The spread of digital technologies in the Middle East and Africa has generated the view that 'new media' open up political spaces for dissent, activism and emancipation. Cambridge University's Centre of Governance and Human Rights is convening a conference entitled 'New media, alternative politics' (14-16 October 2010) that will bring together researchers, academics, activists, journalists and policy makers to discuss whether and how new media empower an alternative politics and mobilise political change. A call for papers (and presentations) is now out, and can be found at

Although initially encouraged by a book promising to discuss the important issue of ‘how the imperialist media has double standards’ in reporting oppression, genocide and terror depending on whether it is carried out by allies or enemies of the West, Michael Karadjis finds instead that Ed Herman and David Peterson’s 'The Politics of Genocide' is a ‘betrayal of everything it means to be of the left’.

As civil society organisations we are profoundly disturbed by the nature, content and potential impact of the homophobic stance taken by Jerry Matjila, South Africa's representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, on the 16th of June 2010. This stance is the latest in a string of problematic actions by South African representatives in international forums such as the UN.

“Pilgrimages,” a new project of the Chinua Achebe Center for African Writers and Artists at Bard College and Chimurenga, will send 14 African writers to 13 African cities, and one city in Brazil, for two weeks to explore the complexities of disparate urban landscapes. The writers will create 13 nonfiction travel-writing books about their trips that will capture each city as South Africa hosts Africa’s first World Cup. At the same time, the continent will be on display—to itself and to the world—to a greater degree than at any time since independence.

Mamadou Goïta

Samba Diouldé Thiam

Football is by far the most popular sport throughout Africa. More than a sport, football in most African countries has deep political, social and economic ramifications. Yet, the game that garners this position is explicitly the men's game. What of the women's game? African women are playing football. In some nations, officials, both in sport and political realms, have actually prioritized the development of the women's game.

UNHCR and other leading agencies in the protection of internally displaced people (IDP) have launched a new handbook that will help field workers to more effectively protect the rights of IDPs around the world. The ground-breaking "Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons" was presented at a ceremony in Geneva organized by the Global Protection Cluster, an inter-agency working group.

A new study warns that trade and investment flows with the South are reinforcing a longstanding trend in which African countries export farm produce, minerals, ores, and crude oil, and import manufactured goods. It says this situation should be reversed while the South-South trend is still in its early stages. A repeat of the traditional pattern will not help African countries to reduce their traditional dependence on exports of commodities and low-value-added goods.

Ten years after the first draft of the human genome was completed Africa hopes to jump on board the genomics revolution with a partnership announced on 22 June. The US$37 million Human, Heredity and Health in Africa project (H3Africa), sponsored by the US-based National Institutes of Health and UK medical charity The Wellcome Trust, will enable African researchers to conduct genetic population-based studies into non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease over the next five years.

As voters in Somaliland prepared to finally cast their ballots in a tight, oft-delayed presidential election on 26 June, there was one outcome for which almost everybody in the territory, regardless of political or clan affiliation, was rooting. Peaceful and well-conducted polls “will lead to international recognition of Somaliland”, said Mohamedrashid Sheikh Hassan, who is running for vice-president on the opposition Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) ticket.

Campaign Manager – Demand Dignity
Amnesty International
£38,975 + excellent benefits
Closing date: 25 July 2010

Focusing on some of the key areas that keep people poor, Amnesty International’s flagship Demand Dignity campaign will help us achieve our overall goal: an end to human rights violations. By developing and implementing the strategies that underpin all Demand Dignity’s campaigning and activism work, you will help change people’s lives.

About the role
Whether it’s one of the billion people living in slums worldwide or one of the mothers who needlessly die in pregnancy and childbirth, you can help give them a voice. Exercising strategic leadership and sound judgment, you’ll lead the development and implementation of Demand Dignity’s global strategies and operational plans, making sure everything from methodologies to publications meet our high standards. As Campaign Manager you will be motivating a team as you oversee the creation and delivery of key projects, and integrate campaigning with other direct assistance and policy development work. At the same time, you’ll work closely with partner organisations, keep an eye on budgets and report on progress – all while representing Amnesty International externally.

