights defenders in Egypt”). On 19 December he will be taken before the highest appeals court. Hafez Abu Sa’ada, Secretary General of the Egyptian organization for Human Rights (EOHR), and FIDH vice president is actually being prosecuted for having accepted a subsidy from the British embassy in 1998 supporting the actions of EOHR in favour of women. Furthermore, the parliament will soon receive a draft law on the right of assembly that, in the main, restates the provisions of law 153 dated 1999 on private associations and institutions which subjects NGOs to stricter control by the authorities and was judged unconstitutional in June 2000.


FIDH and OMCT strongly request the Egyptian authorities:
- to forbid recourse to hisba before the Egyptian courts;
- to take all necessary steps to prevent and eliminate all discrimination based on religion or belief;
- to immediately and unconditionally free Saad Eddin Ibrahim;
- to ensure that the draft law on associations, currently being discussed, abide by the provisions of the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly on 9 December 1998;
- to respect the international instruments on the protection of human rights, to which Egypt is party;
- to invite Mrs. Hina Jilani, the U.N. Secretary General’s special representative on human rights defenders to come to Egypt.

Last, the Observatory urges the European Union’s member states, when ratifying the Agreement of Association with Egypt (whose Article 2 states that Party States must respect human rights and fundamental freedoms), to evaluate and take into account the measures taken by the Egyptian authorities to abide by their international obligations concerning human rights.



The report is available on the website of the FIDH (www.fidh.org) and the OMCT (www.omct.org).

Contacts:
FIDH Press Office: tel 33 (0)1 43 55 25 18
OMCT : tel 41 22 808 49 39

Kenya: 16 Deaths Confirmed As Pasture Wars Rage

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111210454.html

Sixteen people have been confirmed dead and 200 houses burnt down as the pasture wars in Tana River District entered the third day.

RWANDA: Annan backs survivors of genocide, holocaust

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16090&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan pledged on Sunday that the world body would continue to be a "close partner" to the survivors of genocide and holocaust aiming to transform their trauma into action to prevent a recurrence of war crimes.

UGANDA-KENYA: Turkana leave Karamoja to avoid disarmament

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16305&SelectRegion=East_Africa&SelectCountry=UGANDA-KENYA

Turkana pastoralists who have been living and grazing their cattle in eastern and northeastern Uganda for almost 30 years have returned to Kenya to avoid handing their guns over to the Ugandan government, according to local news reports.

ZAMBIA: Election date finally announced

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15834&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=ZAMBIA

Ending months of uncertainty, Zambian President Fredrick Chiluba announced on Thursday that presidential, parliamentary and local government elections would be held on 27 December, news agencies reported.

Zambia: Workers sacked for being HIV positive

2001-11-29

http://www.oneworld.org/afronet/monitor184/headline6.htm

A newly formed human rights group charged this week that unscrupulous employers in Lusaka have sacked at least 45 workers since June 2000. because they tested HIV-positive.

Zimbabwe retreats on election observers

2001-11-29

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=3095

Zimbabwe's state election agency said yesterday that foreign observers would be welcome at presidential elections next year, in an embarassing retreat from President Mugabe's enraged dismissal of a European Union delegation last week.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe seeks to delay Harare elections

2001-11-29

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=3097

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government sought Sunday to overturn a High Court decision allowing long-delayed mayoral and council elections in Harare to go ahead next month.

Zimbabwe: Crackdown on Opposition Condemned

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/4401

Human Rights Watch today called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to speak out strongly on the need to ensure that the rule of law is respected in Zimbabwe. “The situation in Zimbabwe seems to be deteriorating daily,” said Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch.
Zimbabwe: Crackdown on Opposition Condemned

(New York, November 22, 2001) Human Rights Watch today called on the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) to speak out strongly on
the need to ensure that the rule of law is respected in Zimbabwe.

“The situation in Zimbabwe seems to be deteriorating daily,” said Peter
Takirambudde, executive director of the Africa Division of Human Rights
Watch. “President Mugabe must take urgent steps to restore the rule of
law and end harassment of Zimbabweans who peacefully express their
opposition to his government.”
In a letter to the president of Malawi, which is currently the chair of
SADC, and the presidents of South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana,
which are members of a SADC “troika” responsible for monitoring the
situation in Zimbabwe, Human Rights Watch urged the regional body to
call on the Zimbabwean government to bring its supporters under control
and ensure that the police act impartially to restore order.

At least eighteen members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
are currently in custody, charged with offenses including murder, in
connection with the abduction and murder of a leading veteran of
Zimbabwe’s liberation war and government party supporter, Cain Nkala.
The MDC has denied responsibility for the abduction and murder of Nkala,
who was linked by police to the murder last year of an MDC official,
Patrick Nabanyama.

“It seems this killing is being used as an excuse to crackdown on the
opposition,” said Takirambudde. “While the criminal law must take its
course, state structures should not be used for political purposes.”

Police stood by last week as supporters of the ruling party rioted in
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, beating bystanders and forcing the
closure of shops. The MDC headquarters in Harare were twice surrounded
by a mob of people supporting the government the previous weekend.

Political conflict has intensified in Zimbabwe since a referendum in
February 2000, when people voted against proposed government amendments
to the constitution. Violence increased in the run-up to Parliamentary
elections held later in 2000. Presidential elections are scheduled for
April 2002. MDC supporters and independent journalists have been
subjected to increasing harassment and violence. The government has also
undermined the independence of the judiciary, forcing the resignation of
the chief justice. Acquisitions of white-owned commercial farms have
been accompanied by significant violence against their owners and farm
workers and intimidation and threats against black Zimbabweans living on
surrounding communal land.

For more information on Zimbabwe, please see:

Zimbabwe: Crackdown on Opposition Condemned (HRW Letter, November 22,
2001) at http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/zimlet1122.htm

Powell: Focus on Human Rights in Africa (Human Rights Watch Letter, May
18, 2001) at http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/05/powell-ltr-0522.htm

New Crackdown on Zimbabwe's Independent Media (HRW Press Release,
February 9, 1999) at http://www.hrw.org/press/1999/feb/zim0209.htm

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ZIMBABWE: New laws to crush enemies

2001-11-29

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/archive/2001nov/features/23nov-zim.html

Robert Mugabe&#8217;s government is tightening its fist before the up-coming elections.

Zimbabwe: POLITICAL VIOLENCE REPORT October 2001

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

2001-11-29

http://www.zwnews.com/Octoberviolence.doc

State agents attacked at least 10 persons in Chimanimani including a nine-year-old boy. One of the victims of the attack was beaten by soldiers and sustained a fractured skull. In Bindura, an 11-month-old infant was taken into custody along with its parents and beaten by a police officer. There have also been reports of widespread attacks on civil servants in October, particularly focused on teachers. This is the continuation of intimidation and threats since January; civil servants have been ordered to support Zanu (PF) in numerous rallies throughout the year.

NIGERIA: Immigration services deport six Pakistanis

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16021&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=NIGERIA

The Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), on Sunday deported six Pakistani nationals who were arrested two days earlier for threatening the peace and security in Sagamu, the capital of southwestern Ogun State, The Guardian reported on Friday.

REFUGEE ASSISTANCE

New Manuals

2001-11-29

http://earlybird.qeh.ox.ac.uk/rfgexp/

New training materials to improve skills of humanitarian workers in offering psychosocial help to war-affected people have been developed by Oxford University''s Refugee Studies Centre in collaboration with other partners. The manuals represent the ''state of the art''in this field currently and are directed at UN and NGO agencies working with war-affected populations around the world," said Carol Eyber of the Centre.
NEW MANUALS FOR REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
New training materials to improve skills of humanitarian workers in offering
psychosocial help to war-affected people have been developed by Oxford
University''s Refugee Studies Centre in collaboration with other partners.
The set of training manuals, released recently by the University, is
entitled "The Refugee Experience". "They represent the ''state of the art''
in this field currently and are directed at UN and NGO agencies working with
war-affected populations around the world," said Carol Eyber of the
Centre.
The manuals cover topics like effects of modern day conflict on civilians,
cross-cultural understanding of the experiences of refugees, insight into
gender issues for refugees, and the plight of refugee children. They also
provide humanitarian workers with skills to help refugees overcome
obstacles in community participation and communication.
"War-affected people suffer intense psychosocial pressure in their daily
lives," Loughry said. "Their experiences of violence and forced
displacement, as well as adjustment to life in a new environment
frequently leave refugees distressed and exhausted. Humanitarian workers
who seek to assist them may often feel overwhelmed and unequipped to
understand the demands put to them by refugees."
The psychosocial training module contains both theoretical and practical
information. Released in different formats, it is available on the web at
the site below.


SOURCE: IRIN Africa English reports, 20/NOV/01
The Refugee Experience: http://www.forcedmigration.org/rfgexp

Refugees victims of terrorism, not its perpetrators

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/refugees/4433

At a recent UN meeting, Christophe Payot, on behalf of the European Union, said the number of internally displaced persons was increasing dramatically, and they now outnumbered refugees by almost two to one. The figure was estimated at 25 million, in 40 or so countries, half of them in Africa. But while refugees enjoyed a special status and international assistance, protecting and guaranteeing the rights of internally displaced persons was primarily the responsibility of the State concerned.
Copyright 2001 M2 Communications Ltd.

M2 PRESSWIRE

November 20, 2001

LENGTH: 3403 words

HEADLINE: UN

Refugees victims of terrorism, not its perpetrators, High Commissioner
tells Third Committee, as refugee debate opens - Part 2 of 2

BODY:

Statements
CHRISTOPHE PAYOT (Belgium, on behalf of the European Union) said the
number of internally displaced persons was increasing dramatically, and
they now outnumbered refugees by almost two to one. The figure was
estimated at 25 million, in 40 or so countries, half of them in Africa.
But while refugees enjoyed a special status and international assistance,
protecting and guaranteeing the rights of internally displaced persons was
primarily the responsibility of the State concerned. The scale and variety
of the humanitarian needs of those people required coordinated action. The
European Union welcomed the efforts being made by the United Nations,
particularly the setting up of a unit within the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and endorsed the criteria set
by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on internally
displaced persons. The European Union supported the Guiding Principles on
Internal Displacement, the benchmark in these matters, and appealed for
them to be generally applied.
Mr. Payot said the main difficulty facing humanitarian action today was
safety. Too often, humanitarian personnel, and in particular UNHCR staff,
became targets. The events of the past few months were yet another sad
reminder of that fact. The sickening murder of four UNHCR staff members in
West Timor and Guinea last year and of another in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo in March of this year were unacceptable acts of the utmost
gravity and should be condemned as such. In this context, the European
Union welcomed the fact that the Rome Statue of the International Criminal
Court made it a war crime to intentionally direct attacks against
personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a
humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations, as long as they were entitled to the
protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international
law of armed conflict. The European Union called on all States which had
not yet done so to ratify the instruments, and also the 1994 Convention on
the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. The European Union
emphasized the importance of giving UNHCR personnel adequate protection.
He said the European Union was working on a common policy on asylum and
immigration. The European Union's objective was to establish a common
European asylum system, based on full and comprehensive application of the
1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees. This common policy
would see the European Union harmonizing the procedures for granting
refugee status and the arrangements for refugee reception, as well as
sharing the burden equitably between Member States. The aim was to provide
a better response to the challenges of today's world, such as temporary
protection, mass influxes and mixed flows. Last month, the Presidency of
the European Union had held an international conference on migration in
Brussels, where particular attention was paid to the link between asylum
and migration. Organized in collaboration with the European Commission, the
conference was an opportunity to tackle the question of a policy capable of
taking account of the many facets of the problem, like prevention and
setting up partnerships with countries of origin; management of migratory
flows; economic migration; integration and employment. The constructive
debate that took place over those two days of discussion would be of
further help in preparing for the proceedings of the European Council in
Laeken next month, which, it was hoped, would result in a fundamental
political pact on a Community approach to immigration.
CARLOS DOS SANTOS (Mozambique, on behalf of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC)) said SADC noted with concern that conflicts
continued to displace hundreds of thousands of people and forced them to
join the ranks of refugees. The flight of refugees not only deprived the
countries of origin of their human resources, but also placed a burden on
the host countries, many of which had limited resources. The SADC called
upon all States Parties to conflicts to make every effort to peacefully
settle their differences to avoid the unnecessary suffering of people. The
situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons required the urgent
attention of the international community.
In this regard, SADC reiterated the appeal made by the Organization of
African Unity Council of Ministers urging the international community to
provide adequate support and assistance to refugees in Africa.
Mr. Dos Santos said the international community should accord special
attention to women and children. The SADC considered that the recent
decision of the Security Council to put the issue of protection of children
in armed conflict on its agenda would be instrumental in alleviating the
adverse affects that armed conflict had on children. The SADC looked
forward to the outcome of the General Assembly special session on children
as another important landmark in this regard, and SADC welcomed the entry
into force of the Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Rights of
Children and Armed Conflict.
It also applauded the adoption by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other United Nations agencies of
policies and guidelines on gender, especially for refugee women. It also
saluted the Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security
that called for the empowerment of women, including refugee women, to
participate actively in the peace process.
He said the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in refugee camps was a source of
concern to SADC. That deadly disease had a devastating impact on the most
vulnerable segments of the refugees - women, children and youth. The SADC
welcomed the Declaration of Commitment that was adopted at the General
Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS last June and hoped the Health Fund
that was agreed upon at the session would also benefit refugees,
particularly refugee women and children.
The SADC was deeply concerned at the critical financial situation faced by
the UNHCR. There was also concern about the Programme Budget for 2002-2003,
in which funding allocated to UNHCR had been further reduced. That decision
would negatively affect the operations of UNHCR in carrying out its
mandate, and thus increase the burden on host countries. The SADC called
upon the international community to ensure that financial resources needed
to assist refugees were made available in a timely manner.
TIAN LIXIAO (China) said the past five decades had witnessed profound
changes in the world, and the protection of refugees had become more and
more challenging. Responding to that situation, the UNHCR had launched the
Global Consultations on international protection and the High Commissioner
had identified measures to improve the work of his office, such as focusing
on core activities, strengthening management and enhancing fund-raising
mechanisms. China was of the view that the Global Consultations, based on
the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, aimed
to establish a more effective international protection regime.
He said the Consultations should also focus on exploring how the principle
of responsibility and burden sharing could be genuinely practiced, and how
UNHCR and the countries of asylum could obtain sufficient resources for
refugee protection. They should also focus on alleviating the social and
economic burdens on host countries as well as on strengthening their
capacity-building. When formulating its "Agenda for Protection" based on
those Consultations, the UNHCR should pay special attention to
incorporating and reflecting the demands and concerns of all parties.
He said China had always believed it was critical to address the root
causes of the refugee issue. To eliminate the scourges of war, poverty and
injustice, countries should adhere strictly to the principles of the
Charter and related international law, as well as mutual respect for State
sovereignty. The international community should adopt effective measures to
help developing countries eliminate poverty. Developed countries should
help smaller States achieve development, in line with the principles of
responsibility and burden sharing. He added that following the 11 September
terrorist attacks, it was important that measures to combat terrorism
should not harm innocent people.
He called on the international community to provide, in the spirit of
international solidarity and responsibility and burden sharing, more
assistance to Afghan refugees and their major host countries Pakistan and
Iran.
YOSHIYUKI MOTOMURA (Japan) said that in response to the fluid and complex
humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the entire region, creative
thinking was now desperately called for. Recognizing the plight of
displaced persons eager to cross borders in order to escape conflict, Japan
supported the Office of the UNHCR in its efforts to persuade Afghanistan's
neighbours to open their borders based on the principle of non-refoulement.
In the meantime, sympathy was felt for those neighbouring countries which
necessarily had grave concerns about their security and the burden of
hosting even more refugees. To provide effective assistance to those in
need, the international community should not insist on adherence to
particular principles, but make an extra effort to be flexible. Japan
therefore welcomed UNHCR's recent decision to put more emphasis on
operations inside Afghanistan, where people were in need of immediate aid.
Also, Japan welcomed the efforts of neighbouring countries, such as
Pakistan and Iran, to accommodate vulnerable displaced and desperate
persons, by providing for their safety and basic needs, and hoped they
would continue.
No matter how grave it might be, he said, the emergency in Afghanistan
should not unduly overshadow other items on the agenda, thereby creating
more "forgotten crises" where the voices of refugees went unheard and their
needs unmet. Until quite recently, that was precisely the situation with
Afghan refugees. According to the latest statistics, there were still more
than 21 million people of concern to UNHCR, of whom 12 million were
refugees and the rest asylum-seekers, returned refugees, internally
displaced persons and others. That clearly indicated that UNHCR had been
expanding the scope of its responsibilities, from seeking solutions to the
problem of individual refugees to exploring solutions to broader refugee
issues. The past successes of UNHCR proved that complex refugee problems
could be solved when governments were committed and resources were made
available. A key element in refugee protection was providing durable
solutions, thus cutting off the vicious circle of conflict and refugee
outflows. Japan accordingly supported the solution-oriented approach taken
by UNHCR in dealing with individual refugee and other displacement cases.
He said Japan was helping UNHCR fulfil its mandate in several ways. First,
given the important mission of UNHCR to provide protection to refugees and
seek permanent solutions to refugee problems, its core contribution had
accounted for 10 to 15 per cent of UNHCR's annual budget for the last 10
years. Another pillar was cooperation through the Trust Fund for Human
Security, through which Japan provided financing for such projects as the
establishment of the UNHCR Regional Centre for Emergency Training, where
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government officials in Asia and
the Pacific enhanced their ability to deal with emergencies. The Government
of Japan had also been exploring a form of cooperation with UNHCR that
aimed at a strong linkage between development assistance and its
humanitarian effects. As UNHCR's strength lay in its field presence,
Japanese embassies at the operational frontier were now instructed to work
more closely with UNHCR. A precursor to that was the collaboration between
the Japan International Cooperation Agency and UNHCR in Tanzania, where the
burden borne by the host country was eased, leaving UNHCR to concentrate on
refugee protection and assistance.
OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) said many wondered if the world would ever get
back to "business as usual" after 11 September, and as the Committee took
up the issue of refugees, he realized that "business as usual" was indeed a
relative term.
For those dealing with the plight of refugees and internally displaced
persons, crises and catastrophes were the order of the day. The Afghan
tragedy might have heightened people's awareness of the fact that the
plight of refugees and internally displaced persons affected the entire
international community.
He said the issue of protection was particularly important when it came to
safeguarding the interests of the most vulnerable. In many cases, that
meant women and girls.
Norway had been an ardent advocate of mainstreaming their special needs in
the general operations of UNHCR and other agencies and organizations. They
must not be merely an afterthought. Norway, in its efforts to raise
awareness in this respect, would host a seminar in Oslo next January on the
physical protection of women and girls in refugee camps. That was part of
the humanitarian agenda that the Government was seeking to promote through
its membership on the Security Council.
On the subject of the most vulnerable, Norway also drew attention to the
Secretary-General's report on Protection and Assistance to Unaccompanied
and Separated Refugee Children.
For more than two years now, Norway had been one of the main sponsors of
the Separated Children in Europe Programme, a joint initiative by UNHCR and
the International Save the Children Alliance. That programme not only
succeeded in compiling relevant statistics for the first time, it had also
shown that the rights and needs of separated children were insufficiently
understood and acknowledged. Clearly, the programme had an important
advocacy function which those children would continue to need.
He said that when talking about vulnerable groups like refugees and the
displaced, it was important not to lose sight of the fact that those groups
also represented immense human resources. They could be victims of
conflicts and crises, but if they were only regarded as part of a problem,
they might not be considered as part of the solution. It was time to train
the international community's collective focus in that direction. Just
imagine the unused resource potential of Afghan refugee women, he said.
ILHAM IBRAHIM MOHAMED AHMED (Sudan) said in the last three years, her
Government had hosted flows of refugees with all goodwill and without
hesitation, in spite of the social and environmental consequences. Sudan
wished to continue having the support of the international community in
hosting the refugees until they could return home in peace and dignity. It
was hoped Sudan could share this burden. It appeared international refugee
assistance was dropping in Sudan. Her Government needed to be helped in
areas that were most hard hit by the influx of refugees, in particular
concerning their effect on Sudan's natural resources.
She said Sudan followed its international agreements in hosting refugees,
and hoped for their safe return to their countries of origin soon. Sudan
was concerned that Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries were being
exploited and forced to partake in armed conflicts. Many of those refugees
were children, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) should help protect them.
There was also a need to ensure the safety of United Nations and other
humanitarian personnel. Sudan deplored and condemned all attacks on field
personnel.
She said her Government renewed its commitment to the international and
regional documents regarding refugees.
Sudan would continue to make resources available to all refugees in Sudan
- they would receive everything they needed to live in an atmosphere of
peace and dignity.
SICHAN SIV (United States) said protection - particularly physical
protection of refugees - remained a key priority for the United States.
Refugee women and children faced distinct protection challenges. Although
they were a stated policy priority of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more had to be done.
The United States urged UNHCR and its partners to strengthen all their
programmes in the field to meet the special needs of those refugees.
Governments largely determined the degree to which refugees were afforded
durable solutions. They were called on to do more to promote voluntary
repatriation, local integration and resettlement. The United States would
continue to work with the UNHCR to provide resettlement opportunities for
refugees.
Mr. Siv said the challenges for the international community and for UNHCR
had been great during the past weeks.
The High Commissioner and his staff had once again helped mobilize the
international community's support for Afghan refugees. In the war against
terrorism, the United States was fully dedicated to working with UNHCR and
other humanitarian organizations. Special gratitude should be expressed to
Afghanistan's neighbours. Some of them had hosted millions of Afghan
refugees for many years, and had been asked once again to accept new
arrivals. Others had facilitated the flow of humanitarian assistance into
Afghanistan and obviated the need of many to flee.
He said the High Commissioner and his staff had had an exceptionally
challenging year due to lower resources.
Funding shortfalls had forced the UNHCR to reduce its budget this year by
almost $100 million and to present a minimum budget for 2002. The budget
could not go any lower. All who could should contribute to UNHCR's efforts
to assist refugees. As the largest donor, the United States would continue
its strong support. Other donors were expected to do more, so that the
UNHCR could develop a more needs-based budget for 2003. Those who had
decreased their contributions to the UNHCR in recent years had to reverse
that trend. The United States asked those who had not been traditional
donors to UNHCR to step forward now and provide assistance. There were,
sadly, refugees all over the world. No country was untouched by that human
tragedy.
MARIA PEREZ DE PLANCHART (Venezuela) said her Government had established
various mechanisms to guarantee the human rights and protection of refugees
and displaced persons. Her country had adopted on 3 October a law on the
protection of refugees and asylum seekers which was in line with
international norms. Situations of crisis continued to proliferate
throughout the world, and the number of refugees continue to grow. Such
persons required international protection and care. The UNHCR played a
pivotal role in harmonizing international efforts in that regard.
Problems for refugees and internally displaced persons could not only be
solved through providing protection and humanitarian assistance, she said.
Ensuring peace and stability was critical in that regard. Also the
reconstruction of societies and creation of situations that would allow
safe returns to secure environments, were important. It was also essential
to promote and protect the safety of humanitarian workers who often
performed dangerous duties in the field. Her delegation welcomed recent
efforts to ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers as well as
refugees living in encampments.
She called on all States to fulfil their international obligations to
assist refugees and asylum seekers, particularly in Afghanistan and its
neighboring countries. In light of the present needs of the UNHCR, she
announced that her Government had provided $1 million to assist
Afghanistan.
While that was significant for a country the size of Venezuela, she
realized that it was small compared with the real needs of the people in
that country.
((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided
within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further
information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on
the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).


LOAD-DATE: November 20, 2001

Women’s Reproductive Health & Armed Conflict

2001-11-29

http://www.savingwomenslives.org/factsheet_women_and_armed_conflict.htm

More than 26 million refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons are registered worldwide and millions more are unregistered. 50% are girls and women. Gender-based violence tends to increase in refugee situations, where reproductive health services are often lacking. For example, a 1994 study of Rwandan refugees in Tanzanian camps found that 60% of the women had a reproductive tract infection and more than 20% of births at a Burundi refugee camp in Tanzania in 1998 were below average weight, and infant deaths rose sharply from prewar levels. Of Rwandan women who reported being raped, 17% were HIV-positive.

Angolans Handicapped By a Culture Of Corruption

2001-11-29

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56357-2001Nov20.html

This is a country on the take, disfigured by a core group of senior government officials whose corruption is so malignant that it has metastasized to virtually every level of Angola's public sector, according to diplomats, relief workers, academics and Angolans from all walks of life, says Jon Jeter in the Washintton Post.

Kenya: Moi to name experts to combat corruption

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111170008.html

President Moi has said he will appoint a team of internationally respected experts to combat corruption.

Kenyan minister ousted after IMF row

2001-11-29

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1668000/1668924.stm

Kenya's finance minister, Chris Okemo, has been replaced in a surprise cabinet reshuffle following a public row with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Nigeria: Immigration Officers Urged to Shun Corruption

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111200272.html

Immigration Officers nationwide have been advised to abstain from corrupt tendencies as the present administration would not spare anybody caught in the act.

Sierre Leone: Putting corruption on the agenda

2001-11-29

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=15211

What ever that might be the acceptable definition, it is an established fact that corruption is a two way process, involving members of both the public and private sector, who are engaged in illegal, illegitimate and unethical actions that diminish a country's economic prospects and degrade its social and political institutions.

Think Again: Debt Relief

2001-11-29

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/issue_novdec_2001/easterly.html

Debt relief has become the feel-good economic policy of the new millennium, trumpeted by Irish rock star Bono, Pope John Paul II, and virtually everyone in between. But despite its overwhelming popularity among policymakers and the public, debt relief is a bad deal for the world's poor. By transferring scarce resources to corrupt governments with proven track records of misusing aid, debt forgiveness might only aggravate poverty among the world's most vulnerable populations, argues William Easterly from the World Bank.

Uganda: Fighting Graft Isn't Easy, Says Speaker

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111200419.html

The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, has said that although MPs have tried to fight corruption to a small extent, stamping out graft completely is impossible.

ETHIOPIA: Big reduction in foreign debt

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16075&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia's foreign debt has been almost halved in the last two years following succesful debt cancellation programmes.

FACING THE FOOD CHALLENGE IN AFRICA

2001-11-29

http://www.acts.or.ke/sacred/

It has been taken for granted that Agriculture and the economies of countries in sub-Saharan Africa must remain liberalized irregardless of the consequences that arise from this process, argued participants at at a recent course in Sustainable Agriculture for East & Southern Africa held in Eldoret, Western Kenya.
FACING THE FOOD CHALLENGE IN AFRICA


It has been taken for granted that Agriculture and the economies of countries in sub-Saharan Africa must remain liberalized irregardless of the consequences that arise from this process.



At a recent regional course in Sustainable Agriculture for East & Southern Africa held in Eldoret, Western Kenya, African experts lamented that the sorry state of the African farmer needs to be addressed. “The farmers have been thrown to the dogs and left to God’s mercy”, said one participant from the University of Zimbabwe. The workshop which was organized by the Sustainable Agriculture Centre for Research, Extension and Development in
Africa (SACRED-Africa), was attended by 36 participants from 7 countries in the region – namely South-Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, America and the host Kenya. An economist from Bunda College of Agriculture in Malawi, felt that African researchers spend too much time working on irrelevant and out-dated priorities and agenda. “These experts should be the ones telling us how liberalization and other market policies have affected the small-holder farmer in Africa, and what can be done to alleviate the situation,” adding that if a doctor gives a prescription to a patient and it does not work, he should be human enough and summon some courage to try another and not continue killing the poor fellow. What surprises everyone is the way governments in the region elected by the same farmers (70% of all voters across the region are farmers) continue to ignore this time bomb, just because they must please somebody ‘above’. Participants felt that while liberalization may not be had per se, its implementation was hurried, haphazard and without any escape routes. “life cannot just be about making money”, said one Kenyan participant.



One of the biggest challenges discussed at the workshop is how to make African farming more efficient and competitive. Improved communication and access to information by smallholder rural farmers was seen as the key in this direction. The issue of land tenure and conservation of natural resources (including forests, wetlands, and water) featured prominently at the meeting. It was felt that the continent inherited an unfair land tenure system from the former colonial governments and any efforts to reform and improve the situation has only ended up helping the rich and the well connected. “Only the color of the land owners seem to change, but the system remains unfair” said a participant from Makerere University, Uganda. The meeting felt that for the continent to improve the land productivity and incomes of its people, there is need for a radical change in land tenure systems that ensure maximum and efficient use of existing land resources. This should marry traditional and modern land legislation systems.



Dubbed participatory approaches to Sustainable Agriculture, the workshop was held from 29th October to 2nd November 2001, and brought together representatives from universities, NGOs, government, community-based organizations and the private sector. One participant from the Kwazulu Natal province, South-Africa, said that it was very frustrating the way we continue agonizing over Africa’s problems. We know the problems and the solutions, but we are not moving in any direction to show that we can solve these problems sustainably. The example of integrated development and decentralization of service provision in South Africa was seen by the participants as the one that holds the key to empowering local people in all our countries to take a lead in solving their own problems, leaving the central government to only play supervisory roles. The participants from Uganda shared their experiences of how agricultural service delivery has been decentralized in Uganda – under modernization for agriculture program. Under this program, farmers in the local counties are empowered to manage agricultural research and extension in their local areas – choosing the right service providers, deciding which messages they need and evaluating the performance of service providers. It was suggested that farmers be involved in the hiring and firing of agricultural extension agents-to increase accountability and improve service provision.



The issue of access to credit by farmers remained a contentious issue throughout the meeting. While noting that previous loans were often poorly repaid and that giving farmers loans was an expensive exercise since they often live in the rural areas which makes monitoring expensive. This coupled with natural calamities and poor producer prices has led many experts to conclude that credit to small holder farmers is an exercise in futility. However, participants at the workshop strongly felt that small scale farmers need and must have access to credit. A participant from CARE-Kenya said that there is no way professionals can pretend that they cannot come up with a model Sustainable Agriculture credit scheme for smallholder farmers.



Towards the end, It was resolved that because the workshop was a major eye opener in the region, it should henceforth be held annually on a rotating basis in different countries. SACRED Africa would like to thank the Rockefeller Foundation for sponsoring 8 postgraduate students from across the region to attend this workshop. Additional sponsorship for this workshop also came form Kulika charitable trust (Uganda), CARE-Kenya, Rural Outreach programme(Kenya), University of Zimbabwe, Moi University (Kenya) Ethekweni Municipality (South Africa), African Evangelistic Enterpises (Uganda), Kasisi Agricultural training college (Zambia), The international Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), VI-tree planting (Kenya) and several private companies-most of whom sponsored their staff or contacts. The wide range of participants at the meeting enabled the interaction and sharing of ideas and experiences between researchers, extensionists and community workers.

Next years workshop is scheduled for 13th – 14th October 2002 and will be held in Jinja, Uganda. Those wanting to attend or send their staff or contacts can contact the undersigned at the –email address below.







Dr. Eusebius J. Mukhwana,

Workshop Convener & Coordinator,

SACRED-Africa.

