The African Same-Sex Sexualities and Gender Diversity conference was recently held in Pretoria. The conference coordinator was none other than Vasu Reddy, co-editor of 'The Country We Want to Live In' and 'From Social Silence to Social Science'. Reddy said at the conference that Africa is a 'continent where, despite some positive changes in a few countries, same-sex sexualities and gender diversity remain deeply steeped in cultural prejudice and stigma'. Ironically, this is revealed in the media reportage of the event.

We the undersigned organizations write to you over the existence of an extortion ring and an upsurge in extra-judicial killings perpetrated by members of the Kenya Police.

Human rights activist Al-Amin Kimathi is languishing in a Ugandan jail after being arrested for alleged involvement in the Kampala bombings. Kimathi had travelled to attend court hearings of other Kenyans who were arrested in Nairobi and whisked away in secrecy to Kampala. Alex Kiprotich reports on the Kenyan government’s failure to take up Kimathi’s case.

Six Zimbabwean activists are on trial and may face the death penalty for watching a video about the revolts in Egypt. They had been detained since February 19 and suffered physical and mental abuse. Although released they now have to find US$12,000 bail. A global day of protest in solidarity with the six Zimbabwean activists takes place on 21 March 2011.

The World Social Forum should remain true to its founding aim of being an open space that builds alternatives to neoliberalism, writes Yash Tandon.

This is an urgent alert on the case of Kenneth Irungu, a witness in the case of extrajudicial killings of John Kamuri and Peter Irungu who were killed in Ruiru, Kenya, in December 2010. Kenneth Irungu witnessed the arrests of Kamuri and Irungu. One other witness has disappeared and another is in hiding. Kenneth Irungu was abducted today 11th March 2011 at around 13.00hrs in Muthurwa by three men in a Toyota Premio KBG 447R. We believe that, given the background to the case, he may be in the hands of the Kwe Kwe squad and is in grave danger. Please use any channel to bring this issue into light so as to exert pressure on the police to release him.

On the 21 March 2011 Abahlali baseMjondolo Western Cape will have a mass rally at VE informal settlement at 10:00 till 13:00.

Despite formal recognition of domestic workers' rights in South Africa, they still face a struggle for fair treatment. In June this year, the second and final reading of an International Labour Organisation Convention on the rights of domestic workers will take place. If it is adopted, it would strengthen legal protection for millions of the most vulnerable workers worldwide.

The Unemployed People's Movement (UPM) reports that two people from the eThembeni shack settlement died in a fire. The organisation said the community could not successfully fight the fire on their own as the taps are very few and very far away. The fire brigade could not get into the settlement because there is no road leading in to it. The fire came as the UPM held a vigil. One of the reasons for the vigil was to highlight 'concern at the criminalisation of our struggles and movements'.

The latest newsletter from African Peoples Advocacy (APA) contains articles on the plight of migrants in Libya, the situation in Cote d'Ivoire, the Ugandan elections and further information about events and activities.

Six socialist activists in Zimbabwe face the death penalty for watching a video about the revolt in Egypt. Munyaradzi Gwisai, Hopewell Gumbo, Antonater Choto, Welcome Zimuto, Eddson Chakuma and Tatenda Mombeyarara are charged with treason. Treason is punishable by death.

Please join the protest outside the Zimbabwean embassy this Friday 11 March, 12 noon – 1.30pm, Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, WC2R 0JR.

Human rights and political activists in Zimbabwe are facing a major clampdown, with over 60 currently held in detention and many allegedly tortured, writes Amnesty International.

In a letter to Sibabrata Tripathi, the High Commissioner for India, the Kenya Asian Forum (KAF) expresses its ‘deep concern regarding the spirited efforts being made by one of the Coalition partners in the Government of Kenya to have the UN Security Council defer International Criminal Court’s cases against six Kenyans suspected to be behind the 2007/8 Post Election Violence (PEV).’

The Angolan government carried out an intimidation campaign in connection with an announced anti-government demonstration that was inspired by events in Egypt and Tunisia, Human Rights Watch has said. The government warned in the weeks leading up to the protest, which was announced for 7 March 2011, that anyone who joined would be punished for inciting violence and attempting to return the country to civil war. Police arrested several demonstrators and journalists the night before the event.

Although the South African Municipal Workers' Union resolved to support the ANC in the forthcoming local elections at its last congress, ‘a number of recent developments have made the implementation of this resolution difficult to enforce’, it has said in a recent statement.

Thousands of Zimbabweans attended a rally organised by President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party on 3 March in the capital, Harare, to mark the launch of an anti-sanctions campaign. The aim is to collect at least two million signatures on a petition against the sanctions, which Mugabe has blamed for the country's dire economic situation and prolonged food insecurity.

Zimbabwean state security agents tortured 46 detained activists in an attempt to implicate them for treason, according to a statement issued by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. Detained social justice activist Munyaradzi Gwisai said the pain which he endured and suffered as a result of the torture sessions was 'indescribable, sadistic and a tragedy for Zimbabwe'.

A UN working group has expressed ‘widespread concern about the general human rights situation in Namibia’, including the government’s ‘non-compliance with several core international human rights norms’, NAMRIGHTS reports.

The organised a series of marches to commemorate International Sex Workers Day on 3 March. Participants were asked to bring their own red umbrella, and wear a mask to cover their faces ‘in solidarity with sex workers who cannot show their faces for fear of being arrested, harassed and stigmatized.’

Reflecting on last month’s World Social Forum in Dakar, Giuseppe Caruso offers an initial assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of an event plagued by logistical problems on the ground but sweetened by successful revolution in Tunisia and Egypt.