About you
You’ll have already shown you can lead and develop campaigning at a national and international level and adopt innovative approaches. What’s more, thanks to first-hand experience of contemporary campaigning techniques for victims of human rights violations, you’ll be thoroughly familiar with the issues that surround this work, with a strong grasp of the ethical standards and principles that underpin professional work for these individuals. We’ll also be looking for the proven ability to write for a diverse range of target reader groups and to communicate organisational positions and views to external stakeholders or the media. Add a talent for co-ordinating, inspiring and developing a diverse team, and you could soon be making a difference on a grander scale, demanding dignity for all.

About us
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people standing up for human rights. Our network extends to more than two million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries around the world. Each one of us is outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world – and together we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity.

For more information and to apply, please visit

Closing date: TBC

Africa's continued struggle for political and economic independence in many ways mirrors the very own struggles of communities in the U.S. that are now being tabled at the 2010 U.S. Social Forum in Detroit. Africa advocates and progressive foreign policy observers were pitching that message Thursday in introducing the "From Detroit to Dakar 2010" project, even as leaders of the powerful G8/G20 nations geared up for their meeting this weekend in Toronto, Canada next door.

Potential Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei led thousands of people on Friday in an anti-torture protest that analysts said was significant for joining disparate groups in a common cause. Around 4,000 people, representing varied political views, and many ordinary citizens greeted ElBaradei, 68, the former nuclear inspector, as he visited the port city of Alexandria to offer condolences to the family of Khaled Mohammed Said, an Egyptian who rights groups say was beaten to death by police.

The first study to quantify the effects of human migration on malaria incidence on a global scale has been published — and could lead to more effective strategies for eliminating the disease, say scientists. Prompted by evidence that eliminating malaria in a single country is not possible if there is a steady influx of infected people from neighbouring countries, researchers mapped rates of migration and malaria transmission within and between global regions.

The world's largest antiretroviral (ARV) programme may be operating in the dark most of the time, according to a long-awaited review of the HIV/AIDS national strategic plan (NSP) released by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). Some of the news is good. SANAC's preliminary draft shows that since the NSP's inception in 2007, reported condom use has almost doubled, treatment coverage among adults living with HIV has almost tripled, and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services among HIV-positive pregnant women has reached 76 percent.

As South Africa hosts the 2010 World Cup what does the competition, football and sport in general have to contribute to development? As the spotlight shines on South Africa there is intense media scrutiny - and more than a little hype. At the same time development organisations globally are using the competition as an opportunity to promote their programmes and campaigns.

With the theme “Maternal infant and child health and the development of Africa” the forth coming 15th Afican Union (AU) summit scheduled for 25th to 27th July in Kampala Uganda is meant to find solutions to reduce on the high maternal deaths in Africa. Uganda has been chosen as the host for the 15th African Union summit because of her effort and contribution towards the fight for peace and stability on the continent. Uganda sent troops to Somalia to contribute to the peace in that region and she a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Sahrawi refugee Fetim Salam Hamdi has been portrayed as a slave in a poorly translated documentary film. But Ms Hamdi insists she is a free woman and now goes to court to stop the film's screening. The Australian documentary film "Stolen", shot in the Algeria-based refugee camps housing over 100,000 Sahrawi refugees last year, portrays the Ms Hamdi as a slave.

At least 85 journalists fled their homes in the past year because of attacks, threats and possible imprisonment, with especially high exile rates in Iran, Somalia and Ethiopia, says the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in its annual survey, released on 20 June to mark World Refugee Day. Since 2001, more than 500 journalists have fled their homes, and 454 remain in exile today. But life in exile is precarious and only the beginning of a new set of struggles.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary Tomáz Salomão on Thursday criticised the European Union (EU) for trying to “impose” a preferential free-trade agreement on countries in the region. Last year, the EU signed an interim economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland to facilitate the free movement of goods between the two regions.