We, African and European Civil Society Organizations, having met at the Lisbon Euro-African Forum, state that partnerships are the cornerstone of development. However, building a new partnership between Europe and Africa takes time. It requires more coherence and taking power unbalances into account. It also requires the effective implementation of the principles on which this relation must be based, such as mutual accountability and trust.

SADC is making progress, albeit fraught with uncertainties, towards a legally binding Gender and Development Protocol scheduled for adoption in 2008. Yet, it is surprising that the current draft of the Gender and Development Protocol excludes marital rape from the ambit of gender based violence, making it diametrically opposed to the 1998 commitment by SADC governments, and indeed, the progress already made in six countries in the region. Are we taking a step back or moving forward?

A Zanu PF businessman severely assaulted an MDC activist in Marondera last week after an MDC rally. Regina Silas had attended a rally by the opposition party at Dhirihori Shopping Center near Marondera town, when Isiah Mpazviriho beat her up, accusing her of bringing agents of “western imperialists” near his business. Mpazviriho is understood to own a general store at the shopping centre and is an influential family member of the clan that heads the village.

The United Nations has teamed up with the Government of Liberia to launch a nationwide campaign to prevent and punish the crime of rape, one of the most serious challenges the West African nation is grappling with as it emerges from years of conflict. “Rape is the most frequently committed serious crime in Liberia so we must find more effective ways to stop these crimes before more women and girls are hurt and abused,” said Alan Doss, outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

From November 14-17, 2008, up to 1,500 women's rights activists from around the world will gather in Cape Town, South Africa to debate and strategize about how to build stronger women's movements globally. We invite you to contribute to this urgent discussion by submitting a proposal to organize a session at the 11th AWID forum: The Power of Movements.

Durban's usually bustling street child colonies have all but disappeared from the city after what is believed to be a major police crackdown ahead of this week's Fifa preliminary draw. City officials remain at odds over the fate of dozens of children, who are believed to have been rounded up by SAPS and Metro Police units before being taken to Westville Prison.

Ten years ago, attempts by businesses to talk about AIDS in the workplace were enough to make workers down tools. But after a decade in which Swaziland's AIDS epidemic has devastated its workforce, labour and management are finally starting to work together to reduce the spread of the disease. "AIDS is as much an economic problem as a health problem in Swaziland," said Musa Hlope, former executive director of the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Swaziland Chamber of Commerce (FSE/SCC).

Despite laws forbidding the use of child labour - often viewed as the norm and an important source of income - enforcement has been anything but strict in Malawi, until recently. Since March 2007 up to 480 children have been 'rescued' from tobacco estates in the district of Mangochi, once an important centre of slave trading on the southern banks of Lake Malawi.

Senegalese police fired tear gas to contain thousands of protesting street sellers barred from selling in the streets of the capital Dakar on Wednesday. The irate protesters invoked anti-government sentiments, threw stones, burnt vehicles and smashed car windows. The strikers polluted the air with smoke of dark clouds.

An anti-deportation campaign has been launched in aid of Amdani Juma, a Burundian refugee who has been refused indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Amdani, a torture survivor, came to the UK in March 2003 as a UN - sponsored asylum seeker and was granted humanitarian protection. Many of his family and friends were tortured and some were murdered. Many others like him were forced into exile. Amdani settled in Nottingham and worked at the Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum (NNRF) for two years.

We are writing to ask your support for the release of two courageous Ethiopian civic and anti-poverty activists Daniel Bekele, the Head of Policy Research and Advocacy Department of ActionAid Ethiopia, and Netsanet Demessie, Executive Director and co-founder of the Ethiopian NGO, Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia (OSJE).

Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of volunteers and professionals standing up for human rights. Independent of any government, ideology, economic interest or religion, we have more than two million supporters in over 150 countries. AI is currently recruited to fill two campaigner positions in the Africa programme, based in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. The deadline for applications is 28 November 2007.

A group of teachers in the Tema Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana on November 15, 2007 threatened to embark on an indefinite strike, should the Ghana Education Service (GES) fail to reinstate Helen Abrokwa, former head teacher of Padmore Street Primary School who has been demoted for granting interview to the media.

In 2008, the World Social Forum (WSF) will be a week of action culminating in a Global Day of Mobilisation and Action on 26 January 2008. For the first time, the WSF will be fully decentralised, meaning that every organisation and movement will carry out their own activities where they wish. The overlap with celebration the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) provides an extra opportunity for linkage to draw out central human rights struggles of today and the need for action!

Diakonia Council of Churches responds to the Supreme Court of Appeal judgement against Biowatch Diakonia Council of Churches joins in solidarity with other concerned groups and organisations in voicing its strongest possible objection to the recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal, that Biowatch be held liable for costs in the case against multinational agrochemical and gene giant, Monsanto, and other responding parties including the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs. The ruling also requires that Biowatch pay the appeal costs in the appeal case which was represented pro bono by the Legal Resources Centre.