Po Box 2275, Bungoma, Kenya,

Tel – 254-337-30788; Email – sacred@africaonline.co.ke

SACRED AFRICA
Sustainable Agriculture Centre For Research & Development in Africa
PO Box 2275, Bungoma, Kenya, East Africa
Tel.: ++254-337-30788/30293
Fax: ++254-337-20235

Visit Our Award winning website: http://www.acts.or.ke/sacred

(comments made in this report are those of the organizers ans shoulkd not be taken to represent the opinion of the sponsors of this course).

IMF calls for extra aid for poor

2001-11-29

http://www.debtchannel.org/front.shtml

The International Monetary Fund has called on the world's richest countries to boost aid budgets and debt relief efforts to prevent the gathering downturn in the global economy pushing millions more people in the developing world into abject poverty.

Mozambique gets debt relief from Paris Club

2001-11-29

http://www.debtchannel.org/front.shtml

The Paris Club of creditors agreed to reduce Mozambique's debt by $1.65 billion in net present value under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). The country will devote all the resources freed by the debt relief into priority areas identified in the country's poverty reduction strategy.

NEW CURE FOR BATTERED COMMODITY PRODUCERS?

2001-11-29

http://www.gemininewsservice.com/default.asp?content=articlesmp&id=451

Commodity producers in developing countries have generally suffered from fluctuating world prices. Efforts by international organisations over the last 30 years to help them have failed in an increasingly competitive market dominated by the rich. Now a World Bank-sponsored task force believes extending some modern market instruments would help, reports Gemini News Service.

Ottawa meetings of the IMF/World Bank

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/4439

A report on the recent World Bank/IMF meetings from 50 Years is Enough, with some details on what happened in the unofficial events outside the meetings, and some thoughts on what results of the meetings might be.
Ottawa meetings of the IMF/World Bank



From Soren Ambrose, 50 Years is Enough <soren@50years.org>

November 20, 2001

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank held two
high-level meetings over the past weekend (Nov. 16-18) in Ottawa. These
were the remnants of the cancelled joint annual meetings of the
institution, and are the two sessions which, every 6 months, legitimize
the conduct of the institutions. One, the International Monetary and
Financial Committee -- the meeting which we protested in Washington on
April 16, 2000 (and have many times before and since) -- is the
highest-level regularly-scheduled meeting of global economic
decision-makers, and is the official policy-making body of the IMF. The
other, the Joint Development Committee (often referred to as a World
Bank body), has some overlapping membership, and is supposed to give
direction on issues pertaining to development in impoverished countries.

They met right after the meetings of the G-20, a rather pointless
assemblage of finance ministers and central bank governors from the G-7,
the EU, and 12 “emerging market” countries, which, all together,
constitute something like 87% of the world economy (or is it 95%?).
This meeting of the G-20, the third annual one, was scheduled for New
Delhi, but relocated either because the Indians didn’t want to deal with
security concerns, or finance ministers, unlike trade ministers, are
afraid of flying into a war zone.

In this report, some details on what happened in the unofficial events
outside the meetings, and some thoughts on what results of the meetings
might hold some interest.


UNOFFICIAL EVENTS

* On Thursday, Sept. 15, a press conference took place at the Parliament
building. Its focus was: why are people protesting the IMF and World
Bank? Speakers at the event included representatives of the Halifax
Initiative (a Canadian coalition of IMF/WB campaigners), Global
Democracy Ottawa (the coalition organizing to support the protests),
CAZO (a francophone Canadian anti-FTAA coalition), the 50 Years Is
Enough Network, and the Sustainable Energy & Economy Network. We
structured the press conference around the 4 demands endorsed by over
200 organizations internationally (cancel debt; end structural
adjustment; stop environmentally and socially devastating projects; open
the meetings), and released the “civil society rebuttal” formulated in
the last few weeks in response to the World Bank’s response to those
demands. There was good press turnout (much of it francophone), and a
reasonable number of articles the next day, from what we could tell.

* On Thursday evening there was a panel discussion at McGill University
in Montreal (about two hours from Ottawa) featuring Anna Kikwa of the
Tanzania Gender Networking Programme and Lidy Nacpil of Jubilee South
and the freedom from Debt Coalition (Philippines). About 100 people in
attendance.

* On Friday morning, there was another press conference featuring
campaigners who have tried to engage the World Bank in joint exercises
(such as the World Commission on Dams and the Structural Adjustment
Participatory Review Initiative). They denounced the Bank’s use of such
exercises for public relations, its refusal to take the process or
conclusions seriously, and its failure to keep promises made as part of
the agreement to talk to one another.

* During the day Friday there were marches by activists around Ottawa in
advance of the main day of protests. Windows were broken at two
McDonalds restaurants in downtown Ottawa, but at the end of the day the
police chief thanked the demonstrators for their good behavior.

* Friday evening there was a teach-in attracting about 500 people,
sponsored by the Council of Canadians, the Halifax Initiative, and the
International Forum on Globalization. Lots of enthusiasm. Southern
speakers included Lidy Nacpil, Alejandro Bendana of Jubilee South and
the Center for International Studies in Nicaragua, and Oronto Douglas of
Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria. Maude Barlow of the Council of
Canadians gave a report on the Doha meeting of the WTO, from which she
had just returned.

* Saturday morning started with a meeting between Canadian Finance
Minister Paul Martin (about whom our Canadian colleagues have legitimate
complaints, but whose relative intelligence, humanity, and
sophistication would disqualify him from a political appointment in the
U.S.) and the Southerners present (those mentioned above, plus Walden
Bello of Focus on the Global South [Philippines/Thailand]).

* As the main session of the G-20 got underway, demonstrators started
gathering at several different points in Ottawa. A few quick speeches
and protesters started toward the Supreme Court building. While the
Ottawa police chief’s words were very conciliatory, the behavior of
Ottawa police was inexplicably confrontational. They attempted to
divide the march starting from the University of Ottawa by marching into
the middle of it and creating a human barrier. It took well over 15
minutes for them to relent when the marchers in the first group refused
to procede without their comrades. In the march I was in, leaving from
LeBreton Flats, the police did the same thing, but relented after 10
minutes of the crowd shouting “Sol-sol-sol - Solidarite.” Earlier in
our march the police adopted a tactic I’ve not seen before: they stood
in the path of the march, riot shields up, motionless, in a staggered
formation. The protesters had to weave their way around the living
statues to continue. On either side were other police with German
shepherds yowling and snapping. These police dogs, whose use the media
criticized, later bit several protesters (and, it would appear, even a
police officer or two).

* As the various marches converged at the Supreme Court, the crowd
appeared to me to number about 4000. It was spirited and very diverse.
The rally, with music and speakers, was good, particularly since it had
warmed up about 10 degrees from the morning rallies. As the rally broke
up, most of the demonstrators headed to the barricades set up a couple
blocks away outside the site of the conference. Some demonstrators
tried to overturn barricades, and police responded with tear gas and
water hoses (not pleasant in 7-degree-centigrade/40-degree-farenheit
weather). All in all about a dozen people were arrested on Saturday.

* Overall, the protests were positive in spirit, and demonstrated
strength and unity in the movement for global justice. Activists made
clear that this movement will not be silent because of the September
11th events, especially when the economic system hasn’t changed, and
when the politically and economically powerful are trying to exploit the
public’s response to Sept. 11 to further secure their neo-liberal
agenda. The results of both Doha and Ottawa are a mixed bag in that
regard: we seem to have prevented the big victories that the more
ravenous neolibs thought attainable, but there was no clear repudiation
of their efforts. And the WTO is able to claim some redemption, even if
the practical meaning of Doha is not yet totally clear.


THE OFFICIAL MEETINGS

* The big news continues to be made by the anglophone countries, with
Paul Martin of Canada (okay, partly anglophone) sounding the call for
more substantial debt cancellation (a repeat of what he said last year).
Gordon Brown of the U.K. spoke favorably of debt “standstills” --
moratoria on debt payments when countries hit the skids, until
rescheduling is arranged -- and asserted that there is increasing
support for coming up with some sort of bankruptcy status for severely
indebted countries -- i.e., a system of arbitration to impose a final
reckoning on creditors and restore the country to square one. This
would be a significant step, but the idea was expressed in generalities
and not picked up by others. Brown also said that the overall amount
committed to assistance should be doubled -- meaning about $50 billion.
Lots of heads nodded, but, as WB President Wolfensohn pointed out, no
one brought their checkbooks. Seems unlikely.

* Wolfensohn spoke extensively about the need to accommodate the private
sector in all facets of development, which is consistent with the Bank’s
emerging private sector development (PSD) strategy -- one of the most
insidious developments to come out of the WB in recent years. At the
same time, there was also talk of making sure that the private sector
participates in (takes a hit) bailouts of countries like Argentina,
South Korea, etc. The criticism levelled at the IMF that it acts as a
guarantor for private investors is becoming unbearable, it seems.

* US Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill continued to advanced the proposal
made by Pres. Bush several months ago that the World Bank shift half of
its lending to grants. This has proven to be very controversial. Some
Europeans claim it is a way of defunding the Bank (which appears
overblown, tho it wouldn’t bother some of us very much). Others say it
means the Bank would be engaging in a type of development it has no
expertise in. Some of our Southern colleagues warn it could mean that
grants, presumably with SAP conditions, would be much more attractive to
Southern governments and thereby trap them in more stringent traps. But
there is an undeniable appeal to the idea of reducing the debt that
continues to accrue as the WB goes on its destructive way. At any rate,
the debate is a good one to see: it helps foster new ideas and keeps the
G-7 from undue collusion as they squabble: Claire Short, UK Development
Minister, called the proposal “crazy.”

* UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan attended the meetings, ostensibly to
support new proposals for “financing for development” -- the topic of
the next big UN summit. To little avail however. Indeed, the ministers
assembled merely asserted the need for the UN summit (in Monterey,
Mexico in 2002) to be sure that all the aid it talks about adheres to
“sound economic policies” (i.e., structural adjustment).

* Finally, Anne Krueger, the new #2 at the IMF, said that the money
spent on security at these meetings and on getting demonstrators to them
should be spent on something productive, like development assistance.
(Don’t tempt us to find better uses of funds at the IMF, Anne …) And
Wolfensohn said that he doesn’t see much point in protests; instead we
should be discussing and debating. In fact, Global Exchange, together
with 50 Years Is Enough, did suggest that the debates originally planned
for September take place in Ottawa. Carolyn Reynolds, WB External
Relations Officer, said that that was impossible: the Bank wouldn’t have
enough people there. Perhaps Mr. Wolfensohn would like to have a word
with her?






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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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World Bank Bonds Boycott
Center for Economic Justice
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Renowned U.S. Economists Denounce Corporate-Led Globalization

2001-11-29

http://www.earthisland.org/ggn/ggn_article2.html

Recent Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, along with well-known economist Paul Krugman, have of late made a flurry of public statements critical of the policies and processes of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank / IMF, and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) — while leaving plenty of harsh words for the blatantly pro-corporate actions of the Bush Administration. Both economists point to the disruptive and distorting influence of large corporate entities through their dominance over both domestic and international institutions.

Rwanda Debt Network (RDN) POLICY PAPER

Save lives! Cancel the debt

2001-11-29

http://www.jubilee2000uk.org/jmi/jmi-policies/Rwanda_debt_network.htm

Every Rwandan needs to be given a stake in a peaceful future. There are numerous obstacles to peace and development, which require imaginative responses from government and civil-society groups, in conjunction with donors, regional organisations, and NGOs. Large-scale financial and technical assistance will be needed. Rapid population growth is placing pressures on an under-resourced social sector, and is increasing competition over land and water in densely populated rural areas. The social sector, cruelly targeted during the genocide, urgently needs new investment. Training of teachers, health workers, and administrators is critical. Violent conflict continues.

SOUTH AFRICA: INTERVIEW WITH SANGOCO PRESIDENT

2001-11-29

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/archive/2001nov/features/28nov-seeds.html

NGOs want to reassert their roles in shaping public policy and becoming a delivery partner in the alleviation of poverty, health issues, joblessness and homelessness, according to Zakes Hlatswayo, the newly elected president of the South African National NGO Coalition.

Sustainable development:

what’s land got to do with it?

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/4417

Ahead of the September 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa is reviewing its plans and progress towards sustainable development. This paper argues that more attention needs to be given to land reform as a key component of sustainable development strategy. It raises a number of questions and concerns that need debate before the Summit and beyond.
Policy brief: debating land reform and rural development
Sustainable development: what’s land got to do with it?
Stephen Turner
29 October, 2001

Ahead of the September 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa is reviewing its plans and progress towards sustainable development. This paper argues that more attention needs to be given to land reform as a key component of sustainable development strategy. It raises a number of questions and concerns that need debate before the Summit and beyond.



Introduction
The international community has chosen to hold a World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa. The meeting will take place in Johannesburg in September, 2002.
This is therefore a critical time for South Africa to decide whether it is on the right track towards sustainable development. How does it define its sustainable development challenge? What is it doing to tackle that challenge? Has it set itself the right priorities in its struggle towards sustainable development? South Africa must ask itself these questions in the context of its regional neighbours’ concerns and experience. In turn, South African priorities and performance in sustainable development are likely to be relevant to those elsewhere in the region as they confront similar issues.
As a contribution to national debate ahead of the World Summit, this paper examines South African perceptions and priorities regarding sustainable development, and identifies ways in which they need to be revised. It recognises the priority that government is giving to poverty reduction in its sustainable development strategy. But it argues that, if sustainable development is to succeed in this country, land reform must be given much stronger emphasis than it currently receives. While stating the case for some basic principles and priorities, it identifies many issues on which more debate is needed and for which clear strategies remain to be defined.
South Africa’s sustainable development challenge
This country’s sustainable development challenge is a microcosm of that facing humanity as a whole. This makes South Africa a good place to hold next year’s World Summit. It is a nation of massive inequality and widespread poverty. It is a largely semi-arid land with a fragile natural resource base. The minority of South Africans who enjoy first world living standards do so at an environmental cost similar to that incurred by rich westerners. The majority of South Africans who live in poverty often have no choice but to use natural resources in unsustainable ways. To achieve sustainable development through sustainable livelihoods, South Africa must greatly reduce poverty and inequality. It must build an adequate standard of living for all its people, while sustaining or restoring the health of its ecosystems.
As they prepare their positions and review their strategies ahead of the World Summit, South African government and civil society need to understand this sustainable development challenge: its many dimensions and its integral character.
What’s land got to do with it?
A core part of South Africa’s colonial and apartheid experience was the enforcement of massive inequality in land access and tenure to support the privileges of the ruling minority. Redressing this injustice is at the heart of the development task that faces the new, democratic nation. But it is not only a question of justice and human rights. The current structures of land distribution, tenure and administration are grossly inefficient from an economic point of view. Economic development – sustainable or otherwise – is retarded by the current inequities of access and by the confusion that surrounds land rights and administration in the communal areas or former ‘homelands’.
The South African government is required by the new Constitution to undertake land reform. It launched a programme for this purpose soon after the end of apartheid in 1994. Since then, government and society have made slow but significant progress in some areas of land reform (Turner and Ibsen, 2000; Lahiff, 2001). Overall, however, most of the inequity remains stubbornly in place. Many of the injustices are still to be addressed. The inefficiency and unfairness of land tenure and administration in the former ‘homelands’ have yet to be tackled.
For most of the period since 1994, the land reform programme has received surprisingly little public attention. Nor has it seemed to be a high priority for government, which has committed less than one quarter of one per cent of its annual budgets to the programme (Lahiff, 2001, 1). Since land invasions in Zimbabwe began to threaten the political and economic stability of the region, South African land reform has been a somewhat more prominent subject of public debate, although government has not deemed it necessary to dedicate more resources to it.
South Africa should give land reform priority in the reviews and strategies it is developing ahead of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Like several countries in the region, it must realise that effective land reform is a core condition for sustainable development. Without a land reform programme that achieves justice, equity and efficiency in the urban and rural sectors, the nation cannot reduce poverty and it cannot care for its ecosystems.
Land reform, poverty and livelihoods
South Africans suffer many kinds of poverty. It is deepest and most widespread in the former ‘homelands’. It is severe for many of those who work and live on commercial farms. It afflicts millions more in urban and peri-urban areas. To achieve sustainable development, the nation must push back all these kinds of poverty. To do that, it must make land reform work.
In the former ‘homelands’, which contain almost a third of the national population, land tenure is legally insecure and uncertain. Since the end of apartheid, land administration in these areas has become increasingly chaotic and contested. Many residents enjoy day to day security on their residential holdings and in their ownership of fields. But acquiring new land, transacting in land rights or using land as collateral for loans and investment may be complex, corrupt or just impossible. Women’s land rights are inadequate, both in and out of marriage. Land tenure and administration are arenas of conflict involving traditional leaders, political parties and other local factions. This is an impossible scenario for poverty reduction or sustainable development.
Furthermore, the inequities that forced people into these crowded corners of South Africa remain in place. Poverty reduction for this major sector of society requires land reform to give them better access to the majority of the nation’s land resources, from which apartheid excluded them.
Despite the gravity of these constraints on poverty reduction and sustainable development in South Africa, tenure reform for the former ‘homelands’ has so far been the slowest part of the government’s land reform programme (Lahiff, 2001, 1-2). It remains to be seen whether and when South Africa will achieve just and effective land reform for its former ‘homelands’. It is an undeniably complex political, economic and legal challenge. But as the nation reviews how it is tackling poverty and sustainable development ahead of the World Summit, it would be well advised to give new emphasis to a democratic, equitable and efficient programme of tenure reform that delivers real prospects of sustainable change to these areas. Such initiatives should be linked to renewed, proactive planning to achieve the redistribution of more land in the former ‘white’ districts to ‘homeland’ residents. The land reform solution for the former ‘homelands’ lies beyond their borders as well as within them.
Hard questions need to be asked about what land reform can really achieve for these areas. We should not pretend that land reform can create an idyllic agrarian future for all the people of the former ‘homelands’. It is clear that South Africa’s current agricultural technologies do not offer a pathway out of poverty. Much commercial farming is increasingly unviable, as apartheid subsidies are withdrawn and globalisation takes its toll. Many commercial farmers are leaving the land, or taking on extra livelihood strategies. Meanwhile, it would appear that some former ‘homeland’ areas are farmed less and less. Uncultivated fields are now a common sight in many communal areas of the Eastern Cape, for example. Despite or because of their poverty, many of the rural poor seem to have decided that they can no longer farm, or that farming is no longer worth the effort. The true extent of this ‘underfarming’ phenomenon, and its causes, urgently need to be investigated. But it is already obvious that just advocating land reform as the foundation for an agricultural future is not enough.
To reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, South Africa needs to explore and promote smaller-scale, more economically competitive farming technologies that operate within the limits of the mostly fragile environment. There will be no point in achieving better rural land rights and access if farming ceases to be a viable livelihood. But so far, nobody seems to have effective answers about how to get agriculture working again. It needs to be internationally competitive. Locally, it needs to be socially, economically, technically and economically efficient, providing quality livelihoods to much larger numbers of people.
Government’s Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) does not suggest how this can be achieved. The IRDP attempts to blend agrarian and other approaches. It is right to highlight the “marginalisation of agriculture” as an issue of concern, but it is wrong to marginalise land reform as just a “complementary strategy” (Government of South Africa, 2000, viii-ix). Land reform has a much more central role to play in ensuring that the rural economy can function efficiently and that participatory strategies for rural resource management can succeed. In any event, it remains to be seen whether the IRDP becomes an operational reality.
Although it is not yet clear how to achieve sustainable agriculture, we do know that farming cannot be the only development strategy for the former ‘homelands’. So land reform must be equally effective in clarifying and securing rights to land that can be used for business, small industrial ventures and tourism in these areas. Like farming, these sectors are constrained by the current chaos in land administration.
The land redistribution programme is aimed at opening up access to privately owned farm land for those who were forbidden to own it by the apartheid regime. Unlike tenure reform, land redistribution has been the subject of an active programme since 1994. Although substantial areas of farm land in the former ‘white’ districts have been transferred to black ownership, the process was hindered by a range of problems and has not significantly altered the racial distribution of private farm ownership. Most importantly for this discussion, it has had very limited impact in reducing poverty or promoting sustainable development. Indeed, its role in combating poverty was reduced by policy changes introduced since 1999 (Lahiff, 2001, 4-5).
What sustainable development in rural South Africa requires, however, is transfer of a significant proportion of privately owned farm land to those who currently live in poverty. Such a transfer, as argued above, needs to be linked to innovations in farming practice (and in the economic framework) that make farm production economically viable and ecologically sound.
As we have noted, many of the workers on privately owned farms live in poverty, as do most other farm dwellers whose presence is still tolerated by the owners. Land reform legislation to better their lot has had little success (Lahiff, 2001, 2-3). More thought is needed about how they can develop sustainable livelihoods.
Throughout South Africa, land restitution has been another important element of the land reform programme. The restitution of land rights lost due to racially discriminatory legislation or practice can help reduce the poverty of some of those who suffered at the hands of apartheid. The programme is a valuable part of a sustainable development strategy. But many of the urban claims are being concluded with a cash payment rather than the restitution of the lost land. There is no guarantee that these payments will lead to long term income generation or reduction of poverty. So far, the programme has redressed little of the poverty that rural land restitution claims represent (Lahiff, 2001, 3-4). In fact, because of its more legalistic nature, the land restitution component of land reform has had the weakest links to any sort of planning for sustainable land use or livelihoods.
Some people would argue that, with the rural economy in its present parlous state, too much concern with rural land reform is misguided. They would claim that the future for South Africa lies in its towns, and that that is where the policy attention must be focused.
It is true that South Africa currently lacks the technical experience and ideas to offer a convincing strategy for sustainable livelihoods to the millions who live in rural poverty. But it is equally impractical to expect the towns and cities to offer a viable future for the whole nation. Although largely semi-arid, South Africa has enough rural resources to support a substantial part of the population in the sustainable production of food and other commodities for domestic and export markets. Tourism has important potential too, although the number of people it is likely to employ should not be exaggerated. Beyond land reform, the challenge is to find technologies and socio-economic frameworks that spread all these rural opportunities more equitably and make them economically viable. As Zimbabwe’s current experience vividly shows, there is little prospect of sustainable national development if this challenge is not met.
Land reform and the environment
Land reform also has a critical contribution to make to the other core component of sustainable development: caring for the environment.
Sustainable development requires maintaining or enhancing the health of ecosystems. People must be committed to the governance of resource use and conservation within a framework of efficiency, equity and social justice. They must be motivated to conserve natural resources as they use them, or even if they do not use them. If people consider their rights to natural resources to be insecure, or if they perceive themselves to be unfairly excluded from some of the nation’s natural heritage, they are less likely to use natural resources sustainably. In situations where land rights are clear and where land administration is democratic and efficient, the motivation to use natural resources sustainably will be stronger.
However, these are necessary but not sufficient conditions for sustainable resource use. Conferring private ownership on a land user does not guarantee good environmental behaviour. In addition to clear and secure resource rights within a democratic and efficient framework, the economics of resource use must be conducive to production with conservation. Appropriate technologies must be available for the purpose. Government must provide enabling policy and a supportive authority framework for locally determined resource management.
These arguments are clearly relevant to South Africa. Private land owners have often degraded their natural resource base, sometimes irretrievably. But the motivation for sustainable resource use is undeniably lowest, and the degradation worst, in those overcrowded former ‘homeland’ areas where resource rights are not clear and secure enough and where land and resource management systems are inefficient, corrupt or just non existent. Until a comprehensive programme of tenure reform and administrative upgrading is effected in these areas, there is no prospect of sustainable resource use or of sustainable development there.
Land reform must thus deliver three badly needed enhancements to land rights and land administration in the former ‘homelands’. It must achieve justice and equity, so that opportunities to acquire land rights and to use natural resources are fairly and transparently administered. (Accountability and user participation are key qualities in this regard.) It must provide for clarity and security of land rights, to give people adequate incentive to conserve land that they are sure is theirs. It must deliver administrative efficiency, so that resource use and conservation can be effectively controlled and promoted within a technical framework in which users have confidence.
An appropriate tenure reform programme for the former ‘homelands’ could make a major contribution to sustainable development by working towards these goals. But, as we have noted, no comprehensive tenure programme has been started since 1994.
There have been isolated instances of land reform restoring rights to people who have then committed themselves strongly to responsible resource management on their regained land. The best known example of this is the Makuleke people of Northern Province, who regained ownership of the Pafuri region of the Kruger National Park through a land restitution claim. They have dedicated the land to nature conservation and ecotourism activities that show promise of significant economic development for the community. The ‘virtuous circle’ of sustainable development can certainly be achieved in South Africa.
South Africa’s leading initiative for agricultural resource conservation is the LandCare programme. Building on the original international concept of LandCare in the local context would mean bringing all sectors of local rural society together to develop participation and a sense of ownership in caring for natural resources. This would plainly mean a leading role for land reform in building the rights that help create care. So far, LandCare has not done this. It has focused too much on short term poverty alleviation through labour intensive public works.
Land redistribution can promote sustainable resource use in South Africa, notably by reducing the environmental pressure in the former ‘homelands’ through making more land available to previously disadvantaged people in the former ‘white’ farming areas. But so far, the performance of the land redistribution programme has led some people to allege that land reform is bad for the environment. At first, not enough was done to work out environmentally sustainable and economically viable production systems for redistributed land with the new owners, who were sometimes large groups. Some of these groups failed in their new farming ventures. Unsustainable resource use sometimes put environmental viability in doubt. The challenge is to bring environmental considerations to the attention of land reform beneficiaries, and to work with them to develop sustainable production with conservation systems. The Department of Land Affairs has been tackling this challenge in recent years, and has built a number of environmental procedures and guidelines into its operations (DLA, 2001).
South African experience suggests that rural development cannot be environmentally sustainable without land reform. Nor can land reform be sustainable without adequate provision for environmental care. While government has acted on this second lesson, it needs to do more to address the first.
From words to action
South Africa will not achieve sustainable development unless it achieves land reform that integrates poverty reduction with the sustainable use of natural resources. It must accomplish land reform on a scale that matches the poverty and inequality that sustainable development needs to overcome.
It is easy to be critical and to offer general recommendations. It is more challenging to propose practical measures, and harder still to execute them. This paper does not claim to offer all the answers. But it hopes to launch debate that can generate more ideas, and that may stimulate more action to achieve sustainable development on the ground.
Some necessary steps can be identified. First, the nation’s sustainable development strategy should acknowledge the key role that land reform needs to play. Now is the time to make the necessary changes, as that strategy is refined in preparation for the World Summit.
Secondly, the land redistribution programme should be revised to ensure that it makes an adequate contribution to reducing poverty, while integrating production with conservation on redistributed land.
Perhaps most important of all, the country needs a tenure reform programme for the former ‘homelands’ that achieves justice, equity and efficiency and thus reduces the poverty of the poorest zone in South African society.
All rural land reform initiatives need to be linked to technical and economic programmes that make small-scale farming both profitable and environmentally sustainable. Land reform must also facilitate the environmentally sustainable growth of small industrial and other non-agricultural livelihood options.



Working with the Norwegian Agricultural University, the Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies aims to advance this discussion over the months to come. Following a national workshop to debate this paper, it will prepare a more thorough status report on land reform and sustainable development in South Africa, building on its previous status report on land reform (Turner and Ibsen, 2000). If it seems appropriate as preparatory discussions for the World Summit evolve during 2002, PLAAS will sponsor a further short policy brief and workshop on the issue. Whatever the details of the process, PLAAS hopes to make a useful contribution by attracting more attention to the role of land reform in sustainable development for South Africa. As the world focuses its attention on progress towards sustainable development in this country and this region, it is important for us to show that we recognise how important the role of land reform can be.
Stephen Turner works at the Centre for Development Cooperation Services, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. From 1996 to 2000 he was seconded to PLAAS. Thanks to Tor Arve Benjaminsen, Ben Cousins, William Ellis, Sidsel Grimstad, Edward Lahiff, Espen Sjaastad and Poul Wisborg for their input and comments. The author alone is responsible for all opinions expressed and for any errors.



References
Department of Land Affairs, 2001. Guidelines for the integration of environmental planning into land reform and land development. Reference document. Pretoria: DLA.
Government of South Africa, 2000. The Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy (ISRDS). Johannesburg: Independent Development Trust.
Lahiff, E., 2001. Land reform in South Africa: is it meeting the challenge? Cape Town: Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape Policy brief 1.
Turner, S.D. and Ibsen, H., 2000. Land and agrarian reform in South Africa: a status report. Cape Town: Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape Research report 6.

GIVE WOMEN A CHOICE! GIVE CHILDREN A CHANCE!

Treatment Action Campaign Solidarity Campaign

2001-11-29

http://www.tac.org.za

On the 26-27 November 2001, South Africa will witness a court case that can help to alter the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our country. The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) calls on your support and solidarity to save people from unnecessary death and suffering. We ask you to encourage our government to change its tragic course in the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
MESSAGE FROM TAC - Treatment Action Campaign


GIVE WOMEN A CHOICE! GIVE CHILDREN A CHANCE!
TAC APPEALS FOR GLOBAL SOLIDARITY IN MOTHER-TO-CHILD-TRANSMISSION (MTCT)
COURT CASE

On the 26-27 November 2001, South Africa will witness a court case that can
help to alter the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our country. The
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) calls on your support and solidarity to
save people from unnecessary death and suffering. We ask you to encourage
our government to change its tragic course in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At
heart, this court case is about giving women a choice and children a chance.

Across our country nearly 300 000 women with HIV will give birth this year.
The majority do not know their HIV status and are not given information or
medicine that can reduce the risk of HIV transmission to their children. As
a consequence, at least 70 000 children will be infected with HIV during
labour and through breastfeeding. They will suffer an unnecessary painful
death.

The government has the resources and the opportunity to give women a choice
to look after their own health and a chance to prevent their infants from
becoming infected with HIV. But, it has dithered and reacted
unscientifically, unlawfully and with no morality to calls for the
implementation of MTCT prevention programmes.

For more than five years civil society, initially led by the AIDS Law
Project and the AIDS Consortium, have lobbied government to implement MTCT
programmes to reduce HIV transmission to infants. Since December 1998, TAC
has led the call for government to take action.

We have petitioned, negotiated, written appeals, organised workshops and
conferences, publicised the
need for government action -- all to no avail.

In March 2000, Judge Edwin Cameron made the following appeal to the
government in the presence of t
he Minister of Health at a national conference of people living with
HIV/AIDS:

"Since 1994, very detailed and careful scientific and medical studies have
been done on how to reduce the risk that a mother with HIV will transmit it
to her baby during or after birth. The overwhelming scientific consensus is
that effective anti-retroviral medication can be made available in a
developing country to reduce transmission. Every month in our country,
approximately five thousand babies are born with HIV. Medicines exist that,
now, can reduce this figure by half. Economists have done detailed studies
that show that this medication can be made available cheaply and affordably.
Their studies have also shown that, from a purely economic point of view, it
is better to save young babies from getting HIV than to let them fall sick
and die of
AIDS, and that intervention will save the country money.
"So overwhelming is the medical, scientific and economic consensus on these
points, that many people find it almost impossible to understand why our
Government is still delaying the immediate implementation of programs to
prevent mother to child transmission of HIV.
If government commits itself to helping pregnant mothers, it will throw a
beam of hope onto the entire epidemic. It will throw a beam of light onto
all our lives. If babies can be protected from exposure to HIV by giving med
icine to their mothers, then all of us can hope that progressive
implementation of an accessible drugs programme will save many more lives in
South Africa and in our continent as a whole."

The government has spurned every opportunity to do the right thing. Despite
the TAC's unshakeable support for the government during its court battle
with the drug companies, TAC has had no option but to defend the rights of
poor women with HIV and children against the government. For TAC, legal
proceedings were our last resort - they give people who have lost faith in
the government's commitment to address all aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
a legitimate and legal avenue to defend their constitutional rights to
healthcare access, life, dignity and equality. We are not opposed to our
government. We are opposed to the misguided and unconstitutional actions (or
lack of them) on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. You can consult our
court papers at www.tac.org.za

In August, we appealed publicly to the Government to abandon its opposition
to the orders TAC is seeking from the court: access to Nevirapine for women
and children who need it (under proper medical supervision), and a clear
national programme to prevent mother to child HIV transmission. The Minister
of Health spurned this appeal.

We therefore appeal to every person in South Africa and across the globe to
support TAC's court action. We urge you to write letters of support to TAC
at the following address:
TAC National Office
Town One Properties, Sulani Drive, Site B, Khayelitsha. Tel: +27
(0)21-364 5609 Fax: +27 (0)21 36
4 6653 Email: info@tac.org.za

Where possible, TAC requests supporters in South Africa to attend the
hearing in court or to join demonstrations. We request that international
allies arrange meetings with the South African Embassies to urge the South
African government to settle the court case.

Please do not hesitate to make further enquiries.

Yours sincerely
Siphokazi Mthathi (TAC)
Cati Vawda (Children's Rights Centre)
Dr. Haroon Saloojee (Save Our Babies)

GLOBAL FUND BETRAYS PEOPLE WITH AIDS

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/4453

International AIDS activists and medical organizations protested at the opening day of meetings of the Board for the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in Brussels, and demanded the Global Fund subsidize cheap AIDS Drugs.
GLOBAL FUND BETRAYS PEOPLE WITH AIDS


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

22 November 2001

Joint Press Release by NGOs from Belgium, Burundi, France, Ivory
Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, UK, and US.

Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria:
Bureaucrats Betray People with AIDS in Poor Countries

AIDS activists from around the world demand the Global Fund subsidize
cheap AIDS Drugs

(Brussels) International AIDS activists and medical organizations
confront the opening day of meetings of the Board for the Global Fund
for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in Brussels. Activists are
concerned by the clear lack of commitment among Global Fund decision
makers to financing AIDS treatment in poor countries.

Set to launch on December 15, 2001 the Global Fund is currently
poised to finance treatment only for diseases cheaper to treat than
HIV, despite public health evidence that AIDS treatment is cost
effective and is a key aspect of an effective response to the AIDS
pandemic. The activists insist that access to AIDS treatment is a
fundamental human right that the Global Fund must help fulfill, as 30
million people with HIV are currently living with no access to
affordable medication.

Activists from 10 countries have gathered in Brussels to meet with
Global Fund Board members to demand funding for AIDS drugs, including
antiretrovirals. The activists report that Global Fund
decision-makers have already made clear that funding HIV treatment in
poor countries will not be a priority for the Fund, despite the
desperate worldwide need for AIDS drugs, and the tremendous gap in
access to AIDS treatment that spurred the creation of the Global Fund
by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in April, 2001.

"The Global AIDS TB and Malaria Fund is turning into a slow,
under-funded bureaucracy that will not be able to produce results.
27,000 people will die today because they lack access to affordable
treatment for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria," said Zackie Achmat of
the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa.

"What we're seeing here is a betrayal of what the Fund was invented
for in the first place. Rich countries cannot be allowed to simply
sentence 30 million people with HIV to death because they prefer to
focus on cheaper diseases," said Evan Ruderman of the Health GAP
Coalition. "There is no reason for the Fund to wait to deliver vital
medicines and start turning the tide while global comprehensive plans
guidelines are developed over the next year."

The proposals being debated by the Global Fund board members fail to
address proposals for treatment programs, or for the procurement or
distribution of medicines. A concrete proposal that NGOs are making
is for the Fund to start saving lives now, by putting vital HIV drugs
into the hands of qualified field organizations through procurement
and delivery systems already housed within UN agencies.

"Hospitals, clinics and workplaces in the field can immediately scale
up effective treatment and care if they are given the HIV/AIDS drugs
they can not afford," said Joseph Essombo, an AIDS doctor with the
Ivory Coast Bouake Health Network.

"The fund must prioritize programs that quickly put critical
medicines into the hands of the suffering," said Pearl Nwashili of
Stop AIDS in Nigeria. "But the donor countries seem perfectly content
that the Global Fund will not finance programs to start saving lives
now, when 10,000 people with AIDS die each day."

The Doha declaration on Public Health affirms the rights of poor
countries to bypass patents and purchase generic HIV medicines. "Even
the World Trade Organization recognizes that economics can not
dictate double standards on world health" said Gaelle Krikrian of ACT
UP Paris. "The experience of doctors in the field shows that HIV
treatment is absolutely feasible in poor countries, and, since the
advent of generic competition, entirely affordable".

The international group of NGOs will meet with Global Fund board
members this week to demand:

* GF must commit to saving the lives of people infected with AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria by providing treatment. Treatment for AIDS
must not be a lower priority than prevention, or treatment for TB or
Malaria.

*GF must prioritize, encourage and fast-track financing for
provisions for AIDS medications at best world prices through
international bidding and bulk procurement.

* GF must agree that the Fund will quickly make funds for treatment
available to any qualified care providers that can rapidly deliver
treatment to people with AIDS tuberculosis and malaria.

* GF must support the use of best world price and not restrict the
use of affordable generic medicines to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria
.

* GF must not use a shortage of resources to justify deadly
ineffective measures such as HIV prevention in the absence of
treatment. Donor countries must commit sufficient amounts to give the
Global Fund, and make good on the promise made last June at the
United Nations' Special General Assembly on AIDS to commit at least
10 billion USD a year to the global fight against aids.

Oxfam International
Health GAP Coalition
ACT UP New York
ACT UP Philadelphia
ACT UP Paris,
Treatment Action Campaign (South Africa)
WOFAK (Kenya)
People's Health Coalition (South Korea)
Stop AIDS (Nigeria)
Renaissance Sate Bouake (Cote D'Ivore)
Pharmacist's Association for Healthy Society (PAHS)
Intellectual Property Left (IPLeft)
People's Solidarity for Social Progress
Team of Drug Policy, Korean Association of Physician for Humanism
People's Health Coalition

-ends-

HIV-Positive Mothers Can Safely Use Formula as Alternative to Breastfeeding

2001-11-29

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm#8142

Mortality and morbidity rates are similar for breastfed and formula-fed children of HIV-positive mothers, indicating that formula feeding can be a "safe alternative" to breastfeeding in resource-poor settings as long as women are properly educated and clean water exists, according to a study in today's Journal of the American Medical Association.

HIV/AIDS: Which success story at ICASA 2001?

2001-11-29

http://archives.hst.org.za/af-aids/msg00057.html

The national prevalence of HIV in Zambia is clearly on the decline and Zambia does have a story to tell. It is a story of a strong, active, and
highly developed community response to AIDS.

Mozambique: AIDS Prevention Work Stunted by Poverty, Taboo, 'Willful' Ignorance

2001-11-29

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm#8143

HIV prevention efforts in Mozambique have been hindered by poverty, taboo and sometimes "willfull" ignorance, Reuters reports. An average of 600 to 700 people a day are infected with HIV in the nation, which has 17 million citizens. Mozambique is among the world's poorest nations, where most people have never seen and do not know how to use condoms. In addition, it is considered taboo to talk openly about sex, and many people doubt the existence of HIV/AIDS, making it more difficult to alter sexual behavior.

No new drugs for 'unprofitable' diseases of developing world

2001-11-29

http://www.health-e.org.za/view.php3?id=20011019

Virtually no new drugs are being developed for diseases that predominantly affect the poor, according to a report released by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). The report, "Fatal Imbalance" claims among others that from 11 companies surveyed, only one new tuberculosis (TB) drug was brought to the market in the last five years.

SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS -- MANY STILL TAKE RISKS

2001-11-29

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/news.html#durex

Eight in 10 South Africans are concerned about contracting HIV/AIDS or another sexually transmitted infection, but many are not protecting themselves, a major international sex survey revealed.

South Africa: Mbeki regime in court for barring Aids drug

2001-11-29

http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,606605,00.html

The South African government was accused in court this week of sacrificing the lives of tens of thousands of babies by its "insane" policy of refusing to make anti-Aids drugs widely available to pregnant women.

South Africa: Nevirapine Suit Against Government Will Continue

2001-11-29

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm#8144

AIDS activists from the Treatment Action Campaign and other groups will begin a court case Monday against the South African National Department of Health and eight of nine provincial health ministers, alleging that government health officials are "violating [AIDS] sufferers' constitutional right to life and health care" by not providing the antiretroviral drug nevirapine to the nation's pregnant women to reduce the risk of vertical transmission, Reuters/Contra Costa Times reports.

South Africa: Publication on HIV infection among youths

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/4449

In this study published in AIDS, the authors found an extremely high prevalence of HIV among young women (34%) and men (9%) aged 14-24 years from a township in the Carletonville district of South Africa. The authors suggest that these
remarkable findings are due to high rates of HIV transmission from
men to women, and the major role played by HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus type 2) in the spread of HIV in this population.
Publication on HIV infection among youths in South Africa
---------------------------------------------------------

High prevalence of HIV infection among youth in a South African min-
ing town is associated with HSV-2 seropositivity and sexual behaviour

Bertran Auvert, Ron Ballard, Catherine Campbell, Michel Cara‰l, Mat-
thieu Carton, Glenda Fehler, Eleanor Gouws, Catherine MacPhail, Dirk
Taljaard, Johannes Van Dam, Brian Williams

Contact:
Dr B. Auvert
INSERM U88, 14 Rue du Val d'Osne
94415 Saint-Maurice
Cedex, France
Tel: +33-1-4518-3871
Fax: +33-1-4518-3889
mailto:bertran.auvert@paris-ouest.univ-paris5.fr

AIDS Volume 15, number 7

AIDSONLINE Press release
http://www.aidsonline.com/

This paper will be for a short period freely available on-line on
this site. To obtain a faxed pre-publication copy of this paper
please contact:
Ms Louise Bishop
AIDS Editorial Office
Tel: +44-20-7940-7500 (switchboard), -7517 (LB)
Fax: +44-20-7940-7515
mailto:lbishop@lww.co.uk


In this study published in AIDS, the authors found an extremely high
prevalence of HIV among young women (34%) and men (9%) aged 14-24
years from a township in the Carletonville district of South Africa.
HIV prevalence among women aged 24 was 66%, one of the highest rates
ever reported in a general population. The authors suggest that these
remarkable findings are due to high rates of HIV transmission from
men to women, and the major role played by HSV-2 (herpes simplex vi-
rus type 2) in the spread of HIV in this population.

South Africa is experiencing one of the most rapidly growing HIV epi-
demics in the world. In 1990 the prevalence of HIV infection among
women attending antenatal clinics was less than 1%. By the end of
1999 national prevalence had reached 23%. Most of the studies that
have been performed in sub-Saharan Africa to date have investigated
risk factors for HIV infection among adults, but young people, and
especially young women, are at particularly high risk of HIV infec-
tion in many developing countries.

The authors claim that the high prevalence of HIV infection among
young women compared to young men in the Carletonville study is not
simply due to either very high rates of infection amongst their part-
ners or to very high levels of sexual activity. In fact, in almost
all surveys carried out across Eastern and Southern Africa by the
World Health Organization, men report a higher turnover of partners
before marriage than women, and in this study the mean number of
partners was 4.7 for men and 2.6 for women.

One reason for this discrepancy in HIV prevalence between young men
and young women is that HIV is more easily transmitted from men to
women than from women to men. Studies in industrialized countries
have shown that, in the absence of other risk factors, men are two to
three times more likely to transmit HIV to women than vice versa.
However, the estimates of transmissibility of HIV from men to women
in the Carletonville study are significantly higher than this, even
taking into account the possibility of women under-reporting their
number of sexual partners. There are several possible explanations
for this. A recent study has shown that viral load is an important
predictor in the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission, and viral
loads are likely to be higher in South Africa than in Europe or the
US due to the reduced availability of effective drugs and treatment.
Another factor may be the high prevalence of HSV-2 (herpes simplex
virus type 2) in this population, as HSV-2 can facilitate HIV infec-
tion.

In the Carletonville study HSV-2 status was the most significant fac-
tor associated with HIV status for both men and women. For example,
men infected with HSV-2 were seven times more likely to also be HIV
positive than those who did not have HSV-2. HSV-2 acts as a co-factor
in HIV transmission by causing genital ulcers which both increase the
susceptibility of the uninfected to infection by HIV, and increase
the infectivity of those who already carry the virus.

Reducing HIV transmission in this population is a major challenge. At
the present time genital herpes can only be treated at considerable
cost, and no vaccine is currently available. Therefore the best op-
tions for reducing transmission include communication campaigns aimed
at alerting the population to the relatively mild manifestation of
genital herpes and the need to abstain from sexual contact while le-
sions persist. In addition it is important to find ways to persuade
young people to reduce their number of sexual partners and, most im-
portantly of all, to substantially increase condom use; in this
study, 41% of men and 42.5% of women reported never having used con-
doms. As most young people in this study were still at school when
they had their first sexual experience, attempts to limit the future
spread of HIV should involve not only prevention in the community but
also effective school-based interventions as an essential part of the
school curriculum.

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World AIDS Day

Saturday 1 December, 2001

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/4440

SAfAIDS (Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service) has planned the following activities as a way of addressing the 2001 World AIDS Campaign. If you are in the area where any of our activities for the World AIDS DAY are taking place, please join us.
World AIDS Day -Saturday 1 December, 2001


The theme for the 2001 World AIDS Campaign is “I Care, Do You” focussing on young men and HIV/AIDS. Young men account for up to a quarter of the world’s population living with HIV. They have an important role to play in the lives of their partner, family, friends and community.

SAfAIDS (Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service) has planned the following activities as a way of addressing the 2001 World AIDS Campaign. If you are in the area where any of our activities for the World AIDS DAY are taking place, please join us.


·A training workshop in Lesotho on men and HIV/AIDS aimed at influencing policy makers to support programmes that address gender and HIV/AIDS at all levels.

·Providing advisory support to the Zimbabwean men’s forum (PADARE) on their World AIDS Day activities including the planning of a symposium to develop strategies that engage men in HIV/AIDS mitigation, and the mobilisation of men and women for the World AIDS Day March on December 1, 2001.

·Discussion forum to be held in Harare focusing on recent research findings on young men and STIs in Mutare.

·Glossy posters, featuring Oliver Mutukudzi, a popular role model and musician.

·A fact sheet outlining details on everything you need to know about Young Men in the context of HIV.

·A comprehensive media pack with regional feature articles on young men, plus links and other resources.

·Colourful t-shirts displaying the World AIDS Campaign theme

·A screen saver featuring the UNAIDS’ posters

·Steps for the Future film review on World AIDS Day at the UNESCO auditorium in Harare.

·Television and radio programmes focusing on issues concerning and involving young men.
·Special series of radio inserts on youth for regional dissemination.

·AIDS memorial in Harare city.

·Special website postings and easy-to-access PowerPoint presentation on young men

“As real men, we should strive to be exemplary and change sexual habits that can ruin our lives, particularly when there is danger of getting and passing on HIV/AIDS. We have only one life, one chance and therefore it is never too late to change bad habits”- Oliver Mutukudzi

For further details, contact:

Joshua Chigodora
SAfAIDS
17 Beveridge Road,
P.O. Box A509, Avondale,
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: 263 4 336193/4
Fax: 263 4 336195
E-mail: joshua@safaids.org.zw

Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) is a regional HIV/AIDS NGO based in Zimbabwe. It seeks to influence multi-sectoral responses in policy, planning and implementation and views HIV/AIDS as a development issue. SAfAIDS activities include advocating for policies, supporting and building the capacity of organisations, conducting research and advisory work, as well as disseminating HIV/AIDS information

Briefing on Child Soldiers and Sexual Exploitation

2001-11-29

http://www.child-soldiers.org

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers submits the following briefing for the regional preparatory process of the Second World Congress on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, alerting participants to the dire need to address the problem of child sexual exploitation in armed forces and armed groups.

Children in Our Midst -

Voices of Farmworkers' Children

2001-11-29

http://www.weaverpresszimbabwe.com/child/childframeset.htm

For many years farmworkers in Zimbabwe have been a marginalised and neglected community. This is even truer of their children. Children in our Midst brings together the voices of several hundred childrencollected through essays and interviews. You can order a copy by email or visit the Weaver Press web site.

Mozambique Recovery: listening to older people

2001-11-29

http://www.helpage.org/dev/news/MozamRecov/MozamRecov.html

Older people in Mozambique have struggled to recover from the devastating floods of 2000. Necodemus Chipfupa of HelpAge International describes how older people's organisations have mobilised support for vulnerable people in the community.

NIGER: Organisation implements education initiative

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16111&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=NIGER

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is currently implementing an education initiative in two largely nomadic regions of Niger. The programme focuses on sustaining school enrolment in a Catholic primary school in the northern Tuareg region of Tchirozerine, as well as in public primary schools in Bermo, primarily inhabited by the Peul people, a statement from CRS said.

Nigeria's Children: What Manner of Future?

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111090260.html

With dislocation in the Nigerian economy, women and children, have been at the receiving end. The report presented by UNICEF in Lagos recently painted a gloomy picture of the situation, but at the same time, gave a ray of hope that with concerted effort, this vulnerable group of humanity can be rescued from disease, ignorance and want. Godwin Haruna was there.

Scandal of Britain's Child Slaves Revealed

2001-11-29

http://www.globalmarch.org/clns/clns-nov-15.htm#1

Hundreds of West African children have been brought illegally into Britain and other European countries in a modern-day form of slavery, according to a BBC investigation. The probe, triggered by the tragedy of Victoria Climbie, says that the practice of children being brought to Europe amid promises of a life of comfort and a good education is widespread.

South Africa: Boarding schools are prone to unrest

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111110009.html

In South Africa, boarding schools register more strikes and other forms of students' agitation than other schools. A reason being advances is that children in these schools live away from their families at a time when they
badly need guidance.

South African youth urged to become net savvy

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111190548.html

South African President, Mr Thambo Mbeki has urged African youth to master
the Internet technology and use it to solve the enormous problems confronting the continent.

EDUCATING CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGAINST RACISM

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Durban, South Africa

2001-11-29

http://www.iearn.org/racismreportfinaldoc.pdf

There is perhaps no place better to focus anti-racism efforts than to educate
children and youth about racism and how to combat it. Racism, after all, is only as strong
as its proponents and practitioners – and educating the next generations is surely one of
the most effective ways of reducing the number of racists and the potential appeal of their message. Accordingly, this Report focuses on anti-racism educational efforts directed at children and youth.

Nigeria: Focus On Tension Between Communities in Kaduna State

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111220008.html

Reputed for decades to be the melting pot of Nigeria's cultures, the northern state of Kaduna has witnessed some of the most violent confrontations between different ethnic and religious groups since President Olusegun Obasanjo was elected in 1999.

Behind Consumption and Consumerism

2001-11-29

http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Consumption.asp

Today's consumption is undermining the environmental resource base. It is exacerbating inequalities. And the dynamics of the consumption-poverty-inequality-environment nexus are accelerating. If the trends continue without change - not redistributing from high-income to low-income consumers, not shifting from polluting to cleaner goods and production technologies, not promoting goods that empower poor producers, not shifting priority from consumption for conspicuous display to meeting basic needs - today's problems of consumption and human development will worsen.

Climate Change: Big Drop In Crop Yields Forecast

Billions Across The Tropics Face Hunger And Starvation

2001-11-29

http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=225&ArticleID=2952

Harvests of some of the world's most important food crops could fall by as much as a third in some crucial parts of the planet as a result of climate change, scientists are warning. The decline comes at a time when there is an urgent need to raise yields to feed as growing, global, population.

ETHIOPIA: Organic farming methods gaining ground

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16263&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ETHIOPIA

Under a pilot scheme in drought-prone North Welo, farmers are turning away from the use of expensive and potentially dangerous chemical pesticides in favour of ancient methods of pest control to help their crops flourish.

Green industry: an agent of change?

2001-11-29

http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?section=9&id=1199

Can industry be trusted to deliver sustainability? A quick glance back at the corporate track record gives sobering food for thought. Much of the past half century of economic development has come at the cost of havoc wrought on the life-support systems of the planet and its social fabric, while the twin drivers of growth and profit have repeatedly ridden roughshod over other considerations.

KENYA: Greens dismayed at forest excision plan

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15842&SelectRegion=East_Africa

The livelihoods - and perhaps even the lives - of many Kenyans are threatened by a government plan to excise, or remove, over 167,000 acres of the country’s forests, according to protesting environmental campaigners.

NIGER: Remaining giraffes endangered

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16020&SelectRegion=West_Africa

Signifying a further breakdown in some of West Africa's environmental ecosystems, the last giraffe population in the region has shrunk from just 100 to a much smaller and endangered number found in Niger's Koure region, 60 km east of the capital Niamey.

Stop Treating Oceans as Sewers, Officials Urged

2001-11-29

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/oneworld/20011121/wl/stop_treating_oceans_as_sewers_officials_urged_1.html

Environmental disaster looms if governments fail to take swift action to stop waste flows from land polluting the sea, officials from around the world will warn this week.

Ethiopia: New Radio Show Encourages HIV/AIDS Prevention

2001-11-29

http://www.jhuccp.org/news/112101.shtml

A new radio serial drama that begins airing this Sunday, Nov. 25, in Ethiopia is designed to encourage young adults to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies by depicting characters engaging in either risky or safe sexual behavior.
New Ethiopian Radio Show Encourages HIV/AIDS
Prevention





New Ethiopian Radio Show Encourages HIV/AIDS Prevention
-------------------------------------------------------

November 21, 2001 -- A new radio serial drama that begins airing this
Sunday, Nov. 25, in Ethiopia is designed to encourage young adults to
protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies by depict-
ing characters engaging in either risky or safe sexual behavior.

Ethiopia has been devastated by HIV/AIDS. According to the CDC,
Ethiopia has just one percent of the world's population, but nine
percent of the worldwide cases of HIV/AIDS. The disease has orphaned
more than 700,000 Ethiopian children and more than a million people
have died due to AIDS.

Journey Through Life is a 26-episode series that uses the principles
of "entertainment-education" to promote healthy behavior among the
listening audience. The program is designed to appeal to young mar-
ried couples and unmarried adolescents in urban and semi-urban areas
of the country.

"We are hoping Journey Through Life will help Ethiopians understand
just how easy it is to become infected with the AIDS virus," said
Araya Demissie, country representative in Ethiopia for Johns Hopkins
University Center for Communication Programs (JHU/CCP). "But we also
hope the program will convey just how easy it is to protect your-
self."

JHU/CCP, with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Devel-
opment, provided technical assistance to National Office of Popula-
tion in Ethiopia in developing the new radio series. JHU/CCP is a
leader in the field of entertainment-education, which uses music and
television, radio, and live drama to deliver public health messages.
JHU/CCP is working to increase the ability of African countries to
write and produce high quality entertainment-education programming.

In Journey Through Life, one of the sub-plots involves a husband and
wife becoming ill after the husband has an affair with a prostitute.
They soon discover that the husband contracted HIV/AIDS from the
prostitute and they are both infected. The story also examines the
plight of orphans in Ethiopia, including those orphaned when their
parents died of AIDS and children that are abandoned as a result of
unwanted pregnancies.

Public health messages are interwoven throughout the story to encour-
age the audience to practice family planning, be tested for HIV/AIDS,
and protect themselves from HIV/AIDS by abstaining from sex, being
faithful to one partner or using a condom.

"By portraying characters the audience can identify with in an enter-
taining format, we hope to encourage healthier behavior," said Demis-
sie. "Some characters are vulnerable, but others are empowered as
they take steps to protect against unwanted pregnancies and dis-
eases."

JHU/CCP is a pioneer in the field of strategic, research-based commu-
nication for behavior change and health promotion that has helped
transform the theory and practice of public health communications.
With representatives in more than 30 countries, JHU/CCP has been a
leader in the development of projects based on systematic needs as-
sessments and clear strategies for positioning and presenting the
benefits of health interventions to appropriate audiences.

To find out more about JHU/CCP, go to:
http://www.jhuccp.org

Kim Martin
Chief, Media Relations and Advocacy
Center for Communication Programs
Johns Hopkins University
111 Market Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21202, USA
Tel: +1-410-659-6140
Fax: +1-410-659-6266
mailto:kmartin@jhuccp.org

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Ethiopia: Two more journalists charged

2001-11-29

http://www.ifex.org/

Two Ethiopian journalists, Wesenseged Gebrekidan, deputy
editor-in-chief of "ETOP" newspaper, and Kidushabet Belachew, editor-in-chief of "Mebrek" newspaper have both been charged by the High Court.
IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

ACTION ALERT - ETHIOPIA

20 November 2001

Two more journalists charged as harassment of free press continues

SOURCE: Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA), Addis Ababa

(EFJA/IFEX) - On 19 November 2001, Wesenseged Gebrekidan, deputy
editor-in-chief of "ETOP" newspaper, was summoned and notified by the
Central Investigation Office (Makelawi) that a press charge was filed
against him with the Federal High Court's Third Criminal Bench. Gebrekidan
is scheduled to be heard in court on 8 March 2002.

Kidushabet Belachew, editor-in-chief of "Mebrek" newspaper, was also
summoned and notified by the Central Investigation Office (Makelawi) that a
press charge was filed against him with the Federal High Court's Fourth
Criminal Bench. His trial was adjourned to 12 December.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- protesting these illegal actions
- expressing concern about the serious challenges that Ethiopian journalists
continue to face in the exercise of their profession

APPEALS TO:

H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
C/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 55 20 20
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et

H.E. Ato Siyum Mesfin
Minister of Foreign Affaires
C/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 51 43 00
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et

H.E. Ato Harka Haroye
Minister of Justice
C/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 53 34 78
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et

H.E. Ato Bereket Simon
Minister of Information
C/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 55 07 22
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Kifle Mulat, President, EFJA, P.O. Box
31317 / 33232, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, tel/fax: +251 1 55 50 21, mobile: +251
1 (09) 222 939, e-mail: efja@telecom.net.et, efjakifle@hotmail.com

The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of
EFJA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
EFJA.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Suite 403,Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: alerts@ifex.org general e-mail: ifex@ifex.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/

Kenyan Media Fears New Bill

2001-11-29

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/oneworld/20011121/wl/kenyan_media_fears_new_bill_1.html

Kenyan media rights activists have condemned a bill they fear aims to muzzle the press before the country goes to the polls next year.

Liberian Newspaper Closed by Government

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111220073.html

Liberia's leading independent newspaper, The NEWS, has been summarily closed by the government for the second time this year, on the grounds that it has not paid its taxes. The chairman of the newspaper has been taken in for questioning.

MEDIA MONITORING PROJECT ZIMBABWE

MEDIA UPDATE # 2001/46

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/4443

ZANU PF’s propaganda in the state media plumbed unprecedented depths during the coverage of the murder of Cain Nkala, the Bulawayo war veteran’s leader. The state media exposed their total disregard for the general standards and ethics of journalism to churn out inflammatory hate speech reminiscent of the hate radio before and during the genocide in Rwanda. ZANU PF officials and war veterans were quoted describing the opposition, as ‘terrorists’ or the ‘enemy’.
MEDIA MONITORING PROJECT ZIMBABWE
MEDIA UPDATE # 2001/46
12 - 18 NOVEMBER 2001


1. SUMMARY
2. NKALA’S MURDER
3. FOLLOW UP ON ELECTORAL ACT AMENDMENTS
4. COMMENTS FROM SUBSCRIBERS


1. SUMMARY

ZANU PF’s propaganda in the state media plumbed unprecedented
depths during the coverage of the murder of Cain Nkala, the
Bulawayo war veteran’s leader. The state media exposed their total
disregard for the general standards and ethics of journalism to
churn out inflammatory hate speech reminiscent of the hate radio
before and during the genocide in Rwanda. ZANU PF officials and
war veterans were quoted describing the opposition, as ‘terrorists’
or the ‘enemy’.

The media should report cases where authorities incite violence,
but they have a particular responsibility to analyse such
statements and to expose the negative impact they may have. In
the state media no comment was cited from the MDC, who were
said to be implicated in the murder and vilified throughout the
coverage. Nor was there any comment from Nkala’s wife.

However, what was more disturbing during the coverage is that
journalists from the state media, who are supposed to be
watchdogs of such ills, seemed to be conniving with the authorities
in maligning the opposition. Footage of Nkala’s exhumation and
pictures of another ZANU PF supporter Limukani Luphahla who
was allegedly burnt to death by MDC supporters last month were
repeatedly shown on ZTV with the apparent intention of provoking
anger and hatred for the opposition. The state media went on to
trample on the right of the accused to remain innocent until the
courts prove them guilty.

The coverage left no doubt that there is an urgent need for
alternative broadcasters who can objectively inform the citizens of
this country and dispel poisonous information that the Zimbabwean
citizens have been subjected to on a daily basis.

Such kind of propaganda probably erodes the credibility of those
media houses loyal to the ZANU PF government in the eyes of
most of their audience. But they may play a direct role in inciting
violence among a minority of the public. The publication of
maliciously fictitious reports for the purpose of inciting violence
goes beyond mere bad journalism. As the International Criminal
Tribunal on Rwanda has shown in recent judgements, it crosses
the line into criminal behaviour.


2. NKALA’S MURDER

Before Nkala’s body was discovered, ZBC (12/11, 8pm) reported
that five people had been arrested in connection with the abduction.
However, there were no names given and the police were not
challenged on why they were not providing the names of the
arrested. There was no analysis as to why the arrested had been
incarcerated for more than forty-eight hours without trial and clear
charges laid against them as stipulated by law. Reuben Barwe, the
ZBC Chief correspondent, merely stated (ZTV, 12/11), “…no
police could comment…” on why the five did not appear in court.

Barwe stated that someone asked him why he was so interested in
Nkala’s death when there had been many others before who were
not given the same attention. In a stunning response that exposed
the broadcaster’s myopic news selection he said, “…I told him, if
you mean those people who died probably before I started
reporting or when I was in Harare, I didn’t hear about them…”

However, Barwe appears to have had no difficulty learning of the
discovery of Nkala’s body while in Harare.

In the same report, Clifford Sibanda, a war veteran, was quoted
saying, “We are soldiers. As soldiers we will have to defend
ourselves…I must assure you that they will start crying when
we hit back…”

Instead of subjecting this inflammatory statement to scrutiny,
Barwe went on to buttress this claim by quoting Vice President
Joseph Msika: “If people are itching for violence, then they will
get violence.” Coming from a national leader such utterances
were highly irresponsible but were not subjected to any analysis.

ZBC (radio, 13/11, 4pm) broke the news on the discovery of
Nkala’s body. ZTV carried the report in its evening vernacular and
8pm bulletins. For the first time in many years, ZTV viewers
witnessed police interrogating suspects live on camera. Audiences
were told that the two suspects, who are said to be MDC
supporters, had “voluntarily” agreed to tell the police where they
buried Nkala in an attempt to dispel any reservations that they
might have been forcibly coerced into submission. Also, viewers
were shown the exhumation of the body without prior warning to
those viewers of nervous disposition. Assistant Commissioner
Oliver Mashonganyika, ZANU PF Bulawayo Chairman Jabulani
Sibanda and Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo used the occasion
to shower the police with praises for a job well done - despite the
fact that in more than a year they have still not found Patrick
Nabanyama, the MDC polling agent who was abducted last year.