The Chairperson of the Council, Bishop Barry Wood, OMI, stated that “It is a travesty of justice when our judicial system has every opportunity to hear the voice of groups acting in the public and environmental interest, and to explore the opportunities afforded by the provisions of the litigation-friendly NEMA, and then chooses to impart financial penalties aimed at silencing these voices in favour of monopolistic corporations who can well afford such costs themselves.” Diakonia Council of Churches again reiterates its concern that these companies claim the legal right to patent life, planting genetically modified crops without adequate research, and selling them without due consideration to warning labels. Bishop Barry added that “When we talk about food, we talk about the God-given right to healthy food, sustainable crops and life-giving opportunities for self development for individuals and communities. It seems that none of these sit high on the priority lists of huge corporations hell-bent on exploring markets for financial gain, and that this is an obvious example of the legal system being used to silence those voices that are perceived as thorns in the flesh of the multinational untouchables.” The Council calls on its member churches and other faith-based organisations to join in protest against this injustice and to continue in the pursuit of our right to information, insisting on the labelling of genetically modified products and the call for a moratorium on the proliferation of biotechnology without adequate independent research and multi stakeholder participation.

Issued by Diakonia Council of Churches
Tel: 031 310 3500

“15 Percent Now!” - Campaign Petition

Help end the pandemics. Join the call for sustainable financing for public health in Africa. Urge African leaders to fulfill the Abuja 15% commitment. Please Sign the petition to the African Union and African leaders. *Please remember to state your full name, title/profession, organisation, position, and country. *If your mail application does not open, please send to: petition[at]africa15percentcampaign[dot]org

SHURO-NET PUBLIC STATEMENT

Governmentally-backed illegal extraordinary general assembly

An illegally conducted extraordinary general assembly claiming to represent Somaliland Human Rights Organisations Network (SHURO-net) was conducted on Thursday 24th October in Ambassador Hotel.

None of us know when we might need the services of an effective human rights organization to defend us, our families, colleagues and communities, or even our way of life. What is certain is that we will need them at some point in our lives. That is why we all have an interest in making sure that the individuals who have chosen this difficult job are allowed to do their jobs without pressure and intimidation.

The brutal regime of Samuel Doe ran up much of Liberia's illegitimate debt, with no benefit to the people of Liberia. Today, Liberia has a $4.5 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and other creditors. During the years of civil war, Liberia failed to make its scheduled payments, resulting in huge arrears, which the IMF insists must be cleared before Liberia can enter the debt cancellation process.

Dear Friends of Lucia

An injustice to one is an injustice to all of us.
You strike a woman. You strike a rock.

'I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is, I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.' Rebecca West, Suffragist, 1913.

What has Lucia not been through? She has survived several March 11ths. She has survived the horrors of Zanu PF's tyranny and brutality. She has been a source of our inspiration our leader, the voice of reason that has refused to be cowed out of the peoples struggle. She has remained consistent and steadfast that people and especially marginalised women are who this struggle is all about and for. Lucia is also the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, ZCTU, first Vice President and the regional President of the Southern African Trade Union Council.

As part of the ongoing campaign by many of us who understand the unfortunate removal of Lucia Matibenga from the national chairpersonship of the MDC Women's Assembly, we have formed the 'Friends of Lucia Campaign.' If you believe in fairness and justice you can be one of us.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has set the date for the illegal women's congress to be held on the 28th of October. While Mai Mati or Lucy has received nominations and overwhelming support from the grassroots in the party, going into that election without her support base firstly knowing how flawed the process of removing her was, and secondly why she is constantly attacked by MDC patriarchs, would be a gross omission on our part.

Why are they so frightened of Lucia?

Lucia will not benefit from silent support, those who claim to be her friends have to say, enough is enough. Democracy in the MDC will not benefit from silent solidarity. The assault on the Women's Assembly chair should be viewed within the broader context of women's liberation and emancipation.

Comrades in South Africa have started to write in support of the MDC women's struggle, well done to Philile the South African daughter of the slain anti-apartheid activist Siphethelo Mbokazi. Others have sent in heart warming e-mails and text messages. We know we are not alone.

How can you help?

We believe if everyone is encouraged to use the tools and resources within their means, we can run a very effective campaign. To demand the respect for women like Mai Mati. Your solidarity costs nothing just be principled.
What are the objectives of this campaign. Put the women's agenda back on the agenda. Link up, nationally, regionally and internationally, with other activists, feminists, politicians who share the same aspirations as the female politicians in Zimbabwe.

. Campaign that women in politics be recognised as grown adults.
. Demand their rightful place in leadership not as a favour but a right.
. Invigorate activists who have endured the backlash from both the patriarchy in their midst and the Robert Mugabe dictatorship.
. Campaign for an end to all forms of violence against women in politics and Zimbabwe at large. Especially the attack on female politician's sexuality.
. Build solidarity with like minded men who are not threatened by what Zimbabwean female politicians stand for.