The Bulawayo ZANU PF chairman who was present at the scene
continued with threats, “…That is terrorism and we are going to
fight it… Politically, militarily, whichever way. We have got the
right as a people to defend ourselves. And I have got a right to
mobilize my people in my province against terrorism and that
I am going to do”.

Some war veterans’ executive members, Joseph Chinotimba,
Patrick Nyaruwata, Agrippa Gava and Endy Mhlanga and three
Harare residents were also quoted denouncing the murder of Nkala.

Barwe went further to ask Minister Nkomo (ZTV, 13/11, 8pm)
leading questions. “…Could you infer that this was done in a
military fashion because shoe strings really don’t kill people?”
Barwe asked.

This was the cue for the minister to trot out his conspiracy theory
to explain the murder, saying, “…this is an operation very
reminiscent of what the Selous Scouts used to do and we can
read and see very clearly a similar pattern in this particular
area”.

Borrowing from Jabulani Sibanda, Minister Nkomo also described
the murder as an act of “terrorism” and said, “…If it means going
into a cave to fish out that fellow we are going to do it” –
presumably a deliberate echo of US President George W. Bush’s
plan to get Osama bin Laden.

However, there were a number of questions surrounding the issue
that remained unanswered in the coverage. For instance the
audiences were not told why the police had to invite a pathologist
all the way from Harare as if there were none in Bulawayo.

Exhibits of evidence, such as the money found with the suspects,
the truck used and AK rifles, which were reportedly used during the
abduction, were missing in the report. And no reporter from the
ZBC sought such information from the police.

It all looked like a well-staged tragic drama, as the other ZBC
reporter Tapfuma Machakaire was there to film Mashonganyika
delivering the sad news to the family.

Notably, ZBC failed to get a comment from Nkala’s wife who was
the main witness in the case. Her description of the abduction
would presumably have been relevant in identifying those
responsible.

While other media reported that Nkala’s body was found on
Tuesday, The Herald (14/11) reported that Nkala had been found on
Monday. No clarification was made. Police spokesman Wayne
Bvudzijena set the tone for the government press when he told The
Herald (14/11) that “Police have established strong leads which
could implicate some opposition politicians. The kidnap was
political and some senior persons of the MDC in Bulawayo
could be arrested.” ZIMPAPERS simply took the statement to
mean that the opposition had committed the crime even before
they were tried in the courts. Thereafter ZIMPAPERS maintained
and reinforced this link, and ignored all the principles of crime
reporting by sentencing the MDC ahead of the courts. Once
charges were brought, the case became sub judice, apparently
putting The Herald in contempt of court.

It was left to The Daily News (14/11) to give the MDC side of the
story. It quoted the MDC secretary-general, Welshman Ncube,
denying that his party was responsible. As has become the norm,
police spokesman Bvudzijena reportedly “parried” questions from
the private daily, but gave an interview to the public press. In the
same article, reference was made to Vice-President Joseph
Msika’s earlier threats of a ”bloodbath” and war veterans’ requests
for guns to track down perpetrators.

The discovery of Nkala’s body resulted in the attacks on MDC
supporters’ houses in Bulawayo (ZBC, 14/11, 8pm). In an attempt
to justify the attack, the reporter stated that people who were
angered by the murder of Nkala conducted the attack. None of the
“people” have been arrested for the attack.

In the same bulletin, war veteran Andrew Ndlovu said, “…Now we
have realized that it (MDC) is a terrorist party and we feel…that
the MDC must be banned with immediate effect”.

Mashonganyika was also quoted stating that the arrested suspects
would be charged with terrorism under the Law and Order
Maintenance Act (LOMA), a colonial law that was used against the
nationalists during the liberation struggle.

The Herald (15/11) reported, in passing, the subsequent violence
which resulted in destruction of three houses belonging to MDC
supporters, in Bulawayo under a misleading headline “MDC MP
flees”. The Herald claimed that the MP, Fletcher Dulini-Ncube,
whom police named as a suspect, had fled. No attempt was made
to seek any comment from the MDC to substantiate the claim,
leaving the impression that he was responsible for the crime and
evading arrest.

The same article stated, “members of the public reacted to the
kidnapping and murder of Cde Nkala”, in an attempt to mask
the identity of the perpetrators of violence. Surprisingly, the
Bulawayo-based Chronicle did not report the violence – perhaps
because its readers would know who had initiated it – and merely
reported on the court appearances of the suspects, a story also
carried by The Herald.

The Daily News (15/11) reported the violence under the headline
“Terror in Bulawayo” and blamed “suspected” Zanu-PF and war
veterans. An MDC councillor whose house was demolished
corroborated the story. The article linked the violence to earlier
inciting statements by Vice-President Msika and the war veterans’
leadership. In the same story, it was revealed that the MDC
suspects were denied access to their lawyers and relatives and
that some were held in police detention for seven days, contrary to
the constitutional stipulation that a suspect should be brought to
court within forty-eight hours of arrest.

The same issue of the Daily News reported that two MDC officials,
accused of being responsible for the abduction of Nkala, were
abducted in Chitungwiza by suspected war veterans. The paper
followed up the story on Saturday (17/11) announcing that one of
the abducted was recuperating in a Chitungwiza hospital after
being assaulted. The patient was quoted as saying that he and his
colleague had been taken to Highlands police station where they
were forced to write statements about their lives and their party
structures before being taken to Harare Central Police where they
were tortured. The public press ignored the story.

In an apparent response to the “MDC MP flees” story, The Daily
News (16/11) reported a statement issued by MDC secretary-
general, Welshman Ncube, who denied that the MP had fled. He
said Dulini-Ncube had attended a Parliamentary Committee
meeting and another meeting at the party’s offices in Harare and
that his lawyers had arranged with the police to meet at the police
station on Thursday (15/11). Ncube was quoted questioning the
credibility of ZIMPAPERS saying, “It is clear therefore that The
Herald and The Chronicle editors who are slaves to the Zanu
PF election strategy have no intention whatsoever to write any
truth about the MDC.”

Nevertheless, The Herald (16/11) was unrelenting. Under a front-
page headline “MDC MP arrested” it played down the fact that
Dulini-Ncube handed himself to police and maintained “He had
been on the run since Tuesday…”

The Herald editorial philosophy on the matter was epitomised by
Phillip Magwaza, the political editor of the paper in highly
sensational articles titled “MDC reliving the Nazi era” (14/11) and
“Nkala prayed for his captors” (16/11). However, it was the latter
article that exposed how scribes can suspend all standards of
journalism just to toe the line. The writer gave what purported to be
an eyewitness account of the murder, starting from “minutes
before” his death through the whole process of his execution to his
burial in a shallow grave. He detailed what Nkala said to his
captors, his prayers, and how he was killed. The article
blasphemously likened Nkala’s death to that of Jesus Christ. No
source was attributed to the information, suggesting that the author
was an eyewitness who was present when Nkala was murdered. In
reality the article appears to have been fictitious from start to finish.

Doubtlessly, the thrust of the report was not to clear the mystery
behind the murder, but to rouse emotional discontent primarily
against the MDC and whites. But in doing so the writer was not
sympathetic to the emotional damage such reportage would inflict
on the family of the deceased. The report claimed, without
substantiation, that the MDC had been trying to exterminate war
veterans for some time, including “attempts” on the late war
veterans leader, Chenjerai Hunzvi. Part of the article read “But as
the events unfold, it is no surprise that the terrorist plan to
abduct and kill Cde Nkala was hatched way back in February.”
In blatant contempt of court, it gratuitously concluded, “The die is
cast. The heinous act has been committed and for the MDC to
try and absolve themselves under the guise of their members
being denied access to lawyers and a ploy to implicate their
member in a well-orchestrated plan by Zanu PF is wishful
thinking that can only convince the most naïve.”

The sister paper, The Sunday Mail (18/11) followed the Herald
using strikingly similar alarmist and rabble-rousing sensational
language. The political editor of that paper, Munyaradzi Huni,
copying his colleague Magwaza, reproduced a chunk about
Nkala’s last prayers: “And like a humble man he was, he
pleaded with the terrorists to let him pray. When he prayed he
did not only pray for himself. He prayed for his killers so that
God could forgive them and lastly he asked God to look after
his family.”

Like The Herald, The Sunday Mail reported that Nkala shouted for
help and fought back “viciously” before he was overpowered.
Constant reference was made to “The Struggle” or “Third
Chimurenga” to arouse nationalistic zeal. Huni reiterated that
MDC was to blame for the act, and were referred to as “terrorists.”
The article made reference to unrelated MDC officials’ pending
court cases to give credence that the party is a “terrorist”
organisation. In an alarmist fashion, the author then added “The
whisper that is going around the country now is: ‘How safe are
we? Will the terrorists strike again?’ One hopes not.” Two
boxed short articles, “He’s rabidly against govt” and “Once a racist
always a racist” denigrating MDC legislators David Coltart and Roy
Bennet, were also juxtaposed inside the main story.
Huni’s article also reported that Coltart and Bennet, both MDC
MPs, were members of the colonial British South African Police
(BSAP). Copies of the certificates of services and a photograph of
Coltart were attached as proof. The intention was to invoke hatred
against those who were directly involved with the former colonial
institutions.

It was clear that the state media was not prepared to tell the public
the truth in its coverage of violence that erupted in Bulawayo and
Kadoma.

The state broadcaster (radio & ZTV, 6pm and 8pm, 16/11) gave
emphasis to the burning down of a building owned by ZANU PF
acting National Commissar Dr. Sikhanyiso Ndhlovu and ZANU PF
supporters’ houses. The chronology of events was presented in a
way that implicated MDC as perpetrators. In an attempt to cover up
for the violence started by the war veterans during their so-called
peaceful march, Tapfuma Machakaire, ZBC Bulawayo Bureau
Chief, stated, “Although party leaders tried by all means to
control the angry crowd, the march was not without
incidents”.

What he meant by “incidents” was violent attacks by war veterans
who stoned cars on the streets of Bulawayo. This was shown to
ZTV viewers, making it clear who the perpetrators were. After this
unrest only MDC suspects were arrested and no war veterans.

ZBC Mashonaland West Bureau Chief Douglas Rinemhota reported
(radio and ZTV, 6 &8pm, 16/11) that MDC supporters had attacked,
unprovoked, ZANU PF supporters who were peacefully
demonstrating in memory of Nkala. ZTV viewers were shown burnt
houses belonging to ZANU PF supporters. Again only MDC
supporters were arrested.

Minister Nkomo was invited to the studio on ZTV, for the second
time, to comment on the murder of Nkala and subsequent violence.
Nkomo reiterated his earlier statements that the murder of both
Nkala and Luphahla were “acts of terrorism” and blamed the
MDC, which was not accorded any platform to state its side of the
story.

This overt bias on the part of the ZBC left no doubt that the aim of
the broadcaster was not to inform the public objectively but to
misrepresent facts to discredit and incite violence against the
opposition.

The Daily News (17/11) only reported the Bulawayo incident and
blamed the war veterans for starting the violence. The paper gave
the impression that the MDC youths only acted in retaliation. On
the other hand, The Herald of the same day reported the violence in
both Bulawayo and Kadoma but narrowed it down to the
destruction committed by MDC supporters. In an apparent attempt
to exonerate ZANU PF and its militia of war veterans the public
press flagship stated:

“Meanwhile, criminal elements in the opposition MDC went on
orgy of violence in vain attempt to burn down evidence at
their party’s office in Bulawayo”.

This was also mentioned on ZBC (16/11, 6 & 8pm)

To support these unsubstantiated claims, the Herald sought the
police comment for corroboration. The article went on to state that
the move “follows unsuccessful attempts by senior MDC
officials in Bulawayo to poison suspects who are already in
custody” and that the police have stopped allowing the suspects
to get food from outside the complex. This was merely used to
defend the unlawful decision taken by the police to deny suspects
their right to access their lawyers and relatives.

When Cain Nkala’s body arrived in Harare on Saturday (17/11),
there were reports of violence in the city. Again, the state media
blamed the opposition for the violence and denied it the right of
reply.

The Zimbabwe Independent (16/11) reportage on the matter was
reticent. It carried a straight court report without speculation and
reported that Dulini-Ncube had handed himself to the police.
The Standard (18/11) scored a first by including a component that
had been missing in the media: the Nkala family’s voice. The report
quoted an array of sources: relatives, neighbours, and a war
veteran, who understandably preferred anonymity given the nature
of the case at hand. The sources exonerated the MDC and blamed
the death on in-fighting within Zanu PF. One neighbour was quoted
saying he had heard Nkala calling out the names of his abductors,
a fact partly corroborated in both The Herald and The Sunday Mail
reports. The weekly also carried a comment that listed some of the
loopholes in the case and concluded that Zanu PF was
responsible. Particularly, it queried why the suspects were denied
access to their lawyers and why Msika promised a “bloodbath”
before the discovery of the corpse.

The Zimbabwe Mirror (16/11) carried MDC President Morgan
Tsvangirai’s condemnation of the murder but distanced his party
from the killing. The Mirror also had an analytical and objective
opinion piece in its Behind the Words column, which gave three
possibilities on who could be responsible for the murder without
specifically blaming it on anyone. The Financial Gazette (15/11)
made reference to Nkala’s murder in an opinion article in which this
and other deaths were blamed “squarely on Mugabe, his
government and the ineffectual Chihuri.”

President Robert Mugabe capped a week characterised by his
party’s inflammatory and inciteful statements during the burial of
Nkala at the National Heroes’ Acre. In his highly inflammatory
speech (ZTV, 18/11, 11am & 8.30pm), the President threatened
the opposition and warned that the MDC’s days were numbered.
He further went on to allege that the British government was
supporting terrorism. During his speech, ZTV viewers were shown
placards carried by ZANU PF supporters with messages such as:
“Kill the Terrorists” and “Beware of MDC shoelaces”, to
complement the President’s venomous tirade.


3. FOLLOW UP TO THE ELECTORAL ACT

The private press exposed what it regarded as the government’s
intention to rig the elections through its amendment of the Electoral
Act. The public press, which simply endorsed the amendment last
week, ignored the issue this week.

In its comment The Daily News (12/11) observed that confinement
of postal votes to uniformed forces, as required by the amendment,
will give ZANU PF a chance to add votes to its advantage. It also
raised concern over the exclusion of Zimbabwean residents outside
the country who have been “virtually banned” from voting as they
are required to produce travel documents and bills to prove they
have lived in constituencies for a continuous period of 12 months. It
concluded that because the Act gives ZANU PF an unfair
advantage and allowed rigging in the absence of impartial eyes it
was therefore “criminal.”

Another opinion piece, which appeared in the Daily News (13/11),
declared that international monitors and observers, who under the
new Act could be excluded, would foster transparency. The writer
asked, “Why has the government suddenly become so
paranoid about this particular presidential election…?
Someone must explain how 24 000 monitors and observers
can undermine our sovereignty.”

The Financial Gazette (15/11) claimed that under the proposed
amendments, the government intelligence arm, the CIO, had been
drafted into election monitoring and voter education under the guise
of civil servants. However, the authenticity of the claim was
compromised by use of an unnamed government source. The
Financial Gazette also featured a widely sourced report under a
headline, “Mugabe tunes law to rig election”. Tarcey Zimbiti, the
director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace was
quoted saying, “The new laws will prevent many people
suspected of supporting the opposition from voting on one
hand while on the other they will effectively prevent those
permitted to vote from receiving adequate information and
knowledge about their right to vote for whomever they wish.”

Another source, Bishop Peter Hatendi, was also quoted saying the
ESC could not be independent because it lacked resources and
because it fell under the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
minister. The Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, is the architect and
advocate of the new Act. Prof Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, an
academic, was quoted saying “But any government coming out
of such a blatantly rigged election process will not be
recognised by Zimbabweans, let alone by the civilised world,
and one wonders how long such a government could last.”
The report also alluded to a dubious voter education being
conducted by the Registrar-General’s office, which is only targeting
rural areas and resettlement schemes, Zanu PF strongholds, whilst
ignoring the urban centres where the opposition enjoys popular
support. The Gazette also had a comment on the issue.

The Zimbabwe Mirror reported the amendment under the headline,
Opposition threatens court action over proposed amendment to
Electoral Act, and quoted an array of voices condemning the
government move.

4. FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS

A RESPONSE TO BEN MAHAKA
By Dixe Wills, Writers in Prison Committee, International PEN

I feel compelled to write a note in response to Mr. Ben Mahaka's
attack on MMPZ published in Media Update # 2001/44.

As Mr Mahaka points out at length, impartiality in the media in
Zimbabwe is a rare enough commodity but, as one who reads the
MMPZ's bulletins from outside the country (I'm based in the UK), I
can only say that, with occasional exceptions, I have found them to
be the most objective view I have come across in Zimbabwe and a
welcome relief from the barrage of propaganda all too often
masquerading as news.

It is noteworthy that Mr Mahaka does not give a single example of
alleged bias to back up his argument, thus casting a shadow over
any claims he himself might have of objectivity.
It is incumbent on us all to be vigilant in order to monitor the
monitors, so to speak, for which I commend Mr Mahaka. I only
think that on this occasion, his concerns are wide of the mark.

GET PUBLISHED!
By Elsiha Maricho, Project Officer, SAT Programme, Harare

I have been following this posting for sometime now. I suggest that
its time it got published as a weekly column in newspapers. It will
provide a different perspective to the one by ZBC TV. It is most
likely that it is only the independent media that might accept it. I
like the objectivity.

INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE
I note the increase in "hate" language and incitements to violence.
Is it possible for MMPZ to begin a numerical count by type of
language (race, ethnicity, etc) and include in your weekly report?
Keep up the good work!

MORE ON HATE LANGUAGE

By Rasheat Mukundu, Harare, Zimbabwe

The analysis in this week's report did not mention the violence that
took place in Bulawayo and its relation with the Nkala murder. I feel
that the murder is preparation for more violence as we drift towards
the 2002 Presidential Election. Media reports from the state media
(ZBC and ZIMPAPERS) also, more than anything else, are meant
to incite people, encourage hatred and violence. The use of
language using words such as enemy, terrorist, etc is xenophobic
and illegal in a normal democracy.

The MEDIA UPDATE is produced and circulated by the
Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ). Please send
all queries and comments to the Project Coordinator, 15
Duthie Avenue, Alexandra Park, Harare, Tel/fax: 263 4
703702, E-mail: monitors@mweb.co.zw
Previous copies of MMPZ reports can be accessed at
http://www.icon.co.zw/mmpz

We appreciate comments on local and international media
coverage of local issues and events and the work of MMPZ
from our subscribers.

Please feel free to circulate this message
ENDS

OneWorld launches world news syndication with Yahoo! News

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/4442

OneWorld, the leading online network for human rights and sustainable development, has announced a daily news syndication to the World News section of Yahoo News, one of the most popular news site on the Web.
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

OneWorld launches world news syndication with Yahoo! News

London, UK -- Nov 22, 2001 -- OneWorld, the leading online network for human rights and sustainable development, today announced a daily news syndication to the World News section of Yahoo!Ò News (http://news.yahoo.com), one of the most popular news site on the Web.
The syndication agreement between OneWorld and Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), a leading global Internet communications, commerce and media company, is the first daily non-profit world news syndication to a major corporate Web portal. OneWorld news stories focus on events relating to human rights, world poverty, social justice, the environment and sustainable development.

Peter Armstrong, Director of OneWorld International, said: “OneWorld has always been a trusted source of information on global issues through our own portal site www.oneworld.net Our agreement with Yahoo! ensures that a wider audience worldwide will be able read news stories from OneWorld, with our distinctive agenda - issues that matter most to people in this era of globalisation. This syndication signals the fact that OneWorld has now become an established global news brand, bringing together the voices and concerns of people worldwide.”


“As a global company, Yahoo! continues to serve our world audience with news that is of interest and relevance,” said Kourosh Karimkhany, senior producer, Yahoo! News. “This agreement with OneWorld helps Yahoo! News expand its world news section and continues to grow our line-up of the Web’s leading news sources.”


OneWorld has over 1000 media partners made up of non-government organisations (NGOs) and international bodies. These range from United Nations agencies to household names such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, as well as grassroots groups tackling poverty in developing countries.


Visit OneWorld on Yahoo! News http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u


- ends -

For more information and media enquiries contact Glen Tarman, OneWorld publicity manager, Tel +44 (0)20 7735 2100 Email media@oneworld.net


OneWorld on Yahoo! News FAQs www.oneworld.net/yahoo/



For information on becoming a OneWorld partner organisation visit www.oneworld.net/partners/joining/ or email partnership@oneworld.net


Note:

OneWorld is a non-profit network that aims to harness the democratic potential of the Internet to promote sustainable development, human rights and an end to world poverty.

South Africa: Right to Freedom of Expression Violated, Court Told

2001-11-29

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

THE Constitutional Court has been asked to decide upon the constitutionality of a clause of the Code of Conduct for Broadcasting Services which is alleged to have a "chilling effect" on the right to freedom of expression.

Sudan: ARREST OF JOURNALISTS

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/4450

On Tuesday 20 November, 22 journalists from the independent Sudanese newspaper Al-Watan were arrested for protesting about a ban on their publication of an article concerning corruption.
S V T G
Sudanese Victims of Torture Group


PRESS RELEASE: 22 November 2001

ARREST OF JOURNALISTS


On Tuesday 20 November, 22 journalists from the independent Sudanese newspaper Al-Watan were arrested for protesting about a ban on their publication of an article concerning corruption.

Security officials raided the offices on the evening of Monday 19th in efforts to prevent them from publishing an article about the seizure of more than 2 billion Sudanese pounds (over 800,000 US dollars) worth of expired medicines and the arrest of a number of merchants that day. The medicine had passed its use date but was continuing to be sold in Omdurman.

On Tuesday afternoon, the newspaper held a press conference after which about 50 Al-Watan journalists marched peacefully through the streets with their mouths wrapped with pieces of cloth to show they had been censored. Riot police stopped them on their return and rounded up 22 protestors. Security officials also confiscated a video film from the MBC correspondent.
The journalists were taken to the Security of the Community’s Police building where they were forced to stand in the sun with hand above their heads against a wall for long hours. The 3 women were separated from their colleagues. They were forced to sit in one chair for long hours.

Those arrested were:
1. Sidahmed alkhalifa
2. Ahmed Alhabou
3. Mohmaed AlNa’iam
4. AlFatih Mieka
5. Ms. Majdoleen Mohamed
6. Yahya Mahir
7. Salah Almalieh
8. Mustafa Abu Alazayim
9. Ms. Ragya Hassan
10. Ms. Sumaya Handosa
11. Isam Abass
12. Mustafa Mohmed Hassab Alla
13. Abd Algaleel Khalifa
14. Mohamed abdalla Khalifa
15. Mohamed Abdalla alshiekh
16. Mujahid Abdalla
17. Mustafa Ahmed Ali
18. Alghali Salih
19. Waleed
20. Mubarak Jaboor
21. Bakri Suliman
22. Nasir salah Aldin


All the journalists were charged under Article 51(Waging War Against the State) and Article 67 (offences relating to Public Tranquillity and Rioting) and Article 69 (Disturbance of Public Peace). They were released on bail at 9.30am on Wednesday 21 November 2001.



SVTG believes these arrests are part of the governments continuing objection to any publication of articles relating to corruption. These actions represent a continued repression of freedom of expression and are aimed at spreading fear and preventing journalists and newspapers from writing and publishing freely.

Press freedom in Sudan continues to be severely curtailed. Preventative censorship takes place on a daily basis and journalists are regularly harassed regarding their work and activities. Such harassment is in violation of Sudan’s international human rights commitments; SVTG recalls that Sudan is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obliges state parties to protect freedom of expression.


SVTG calls upon individual governments and the International Community to exert pressure on the Government of Sudan to;

1. To immediately put an end to the harassment of Sudanese journalists by security forces.

2. Abolish all legislation that violates Sudan’s obligations under international human rights laws.




Addresses
His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Telex: 22385 PEPLC SD or 22411 KAID SD- Fax: +249 11 771 7 24

Mr Ali Osman Yasin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan. Telex:22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs) – Fax: +249 11 7740 63

Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Telex: 22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD – Fax: 249 11 7740 63


SVTG is an independent non-governmental human rights organisation, for further details on this press release or any other information please contact;
The Sudanese Victims of Torture Group
Park Business Centre
Kilburn Park Rd
London NW6 5LF
UK
Tel: +44 20 76258055
Email: Osman.h@virgin.net

The war on journalism

2001-11-29

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

As seven western correspondents are killed in one week in Afghanistan, author Phillip Knightley asks if frontline reporters are now considered legitimate targets.

US plans TV station to rival al-Jazeera

2001-11-29

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

An Arabic-language satellite television station financed by the US and aimed at winning hearts and minds in the Muslim world could shortly become a reality. President George Bush has been told of Initiative 911, which would put half a billion dollars into a channel that would compete in the region with al-Jazeera and would be aimed specifically at younger Muslims who are seen as anti-American.

Zimbabwe Warns Media

2001-11-29

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011123/wl/zimbabwe_journalists_dc_1.html

Zimbabwe's government has threatened to treat six journalists working for foreign media organizations including The Associated Press as "terrorists" after accusing them of filing false reports on political violence.

Zimbabwe: Editors tell Mugabe to withdraw threats

2001-11-29

http://media.guardian.co.uk/presspublishing/story/0,7495,606788,00.html

The International Press Institute has written to the Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, asking him to repudiate his government's accusation that local and foreign journalists are colluding with terrorists.

ANGOLA: Fear over military call-up

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15933

"Once you join the army, that's forever," Pedro says. "You die there." Pedro, 26, is one of the many young Angolan men who are worried by a fresh initiative by the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) to recruit new soldiers.

ANGOLA: Hopes for peace in spite of war - UN

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16095

Angola is closer to peace today than it was a year ago, the UN's Special Envoy to Angola, Ambassador Mussagy Jeichande, told IRIN in a recent interview.

CENTRAL AFRICA: Belgium investigating exploitation of DRC resources

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16006&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=CENTRAL_AFRICA

A Belgian commission of inquiry on the Great Lakes convened on Friday in Brussels to investigate alleged involvement of Belgian and non-Belgian companies in the illegal trade of natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and to explore measures to halt such activities from fueling war in the region.

DRC: EU supports Peace Process

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/conflict/4402

The main aim of the EU troika’s visit to Central Africa, lead by Belgian foreign minister, Louis Michel is to examine the peace progress achieved in the different States and to examine the possibility of establishing a Great Lakes conference under the auspices of the EU and UN.
Source: Regular News Update From Eurostep
No. 252 23 November 2001


EUROPEAN TROIKA VISITS CENTRAL AFRICA ON 20-25 NOVEMBER - THE COUNCIL SUPPORT THE PEACE PROCESS

The main aim of the EU troika’s visit to Central Africa, lead by Belgian foreign minister, Louis Michel is to examine the peace progress achieved in the different States and to examine the possibility of establishing a Great Lakes conference under the auspices of the EU and UN. Ahead of the EU troika’s departure for Central Africa the General Affairs Council adopted some conclusions on the region.
In relation to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the Council support the Congolese dialogue and insist on the retreat of foreign armed forces still present in the country. The Council stresses that the demilitarisation and the improvement of free movement of people and goods within DRC are essential to the peace process. Furthermore it recalls the importance of disarmament, demobilisation and the integration of fighters and finally it encourage the co-operation between MONUC (Mission des Naciones Unies en Republic Democratique du Congo), the World Bank and the UN agencies. During the visit Louis Michel invited representatives of the non-armed Congolese opposition and civil society to participate in a round table possibly to be held in Brussels in January 2002 hoping to have prepared for the new stage of in inter-Congolese Dialogue, planned for late January in South Africa. According to the EU delegation the majority of Congolese official have in principle agreed to the meeting.
The Council views the establishment of a transitional government in Burundi as a positive development. In support of the peace processes in the region the Council adopted a joint action mobilising € 9.5 million in support of the deployment of a special protection unit. The Council also calls for the willingness of the International Community to support the co-financing of this unit. The Commissions intention to support the peace process by signing the National Indicative Programme (NIP) is being supported by the Council, stating that it will ensure the active involvement of the EU in the next follow-up meeting of the Paris Conference on Burundi.
The European Troika will report to the next General Affairs Council on 10 December.

DRC: Mixed Reaction to UN Report On Resource Exploitation

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111220001.html

Reaction to the addendum of the April report by the UN panel of experts on the illegal exploitation of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has, so far, been mixed. DRC Information Minister Kikaya Bin Karubi said his country rejected any suggestion that Angola, Namibia, or Zimbabwe - allies to the Kinshasa government since war erupted in August 1998 - were looting the resources of the Congo, saying that these were "countries that came to our rescue in this war of aggression".

ERITREA: Consolidated Appeal for 2002 launched

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16266&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ERITREA

The United Nations country team on Tuesday launched its Consolidated Appeal (CA) for Eritrea for the year 2002, requesting a total of US $120 million to fund a series of emergency and reintegration programmes drawn up by 11 UN agencies and partner NGOs.

Eritrea: Two Million Land Mines And Uxo

2001-11-29

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111220006.html

Eritrea, a country of 3.5 million people, is infested with about two million mines and units of unexploded ordnance (UXO), Andebrhan Weldegiorgis, the commissioner for coordination with the UN peacekeeping mission, has told the UN General Assembly in New York.

GUINEA- SIERRA LEONE: Governments must solve Guinean troops issue

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16113

Issues surrounding the withdrawal of Guinean troops from their base near Koindu in eastern Kailahun District of Sierra Leone, will have to be resolved by the governments of the two countries, according to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

Humanitarian Aid Must not Become Crisis Management Tool

2001-11-29

http://www.europaworld.org/issue58/humanitarianaid231101.htm

Although the European Union is developing the capacity to become a fully-fledged crisis management actor in the international arena and is co-operating with the United Nations, it does not regard its humanitarian work as a crisis management tool and is not in favour of a humanitarian alliance.

SOMALIA: People flee Garowe

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15872&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=SOMALIA

Families are fleeing their homes in Garowe, the regional capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, in fear of renewed fighting, a local journalist told IRIN. They are doing so because of reports of militia approaching the town, and the fear of more clashes, Muhammad Sa'id Kashawito of Midnimo radio said on Friday.

SOMALIA: UN political office to stay on

2001-11-29

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=16265&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=SOMALIA

The United Nations Secretary-General has ordered an extension of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia's (UNPOS) to run for a further two years.

The Lone Gunman

2001-11-29

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/issue_novdec_2001/sprinzakhyper.html

Our post-September 11 comprehension of terrorism must recognize a new enemy: the megalomaniacal hyperterrorist, argues Ehud Sprinzak.

UN Urged on Plight of Child Soldiers

2001-11-29

http://www.child-soldiers.org

Alhaji Babah Sawaneh was only 10 when rebels in Sierra Leone kidnapped and beat him. Then they taught him to fire an assault rifle. The former child soldier, now 14 and reunited with his family, spoke before the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. His plea for improved protection of children in war was echoed by representatives of member states, and the
council adopted a resolution aimed at ending the recruitment of child soldiers.
AP Online

November 21, 2001 Wednesday 2:31 AM Eastern Time

SECTION: DOMESTIC NEWS

LENGTH: 555 words

HEADLINE: UN Urged on Plight of Child Soldiers

BYLINE: JONATHAN EWING; Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS

BODY:
Alhaji Babah Sawaneh was only 10 when rebels in Sierra Leone kidnapped and
beat him. Then they taught him to fire an assault rifle.
The former child soldier, now 14 and reunited with his family, spoke before
the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. His plea for improved protection of
children in war was echoed by representatives of member states, and the
council adopted a resolution aimed at ending the recruitment of child
soldiers.
"I did bad things in the bush and I saw very bad things done to both
children and adults," Sawaneh said. "I was used to fight. During attacks we
killed people, burned down homes and cut limbs."
The United Nations estimates that more than 300,000 children under the age
of 18 have been recruited to fight as soldiers worldwide, mostly by rebel
groups. Most are between 15 and 17 years old, but some are as young as 7.
Most have been kidnapped.
In the West African nation of Sierra Leone, rebels have waged a decade-long
campaign of terror, killing and mutilating thousands of civilians in a war
aimed at toppling the government and controlling the country's diamond
fields. Thousands of children were abducted in the late 1990s - the girls
for raping, the boys for fighting.
As recently as five years ago, the recruitment of children was often
carried out with little or no notice, said Carol Bellamy, executive
director of the U.N. Children's Fund.
International law sets 15 as the minimum age for military recruitment, but
many nations have ratified an optional protocol that bans children under
the age of 18 from participating in armed conflicts. Now, under the statute
which will create the world's first international criminal court, the
recruitment of children as soldiers is defined as a war crime.
For children who survive such ordeals, the transition back to normal life
is a huge challenge. Many lack education or skills that could help them
earn a living. Neighbors fear them or hate them for their militant past.
They often are seen as aggressive and violent.
"With family members, I have faced a lot of distrust. Some doubt whether I
will ever be a normal child again," Sawaneh told the Security Council. "I
am easily reminded of my past when I make mistakes. 'Do not bring your
rebel life here,' they say."
Some children are wracked by guilt over what they've done - killings,
rapes, looting and beatings. The boys often return with injuries, the girls
often come back pregnant.
"The international community is not doing enough to prevent harm to girls
in times of war," said Olara Otunna, special U.N. representative for
children in armed conflict. "Sadly there are fighting groups whose
preferred agents to serve as suicide commandos remain girls."
Speaking specifically to the rights of young girls, the resolution adopted
Tuesday called for all parties in armed conflicts to put an end to the
exploitation of girls, particularly through sexual violence and rape.
Girls from the Balkan region have been trafficked into prostitution rings
in western Europe, Otunna said. Schoolgirls in northern Uganda have been
abducted by the rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army.
"Some aspects of the victimization of children ... are still frighteningly
familiar," said U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham.

On the Net:
http://www.child-soldiers.org

LOAD-DATE: November 21, 2001

AFRICAN RADIO BROADCASTING VIA THE NET

2001-11-29

http://www.africaonline.com/site/Articles/1,7,43462.jsp

This web page lists many African radio stations which broadcast live over the Web.

BUILDING AN ONLINE COMMUNITY

WEB DEVELOPERS

2001-11-29

http://slashdot.org/books/01/11/27/167256.shtml

A new book by the author/ designer of several online communities is reviewed on Slashdot. The review includes some pointers and is followed by a discussion.

Censorship and site-blocking: US netwar

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4455

The US 'war on terrorism' is having serious effects on online liberty and freedom of expression.
Read about the Us governments attempts to shut down web sites and have web sites blocked, censored or removed from the public domain. Media workers are also being harassed in the US effort to suppress information which is not pro-american and supportive of the US war.

The EFF has the following information:

- Websites Shut Down by US Government
- Websites Shut Down by Other Governments
- Websites Shut Down by Internet Service Provider
- Websites Shut Down or Partially Removed by Website Owner
- US Government Websites That Shut Down or Removed Information
- US Government Requests to Remove Information
- Media Professionals Terminated or Suspended
- Other Employees Terminated or Suspended
- Related Incidents
- Related Links

FIRST HUMAN EMBRYO CLONED

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4452

Amidst much controversy, the first human embryo has finally been cloned. Read on for links to articles and interviews with the scientists and comments on the ethics involved.
Scientific American has a feature on cloning, specifically the cloning of human embryo cells which was acheived in the Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) laboratories in Boston recently. Click here for the official press release from ACT.

For news articles on the ethics and legal implications of cloning human embryo cells, as well as various other information including interviews with the CEO of ACT, Michael D. West (PhD), see MSNBC and CNN. Dr West commented on the Today Show, "I consider myself Prolife, by the way," (sad but true) but urged people to understand the fundamental difference between cellular life and embryonic life, and to support the research and the development of therapeutic cloning technologies. He stressed that ACT is not involved in reproductive cloning but rather therapeutic cloning and spoke of the many potential benefits of cloning human tissue cells.

Various governments are now discussing regulatory law for cloning technology and even banning human cloning outright. President Bush and some of his hangers-on have reacted by condemning cloning of human beings and so has the prolife organisation Right To Life. Of course, ACT have clearly stated that the cloning of human beings is not their intention.

Free Access to African Information Databases until November 30, 2001

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4522

Free access to over half a million unique references for African Studies. Read the article for full details of this powerful bibliographic database aggregation.
Check out the African Studies Factsheet and register for "FREE Database of the Month" by clicking near the top of the page. Also available [url=http://www.nisc.co.za]here</>.

African Studies offers the most comprehensive access to African information in one place:
* 17 Bibliographic Databases from major African Studies Libraries and organisations
* Databases from Africa, Europe and the USA - searchable as one, or in any combination
* More than 620,00 references - keywords with abstracts, or full text
* Quarterly updates. New databases added as they become available
* Powerful intuitive search engine for fine retrieval
* Special software created composite records resolve the problem of duplication between databases. Everything unique is retained and composites are "super records"
* Multi-Disciplinary information on the following topics: Politics, history, economics, business, mining, development, social issues, tourism, environment, natural history, anthropology, literature, language, law, art, design, music and much more.

Databases

From Africa:
* Africa Institute Pretoria, S. Africa - Best library collection in Africa on Africa under one roof - 75,642 records
* NAMLIT the Namibian National Bibliography - 49,905 records
* Don Africana Collection from Durban Metropolitan Library - 46,133 records
* Killie Campbell Africana Library, Durban - 26,497 records
* SARDIUS databases from the Institute of International Affairs, University of the Witwatersrand - 33,992 records
* International Library of African Music (ILAM) Grahamstown - 8162 records
* Natural and Cultural Heritage Africa (NACHA) compiled by NISC Grahamstown - 16,387 records

From Europe:
* African Studies Abstracts (ASA) - from African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands. This database is the electronic equivalent of ASA in print (1994- current) including 6 Vols of its predecessor Dokumentatieblad and the Library catalogue of books and periodicals - 53,899 records
* School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), London, UK, Library Catalogue, Africa and the SOAS periodical holdings - 143,430 + 19,852 records
* Databases of Swiss Theses and Dissertations - 519 records

From the USA:
* Business & Industry: Africa from National Technical Information Service, NTIS full text articles - 36,851 records

Related Products published by NISC include:

** [url="http://www.nisc.com/factsheets/sas.htm"]South African Studies[/url]
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If you have any questions please contact Margaret Crampton, Publisher (Tel: +27-46-622-9698)

MORE THAN 4 MILLION AFRICAN NET USERS

2001-11-29

http://www.idg.net/crd_idgsearch_711510.html?sc=

This article discusses Mike Jensen's latest research into Internet growth and usage in Africa.

Poor Countries Try to Cash in on E-Commerce

2001-11-29

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/oneworld/20011120/wl/poor_countries_try_to_cash_in_on_e-commerce_1.html

Buying and selling across the World Wide Web offers "unlimited" opportunities for developing countries, says a new United Nations report.

Red alert

2001-11-29

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

Relief agencies such as the Red Cross are using the web to coordinate humanitarian aid. Elen Lewis on how alertnet could revolutionise the way aid workers deal with crises.

redhat challenges microsoft judgement

2001-11-29

http://www.redhat.com/about/presscenter/2001/press_usschools.html

Open Source leader proposes to provide software to every school district in the United States if Microsoft provides computing hardware for the 14,000 poorest school districts.

SCIENTISTS BUILD COMPUTER FROM DNA

2001-11-29

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-7946153.html

Israeli scientists have built a DNA computer so tiny that a trillion of them could fit in a test tube and perform a Billion operations per second with 99.8 percent accuracy.

SOMALIA: The United States shuts down the internet

cyberwar or cyberterrorism?

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4430

Somalia's only Internet company and its key telecommunication company have been shut down by the United States, because of suspicions of terrorist links. The United Nations and many nonprofit aid organizations have been affected.
The Somali internet is connected via two companies, Somilia Internet Company and al-Barakaat. The companies are suspected of channelling money to bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. Proof from the United States is not forthcoming so far.

The insufferable arrogance of America's actions in claiming ownership of the right to internet access by people who rely upon it for survival cannot be disputed.

Denial of access means that not only are email and web browsing unavailable, but services such as international telephone connectivity and money transfer facilities are dead. What will the Somalis do? This article decribes some of their reactions. Another story feature s similar information. More details on the effects on the Somali economy are available here.

A fierce discussion is raging on Slashdot.

For local opinion, visit SomaliNet, the Somali portal. This article details the importance of aid reaching deperate Somalis.

Please contact organisations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to call for action against this violation of human rights. You can mail them by clicking [url=mailto:webmaster@eff.org]here[/url].

SOUTH AFRICA SIGNS CONTROVERSIAL CYBERCRIME TREATY

2001-11-29

http://www.idg.net/ic_734499_1794_9-10000.html

Thirty countries signed a controversial international treaty to combat online crime last week. Representatives of 26 Council of Europe member states, plus the U.S., Canada, Japan, and South Africa, put their signatures on the document at an international meeting in Budapest.

Unwiring the Web

2001-11-29

http://www.techreview.com/magazine/dec01/innovation1.asp

Community-owned wireless networks are gaining popularity&#8212;and could help bridge the digital divide.

WOMEN SHUN NETWORKING JOBS

new research

2001-11-29

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1679000/1679106.stm

The lack of role models for women in the IT industry and the perception that networking jobs are 'too technical' for women discourages them form choosing this as a career path.

e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide

Number 141 - 25 November, 2001

2001-11-29

http://www.civicus.org

e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 141
25 November, 2001

CONTENTS

A. From the desk of the CIVICUS Secretary-General
B. General news about civil society and citizen action
C. International conferences/workshops/meetings/fairs and exhibitions
D. Training courses
E. Relevant position listings
F. New publications
G. Internet news and websites
H. Scholarly support and awards
I. From the reader
J. Funders and donors profile

A. FROM THE DESK OF THE CIVICUS SECRETARY-GENERAL

GLOBALIZATION FAVOURING THE WORLD&#8217;S POOR

The highly anticipated 4th Ministerial Summit of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) concluded on November 14th at Doha, the capital of the
Gulf state of Qatar. Although the meeting, especially China&#8217;s accession to
the organisation, made the front pages in newspapers around the world, it
generated neither the kind of public debate nor the frenzied media attention
which is now customary with global economic and trade forums. WTO officials
owed this respite as much to the war being fought in Afghanistan as to their
choice of venue.

The &#8220;battle of Seattle&#8221; of 1998 is forever seared in public memory and
media files. Over 50, 000 demonstrators from all over Seattle, the United
States and dozens of other countries converged at the conference venue,
caught the city officials completely off-guard, and effectively shut down
the first of the 3rd WTO Ministerial Summit. Indian farmers, US trade
unionists and international marine-life conservationists marched
side-by-side questioning the legitimacy and mandate of the global entity
whose effects were being felt in communities around the world. Bill Clinton,
the 'economics&#8217; President of the US, expressed surprise at how so many
people could possibly be opposed to liberalization. Protestors congratulated
themselves, while being careful to denounce the violence by fringe elements.
WTO officials and the US government were quick to release public statements
celebrating the protests as a sign of a vibrant democratic culture and a
celebration of citizen action.

It is rather curious, then, that the WTO took great pains to ensure that
at the next Ministerial meeting, such citizen action would be curtailed to
the bare minimum. Civil society activists contend that this was the primary
rationale for choosing Qatar, a tiny Emirate with vast resources, but
virtually no tolerance for public dissent and the forms of associational
life acceptable in most other parts of the world. Potential interruptions to
the meetings were precluded with the issuing of a very limited number of
visas, and a declaration by Qatari authorities that they had just enough
hotel beds and infrastructure to service the ministerial delegations.

Media and civil society reports indicate that the negotiations were
intense and heated, with governments vying with each other to influence the
WTO agenda and outcomes. The European Union (EU), United States (US),
developing countries, and heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) came in
with their own visions of what an equitable agenda would look like. For
instance, the EU attempted to introduce controversial new items on the
agenda pertaining to investment and competition policy, and government
procurement and customs procedures. This move was defeated by developing
countries led by India. For their part, developing countries and HIPC had to
endure defeat, when the meeting refused to address issues of lowering
tariffs and eliminating quotas for their exports, which would finally enable
them to compete equitably in the global economy. Save the children (UK)
reports that the Doha Round mandates the WTO to undertake an extensive set
of negotiations on further trade liberalisation. In a press release dated
November 14, the aid agency notes that these mandated negotiations include
&#8220;controversial issues such as the liberalisation of industrial and
manufacturing markets a move which many poorer countries fear will lead to
their de-industrialisation as giant multinationals take on fledgling
companies in the developing world.&#8221;. Another such controversial discussion
involves the liberalisation under GATS or the General Agreement on Trade in
Services, which &#8220;poses serious threats to public health, especially for
communities in the developing world&#8221;.

Although the Doha Round proved to be mostly an agenda-setting and
mandate-setting conference for future conferences, the one silver lining in
the cloud as far as developing countries were concerned came in the form of
a strong declaration adopted under TRIPS (Trade-related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights), clarifying that under the current WTO patent
rules, poor countries can provide cheaper versions of generic drugs to
combat pandemics such as AIDS. As anticipated, the fiercest opposition to
this came from the US. In a heartfelt report on the meeting, Oxfam
International&#8217;s Media Officer Ian Bray, one of the few civil society
representatives who had the opportunity to attend the event, mentions how he
managed to hand over a "Third World Network and Health Gap&#8221; petition to WTO
Chairman Mike Moore. This petition, signed by 32,000 people, reports on the
&#8220;health gap&#8221; in poor countries and the need for access to low-cost
medicines. Noting that the EU spokesperson acknowledged how public opinion
in Europe had influenced the EU&#8217;s policy stance towards low-cost medicines,
Oxfam&#8217;s Ian Bray says, &#8220;For me it was a salutary lesson&#8230;that politicians and
officials do listen when enough people genuinely express their concern&#8221;.

The vision and mission of CIVICUS implicitly endorses all peaceful visible
expressions of citizens&#8217; aspirations. It is worth mentioning, for instance,
that although protestors had no access to Doha, millions did assemble in
cities and towns around the world during the entire length of the WTO summit
(9th-14th November). I wish to conclude with two messages: the first is the
need for, and inevitability of, citizen participation despite the best
attempts by authorities to stifle it. The second is the urgency for citizens
everywhere to be suspect of theories and one-size-fits-all formulas which
purport to capture the state of the world. The &#8220;clash of civilizations&#8221;,
very much in vogue now, is not nearly sophisticated enough to explain the
world&#8217;s problems. What we witnessed in Doha, and what we are sadly
witnessing in Afghanistan today, are symptomatic of the layers of political,
economic, social, historical and cultural issues which affect daily life in
communities around the world. Debates on cheaper drugs, for instance, do not
indicate a clash of civilizations. Neither are they an outright rejection of
globalisation. Indeed, it would be as naïve to ignore the benefits of
sustainable global economic development as it would be to ignore the
complexity of the associated protest. And, ultimately, globalisation which
does not favour the world&#8217;s poor and which does not promote global equality
is no globalisation at all.

Warm regards, Kumi Naidoo

For further information please visit:
www.wto.org, Official website of the WTO
www.agp.org Website of People&#8217;s Global Action network of activists
www.oneworld.net, website of OneWorld International, which provides a
comprehensive coverage of the summit
www.oxfam.org.uk/cutthecost/doha.html, for a report from Oxfam
International
www.savethechildren.org.uk, for a report from Save the Children (UK)


B. GENERAL NEWS ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY AND CITIZEN ACTION

CALL FOR COMPACT BETWEEN THE EU AND NGOs

The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) held a Seminar on 26 October,
2001, entitled The 3C s of European Governance - Part 2, in order to
resolve questions like; How the EU should relate to protesters ? What the
relationship should be between the Convention on the future of Europe and
civil society? And, how to define European Governance to include Civil
Society ?

The policy research papers resulting from such introspection were not only
added to the consultative process but ECAS believes provide concrete answers
to the questions themselves.

The Research Papers respectively entitled &#8216;Listening to Civil Society
Communication between the EU and the Citizen, The Commission's Role as
Guardian of the Treaty&#8217; can be consulted in full at: www.ecas.org

ECAS recommends an open non - institutional approach to civil society. The
White Paper on European Governance proposes minimum standards of
consultation for all NGO s and special partnership arrangements for certain
European associations regarded as particularly representative.

This well ordered bureaucratic approach contained in the White Paper is
rightly rejected by the European Parliament. In practice, the EU must remain
open to all citizens and NGO s wishing to express their views and not just
an organised civil society of Brussels insiders.

ECAS argues for a compact or framework agreement between the EU
Institutions and NGO s clarifying that if the Commission had considered this
proposal earlier, the White paper would not have run into such difficulties.
Compacts avoid the pitfalls of accreditation schemes and are open to all.
They are adaptable to different sectors and geographical levels of
operation.
Compacts are not legally binding and are not threatening to either side.
They do however amount to a series of pledges under the control of the
Parliament.
Compacts have spread from the UK to France, Hungary, Croatia and Canada,
for example.

Participants to the ECAS seminar on The 3C s of European Governance - Part
2 were not convinced that the Economic and Social Committee could become a
forum for civil society, since its members are appointed by governments and
its composition makes it more about social than civil dialogue.

A full report of the seminar will be availble shortly.

For further inofrmation contact:

Tony Venables, Director, ECAS
ADDRESS: 53 rue de la Concorde, B-1050 Brussels, BELGIUM
TEL.: (32-2) 548-0490
FAX: (32-2) 548-0490
E-MAIL t.venables@ecas.org
INTERNET: www.ecas.org


DRAFT IDA13 REPORT POSTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
[NGO Unit, The World Bank]

The donor representatives for the World Bank's concessional lending arm
for poor countries, the International Development Association (the "IDA
Deputies") are seeking public feedback on the draft of the IDA13 report,
which will govern the use of IDA resources during the three-year period
beginning in July 2002.

To access the report (posted under the Special Interest section) and
submit your comments, please go to the IDA page on the World Bank's external
website at www.worldbank.org/ida From this page you can also access all of
the background documents which have been prepared for the IDA13
replenishment.

Comments received by 3 December, 2001will be submitted to Deputies for
consideration during their next meeting on 6-7 December, at which time they
will discuss the drafting of the final report. In addition, comments will be
collected and posted on this site in advance of the December meeting.

For further information visit: www.worldbank.org/ngos

PERPETRATORS AND VICTIMS: THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE CHALLENGES OF TERRORISM
[Carnegie e-News]
19 November, 2001

In a Carnegie Endowment briefing, three prominent analysts from the area,
Mamoun Fandy, Nawaf Obaid, and Shibley Telhami, examined the roots of
terrorism and the response to it in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the West Bank.
Carnegie Senior Associate Marina Ottaway moderated the event. Audio from the
event is available online.

INTERNET: www.ceip.org/files/events/events.asp?EventID=409

TAC APPEALS FOR GLOBAL SOLIDARITY IN MOTHER-TO-CHILD-TRANSMISSION (MTCT)
COURT CASE
19 November, 2001

On the 26-27 November, 2001, South Africa (SA) will witness a court case
that can help to alter the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) calls on support and solidarity to save
people from unnecessary death and suffering. TAC asks all to encourage the
South African government to change its tragic course in the HIV/AIDS
epidemic as the court case in question is about giving women a choice and
children a chance.

Across SA nearly 300 000 women with HIV will give birth this year. The
majority do not know their HIV status and are not given information or
medicine that can reduce the risk of HIV transmission to their children. As
a consequence, at least 70 000 children will be infected with HIV during
labour and through breastfeeding.

The government has the resources and the opportunity to give women a
choice to look after their own health and a chance to prevent their infants
from becoming infected with HIV. But, it has dithered and reacted
unscientifically to calls for the implementation of MTCT prevention
programmes.

For more than five years civil society, initially led by the AIDS Law
Project and the AIDS Consortium, have lobbied government to implement MTCT
programmes to reduce HIV transmission to infants. Since December 1998, TAC
has led the call for government to take action.

TAC has petitioned, negotiated, written appeals, organised workshops and
conferences, publicised the need for government action - all to no avail.

Despite TAC's unshakeable support for the government during its court
battle with drug companies, TAC has had no option but to defend the rights
of poor women with HIV and children against the government. For TAC, legal
proceedings were the last resort - they give people who have lost faith in
the government's commitment to address all aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
a legitimate and legal avenue to defend their constitutional rights to
healthcare access, life, dignity and equality. TAC is not not opposed to the
SA government. TAC is opposed to the misguided and unconstitutional actions
(or lack of them) on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

In August, TAC appealed publicly to the SA Government to abandon its
opposition to the orders TAC is seeking from the court: access to Nevirapine
for women and children who need it (under proper medical supervision), and a
clear national programme to prevent mother to child HIV transmission. The
Minister of Health spurned this appeal.

TAC therefore appeals to every person in South Africa and across the globe
to support TAC's court action. TAC urges all to write letters of support to
the following address:
TAC National Office, Town One Properties, Sulani Drive, Site B,
Khayelitsha, SOUTH AFRICA
E-MAIL: info@tac.org.za

For more information visit: www.tac.org.za

ITEMS FOR DEMOCRACYNEWS

The next issue of DemocracyNews will go out on 5 December, 2001. In order
to make DemocracyNews as useful to you as possible, we ask you to send us
any items related to democracy work that you would like us to include.

We welcome items on your collaborative efforts with other groups to
advance democracy; democracy-related activities particularly in countries
that are struggling to democratize; upcoming events (conferences, training
programs, and workshops); and new publication announcements (case studies,
training manuals, and conference reports).

The next deadline for submissions is 30 November, 2001.

Send contributions to:
World Movement for Democracy
E-MAIL: world@ned.org
INTERNET: www.wmd.org


C. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS
(Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing in this newsletter
for the first time)

GLOBALIZATIONS: CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, DEMOCRATIC (*)

The conference, like it's theme, will be interdisciplinary and
international in character and we hope to have as many different
perspectives presented as possible. This includes persons both on the
academic and activists fronts.

Our emphasis will be on the interactions between various kinds of
globalizations: cultural, economic and democratic. There has been much
academic research and public discussion on the global economy, but we know
much less about the emerging culture that accompanies it. The goal of this
conference is to bring clarity to this and other issues. Some of the
questions to be addressed are, but not limited to:

- What are the implications of postmodern culture and global capitalism
for each other and for a democratic life?
- What are relations between emerging cultural hybrids and postindustrial
economies, between post-Fordism and post-Freudianism, between flexible
accumulation and flexible identities?
- What is the global and social distribution of such different cultural,
economic, and political forms?
- How do various social and cultural theories alternately address the
complex transformations, questions and problems of the present?

For a more complete list, or fo information on the location of the
conference, registration material, on organizing a session, "things to do"
while in the DC metropolitan area, how to submit papers for presentation, or
more general information on the conference itself, please visit
Globalizations' webpage at www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/conference

DATE: 11-14 April, 2002
VENUE: University of Maryland in College Park, USA
ORGANISER: Department of Sociology, University of Maryland, USA
CONTACT: Dr. Richard Brown
E-MAIL: rbrown@socy.umd.edu
INTERNET: www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/conference

CARAVAN 2002 (*)
International Youth Camp Mongolia

The Mongolian Youth Development Centre (MYDC) was established in 1997 and
is an NGO that works to provide opportunities for youth to develop
themselves through social, educational, cultural and physical activities.
Each year MYDC holds an international youth camp for youth aged 14-25. The
camp is a wonderful opportunity for international participants to interact
with each other and with the volunteers who help in the organisation and
Mongolian youth who participate. It is an enriching cultural and social
experience. Next year&#8217;s camp, Caravan 2002 will be held in the exotic
setting of the south Gobi Desert. The week-long format offers activities
such as camel riding and traditional bone games.

DATE: 24 July - 5 August, 2002
VENUE: Goby Desert, MONGOLIA
ORGANISER: MYDC
E-MAIL: exchange@mydc.org.mn
INTERNET: www.mydc.org.mn


D. TRAINING COURSES

TRAINING COURSE IN COSTA RICA

The International Center for Human Rights in Media (ICHRM) and Radio for
Peace International (RFPI) based in Costa Rica announce a ten-week program
beginning on 6 January, 2002 to service students from around the world.

The program focuses on various subjects including social justice, human
rights, ethics in journalism, racism and xenophobia in the media. The
courses are held in the facilities of RFPI and ICHRM. In addition to peace
related studies, language training is also available in both English and
Spanish.

In addition to peace studies and the multicultural experience: a series of
field trips are offered to various points of interest around Costa Rica,
including the rainforest, volcanoes and the beach, every second weekend.
The cost of the program is $3850 USD, excluding airfare and pocket money.

For additional information and registration form

CONTACT: Gilbert Carmichael
TEL.: (11-506) 249-1821
E-MAIL: info@rfpi.org
INTERNET: www.rfpi.org/ipc.html

COURSE AT SIT

The School for International Training (SIT)&#8217;s Center for Social Policy and
Institutional Development will organise a practical, hands-on course for
experienced NGO staff who wish to learn key advocacy concepts and skills.
Training and experiential workshops are combined with expansive visits in
New York City and Washington, DC, USA followed by a final synthesis on the
SIT campus in Vermont, USA.

THEME: International Policy Advocacy
DATE: 30 May ­ 28 June, 2002
TEL.: (1-802) 258-3433
E-MAIL: ipa@sit.edu
INTERNET: www.sit.edu/ipa


E. RELEVANT POSITION LISTINGS

INTERNATIONAL NGO TRAINING AND RESEARCH CENTRE (INTRAC) SEEKS RESEARCH
DIRECTOR

INTRAC, involved in training, consultancy and research within the
international development sector, wishes to recruit a new Research Director
to replace Dr. Peter Oakley who sadly died earlier this year. The Director
will lead the growing INTRAC Research Team. Our key areas of interest are:
Civil Society, Organisational Capacity Building and Participatory
Development.

Further details are on our website or available from INTRAC. The
successful candidate should have an established international reputation,
experience in international development and applied research. The Research
Director is a member of INTRAC&#8217;s senior management team.

Salary range £30,000 - 35,000. Full terms and conditions are available.
Closing date: 1 February, 2002, interviews: on or around 25 February,
2002 in Oxford.

For a copy of the job description and application form please write to:

ADDRESS: Personnel, INTRAC, PO Box 563, Oxford OX2 6RZ, UK.
FAX: (44-1865) 201-852
E-MAIL: l.collett@intrac.org
INTERNET: www.intrac.org


F. NEW PUBLICATIONS

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF PHILANTHROPY IN ISLAM

Principles and Practices of Philanthropy in Islam: Potentials for the
Third Sector
by Samiul Hasan, Coordinator, Asian Third Sector Research Unit, University
of Technology, Sydney, Australia

Published by Centre for Australian Community Organisations and Management
(CACOM). Working Paper Series No. 53.

The primary purpose of this monograph is to identify the basic principles
of philanthropy in Islam and their practices in different Islamic polities.
It discusses different aspects of Islamic philanthropy and their influences
and possible relationship with the third sector in Islamic societies, and
argues that the Islamic principles of philanthropy can be practised in and
benefit third sector organisations, and suggests, with arguments, the need
for governmental intervention to that effect.

The publication can be ordered by contacting The Administrator, CACOM by
fax: (61-2) 951-45583.


2ND EDITION OF NGO-CENTRES AND GOVERNMENTS STUDY

The study is the answer to a request from Slovenia where a new NGO-owned
NGO-centre has been established in the year 2001 at the initiative and with
support from the Government through the Government Office for European
Affairs (GOEA).

The Government of Slovenia is interested to learn from experiences
elsewhere. In particular about the way the relationships between the
government and governmental offices have been organised with individual NGOs
and the organised NGO-world elsewhere.

The study is implemented and the report is written by the volunteer
consultant made available through the Netherlands Management Consultancy
Programme (NMCP, a senior citizen organisation), dr. Michel van Hulten.

The desk study began with the study of accessible documentation available
on the various websites of the Centres chosen for the analysis. This was
followed by a series of letters with additional questions addressed per
Centre. Answers received came from the NGO-centres in Latvia (Raymond
Stephens on behalf of Kaija Gertnere), Lithuania (Ilgius Vaidotas), Czech
Republic (Jana Zahradnickova), Croatia (Cvjatana Plavsa-Matic), and Slovenia
(Primoz Sporar) and in the Netherlands from NIZW (Floris Barnhoorn) and NCDO
(several staff). These answers and other respondents also provided new
documents which appeared useful for the purpose of the study, also coming
from Igor Vidacak of the Institute of International Relations (IMO) in
Zagreb, Agnieszka Sawczuk of ORPHEUS, and from ICNL (see footnote 7 for
justification).

For the full report contact: Michelvanhulten@planet.nl


G. INTERNET NEWS AND WEBSITES

ASHOKA WEBSITE IN SPANISH

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public's - a non-profit organization that
identifies and supports social entrepreneurs worldwide - Spanish language
website is available at: www.espanol.ashoka.org The site features the
latest information about social entrepreneurs in Latin America, as well as a
library of online resources aimed at strengthening citizen sector
initiatives in the region and beyond.

For more information contact: gaston@ashoka.org.ar

H. SCHOLARLY SUPPORT AND AWARDS

FELLOWSHIPS TO MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS
[PAHO]

The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs
will be awarding three fellowships to mid-career professionals from Eastern
Europe, Russia, the former Soviet Republics, South Asia, Latin America and
Africa to pursue the Master of International Policy and Practice program
during the 2002-2003 academic year.

The fellowships, made possible by a grant from the Starr Foundation, will
cover tuition, fees, and a living stipend (for a total value of
approximately USD 35,000).

Applications for the Starr Fellows program are due by 15 January, 2002

Additional information is available at:
www.gwu.edu/~elliott/academicprograms/mipp/

For details
CONTACT: Office of Graduate Admissions of The George Washington
University, Elliott School of International Affairs
ADDRESS: 2013 G Street, NW, Rm. 102, Washington, DC 20052, UNITED STATES
Tel.: (1-202) 994-7050
Fax (1-202) 994-9537
E-mail: mipp@gwu.edu

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH IN ACTION AWARD
Deadline: 21 March, 2002

Youth In Action and the Global Youth Action Network are offering USD 1,000
awards to young people (under 25) who have started a project anywhere in the
world that has positively impacted their community. UNESCO's InfoYOUTH
Network and select corporations have offered funds for these awards, which
aim to provide greater recognition for young people's positive
contributions.

Only youth-initiated projects that are on-going or completed and have
created a measurable and positive result are eligible.

For further information contact: gyan@youthlink.org

ANNOUNCING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE

The Pew Charitable Trusts recently made a grant to Providence College to
create a network of public high schools in the United States with the aim of
advancing youth civic engagement. The project, under the direction of Rick
Battistoni, will involve establishing 200-250 participating high schools in
10 sites (either single school districts or consortia of districts). In each
site, a small group of students, with the assistance of teachers and
administrators, would conduct "civic audits" of their schools, assessing
what their schools do well to provide opportunities for them to engage in
the public life of their communities, and what areas could be improved.

Providence College will develop the audit instrument, a resource guide to
accompany it, and the deliberative process guidelines for the training of
teachers and students. These audits would be the starting point for a
deliberative conversation schoolwide, facilitated by the group of "lead
students", about
1) what issues students are passionate about and what would cause them to
get engaged civically, and
2) what opportunities their high school currently provides and might
provide in the future for civic engagement.
These deliberations would culminate in the development of action plans in
each school to implement one or two new strategies or enhancements for civic
education and civic engagement. In addition to the "demonstration projects"
in each school, the process would culminate nationally in a set of findings
that would then be used to suggest a national strategy for using high
schools as sites for enhancing youth civic engagement.

In order to select the 10 participating sites, Providence College will be
developing an RFP process, but obviously we want to encourage interested
districts or already existing consortia to get involved in potentially
pulling together 20-25 high schools for a site application. The RFP will be
developed by mid-November 2001, and applications will be due by mid-February
2002. Sites would be selected in March 2002, and schools would begin
projects in September 2002. The "applicant" can be a school district, a
consortium of districts, or a CBO or higher educational institution working
in conjunction with school district(s).

Each site chosen to participate will receive USD 100,000, to fund the
hiring of a site coordinator and related expenses necessary to carry out the
grant's objectives. In addition, the lead teacher in each participating
school will receive a small stipend for his/her participation and training.

Questions regarding the high school civic engagement project can be
directed to:

Eric Goldman, Field Director, National High School Civic Engagement
Initiative
TEL.: (1-703) 243-7707
E-MAIL: egoldman@postoffice.providence.edu


INTERNATIONAL PHILANTHROPY FELLOWS PROGRAM AT THE JOHN HOPKINS INSTITUTE

The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, Center for Civil Society
Studies is pleased to announce a call for applications for the International
Fellows in Philanthropy Program for the 2002-2003 academic year. This
program based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, affords an opportunity for
advanced study, research, and training for up to eight participants each
year who are involved in studying or managing private nonprofit, or
philanthropic organizations outside of the United States, or working as NGO
liaisons in the public or commercial sectors. Fellowships, which can be an
academic year or semester, are available at both the Junior and Senior
level.

Eligibility:

We are soliciting candidates who: 1) have demonstrated a high degree of
interest, experience, and professional competence in research, management,
or general leadership related to the voluntary, nongovernmental, nonprofit,
or philanthropic sector; or 2) nonprofit liaison officers established by
governments and multinational organizations who play a role in linking with
nonprofit organizations through project partnerships, legal reform
initiatives, and a variety of other activities.

Candidates are expected to have attained a university diploma equivalent
to the American Bachelors of Arts or Science degree and be capable of
carrying out independent research and inquiry. A high degree of English
fluency is required as demonstrated by a score of 600 or higher on the TOEFL
exam.

There are no restrictions as to nationality (except that US citizens are
excluded from eligibility). Fellows are required to attend the annual
International Fellows in Philanthropy Conference prior to their fellowship
year and are strongly encouraged to participate in subsequent annual
conferences.

Deadline for submission of applications is February 25, 2002.

For more information, or to download an application, visit:
www.jhu.edu/~philfellow or contact Program Manager Carol Wessner at
cwessner@jhu.edu


I. FROM THE READER

e-CIVICUS REACHES TOGO

Dear Sir,

I read e-civicus and I share it my team and my familly. We readers are
satisfied with it. We wish you continue to provide us with useful
information.

Christian Kessougbo, Togo


J. ABOUT CIVICUS

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international
alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society
throughout the world.

e-CIVICUS is produced weekly, and distributed to thousands of subscribers
worldwide. If you would like to comment on a past issue of e-CIVICUS or
request that appropriate information about your organisation be included in
a future issue of e-CIVICUS, please contact the CIVICUS Newsletter Office at
the following e-mail address: news@civicus.org
Due to space restrictions, we may not be able to include all submissions.

To subscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'subscribe' in the subject line to
news@civicus.org
To unsubscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line
to news@civicus.org

Co-ordinator of e-CIVICUS:
Miklos Barabas, Programme and Communications Director
TEL.: (36-1) 356-8440 FAX: (36-1) 356-8499
E-MAIL: news@civicus.org
INTERNET: www.civicus.org

EQUINET NEWSLETTER 23 NOVEMBER 2001

Newsletter of the Network for Equity in Health in Southern Africa

2001-11-29

http://www.equinet.org.zw

Seeking to develop and widen the conceptual understanding of equity in health, Equinet identifies critical areas of work and policy issues and makes visible existing unfair and avoidable inequalities in health.
EQUINET NEWSLETTER 23 NOVEMBER 2001
Newsletter of the Network for Equity in Health in Southern Africa
www.equinet.org.zw

1. EDITORIAL
WTO DECLARATION ON TRIPS AND HEALTH
The Fight Is Not Over
http://www.aids.org/healthgap/
Act-Up Paris, ACT UP Philadelphia, Health GAP Coalition, 13 Nov 2001

Under the leadership of the Africa Group, a bloc of more than 80 countries
representing a majority of WTO Member States forced concessions from rich
countries on the controversial issue of public health and drug company
patent rights, despite fierce pressure from the U.S., E.U., Japan and
Switzerland to divide the countries.

Such concessions include the statement "Each Member has the right to grant
compulsory licenses and the freedom to determine the grounds upon which such
licenses are granted." This statement permits a country to produce and
import generic versions of drugs patented in the country issuing the
license.

But the declaration that emerged on public health and TRIPS from three days
of negotiations was robbed of its full potential, activists say.

"Developing countries came to Doha to extract a clear declaration that
public health and access to medicines are more important than protecting the
commercial interests of pharmaceutical companies," said Asia Russell of
Health GAP Coalition. "At the end of the day, opposition from rich countries
crippled the legally binding language sought by the majority of WTO
countries."

This pressure also stripped the declaration of resolution on the key issue
of how poor countries that have no capacity for production of cheap generic
drugs will secure access to recent and future essential treatments. These
treatments, that are or will be patent protected in countries with
significant domestic generic industry like Brazil and India, could be
exported to the poorest countries. Due to opposition from rich countries,
the Doha meeting did not provide any guarantee that such actions are
permitted.

"Wealthy countries and drug companies refuse to compromise patent monopolies
in poor countries that have no domestic capacity. The declaration does
nothing to remedy this barrier. The majority of people with AIDS and other
treatable diseases live in these countries, so a solution is critical," said
Gaelle Krikorian of ACT UP Paris. "The Ministerial Declaration merely
acknowledges the problem of exporting drugs to poor countries rich countries
stood in the way of taking the actions that are desperately needed."

Developing countries were seeking protection from rich-country sanctions and
other pressures in response to domestic measures, such as compulsory
licensing, that break patent monopolies on AIDS medicines and other
essential drugs. "Countries levying formal or informal pressure on poor
countries that are taking strides to increase drug access should face
condemnation from WTO members, because such pressure violates the spirit and
terms of this agreement," said Sharonann Lynch of Health GAP Coalition.

"Doha did not end the battle over poor country access to drugs," Lynch
continued. "Against the pressure of rich countries and drug companies, the
fight must continue to complete the unfinished work of this Ministerial
millions of lives are at stake. We demand that the WTO clarify during the
first meeting of the TRIPS Council that nothing in the TRIPS Agreement
should stand in the way of countries exporting cheap drugs to poor
countries."

For information, contact:
Gaelle Krikorian, Act-Up Paris +33 609 177 055
Asia Russell or Sharonann Lynch, Health GAP Coalition +1 267 475 2645
Contact: pdavis@critpath.org



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2. EQUITY AND HEALTH GENERAL
DOHA HEALTH DECLARATION MAY HELP SOUTH
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/declaration.htm
The Doha draft declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, if it goes through
and is adopted (without being linked to the ministerial declaration for a
new round which now faces a cliff-hanger fate), could (and it is no more
than could) enable developing countries to take measures to protect public
health and ‘promote’ (not assure) access to medicines for all.


HIV/AIDS: TAC VS STATE
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111220258.html
The Treatment Action Campaign is seeking an order that nevirapine must be
made available to all state hospitals and clinics.


MALAWI: CHURCHES CONTINUE THEIR WAR AGAINST CONDOM USE
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111090610.html
There are no signs the disagreement between church leaders and the
government, which is aided by non-governmental organisations in the fight
against HIV/Aids, will be resolved in the near future regarding condom use.


NEW GLOBAL FUND SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS
The rich experience of NGOs and civil society organizations facing the
challenges wrought by AIDS, TB and malaria must be taken into account in any
new initiative to fight these diseases, according to participants in a
two-day meeting in Brussels organized to involve NGOs in the development of
the new Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=513
Contact: melanie.zipperer@tss-twg.be


POWELL: 'ACTIVE AGENDA' FOR AFRICA
http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/global/hiv/01110801.htm
Speaking to members of Congress, corporate leaders and a wide array of
African Americans -- all with a special dedication to Africa's interests --
at a dinner hosted by Africare, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the
Bush administration is "pursuing an active agenda with the countries of
Africa," and despite its focus on the tragic events of September 11, "Now we
are even more determined to do so."


SOUTH AFRICA TO INCREASE SPENDING ON AIDS
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011030/hl/hiv_45.html
South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has announced significantly
increased spending on South Africa's twin scourges of HIV/AIDS and crime.


SOUTH AFRICA: HIV/AIDS GRANTS UNDERSPENT
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111140523.html
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is very concerned about the report by
the Institute for Democracy in South Africa's budget information service
that states that provinces have spent only a fraction of the funds they were
allocated for HIV/Aids programmes - and half of the financial year has
passed already.


SOUTH AFRICA: HRC 'HAS NOTHING NEW TO ADD'
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111220259.html
The new chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC),
Shirley Mabusela, kept her head down on the government's HIV/Aids stance
this week and stood by the HRC's decision to stay out of next week's court
challenge to official policy on anti-retroviral drugs, writes Bongani
Majola.


SOUTH AFRICA: MBEKI REACTS TO 'FICTITIOUS' REPORT
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111090115.html
President Thabo Mbeki allowed for "an exception" this week by giving his
aides a go-ahead to "correct" certain "tendentious" reports that claim he is
downplaying the extent of HIV/AIDS, and that he is subsequently ruthless to
those that dare to criticise his views.


SOUTH AFRICA: ORPHAN CRISIS LOOMS
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111140015.html
While parliament has been told that South Africa will have an estimated two
million Aids orphans by 2010, welfare institutions will have a tough time
finding them.


SOUTH AFRICA: TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENT COURT PAPERS
South African AIDS activist group, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), has
accused the government of trying to "undermine established science and
scientific institutions". TAC was responding to the government serving court
papers on the group, opposing TAC's legal application which demanded the
provision of Nevirapene to all pregnant women with HIV/AIDS.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=480


THE ACCEPTABILITY OF A VAGINAL MICROBICIDE AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN MEN
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2716401.html
Gita Ramjee, Eleanor Gouws, Amy Andrews, Landon Myer and Amy E. Weber
With the explosive nature of the South African AIDS epidemic, there is an
urgent need for HIV prevention methods controlled by women. Because several
microbicide trials are going on in South Africa and elsewhere, there also is
an urgent need to determine South African men's perceptions of and
preferences for a potential vaginal microbicide.


UGANDA: 'HIV/AIDS IN PREGNANT WOMEN DOWN BY HALF'
http://allafrica.com/stories/200110300413.html
Uganda now boasts of a 50 percent decline in HIV/AIDS prevalence among women
attending antenatal clinics, the Commissioner Health Services (Community
Health) at the ministry of Health has said.


VATICAN 'BLASTS' U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY FIELD GUIDE
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_repro_recent_reports.cfm?dr_c
at=2&show=yes&dr_DateTime=09-Nov-01#7949
The Vatican sent a document to bishops conferences around the world
yesterday "blasting" a field guide published by the U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees for promoting "proposals regarding the limitations of births,
an idea of irresponsible sexual relations and even abortion," Reuters
reports.


ZAMBIA: WHO GIVES COUNSELLING COUNCIL US$45,000
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111130449.html
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has given Zambia Counselling Council US$
45,000 to host the first International Training of Trainers workshop for
HIV/AIDS in the southern region.



////////////////////////////////////


3. RESOURCE ALLOCATION
HEALTH POVERTY INDEX - SCOPING PROJECT
A survey of the health inequalities field revealed that although there has
been considerable work developing indicators of health inequalities, there
seems to have been few examples of areas or countries attempting to combine
these indicators into an index of health inequalities. From the debate
around the main indices of multiple deprivation used in the UK, it was
possible to draw out a number of issues that would be significant for the
development of an HPI given the kind of Index the user community seemed to
be requesting. These were to do with the geographic level of measurement,
rules for choosing indicators, using a domain structure, constructing
indicators, weighting and composite vs single indicators.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=471



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4. PUBLIC-PRIVATE SUBSIDIES
EQUITY AND HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS:
Can Low-income Countries Escape The Medical Poverty Trap?
http://www.healthp.org/article.php?sid=64&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Lancet 2001; 358: 833-36
Department of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK (Prof M
Whitehead PhD); Swedish National Institute of Public Health, Stockholm,
Sweden (Prof Göran Dahlgren MA); and Health Equity Division, The Rockefeller
Foundation, New York, NY, USA (Timothy Evans MD).
In the past two decades, powerful international trends in market-oriented
health-sector reforms have been sweeping around the world, generally
spreading from the northern to the southern, and from the western to the
eastern hemispheres. Global blueprints have been advocated by agencies such
as the World Bank to promote privatisation of health-service providers, and
to increase private financing--via user fees--of public providers.
Furthermore, commercial interests are increasingly promoted by the World
Trade Organisation, which has striven to open up public services to foreign
investors and markets. This policy could pave the way for public funding of
private operators in health and education sectors, especially in wealthy,
industrial countries in the northern hemisphere. Although such attempts to
undermine public services pose an obvious threat to equity in the well
established social-welfare systems of Europe and Canada, other developments
pose more immediate threats to the fragile systems in middle-income and
low-income countries. Two of these trends--the introduction of user fees for
public services, and the growth of out-of-pocket expenses for private
services--can, if combined, constitute a major poverty trap.


PRIVATE HEALTH CARE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7311/463
BMJ Editorial, September 2001
Private healthcare provision is growing in low and middle income countries.
The poor, as well as the rich, often seek health care from private
providers, including for conditions of public health importance such as
malaria, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections. The reasons
cited by users include better and more flexible access, shorter waiting,
greater confidentiality, and greater sensitivity to user needs.
International policymakers are currently recommending greater use of private
providers on the grounds that they offer consumers greater choice; increase
competition in the healthcare market; and remove state responsibility for
service provision, thereby encouraging its role as regulator and guarantor.
We should, however, be concerned.



////////////////////////////////////


5. HOUSEHOLD POVERTY
FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S POOR, A NEW POWER STRUGGLE
Seven years after voters of all races went to the polls for the first time,
ending 46 years of apartheid and white rule, churches, labor unions,
community activists and the poor in all-black townships are dusting off the
protest machinery that was the engine of their liberation struggle. What
most provokes South Africans' defiance today are what they see as injustices
unleashed on this developing nation by the free-market economic policies of
the popularly elected, black-led governing party, the African National
Congress.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=470


HEALTH, INEQUALITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Angus Deaton, Prepared for the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health.
This paper explores the connection between income inequality and health in
both poor and rich countries, discuss a range of mechanisms, including
nonlinear income effects, credit restrictions, nutritional traps, public
goods provision, and relative deprivation, reviews the evidence on the
effects of income inequality on the rate of decline of mortality over time,
on geographical pattens of mortality, and on individual-level mortality.
Much of the literature needs to be treated skeptically, if only because of
the low quality of much of the data on income inequality. Although there are
many puzzles that remain, the paper concludes that there is no direct link
from income inequality to ill-health; individuals are no more likely to die
if they live in more unequal places. But that income inequality itself is
not a health risk does not deny the importance for health of other
inequalities, nor of the social environment. Whether income redistribution
can improve population health does not depend on a direct effect of income
inequality and remains an open question.

Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=489



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6. WTO, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICY
DOHA DRAFT UNBALANCED
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/biased.htm
The Ministerial Draft Declaration from Doha is a highly biased and
imbalanced text, and many key sections should be rejected say the Third
World Network.


EIGHT BROKEN PROMISES:
Why The WTO Isn’t Working For The World’s Poor
http://www.oxfam.org/what_does/advocacy/papers/8broken.rtf
Oxfam Briefing Paper, November 2001.
This paper identifies eight broken promises made by rich countries. Each one
has cost developing countries the opportunity to gain a fairer share of
global wealth. Each one has denied people in developing countries the chance
to escape poverty. If rich countries honoured their promises to developing
countries to deliver improved market access and fairer treatment at the
World Trade Organisation (WTO), globalisation would be producing real
benefits for poverty reduction. Unfortunately, Northern governments have
failed to act on their commitments. They are maintaining trade policies that
skew the benefits of world trade away from poor countries and towards the
rich, reinforcing already obscene levels of global inequality in the
process.


STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT AND HEALTH:
A Literature Review Of The Debate, Its Role-players And Presented Empirical
Evidence
http://www.cmhealth.org/docs/wg6_paper6.pdf
Anna Breman, Carolyn Shelton, WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health.
Do structural adjustment programs cause poor health outcomes? Are structural
adjustment programs responsible for improved health indicators? Does reduced
spending in the health sector have a direct impact on infant mortality?
These and other questions surrounding the relationship between health and
structural adjustment programs have been highly debated for over ten years.
This paper will identify the major players in the debate, their arguments
and track changes in the debate over time.


TRADING IN ILLUSIONS
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/issue_marapr_2001/rodrick.html
Advocates of global economic integration hold out utopian visions of the
prosperity that developing countries will reap if they open their borders to
commerce and capital. This hollow promise diverts poor nations' attention
and resources from the key domestic innovations needed to spur economic
growth.


WHO WILL INHERIT THE EARTH?
http://www.healthmatters.org.uk/stories/rowson2.html
International agreement on intellectual property rights has been foisted on
poorer countries in the interests of corporate profit, and will seriously
harm public health, say Mike Rowson and Meri Koivusalo.



////////////////////////////////////


7. HUMAN RESOURCES
AFRICA: THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
A recent report supports evidence that in Africa, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is
concentrated in the most economically productive segment of the population.
The report, released by researchers in KwaZulu Natal province, has found
that the death of an individual with HIV/AIDS has far-reaching and complex
implications for the family and community.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=482


FROM NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
Trade And Job Quality
http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/External/lac/lac.nsf/Publications/55671FFABEE5F
88485256AE10079A58A?OpenDocument
This year's flagship report for the Latin American and Caribbean Region,
From Natural Resources to the Knowledge Economy Trade and Job Quality,
addresses three concerns about the structure of trade in Latin American and
Caribbean economies. The first is whether natural wealth and exports of
natural resource-intensive commodities hampers economic development. The
second concern is that natural resources create a concentrated export
structure which exacerbates economic volatility and thus reduces growth. The
third concern is that international trade might eliminate jobs. The
wide-ranging report cites the experience of Australia, Canada, Finland,
Sweden, and the United States, as well as some Latin American countries, to
show how successful economies have been built on the basis of primary
commodity exports.


SOUTH AFRICA: NAPWA HITS OUT AT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Discrimination by financial institutions in South Africa continues to
disadvantage People living with AIDS, the director of the national
association of PWAs told PlusNews on Friday.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=481


TRADE UNIONS IN WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH PROMOTION
A Focus On Cooperation Between Workers And Academics In Promoting Health
http://www.healthp.org/article.php?sid=84&mode=thread&order=0
Mauri Johansson, MD, Denmark
Since the middle of the nineteenth century, workers have organized in unions
and parties to strengthen their efforts toward improvement of health and
safety at work, job conditions, working hours, wages, job contracts, and
safety. During history alliances have, from time to time, been established
between workers, their unions and academically trained persons, working in
solidarity with the workers and on their premises.



////////////////////////////////////


8. HUMAN RIGHTS AND HEALTH
HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3202.html
Edited by Jonathan M. Mann, Sofia Gruskin, and Michael A. Grodin
An introduction to the synergy of health and human rights in several areas
of the world. Publisher: Routledge.


THE INTERNATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH MOVEMENT
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7320/1014
There are now signs that men's health work has reached a sufficient level of
maturity in enough countries to create a new interest in developing
international links. The most important event in this process, the First
World Congress on Men's Health, takes place in Vienna this month. This aims
to increase awareness of men's health among the medical community, to
facilitate networking, and to address current men's health issues (including
erectile dysfunction, depression, and cardiovascular disease). The
International Society for Men's Health will be established at the world
congress, an organisation that is expected to have an advocacy as well as a
networking role. The European Men's Health Initiative will also be launched
at the Congress. This seeks to encourage the development of men's health
policy and practice at a Europe wide level as well as within individual
countries. The first step will be the establishment of a European Men's
Health Forum. International research and debate will be further encouraged
by the publication from this month of the US based International Journal of
Men's Health.



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9. RESEARCH AND POLICY
ETHICAL ISSUES IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON INTERNET COMMUNITIES
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7321/1103
Eysenbach G, Till JE, British Medical Journal BMJ - November 10, 2001; 323:
1103-1105
The internet is the most comprehensive electronic archive of written
material representing our world and peoples' opinions, concerns, and
desires. Physicians who surf the internet for the first time are often
stunned by what they learn on websites set up by lay people or patient self
support communities. Material on these venues can be a rich source for
researchers interested in understanding the experiences and views of people
and patients. Qualitative analysis of material published and communicated on
the internet can serve to systematise and codify needs, values, concerns,
and preferences of consumers and professionals relevant to health and health
care. While the internet makes people's interactions uniquely accessible for
researchers and erases boundaries of time and distance, such research raises
new issues in research ethics, particularly concerning informed consent and
privacy of research subjects, as the borders between public and private
spaces are sometimes blurred.


INFORMING JUDGMENT:
Case Studies Of Health Policy And Research In Six Countries
http://www.milbank.org/2001cochrane/010903cochrane.html
Milbank Memorial Fund, The Cochrane Collaboration, September 2001
The authors of the case studies in this report describe and assess
collaborative efforts using evidence from research to guide policymaking for
health care. Each case study is itself collaborative. Researchers and
public-sector policymakers are co-authors of three cases (Australia, British
Columbia, Norway); executives of pharmaceutical firms joined in writing two
cases (South Africa, United Kingdom); one case is the work of a policymaker
and researchers at a large nonprofit health care organization in the United
States (Kaiser Permanente). The proper purpose of collaboration between
researchers and policymakers is to use evidence from research to inform
judgments for which policymakers are accountable. ....Each of these cases is
a story about three types of politics in a particular country. First, each
case is about the politics of research; that is, the judgments of and
relationships among the health care scientists who plan, conduct, assess,
synthesize, and communicate findings based on evidence. Second, each is
about the politics of health policy: who does what to, for, and with whom in
particular jurisdictions in order to decide what clinical interventions will
be considered appropriate and, hence, paid for. Finally, each is about the
politics of collaboration between researchers and policymakers: how the
evidence and findings produced by the former informs the judgments of the
latter.


MONITORING FINANCIAL FLOWS FOR HEALTH RESEARCH
Global Forum for Health Research, October 2001.
In its widely quoted report, the Commission on Health Research for
Development drew attention to the importance of health research as the
essential link to equity in development. It proposed that developing
countries should review and strengthen the management of health research so
as to meet their national needs as well as contribute to the global fund of
knowledge. The Commission also recommended that governments in developing
countries should allocate at least 2% of the national health budget for
research and that 5% of the budget for large externally funded programmes
should be assigned to research and capacity strengthening.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=488



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10. POPULAR PARTICIPATION / GOVERNANCE AND HEALTH
PRSPS AND HEALTH
http://www.iphn.org/bulletin6.htm
IPHN's 6th e-bulletin looked at issues relating to PRSPS and health,
particularly highlighting issues around popular participation in these
processes.


SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE:
STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING EQUITY IN HEALTH
by Nancy Birdsall, Robert Hecht Human Capital Development Operations,
Working Papers - World Bank
Achieving lasting reforms requires a combination of political
enfranchisement, skillful coalition-building and negotiations, and
enlightened leadership. The generation and dissemination of information for
example, on differences in health status, service utilization, total health
spending and government expenditures among different income groups in a
given country can be a crucial element in achieving reforms that improve
equity. Policy-relevant information becomes an especially powerful force for
change in societies with democratic political institutions, a
broadly-educated population, and a diverse and critical press. Under these
circumstances, the analysis of health spending levels and patterns across
geographical and income groupings can be a potent tool in the hands of
reformers, and can be used to counteract the efforts of others (e.g.,
politicians in power, elite civil servants, professional associations) to
obtain a disproportionate share of public resources for health.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=472


WHO LAUNCHES CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVE
The World Health Organisation has launched a major new 'Civil Society
Initiative' which recognises the importance of engaging with civil society
organisations and is a response to pressure from CSOs, in particular, the
initiatives launched at the People's Health Assembly, reports IPHN Bulletin.
At the Global Forum for Health Promotion Dialogue in Paris on 16th July
2001, Eva Wallstam, the Director of the new initiative said, "... The
Peoples' Health Charter agreed on at the Peoples' Health Assembly in Dhaka
in December last year is a living example of the advocacy role of civil
society.... For WHO this means reaching out, beyond the formal health sector
to other partners and to a wide range of civil society actors such as many
of you present here today. The concept and practice of collaboration with
civil society organizations, CSOs, is not new for WHO. However, due to the
growing influence of non-state actors in public life and public health, the
need for WHO to improve and strengthen these partnerships has now become
even more apparent."
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=465



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11. SADC NEWS
HOPE FOR SADC STATES YET, SAYS SIPHO PITYANA
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111070171.html
There is hope for the development of Southern African Development Community
(SADC) countries, even though more work is needed to attain the 6% growth
rate required in terms of the United Nations's new agenda for development.


SIGNIFICANT STEPS TOWARDS FREE MOVEMENT OF LABOUR
http://allafrica.com/stories/200111080466.html
The government sees the free movement of people and workers among the 14
member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as a
medium-term goal, top government representative Joel Netshitenzhe confirmed
this week.



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12. LETTERS AND COMMENTS
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS NEWSLETTER!
Send in information and articles on the work of your organisation, and on
equity and health issues in Southern Africa.
Contact: editor@equinet.org.zw



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13. USEFUL RESOURCES
CONVEYING CONCERNS:
Media Coverage Of Women And HIV/AIDS
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3281.html
The fifth in a series compiled through The Women's Edition project, this
32-page booklet contains a collection of articles and transcripts of
broadcasts produced by women journalists in 7 countries. The stories
emphasize that economic dependence on men and different standards of
behavior for men and women play a role in increasing women's vulnerability
to the epidemic.


GETTING STARTED: SELECTED ELECTRONIC RESOURCES ON HIV/AIDS
http://www.aplici.org/publications/PDF/focuson4.pdf
This 4-page guide provides numerous electronic resources related to
HIV/AIDS. Categories include glossaries that aid with terminology, links to
different databases with surveillance information, fact sheets on prevention
and transmission, laws and legislation, various software programs related to
AIDS, as well as links to numerous AIDS conferences taking place throughout
the world.


HEALTHY DOCUMENTS
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action [WABA] produced, in July 2001, a
book entitled Healthy Documents containing a compehensive compilation of
important documents and statements relating to people's health globally. It
includes both historic documents and very contemporary ones. The book is
divided into a number of sections e.g. medical ethics, health rights, public
health etc. and also contains two case studies on how such declarations and
statements have been used in practice to promote breastfeeding.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=466
Contact: secr@waba.po.my


THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS ECONOMICS NETWORK
http://www.iaen.org/
The International AIDS Economics Network (IAEN) provides data, tools and
analysis on the economics of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in
developing countries, for compassionate, cost-effective responses to the
global epidemic.



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14. JOBS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
EQUITY-ORIENTED RESEARCH: LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES IN THE 21TH CENTURY
The International Clinical Epidemiology Network Global Meeting XVIII
10th - 13th of February 2002 in Egypt.
Abstracts in the areas of clinical epidemiology, field epidemiology, health
economics, health social science, biostatistics, health systems and policy
research, environmental and occupational health, and related disciplines and
research areas are welcome. Priority will be given to abstracts emphasizing
equity issues in health research e.g., welfare of the poor and marginalized,
social benefit from research, measurement of inequity, impact of policy
change on equity, etc.
Further details: http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/newsletter.php?id=469
Contact: hassanamr@fsuez.com.eg


INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR EQUITY IN HEALTH
Second International Conference
http://www.iseqh.org/conf2002/toronto2002.htm
June 14-16, 2002, Toronto, Canada
The Conference theme is Equity: Research in the Service of Policy and
Advocacy for Health and Health Services. The International Society for
Equity in Health (ISEqH) welcomes those interested in equity in health and
health services to share expertise and experience through an international
cross-disciplinary forum. ISEqH wishes to promote equity in health and
health services internationally through research, education, publication,
and communication. Our specific purposes are to facilitate scientific
interchange of conceptual and methodological knowledge on issues related to
equity in health and health services; to advance research related to equity
in health; to provide a forum for those interested in contributing knowledge
to further the cause of equity in health; and to maintain relationships with
other international and regional organizations devoted to achieving equity
in health. Support may be available for attendees from developing countries,
from eastern or central Europe, or the former Soviet Union, as a result of
grants received from the Rockefeller and Soros Foundations. Deadline for
funding requests: January 4, 2002. Deadline for submission of abstracts:
January 4, 2002.


SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGIONAL TRAINING ON CHILD BUDGET ANALYSIS
Jan 28 -Feb 1 2002 - Cape Town, South Africa
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/549-event.html
Targeted to researchers conducting child budget analysis and those just
beginning to learn the skills. Participants will be gathered from
non-governmental organisations and government agencies aimed at child
poverty alleviation and/ or children’s rights. Conducted by The Children’s
Budget Project at Idasa and Save the Children Sweden. Contact: Shaamela
Cassiem.
Contact: shaamela@idasact.org.za


WORKSHOP ON MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY OF MALARIA
Maputo, Mozambique, January 2002
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/539-event.html
For African scientists employed by African health research/teaching
institutions, who are interested in participating in future malaria vaccine
trials in Africa. Contact: Professor W. L. Kilama.
Contact: wkilama@Africaonline.co.tz



////////////////////////////////////

The Network on Equity in Health in Southern Africa (EQUINET) is a network of
research, civil society and health sector organisations seeking to influence
policy on health in southern Africa. EQUINET aims to build alliances leading
to positive policies on health both at local and regional levels. We do this
by disseminating information and stimulating an informed debate on equity in
health in Southern Africa. Further details about EQUINET are available at
http://www.equinet.org.zw/
Equinet-l is an electronic newsletter of the Network for Equity in Health in
Southern Africa (EQUINET) produced by fahamu - learning for change
(http://www.fahamu.org/).
The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of
Equinet or fahamu.
To subscribe/unsubscribe, use the form on
http://www.equinet.org.zw/newsletter/subscribe.php or write to
<info@equinet.org.zw> with the word 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' in the
subject line or in the body of the message.

---
EQUINET-Newsletter is hosted on Kabissa - Space for change in Africa
To post, write to: EQUINET-Newsletter@equinet.org.zw
Website: http://www.lists.kabissa.org/mailman/listinfo/equinet-newsletter

ICT for Development in Africa (ACACIA phase II)

2001-11-29

http://www.idrc.ca/acacia/newsletter/Sep01.PDF

Acacia is a program to help sub-Saharan African communities develop the ability to use ICTs for their social and economic development. The Acacia program is commencing its second phase, which will look to build on the first phase, notably by focussing on disseminating findings widely, learning from its initial projects and developing new types of projects. The September newsletter summarizes some of the lessons from Phase I and outlines current activities and plans for Phase II.

Newsletter of the Coalition for an International Criminal Court

ICC UPDATE #24, November 2001

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/enewsl/4546

CICC NEWSLETTER: ICC UPDATE #24, November 2001


Dear Friends,

As follows is the 24th edition of the ICC Update, a regular update
produced by the CICC Secretariat.
If you would like to receive this as a PDF and/or Microsoft Word document,
please e-mail cicc4@iccnow.org

In this edition you will find the following:

CONTENTS:
I. Introduction - Background on the Coalition, International Criminal
Court, PrepCom, Quotes from recent Press Releases, etc.
II. Regional Updates - Progress report on the ratification efforts in each
region of the world
III. Special Feature - Excerpts from the recent General Assembly debate on
Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, where references were made
to the ICC, 1 - 5 October 2001, UN Headquarters, NY
IV. State Parties to the ICC: List of States that have ratified the Rome
States
V. Upcoming Events - Regional, international, local meetings, conferences
related to the ICC
VI. ICC in the News - News Media Coverage on the ICC (for full news and
articles, visit the CICC listserv at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/icc-info/)
VII. CICC Information - Contact details; CICC Steering Committee;
Announcements; Funders information, etc.).

Thanks to everyone who provided their information for this publication. If
you are interested in submitting information for the next issue or if you
have any suggestions regarding this publication, please contact the
Secretariat.

Kind regards,

Tunga Ganbold
CICC Secretariat
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*

***ICC UPDATE***24TH EDITION, NOVEMBER 2001
CICC Secretariat * 777 UN Plaza, NY NY * Tel: (212) 687-2176 Fax: (212)
599-1332
E-mail: CICC@I.. * Website: www.ICCnow.org
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Introduction o Regional Updates o Special Feature o Upcoming Events o ICC
in the News o CICC Information
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~ What is the Coalition? ~

The Coalition is a network of over one thousand civil society organizations
from around the world, working together towards a common goal: the
establishment of a fair, effective and independent International Criminal
Court. The Coalition has national and regional networks in Africa, Latin
America, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America.

As a result of the partnership between like-minded governments,
international organizations and civil society, the Rome Statute has:

139 signatures & 46 ratifications

For detailed country updates, visit www.iccnow.org
-----
After the deposit of the Peruvian ratification of the ICC Statute,
on 10 November 2001, Francisco Soberon, Chairman of the Association for
Human Rights (APRODEH) in Peru and a Steering Committee member of the CICC,
commended President Alejandro Toledo's action, stating, "On behalf of
Peruvian civil society organizations, I congratulate the government of Peru
for this significant action which sends a strong message to the future
Fujimoris, Pinochets and Montesinos: 'Never again.'"

William Pace, CICC Convenor, added "The multiple ratifications and
additional statements of intent made [during the 56th General Assembly]
indicate that a permanent International Criminal Court
is widely viewed as a necessary instrument in responding to crimes
against humanity." Poland and Nauru ratified on 12 November 2001.

~ The ICC Preparatory Commission ~

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will be a permanent court that will
investigate and bring to justice individuals who commit the most serious
violations of international humanitarian law, namely war crimes, crimes
against humanity, genocide, and once defined, aggression. Unlike the
International Court of Justice in The Hague, whose jurisdiction is
restricted to States, the ICC will have the capacity to indict individuals.
The ICC will be created on the basis of the Rome Statute, a treaty adopted
on July 17, 1998 in Rome at the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of
Plenipotentiaries.

The ICC will be complementary to national jurisdictions, and will act only
when national systems are unable or unwilling to genuinely carry out
investigations or prosecutions of such crimes. To this effect, the primary
national legislation and practices should enable States to bring to justice
the persons responsible for the crimes under the Rome Statute. The
jurisdiction of the Court is not retroactive. It will only apply to those
crimes that are committed after the entry into force of the Rome Statute.

The International Criminal Court will be established when sixty states have
ratified the Rome Statute. By the deadline of 31 December 2000, 139
nations had signed the Statute, and to date 46 have ratified. The
Coalition and like-minded governments seek to achieve entry into force as
quickly as reasonably possible, a goal which cannot be realized without the
support of civil society and governments all over the world.

~ The ICC Preparatory Commission ~

The Preparatory Commission (PrepCom) was established by the UN General
Assembly pursuant to a mandate, embodied in Resolution F, of the Rome
Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries to draft the Elements of Crimes
and Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and other instruments supplemental to
the treaty. Three sessions were convened in both 1999 and 2000. In 2001,
two meetings took place (26 February - 9 March and 24 September - 5
October). The NGO Coalition follows these sessions, gathers on a daily
basis to exchange information concerning the ongoing developments, and
organizes meetings with NGOs and government delegations from all regions of
the world. The following issues were discussed in 2001 sessions of the
PrepCom: the Relationship Agreement between the ICC and United Nations, an
Agreement on Privileges and Immunities, the Rules of Procedure for the
Assembly of States Parties, Financial Rules and Regulations, the budget for
the first year of the Court's operation, the Host State Agreement, and the
Crime of Aggression. The negotiations on the first four issues were
finalized at the last session.

You are invited to subscribe to our distribution list by sending a blank
e-mail to: icc-info-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

+++++++++

======REGIONAL UPDATES
AFRICA
Comoros
October 2001
At the debate on terrorsim during the 56th General Assembly, the Comoros
delegate stated, "My delegationS<caron>[is] currently taking part in the
debates
of the eighth Preparatory Commission for the ICC, and after having signed
the Rome Statute, we intend to ratify it in the near future."

Ghana October 2001
The government has created a drafting team and various proposals for
drafting implementing legislation have been completed. It is expected that
a first draft should be prepared by the end of the year. The drafting team
is planning to organize public consultations, which the Minister of Justice
has requested, prior to the presentation of a bill to Parliament.

Guinea September 2001
The ratification process has resumed and an inter-ministerial Committee was
set up in September 2001 to draft a ratification bill and identify the
national laws which will need to be amended when Guinea ratifies. Guinea
has announced it is expecting to ratify before the end of 2002.

Senegal 25 October 2001
Although there is no legal tradition of national implementation of
international treaties in Senegal, the government has recognized the
necessity of implementing the Rome Statute. During a three-day conference
on implementation of the Rome Statute of the ICC which took place in Dakar,
Senegal from 22 to 25 October 2001, international experts, government and
civil society representatives adopted a series of recommendations aimed at
facilitating the efforts on implementation and harmonization of the Rome
Statute with national law.

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Cambodia
October 2001
The Legislative Committee of the National Assembly is to consider the
ratification bill in its November session, which was presented to the
National Assembly in June 2001 by Prime Minister Hun Sen. Once approved by
the National Assembly, the bill will then be submitted to the Senate for
approval.

Indonesia 17
October 2001
The government has reportedly committed to studying the implications of the
ICC and will look into enacting implementing legislation prior to
ratification, after an intergovernmental ICC conference was held in Manila.

Nauru 12 November
2001
Nauru became the 45th State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

Nepal 6 November 2001
During a two-day national consultation on the establishment of the ICC in
Kathmandu, Nepal, from 3 to 4 November 2001, international experts,
representatives of the Nepalese government, media and civil society
emphasized the need for Nepal to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC as
soon as possible. Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had prepared
an analysis of the ICC Statute and an inter-ministerial committee had been
formed. The question of accession was tabled for the Parliamentary
committee, but had been delayed because of a domestic political situation.

Tuvalu 17 October 2001
Sources reported that Tuvalu will consider ratifying the Rome Statute in
the near future. Ratification does not require comprehensive legislation. A
memorandum from the Cabinet will be sent to the legislature for
consideration shortly.

EASTERN EUROPE AND THE CIS
Bulgaria 16
October 2001
Justice Minister Anton Stankov announced in October 2001 that ratification
of the Rome Statute is to be expected soon. An inter-ministerial working
group is being formed to prepare the constitutional amendments and other
changes to substantive criminal law to bring the national legislation in
line with the Rome Statute.

Czech Republic 30 October 2001
The Chamber of Deputies in the Parliament has voted against the proposed
amendment to the Constitution. The Czech government is to redraft the
proposed amendment to enable its ratification of the Rome Statute.

Estonia 24 October
2001
The first reading of the draft ratification bill was undertaken in
Parliament. The draft was presented by Minister of Justice Märt Rask and
Deputy Head of the Legal Committee Väino Linde. The draft bill and
resulting proposals will be submitted for the second reading shortly.
Sources estimate that Estonia could ratify by the end of this year.

Hungary 6 November 2001
The Parliament ratified the ICC ratification bill. The ratification
procedure will be completed with the signature of the President and deposit
of the instrument at UN Headquarters, expected to occur shortly.

Poland 12 November
2001
Poland became the 46th State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC. The
Polish Senate approved the ICC ratification bill on 2 August 2001. The
President signed the bill on 27 August 2001. The domestic legislation has
entered into force. The work on implementing legislation will now begin
with the appointment of a special expert team (to focus on cooperation
legislation).

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Argentina
October 2001
An inter-ministerial commission, created by the government in August 2000,
has made public its first project on domestic implementing legislation,
which has been submitted to several universities, human rights
organizations and independent experts in order to receive their comments
and proposed amendments. This project provides for incrimination and
domestic punishment of the crimes under the Rome Statute and includes a
series of provisions that will facilitate cooperation of the State with the
future Court.

Bolivia October 2001
The inter-institutional working group, composed of the Ministries of
Foreign Affairs, Justice and Defense, the Ombudsman Office and civil
society organisations, is making progress in exploring possible
ratification and implementing legislation. The group's report to the
Foreign Affairs Ministry was due at the end of October, and will then be
submitted to the Senate.

Brazil 10 October 2001
President Cardoso submitted the ratification bill to the Congress, urging
its approval. The Chamber of Deputies has approved the proposed amendment,
which will facilitate Brazil's ratification of the Statute. Recent sources
predict that ratification is likely to proceed prior to amendment of the
Constitution.

Colombia
October 2001
The proposed revision of the Constitution, agreed by the government and
the Congress, follows the French model of generic constitutional amedment.
The project still needs two votes from the Chamber of Deputies during its
current session that will finish in December 2001. The government has also
called for a commision to draft an opinion on ratification, while Ombudsman
Eduardo Cifuentes has made an appeal, stating that "Colombia´s adhesion
can't be understood as an obstacle to the peace process."

Guatemala
October 2001
Sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggest that the Statute is
being examined in order to identify possible constitutional issues.

Honduras
October 2001
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme Court are in the process of
consultations on how to proceed with ratification of the Statute. It is
expected that a ratification bill will be submitted to Congress before the
end of this year.

Mexico October 2001
The government has finalized its proposal for Constitutional Reform, which
will facilitate ratification. The proposal concerns individual guarantees
under the Constitution and recognizes the jurisdiction of the international
courts, among them, the ICC. The proposal must be submitted to Congress,
where the ICC has broad support, but the process of amendment could take
time. On 15 October 2001, during an official visit to Madrid, President Fox
indicated support for the ICC.

Panama October 2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Miguel Aleman announced the submission of
the Rome Statute to the Legislative Assembly for its ratification. The
project must be approved in the Foreign Affairs Commission, then undergo a
second and a third debate in the plenary. If it is not ratified during this
legislative session before the end of 31 December 2001, the Executive
branch must reintroduce it during the March 2002 legislative session.

Peru 12 November
2001
Peru became the 46th State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC.
Previously, on 13 September, the Congress approved, with an overwhelming
majority of 84 in favor, 1 against and 2 abstentions, the ratification
bill with two declarations introduced by the Foreign Affairs Committee of
the Congress. On 9 October, the Supreme Decree, declaring the ratification
of the ICC Statute, was published in the Official Gazette "El Peruano."

NORTH AMERICA
United States of America 8
November 2001
The joint conference committee of the U.S. Congress recommended an
amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Appropriations
bill on 8 November 2001. The amendment provides that none of the funds
appropriated by the bill can be used for "any U.S. cooperation with, or
assistance or other support to the ICC and Preparatory Commission." This
provision applies solely to a particular allocation of funds, approved for
a particular fiscal year. It must be adopted again next year to continue to
have a further effect.

WESTERN EUROPE
Portugal 4
October 2001
The constitutional amendment which recognizes the jurisdiction of the ICC
was adopted by a majority of deputies in Parliament. Article 7(6) of the
Portuguese Constitution now reads as follows: "Portugal hereby accepts the
jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, with the conditions of
complementarity and the other stipulations as foreseen in the Rome
Statute." (Note: unofficial translation). The text will now go through
several stages in the Assembly and Parliament, and will then be submitted
to the President of the Republic for signature. The ratification process is
expected to be completed shortly.

Spain October 2001
The government has created a commision, composed of the Ministry of
Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, which
has made progress regarding a legislative proposal on implementation of
the crimes under the Statute into domestic law and an effective
cooperation with the ICC. Some sources report that the legislation could be
ready by February 2002.

Switzerland 12 October 2001
Switzerland became the 43rd State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

########

SPECIAL FEATURE

Excerpts from the recent General Assembly debate
on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism,
where references were made to the ICC

1 - 5 October 2001, UN Headquarters, NY

BENIN - Ambassador Wassi Adechi, Permanent Representative of Benin to the
United Nations, on 5 October 2001
"The debates we had in plenary session over the last three days have
emphasized, if it was still needed, that terrorism is a threat for the
security of States and the progress of humanity. We want to believe that
the fact that this issue is being examined at the same time as the
preparatory work for the creation of an International Criminal Court is
taking place is a premonitory coincidence." (Note: unofficial English
translation)

BURKINA FASO - Ambassador Michel Kafando, Permanent Representantative of
Burkina Faso to the United Nations, on 1 October 2001
"Many international conventions such as that of The Hague, Montreal, New
York, Rome, Vienna, etcS<caron>represent legal instruments to fight
international
terrorism. Moreover, the question is regularly put on the agenda of the 6th
Commitee of the General Assembly." (Note: unofficial English translation)

CAMEROON - Ambassador Martin Belinga Eboutou, Permanent Representantative
of Cameroon to the United Nations, on 5 October 2001
"After this tragedy, no State, no authority can continue to deny that
terrorism is one of the threats to security and peace in the world. This
is why the mobilization to prevent and fight terrorism is a matter of
concern for the international community as a whole. We welcome the adoption
by the General Assembly and regional organisations of diverse conventions
on terrorism, the last one dealing precisely with repression of financing
of terrorism. Recent events should encourage States to sign and ratify
those instruments, as well as the Rome Statute on the International
Criminal Court. Although these different instruments are issue-specific,
they will constitute, once they enter into force, a definite advance in the
search for an efficient judicial frame in the fight and cooperation against
terrorism." (Note: unofficial English translation)

CANADA - Ambassador Paul Heinbecker, Permanent Representative of Canada to
the United Nations, on 3 October 2001
"I would also add that we are now very close to making the International
Criminal Court a reality, with only 17 more ratifications to go. The
creation of the Court will represent an extremely significant step in the
ongoing struggle to eliminate impunity for the worst crimes known to
humankindS<caron>We also stand ready to help those who might need technical
assistance in drawing up their own legislation, as we have done for those
who needed help in giving legislative effect to the undertakings they have
made with respect to the International Criminal Court. We count on others
likewise to assist in this capacity building."

COMOROS - Mr. Mahmoud M. ABOUD - Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of the
Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros to the United Nations, on 2 October
2001
"My delegation has always been in favor of a fair international justice. We
are currently taking part in the debates of the eighth Preparatory
Commission for the ICC, and after having signed the Rome Statute, we intend
to ratify it in the near future." (Note: unofficial English translation)

CROATIA - Ambassador Ivan Simonovic, Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, on 1 October 2001
"Croatia, as a party to the Rome Statute, also supports the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe in its view that the new International
Criminal Court is the appropriate institution to consider terrorist acts,
when needed. With the establishment of a permanent international criminal
court now in sight, it is encouraging to know that even in the absence of
an adequate response from some states, the international community will
have the means to bring the perpetrators of these specific crimes against
humanity to justice. The ongoing ICC Prepcom is a welcomed opportunity to
discuss the pertinent legal issues."

GERMANY - Ambassador Dieter Kastrup, Permanent Representative of Germany to
the United Nations, on 2 October 2001
"We should also accelerate our pace towards the establishment of the
International Criminal Court, as a timely response to combat impunity for
crimes such as those perpetrated on 11 September. Mary Robinson was right
in characterizing these crimes as crimes against humanity."

ITALY - Ambassador Sergio Vento, Permanent Representative of Italy to the
United Nations, 3 October 2001
"The Security Council resolution commits all Member States to consider
terrorist acts as serious criminal offences and to assure that the
seriousness of such acts is duly reflected in the punishment meted out for
them. But the global nature of the threat facing us today and,
consequently, the possibility of a global terrorist act, lend even greater
urgency to the creation of an International Criminal Court. To finally
endow the international legal system with a judicial instrument shared by
the whole community of States, we hope that the 60 ratifications needed for
the Rome Statute to enter into effect can be rapidly attained. We share the
Secretary-General's appeal in his recent report on the work of the
Organization for all Member States to take the decision to sign and ratify
the Statute."

LESOTHO - Ambassador Percy M. Mangoaela, Permanent Representative of
Lesotho to the United Nations, on 2 October 2001
"S<caron>In this regard, it is worth noting that a new institution, the soon
to be
established International Criminal Court, will be able to prosecute the
kind of crime against humanity carried out three weeks ago. This Court will
be nothing but part of the bigger project for establishing international
peace and criminal justice by punishing grave violations of law such as the
ones we have just witnessed."

LIECHTENSTEIN - Ambassador Claudia Fritsche, Permanent Representative of
the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations, on 1 October 2001
"Bringing those to justice who commit egregious crimes such as witnessed on
11 September undoubtedly also requires enhanced cooperation in judicial
matters. A functioning system of international criminal law as established
in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the most
effective expression of such international cooperation. There can be no
doubt to our mind that crimes of such magnitude as the ones we all
witnessed barely three weeks ago, constitute crimes against humanity as
defined in the Statute. We hope that the understanding of the International
Criminal Court as an ideal tool to bring such criminals to justice will
lead to an early entry into force of the Statute. Liechtenstein will make
its own contribution to that end tomorrow by depositing its instrument of
ratification with the Secretary-General."

MEXICO - Ambassador Jorge Eduardo Navarete, Permanent Representative of
Mexico to the United Nations, on 1 October 2001
"As regards other forums, we shall have to consider, perhaps at an earlier
stage than we had planned, the possible inclusion of terrorism among the
crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal
Court, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of 18 July
1998."

MONGOLIA - Ambassador J. Enkhsaikhan, Permanent Representative of Mongolia
to the United Nations, on 2 October 2001
"S<caron>In the same manner the pace of establishing the International
Criminal
Court (ICC) should be accelerated as a timely response to combat impunity
of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. The question of adding
aggression, threat or use of nuclear weapons, terrorist and environmental
crimes with grave international consequence to the list of crimes against
humanity should in due time be looked at again and, if agreed, could be
proposed to the amendment conference of the ICC in some future time. The
political will of the international community that is clearly manifested
these days, should be turned into strong legal commitment of States."

MOROCCO - Ambassador Mohamed Bennouna, Permanent Representative of The
Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations, on 3 October 2001
"The sectorial approach adopted for the definition of certain terrorist
acts in international conventions with a view to criminalizing these acts
proved to be inadequate to fight the scourge. On the other hand, all those
who believed that its mere invocation would suffice to heap shame and
discredit on others unfortunately trivialized the concept of terrorism. It
is therefore high time for our Organization to start a process of
clarifying the concept of terrorism at the light of the recent developments
in international law and particularly the adoption of the statute of the
International Criminal Court, in Rome, in July 1998. Henceforth, notorious
criminals can no longer seek refuge within state borders and invoke the
non-interference principle."

NETHERLANDS - Ambassador Dirk Jan Van den Berg, Permanent Representative of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations, on 1 October 2001
"We view the rapid establishment of the ICC as a fundamental way to enhance
respect for international law and human rights. The Court will be a
powerful instrument in the fight to bring to justice those that have
committed or instigated crimes against humanity. It will strengthen the
primacy of law, and as such, contribute to global peace and security."

NORWAY - Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby , Permanent Representative of Norway to
the United Nations, on 1 October 2001
"The competent organs of the United Nations as well as regional
organizations must consolidate and further develop international mechanisms
that will enhance our collective capacity to fight impunity. It is against
this background that Norway has called for the speedy establishment of the
International Criminal Court in The Hague."

SWEDEN - Ambassador Pierre Schori, Permanent Representative of Sweden to
the United Nations, on 2 October 2001
"The acts of 11 September - the worst mass killings of innocents in the sad
history of terrorism - constitute not only a large scale terrorist attack.
My Government considers that these terrorist acts constitute a crime
against humanity, and that states should bring the perpetrators to justice,
and punish them. In this regard, I want to stress the importance of the
establishment of the International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute opens a
new chapter in international law that will certainly affect the conduct of
States but, more importantly, will guide and shape the behaviour of
individuals."

TURKEY - Ambassador Umit Pamir, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the
United Nations
"I would like to recall the ongoing work for the establisment of the
International Criminal Court. The Court is being set up to try the most
serious crimes of international concern. However, its jurisdiction, as it
now stands, does not cover terrorist crimes. The Turkish delegation at the
ICC Preparatory Commission, which is now elaborating certain aspects and
legal instruments of the Court, has tabled a proposal for the inclusion of
these crimes in its Statute. We believe that the extension of the
jurisdiction of the Court over terrorist crimes will make our common
struggle to eliminate terrorism more complete."

UNITED KINGDOM - Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock, Permanent Representative of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on 1 October 2001
"Whilst we as the members of the UN must act collectively through the
General Assembly and the Security Council, we as Member States must also
act nationally and individually. Encouraged and coordinated by the work of
the General Assembly, every state should:S<caron>reinforce and extend
international cooperation arrangements in the field of justice, policing
and law enforcement."

~*~*~*~*~*~
STATE PARTIES TO THE ROME STATUTE (139 signed the ICC Statute and 46
countries have ratified to date)

ANDORRA - 30 April 2001
ARGENTINA - 8 February 2001
ANTIGUA and Barbuda - 18 June 2001
AUSTRIA - 28 December 2000
BELGIUM - 28 June 2000
BELIZE - 5 April 2000
BOTSWANA - 8 September 2000
CANADA - 7 July 2000
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - 3 October 2001
COSTA RICA - 7 June 2001
CROATIA - 21 May 2001
DENMARK - 21 June 2001
DOMINICA - 12 February 2001 (accession)
FIJI - 29 November 1999
FINLAND - 29 December 2000
FRANCE - 9 June 2000
GABON - 21 September 2000
GERMANY - 11 December 2000
GHANA - 20 December 2000
ICELAND - 25 May 2000
ITALY - 26 July 1999
LESOTHO - 6 September 2000
LIECHTENSTEIN - 2 October 2001
LUXEMBOURG - 8 September 2000
MALI - 16 August 2000
MARSHALL ISLANDS - 7 December 2000
NAURU - 12 November 2001
NETHERLANDS - 17 July 2001
NEW ZEALAND - 7 September 2000
NIGERIA - 27 September 2001
NORWAY - 16 February 2000
PARAGUAY - 14 May 2001
PERU - 10 November 2001
POLAND - 12 November 2001
SAN MARINO - 13 May 1999
SENEGAL - 2 February 1999
SIERRA LEONE - 15 September 2000
SOUTH AFRICA - 27 November 2000
SPAIN - 25 October 2000
SWITZERLAND - 12 October 2001
TAJIKISTAN - 5 May 2000
TRINIDAD and TOBAGO - 6 April 1999
UNITED KINGDOM - 4 October 2001
VENEZUELA - 7 June 2000
YUGOSLAVIA (Fed. Republic of )- 6 September 2001

==-==-==-==-==-=
UPCOMING EVENTS
RELATED TO THE ICCS? TENTATIVE!

November 2001
10-13 November
Briefings on ICC ratification and implementation by Members of Parliament
of the PGA network on the occasion of the "Annual Parliamentary Forum,"
hosted by the Swedish Parliament and the PGA International Council and
Executive Board
Stockholm, Sweden
For more information, e-mail David Donat-Cattin at: donat@pgaction.org

19-21 November
Conference on ICC ratification and implementation, a follow-up of a
regional conference in Argentina, organized by Amnesty
International-Venezuela, Human Rights Watch and others
Caracas, Venezuela
For more information, e-mail Fernando Fernandez or Brigitte Suhr at:
suhrb@hrw.org

26-28 November
"From a Culture of Impunity to a Culture of Accountability: International
Criminal Tribunals, the International Criminal Court, and Human Rights
Protection," an international conference, organized by the Netherlands
Institute for Human Rights (SIM) and United Nations University, Tokyo
Ultrecht, the Netherlands
For more information, e-mail sim@law.uu.nl or visit
http://www.law.uu.nl/eglish/sim

30 November - 1 December
"Conference on ICC Ratification in South Asian States," hosted by the
Senate of India, organized by PGA, to include parliamentarians, ministerial
representatives, and members of civil society from Bangladesh, India,
Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, to discuss prospects in the region for ICC
ratification and accession
New Delhi, India
For more information, e-mail David Donat-Cattin at: donat@pgaction.org

November/December
"Briefing on ICC Ratification for Members of the Senate of Mexico" a PGA
delegation of Latin American MPs and experts will meet with members of PGA
Mexico and other Senators to discuss the legal implications of the ICC for
the national legal order and international relations
Mexico City, Mexico
For more information, e-mail David Donat-Cattin at: donat@pgaction.org

December 2001
1-2 December
"Constitutional and Legal Precondition for Ratification of the ICC in the
Stability Pact Countries," a regional conference, organized by the Croation
Law Centre, to


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REQUEST FOR ITEMS FOR DEMOCRACYNEWS

Deadline: 30 November

2001-11-29

http://www.wmd.org

The next issue of DemocracyNews will go out on 5 December, 2001. In order to make DemocracyNews as useful to you as possible, we ask you to send us any items related to democracy work that you would like us to include. We welcome items on your collaborative efforts with other groups to advance democracy; democracy-related activities particularly in countries that are struggling to democratize; upcoming events (conferences, training
programs, and workshops); and new publication announcements (case studies, training manuals, and conference reports).

The Drum Beat Classifieds

Vacancies - November 21, 2001

2001-11-29

http://www.comminit.com/vacancies.html

from The Communication Initiative partnership - http://www.comminit.com
...global forces...local choices...critical voices...telling stories...

====

View more active vacancies on the website:
http://www.comminit.com/vacancies.html

For information on placing Vacancies in your organisation on The
Communication
Initiative web site and through DB Classifieds please contact Carey Hooge -
chooge@comminit.com
This is the first of 2 emails today listing Vacancies. There are 17 vacant
posts listed below. Please look for an email with the subject
"more...Vacancies" for 15 further vacant posts.

====

1. Internews
ADVISOR FOR HIV/AIDS HEALTH REPORTING PROGRAMS

Extensive health news reporting, expertise in HIV/AIDS issues, experience
with gov't funded grant programs, excellent communication skills. This
position is based in Washington, DC and reports directly to the VP of
Programs.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy575.html
Contact: Kay Elewski - injobs@internews.org


2. Developing Countries Farm Radio Network
PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Monitoring, evaluation and continuing development of the program. Developing
projects that will complement the core program activities. Strengthening of
the Network, primarily by enhancing partner participation in our
decision-making processes, and volunteer participation in activities that
support our mission. Bilingual (French/English), with excellent
communication (oral/written) skills.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy595.html
Contact: Nancy Bennett - info@farmradio.org


3. The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF
CHILD PROTECTION OFFICERS, New York

Strong communications skills, preferably in more than one language, and be a
creative thinker with a record of building effective partnerships and
working cross-culturally to implement programmes. Human rights knowledge and
prior work in child protection are advantageous.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy581.html
Contact: Human Resources Officer (AB) - unicefrecruit@unicef.org


4. International Medical Corps (IMC)
MEDICAL DIRECTOR, Angola

Monitor and evaluate impact of program on beneficiaries and affected
communities. Recommend necessary changes to ensure objectives are met.
Provide technical expertise for new proposals. Masters in Public Health
desired.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


5. EngenderHealth
PROGRAM ASSOCIATE

The principal focus of this position is writing technically and
programmatically sound and compelling proposals to foundations,
corporations, and bilateral and multilateral donors. Ability to travel
internationally and domestically 10 to 20 %. Spanish or French language
ability helpful.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy586.html
Contact: Lucy Cheng - hr@engenderhealth.org


6. African Medical and Research Foundation
DIRECTOR GENERAL - Nairobi, Kenya

Will primarily be responsible for providing strategic direction and
management to ensure delivery of AMREF's agenda by spearheading the
successful implementation of the new corporate strategy.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy567.html
Contact: Catherine - fionakm@amrefhq.org


7. International Medical Corps (IMC)
SITE LOGISTICIAN/ADMINISTRATION OFFICER, ANGOLA

The Primary Health Care/Emergency Medicine program is focused on building
local capacity and improving the health status of vulnerable populations.
Recruit and supervise logistics and administrative support personnel.
Ability to speak and write reports in English and Portuguese (Spanish
acceptable).
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


====

To circulate targeted proposals please contact Carey Hooge &#8211;
chooge@comminit.com

====


8. The Board of Governors of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute
(SDPI), Pakistan
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Islamabad

Must have the ability to represent the institute externally and internally,
and to win the respect and confidence of senior officials in the government,
non-government and private sectors. A willingness and ability to enhance the
institute's funding; and at least 10 years of experience in direction and
management of a multidisciplinary policy research program.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy599.html
Contact: Search Committee - main@sdpi.org


9. International Medical Corps (IMC)
NUTRITIONIST, Pakistan

Nutritionist will work with local teams to address the nutritional needs of
Afghan persons inside and outside of Afghanistan. Provide nutritional
surveillance data to IMC Pakistani office. Applicants with language
abilities in Farsi, Arabic, Persian or Urdu encouraged to apply.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Rhonda Wilhelm - Wilhelm@imc-la.org


====
If you are a Communication Consultant or Communication and Development
Consulting Organisation and wish to be listed on The Communication
Initiative Consultant Register please contact Janice Innes
jinnes@comminit.com or go to http://www.comminit.com/exchange_inst.htmlfor
further information
====


10. Management Sciences for Health
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP (M&L) PROGRAM - COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, Boston, MA

The Communications Officer manages the development and dissemination of all
Program Communications materials, both in print and electronic formats. He
or she is aware of and adheres to MSH procurement integrity standards in all
activities.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy578.html
Contact: Jennifer A. Davis - jobs@msh.org


11. International Medical Corps (IMC)
COMMUNITY HEALTH COORDINATOR, Eritrea

The goal of the program is to develop community capacity for health
education / information and to promote activities on such topics as:
Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses, hygiene and sanitation, mine
awareness and injury prevention, and prevention of communicable diseases
such as HIV and STDs. Fluent in written and spoken English; Arabic an asset.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


12. BASICS II Project
ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL OFFICER FOR AFRICA

In order to work more effectively BASICS II has developed Country Results
Teams (CRT) as the vehicle through which technical and administrative
support (headquarters and field office) is coordinated for BASICS II
countries in order to facilitate implementation of country workplans and to
obtain successful performance results. The ATO is responsible for monitoring
the administrative and budgetary aspects of the CRT work, and to see that
the team members have the information and support they need.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy587.html
Contact: Vance Shaw - vshaw@jsi.com


13. The International Journal of Health Promotion and Education
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Preserves the editorial integrity and quality of substance of Promotion &
Education, in collaboration with the Managing Editor, the Executive
Editorial Board, the Editorial Advisory Board, the Vice-President for
Communications and the IUHPE Board of Trustees.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy590.html
Contact Catherine Jones - iuhpecj@worldnet.fr


******

Advertise vacancies through The Drum Beat Classifieds - Contact Carey Hooge
chooge@comminit.com

******


14. International Medical Corps (IMC)
GENERAL SURGEON, Sierra Leone

The highly energetic surgeon will be a self-starter whose skills complements
the dynamic Sierra Leone surgical programs. Provide and coordinate training
in trauma and emergency care for relevant hospital staff.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


15. Family Health International (FHI)
SENIOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

The successful candidate will have a MA/MS in public health, education or
the behavioral sciences and three to five years experience in planning,
implementing and evaluating BCC programs. Experience working or living in a
developing country.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy582.html
Contact: Human Resources Coordinator - jobs@fhi.org


16. The Department of Communication at The University of Memphis
MEDIA & CULTURE POSITION

Candidates should have a strong theoretical background and a critical
perspective; we welcome a variety of methodological approaches. As part of
an urban university, our department encourages applications from scholars
who are civically engaged.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy598.html
Contact: Dr. Pradeep Sopory - clsmith6@memphis.edu


******

CONTRACT AWARD

The Global AIDS Program of the United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) - Request for Proposal (RFP) - contract for the production,
management and broadcast of a radio serial drama promoting HIV/AIDS
awareness and prevention in Zimbabwe.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy603.html
Contact Ms. Jamie Legier - JLegier@cdc.gov

******


17. The Population Leadership Program
TECHNICAL ADVISOR: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SPECIALIST, USAID/Bolivia, La Paz

Advise the Health Team on policy and technical issues and provide leadership
and vision to the Team's ongoing commitment to innovation in strategic
planning and state of the art programming in reproductive and sexual health.
All applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy602.html
Contact: Recruitment - recruitment@popldr.org

***

Please see further email with subject: more...Vacancies" for 15 more Vacant
posts.



***
Send vacancies to Carey Hooge - chooge@comminit.com
====

To unsubscribe, reply to this message and type "unsubscribe" as the subject.

Vacancies: DB Classifieds, November 21, 2001 continued.
From The Communication Initiative

*******

18. Well Women Media Project
PROJECT MANAGER, Hargeisa, Somaliland

Programmes are written and produced by Health Unlimited's national staff and
broadcast to the Somali speaking Horn of Africa. Provide excellent
management skills and an ability to transfer skills to national staff and
partners. Minimum of 3 years' experience of managing community-based
development projects. Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy592.html
Contact: Madeleine Hammond - personnel@healthunlimited.org


19. Population Services International/Europe
VCT PROJECT DIRECTOR, Windhoek, Namibia

Will manage the project in close collaboration with partners. He/she will
report to the Executive Director of PSI/Europe and assume overall
responsibility for project results. Understanding of technical issues in
delivery of sexual and reproductive health services, preferably including
VCT Excellent communication skills in English.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy600.html
Contact: Joshua Chigodora - jayner@psieurope.org.uk


20. Internews
INTERNATIONAL RADIO JOURNALISTS

For radio journalism seminars which will take place in Pakistan, Afghanistan
and locations in Central Asia. The program aims to serve experienced Afghan
journalists as well as to support promising beginners and those with a
commitment to using media to achieve tolerance and understanding in the
region. Local language skills are highly desirable.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy596.html
Contact: Katherine M. Elewski - injobs@internews.org


21. The Johns Hopkins University/Center for Communication Programs
PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Contribute to project work that may address the following areas of
intervention: use of mass media; certification and standards of care;
client-provider interaction; community mobilization and training. Master's
Degree in Communication, Public Health or related field preferred. English
fluency.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy594.html
Contact: HR - jhu@alexus.com


22. Population Services International (PSI)
RESEARCH DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Special opportunity to improve the effectiveness of PSI's activities in
product and service delivery and to demonstrate the effectiveness of social
marketing in motivating behavior change in a broad range of health program
areas.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy526.html
Contact: Recruitment Manager - recruitment@psi.org


23. International Medical Corps (IMC)
FISTULA SURGEON, Sierra Leone

The program is aimed at providing surgical intervention to girls and women.
Perform surgeries to rectify VVF, RVF, and some cases of prolapsed uterus.
Train local counterparts in related surgical techniques. NGO experience,
preferably in remote and/or insecure areas a plus.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


24. Intrah
AREA PROGRAM MANAGER, East and South Africa

The mission of the position is to ensure responsive and effective technical
development and implementation of PRIME II and other Intrah assistance
projects in ESA. The position travels internationally from time to time to
provide technical assistance and program backstopping to Intrah's East and
South Africa Regional Office and country programs.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy591.html
Elizabeth Marlowe - emarlowe@intrah.org


25. International Medical Corps (IMC)
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, Maluku, Indonesia

Ensure program objectives are met by providing technical assistance and
support to staff. Manage staff activities and movements. Act as IMC liaison
to local and other NGO officials in the area. Report on financial
activities. Applicants with Indonesian experience strongly encouraged to
apply.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


26. Family Health International (FHI)
MANAGING EDITOR

Science news background preferred; publications management experience
required. Send CV and 5 writing samples. Located at the Corporate
Headquarters.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy570.html
Contact: Human Resources - jobs@fhi.org


27. The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF)
COUNTRY DIRECTOR, Kampala, Uganda

Primarily responsible for leading and managing a multi-disciplinary team of
professionals in developing and managing programmes in response to Uganda's
national health priority needs and in line with AMREF's mission.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy597.html
Contact: Human Resources Manager - jobs@amrefhq.org
(ref: CD-UG/ HQHR/11.01)


28. International Medical Corps (IMC)
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, Central Asia

The Public Health Officer will be a key technical advisor responsible for
designing a public health strategy and implementing emergency health related
activities. Objectives will be designed to address health needs of displaced
persons both outside and inside Afghanistan. Applicants with language
abilities in Farsi, Arabic, Persian or Urdu encouraged to apply.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Rhonda Wilhelm - Wilhelm@imc-la.org


29. Yorkshire CND
DEVELOPMENT WORKER

Enthusiastic campaigner to work from the office in Bradford, promoting the
work of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Yorkshire. Four days per
week.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy588.html
Contact: Rachel - rachel@yorkshirecnd.org.uk


30. FAO
SENIOR OFFICER (Environment and Sustainable Development)

Provide secretarial service to the Inter-departmental Working Group on
Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture and the Inter-departmental
Working Group on Organic Agriculture, and liase with the Secretariat for
Convention on Biological Diversity and other related organizations.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy593.html
Contact: Human Resources - Changchui.He@fao.org


31. Family Planning International Assistance, Asia Pacific Regional Office
PROGRAM OFFICER/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TRAINER, Bangkok Thailand

The position requires excellent skills in training and technical assistance
and the ability to work with government and NGO service providers to assess
and improve their capacity in training and providing quality client centered
FP/RH services. Also required are excellent ability to speak and write in
English and computer literacy.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy604.html
Contact: Regional Director - fpia@mozart.inet.co.th


32. International Medical Corps (IMC)
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, Angola

Plan logistics activities and priorities and maintain a regular presence at
field sites. Report to Country Director on a regular basis. Coordinate with
finance/administration officer on budget data regarding cost of logistic
programs including the management of orders and transportation activities.
Good knowledge of Portuguese (at least Spanish) and English.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


33. The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF)
DIRECTOR FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS, Nairobi, Kenya

Responsible for increasing levels of AMREF fundraising and resource
generation by leading the development and implementation of AMREF's
fundraising and public relations strategy, with our international
fundraising affiliates and country offices. Good understanding of financial
management.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy597.html
Contact: Human Resources Manager - jobs@amrefhq.org
(Ref: DFC/HQHR/11.01)


34. International Medical Corps (IMC)
SITE MEDICAL MANAGER, Angola

Monitor, evaluate and report on program indicators and activities · Serve as
liaison for provincial and municipal health authorities and related
agencies. Candidates with public health experience/credentials encouraged to
apply. Fluent in written and spoken English and Portuguese
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org

****

Drum Beat Chat Forum http://www.comminit.com/email_forum.html#drumbeatchat
Custom Search http://www.comminit.com/search.html
Planning Models http://www.comminit.com/planning_models.html

***

Send vacancies to Carey Hooge - chooge@comminit.com
====

To unsubscribe, reply to this message and type "unsubscribe" as the subject.

BEYOND AID - Strategies for Sustainable Development

2001-11-29

http://www.cafonline.org/cafwestafrica/default.cfm

During the past two years, the Beyond Aid Project (a collaboration between CAF West Africa and GAPVOD) has worked to build foundations for the future security and sustainability of a healthy NGO sector in Ghana. The project explores strategies for deepening NGO/Corporate partnerships, trains non-profit personnel in resource mobilisation skills and encourages alliances among organisations for collaborative projects. Beyond Aid also facilitated the design of a new partnership framework for Government-NGO relations in Ghana.
Charities Aid Foundation West Africa
F- 146/5 second Soula Street
North Labone Estates
P.O. Box OS- 2956 Osu Accra Ghana
Tel: 233 21 771953
Fax: 233 21 7011260
Email: cafwestafrica@cafonline.org
Web: www.cafonline.org/cafwestafrica

Large Foundations Adjust Their Grantmaking In Response to September 11

2001-11-29

http://fdncenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=2200040

Many large foundations have adjusted their grantmaking since the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon -- not only to provide funding for the relief and recovery efforts but also to support organizations working to address long-term problems related to the attacks, the New York Times reports.

Epidemiology and Field Research Methods Training Course

Umea University, Sweden 27 May - 14 June 2002

2001-11-29

http://www.umu.se/phmed/epidemi

The overall aims are to discuss epidemiological design, analysis and interpretation, as well as the roles of quantitative and qualitative approaches in public health research.
Epidemiology and Field Research Methods Training Course
-------------------------------------------------------

27 May - 14 June 2002
Umea University, Sweden

This three-week course is offered by the Epidemiology Department of
Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Sweden. The
overall aims are to discuss epidemiological design, analysis and in-
terpretation, as well as the roles of quantitative and qualitative
approaches in public health research. The course is designed to fol-
low the research process from problem identification, planning and
data collection through analysis, interpretation and documentation.
The presentational form is a mixture of plenary lectures, group work,
hands-on experiences of analysing data and discussion directed to-
wards an inter-disciplinary audience. A number of places in the
course are reserved for participants from developing countries in-
volved in public health research.

Language: English

Application: Before February 25, 2002

Information:

Lena Mustonen
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
Umea University
SE-901 85 Umea, Sweden
Tel: +46-90-785-2933
mailto:Lena.Mustonen@epiph.umu.se
http://www.umu.se/phmed/epidemi

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Geneva: World Civil Society Forum

14-19 July 2002

2001-11-29

http://www.mandint.org/forum

Mandat International is a non-profit-making NGO which has as its principal missions to welcome and help non-governmental delegates (in particular those from developing countries) coming to Geneva to participate in international conferences. In order to strengthen international cooperation, we are participating in the organization of a World Civil Society Forum which will take place from the 14th to the 19th of July 2002 in Geneva. For this occasion we expect the participation of representatives of civil society from all over the entire world, especially from NGOs.
Mandat International is a non-profit-making non-governmental organization
which has as its principal missions to welcome and help non-governmental
delegates (in particular those from developing countries) coming to Geneva
to participate in international conferences.

In order to strengthen international cooperation, we are participating in
the organization of a World Civil Society Forum which will take place from
the 14th to the 19th of July 2002 in Geneva. For this occasion we expect the
participation of representatives of civil society from all over the entire
world, especially from NGOs. The themes to be covered will be:

- Information society
- Civil society - International Organization cooperation
- Health promotion
- Environment, commerce and sustainable development
- Indigenous women
- Human rights and humanitarian law
- The right of people to self-determination
- Civil society - private sector cooperation
- Peace and disarmament

If your organization works in one of these areas and you are interested in
participating in the forum, please send us an email indicating the name of
the people or persons to contact.

Moreover, on the internet site: { HYPERLINK
"http://www.mandint.org/forum" }http://www.mandint.org/forum, you can find
other complementary information for the Forum (report of the preparatory
meeting and the program of activities), as well as a questionnaire to return
to us as soon as possible so that we can include your organization on the
list of participants.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Mandat International
Secretariat of the Forum
admin@mandint.org


Madame, Monsieur,

Mandat International est une organisation non-gouvernementale à but non
lucratif qui a pour missions principales l&#8217;accueil et l&#8217;aide aux délégués
non gouvernementaux (en particulier ceux des pays en voie de développement)
venant à Genève pour participer à des conférences internationales.

Afin de renforcer la coopération internationale, nous participons à l&#8217;
organisation du Forum Mondial de la Société Civile qui aura lieu du 14 au 19
Juillet 2002 à Genève. A cette occasion, nous attendons la participation de
représentants de la société civile du monde entier, principalement des ONG.
Les thèmes traités seront:

- Société de l&#8217;information,
- Coopération société civile &#8211; Organisations Internationales,
- Promotion de la santé,
- Environnement, commerce et développement durable,
- Femmes autochtones,
- Droits de l&#8217;Homme et droit humanitaire,
- Droit des peuples à l&#8217;autodétermination,
- Coopération société civile &#8211; secteur privé,
- Paix et désarmement.

Si votre organisation travaille dans un de ces champs d&#8217;intérêt et si vous
êtes intéressés à participer au forum, veuillez nous envoyer un mail en nous
précisant le nom de la ou des personne(s) de contact.

De plus, à l&#8217;adresse suivante: { HYPERLINK
"http://www.mandint.org/forum" }http://www.mandint.org/forum, vous trouverez
les informations complémentaires relatives au Forum (rapport de la réunion
préparatoire et le programme des activités) ainsi qu&#8217;un questionnaire à nous
retourner impérativement pour que nous puissions inclure votre organisation
sur la liste des participants.

Dans l&#8217;attente d&#8217;une réponse de votre part, veuillez agréer, Madame,
Monsieur, l&#8217;expression de nos sentiments les meilleurs.

Mandat International
Secrétariat du Forum
admin@mandint.org

KENYA: LET AFRICA LIVE!

December 10 to 15, 2001

2001-11-29

http://www2.womensnet.org.za/events/show.cfm?id=219

The conference will specifically bring together young,researchers,educators, advocates, counsellors and policy makers. It will provide a strong platform in shaping the future role of young people in HIV/Aids prevention and care within the continent.

Nigeria: Communications Africa 2001 Conference

Postponed from Dec 3-5 2001 to March 11-13 2002

2001-11-29

http://www.globaltradenetworks.org

The requests forwarded due to current events in the world, involving international travel, safety and security, "Communications Africa 2002" will be delayed by three months. In the mean time, however, we would like to request advertisers on the Event Booklet should send your adverts beforehand.
This is to inform you that it has now been decided that "Communications
Africa 2001: Role of the Private Sector in Africa's Digital Inclusion"
conference to be held from Dec 3- 5 2001 in Addis Ababa, UN Conference
Center, has now been postponed to March 11-13, 2002 upon the request of
partners and participants.


The requests forwarded due to current events in the world, involving
international travel, safety and security, "Communications Africa 2002"
will be delayed by three months. In the mean time, however, we would
like to request advertisers on the Event Booklet should send your
adverts beforehand.

May we ask conference participants and exhibitors to also confirm their
participation by sending an e-mail of confirmation to
gtn-addis@globaltradenetworks.org We are also glad to inform you that a
few selected papers will be accepted in addition to the previously
selected ones. Please find more information below. We regret any
inconvenience that may have been created to you by our unforeseen
reasons for postponement.

Sincerely,
Alula G.Michael
Head, Event Coordinator
Global Trade Networks

----------------------------------------------

Topics and Instructions for paper presentation,

If you have any questions don't hesitate to e-mail me at
agmichael@globaltradenetworks.org

Communications Africa 2002, "Role of the Private Sector In Africa's
Digital Inclusion" Dec 3-5 United Nations Conference Center Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia

Information Technology

* The impacts of the digital divide in Africa's development and the use
of digital opportunities to speed up digital inclusion (case studies
from Mauritius, Seychelles and the Asian experience -- the four tigers)
* Use of ICTs by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa:
Constraints and Opportunities (technology options: mobiles, VSAT)
* Promoting the innovative use of ICTs in the business sector in Africa.
* Strategies to attract foreign direct investment and promote joint
business ventures in the ICTs sector in Africa
* What framework of co-operation to facilitate Africa's digital
inclusion at national, regional and international level (ATU,
intergovernmental organizations like IGAD, SADC, ECOWAS, ESAMI, the UN
ICT taskforce, the DOT Force initiative)
* Policies and strategies for the expansion of Access to the benefits of
ICTs and telecommunication in the disadvantaged and under served areas
of the continent: The ITU experience
* Establishing the African e-commerce initiative: Challenges (low
bandwidth, inappropriate policies and regulation) and opportunities
(proliferation of Africa-centered digital initiatives-regional and
international)

Telecommunications

* Guaranteeing universal access to basic telecommunication services:
State monopoly (strong government hand on regulation) or private
competition: Countries experiences
* Privatization and Liberalization of the Telecommunications Sector:
Best practices in Africa
* Privatization and Liberalization of the Telecommunications Sector: The
experience of India
* Privatization and Liberalization of the Telecommunications Sector: The
experience of Asian countries (Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan)
* Partial or total deregulation of the telecommunication sector: The
experience of Seychelles (Prons and Cons) * Joining efforts in the
telecommunications sector at the regional and sub-regional levels:

Media and Broadcasting

* Increasing the role of media for combating literacy: Best practices
* Increasing the role of the media for the promotion of business in
Africa: Best practices
* Increasing the impact of the media sector via the use of ICTs:
Experiences from India
* Trans border flow of information and the media sector: Legal issues
and threats to national sovereignty
* Technological convergence: Its implications on the operation and
regulation of the telecommunication and broadcasting sectors

Instructions For Paper Presenters

- Papers should be original, previously published papers should not be
submitted
- Language of submission is in English
- The full text of the paper must not exceed 15 pages
- Out line of the paper must be submitted first before 21 OCTOBER 2002
- Papers need to include Title of the paper, full name of all authors,
and Contact addressee such as Telephone, fax, e-mail - Submissions must
be made in hard copies to the conference coordinator or sent by
electronic mail in an attachment file to request@globaltradenetworks.org
in MS WORD format

*ONLINE REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE AT www.globaltradenetworks.org

* Those who would like to Exhibit their products on the Communications
Africa 2002 should contact, gtn-addis@globaltradenetworks.org


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South Africa: Continental Conflict Transformation Course

4 February 2002 - 8 March 2002

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/4545

This workshop will cover diverse aspects of conflict transformation and peace building, and is aimed at capacity building for people working in conflict transformation, development, human rights and related fields on the African continent.
The Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA)

The Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) is a membership organization
striving towards building the capacity of its members and providing support
to existing service providers in Africa, with the aim of achieving
sustainable peace in the continent. COPA's vision is to see a sustainable
culture of peace taking root in Africa in which divergent views and
interests coexist in a manner that reinforces a common good; and a continent
that acknowledges and solves its problems, and contributes towards global
solutions.

To achieve this, COPA is working to redress the conflict situation in
Africa through engagement with conflict and transforming it in positive
ways, by cultivating African approaches that are informed by the lifestyles,
traditions and cultures of the people living in Africa.

Continental Conflict Transformation Course 4 February 2002 - 8 March 2002

COPA will be holding a 5 week training workshop from 4 February 2002 to 8
March 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This workshop will cover diverse
aspects of conflict transformation and peace building, and is aimed at
capacity building for people working in conflict transformation,
development, human rights and related fields on the African continent.

The purpose of this course is to assist those working in these fields to:

* Identify the origins and causes of new and ongoing conflicts in various
parts of Africa and to look specifically at the current conflicts and its
impact on the continent and Internationally. * Examine the causes of these
conflicts in order to understand more clearly the dynamics of the various
factors and forces and the relationship between peace and development. *
Support and strengthen skills for facilitating dialogue, including
communication and facilitation skills, negotiation, mediation and
arbitration. * Explore ways of providing support between
practitioners and policy makers active in the field of Conflict
Transformation. * Address the need to train other people working for
development, human rights and reconciliation in methods of transforming and
preventing violence. * Explore further strategies for violence reduction and
peace-building.

For more information on the Coalition for Peace in Africa, membership of
the Coalition and the Continental Course please contact

Michael E. Muragu, COPA Interim Coordinator, P.O. Box 13265, 00100,
Nairobi GPO, Kenya, Tel: 254-2-577558, Fax: 254-2-577557 E-mail:
copa@barclays.africaonline.com or Genni Blunden, Transformation Education
Africa P.O. Box 16754, Lyttelton, 0140 South Africa Tel & Fax: + 27 12 664
8380 E-mail: genni@sn.apc.org

SOUTH AFRICA: WORLD AIDS DAY

2001-11-29

http://www2.womensnet.org.za/events/show.cfm?id=291

The Dobozu Youth Development Association DYDA is holding an event which will involve educating the public about the dangers of Aids to the community. The responsibility is everybody's . The theme this year is 'MEN AND AIDS' DO YOU CARE? The function will emphasisize the role and responsibility of men in stopping the spread of aids.

Tanzania: Management Course for Food and Nutrition Programme

May to June 2002

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/4533

The course aims at contributing to the reduction of human suffering related to food and nutrition problems in Tanzania and other African countries. The course is specifically intended for programme implementers at district level, who are responsible for planning and implementation of activities (programmes, projects, etc.) directed at improving the food and nutrition situation of population groups at risk. This course, therefore, is designed to strengthen the ability of participants in planning, managing, administrating and evaluating such activities within the constraints and opportunities present in their own geographical and socio-economic situation.
Management Course for Food and Nutrition Programme
--------------------------------------------------

May to June 2002
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) is expecting to organ-
ise the 7th management course for food and nutrition programme imple-
menters at district level. The course aims at contributing to the re-
duction of human suffering related to food and nutrition problems in
Tanzania and other African countries.

The course is specifically intended for programme implementers at
district level, who are responsible for planning and implementation
of activities (programmes, projects, etc.) directed at improving the
food and nutrition situation of population groups at risk. This
course, therefore, is designed to strengthen the ability of partici-
pants in planning, managing, administrating and evaluating such ac-
tivities within the constraints and opportunities present in their
own geographical and socio-economic situation.

In addition, the need for multi-sectoral collaboration at this level
is emphasised by strengthening the skills of participants in communi-
cation and collaboration with colleagues from other sectors.

A number of countries in the Eastern, Central and Southern African
(ECSA) Region have already undertaken major steps towards this goal.
However there is an expressed need in many countries in the ECSA re-
gion for building capacities and capabilities especially at the pro-
vincial and district levels of responsible functional personnel, to
manage nutrition and related programmes. The Management Course is in-
tended to address this need for Tanzania and other African countries.

Broad objectives of the course:

- Impart new nutrition concepts to participants so that they can re-
late nutrition with both social and economic developmental issues of
the society.
- Improve the participant's managerial skills so that they can effec-
tively plan, manage and interpret their projects into a reality for
the benefit of those they are serving.

Target groups:

The course is primarily intended for members of District Management
Teams or other personnel dealing with nutrition or related activities
at district level from sectors such as Community Development, Health,
Agriculture, Education, Planning and other related areas.

Entry requirements:

Participants should have a first degree or diploma in nutrition or
related fields such as community development, health, agriculture and
education with a working experience of two or more years.

Learning approach:

Throughout the course an interactive systematic problem solving ap-
proach is pursued, based on the Integrated Conceptual Framework of
Malnutrition. Emphasis is on practical learning experiences, rather
than theory.

Course content:

The course programme contains a set of activities including class/
group-work and field visits. The programme is divided into five do-
mains consisting of 22 modules with subjects as follows:

- Basic nutrition, concepts and issues
- Identification, assessment and analysis of major nutritional prob-
lems
- Approaches to improving nutrition at community level
- Planning, management and administration of nutrition projects /
programmes
- Gender analysis and nutrition
- Management of infant feeding and HIV/AIDS
- Nutrition in emergency situations
- Group tasks
- Field work
- Report writing

As part of the learning experience, participants are expected to de-
sign a proposal for integration of a nutrition or related activity
into a district development plan or, alternatively, plan for a spe-
cific district nutrition intervention. It would therefore be prefer-
able for districts to identify more than one candidate, for this
course.

Certification:

On meeting the course requirements participants will be awarded Cer-
tificate of Attendance.

Fees/Accommodation (in US$ or equivalent)

The course is residential and will cost US$ 2,656 which includes:
- Tutorial fee: US$ 1,080
- Course materials: US$ 100
- Practicals and/or field visits: US$ 180
- A non-refundable registration fee: US$ 50
- Medicare: US$ 70

The tuition fee is payable to the Managing Director, TFNC by 1st
April 2002. You will be required to meet your living expenses which
costs about US$ 1,176 which will cover full board, lodge and inciden-
tal expenses. You will also be required to meet your travel costs to
and from venue.

Some possible funding sources:

UNICEF, WHO, FAO, UNDP, European Development Fund/Rural Health Pro-
gramme (EDF/RHP), Ministries, NGO's or other donor agencies in your
area.

Organisation:

This course was initiated collaboratively with Tanzania Food and Nu-
trition Centre (TFNC); the International Agricultural Centre (IAC),
Netherlands; and Institute of Child Health (ICH), Sweden. The course
is organised by the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre. Facilitation
of the course is done by experts in planning and management, nutri-
tion and communication.

Application:

Applicants should submit the application form, duly completed. The
Selection Committee will only consider fully documented applications
which have been received by 1 March. Applicants will be informed
about the Committees decision shortly after that date. The number of
participants is limited to 30. Preference will be given to districts
that have identified and submitted applications for more than one
candidate.

More information can be obtained from:

Course Co-ordinator
Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre
P.O. Box 977
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255-22-2118137/39
Fax: +255-22-2116713
mailto:tfnc@muchs.ac.tz

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ADVISOR FOR HIV/AIDS HEALTH REPORTING PROGRAMS

2001-11-29

http://www.comminit.com/vacancy575.html

Extensive health news reporting, expertise in HIV/AIDS issues, experience with gov't funded grant programs, excellent communication skills. This position is based in Washington, DC and reports directly to the VP of Programs.

ANGOLA: International Medical Corps seeks Medical Director

2001-11-29

http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html

Monitor and evaluate impact of program on beneficiaries and affected communities. Recommend necessary changes to ensure objectives are met. Provide technical expertise for new proposals. Masters in Public Health desired.

AWID Resource Net Jobs - Issue 89

Monday, November 26, 2001

2001-11-29

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/4503

AWID Resource Net
Jobs - Issue 89
Monday, November 26, 2001

1) Attention: Mistake in the last issue (#88) of AWID Monday file.

2) Public Affairs and Communications Fellow / Women for Women International
/
Washington, DC, USA / Closing date: December 7, 2001.

3) Director of Programs / Jewish Women International (JWI) / Washington, DC,
USA/ Closing date: November 30, 2001.

4) Executive Assistant / C. W. Shaver & Company, Inc. / New York, NY, USA.

5) Executive Director / WE INTERRUPT THIS MESSAGE / San Francisco or New
York, USA / Closing Date: December 10, 2001.

6) Research Coordinator / The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres /
London, ON, Canada / Closing date: November 30, 2001.

7) International Development Consultants / DevTech / various locations
worldwide.

8) Project Manager / Well Women Media Project, Health Unlimited / Hargeisa,
Somaliland / Closing date: November 30, 2001.

9) VCT Project Director / Population Services International Europe /
Windhoek, Namibia / Closing date: December 15, 2001.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~

1) Attention: Mistake in the last issue (#88) of AWID Monday file.

With apologies, please note that the information in posting # 12, Senior
Gender Advisor / UNDP / Afghanistan, is INCORRECT. DO NOT send your
applications/inquiries to Ms. Chika Saito, who was mistakenly listed as a
contact person for this assignment. Please disregard this posting for now,
until new information becomes available in future Monday files.

Sincere apologies to all AWID ResourceNet subscribers and especially to Ms.
Chika Saito.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~

2) Public Affairs and Communications Fellow / Women for Women International
/
Washington, DC, USA / Closing date: December 7, 2001.

The Organization:

Women for Women International is an international response and development
organization. It provides women survivors of violence with the tools and
resources necessary to move from crisis and transition to stability and
self-
sufficiency. Women for Women International operates educational and
economic
empowerment programs in Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Nigeria and
Rwanda.

Women for Women International is based in downtown Washington, DC.

Description:

Women for Women International is looking for a candidate -- preferably with
a
graduate degree -- who is looking for an opportunity to use his/her skills
in
the non-profit field to apply together with Women for Women International
for
the New Voices Fellowship Program. The New Voices Fellowship Program is
funded by the Academy for Educational Development (AED). At Women for Women
International, the fellow would be involved in the establishment of a
communications and public affairs office designed to:

- increase the visibility of Women for Women International's work in the
media, academic, political, non-profit and foundation communities;
- increase awareness of the general public on global gender issues including
violence against women, women's rights and international economic
development; and
- multiply the organization's impact by involving members in advocacy
efforts
aimed at altering public policy .

The fellowship will be for one - two years and could lead to permanent
employment in the United States headquarters office.

Responsibilities:

- the establishment of a speaker's bureau;
- strengthening of the organization's electronic communications (including
email and website);
- expanding the organization's print media (including an enlarged newsletter
and the introduction of a journal);
- fostering public & media relations with U.S. constituents.

To Apply:

If you are interested in the program, please send:

- A letter of interest, stating why you would like to join Women for Women
International, what your unique contributions would be to the work involved,
and what kind of experience you would bring to the organization;
- A resume; and
- The contact information for two references from either employers or
universities.

Successful candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
Applicants from re