Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo began his campaign for re-election in "hostile" territory this month. Makurdi, the city in central Nigeria where, on 1 March, he addressed his first rally since winning the ruling party's nomination in January, is the capital of Benue State, where troops acting on his orders raided several villages in October 2001, killing hundreds of civilians in reprisal for the killing of 19 soldiers by a local militia.

Thirty-two wars are now being waged around the world. One in four children worldwide lives in one of these dangerous situations. Some 20,000 girls and women were raped during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia in 1992 alone. And in Liberia, 7-year-old children were found fighting in combat. It is clear that a crisis of this magnitude requires a massive response. Save the Children is launching the One World, One Wish campaign to stop atrocities such as organized rape and the use of child soldiers by getting our government to set aside funds for the protection of women and children in conflicts.

This is a global campaign initiated by the People's Health Movement (PHM) on March 20, and is picking up momentum in many countries. The campaign was launched as a tactic to put pressure on the US and UK companies and thus influence their governments to stop the war on Iraq. Click on the link to read a list of products to boycott.

The Million Signature campaign was officially launched worldwide in January. Tens of thousands of people have already expressed their solidarity by signing on. This signature campaign, initiated by the People's Health Movement and the International People's Health Council, is being endorsed by ordinary people and organisations from all walks of life. The campaign is designed to put pressure on WHO, UNICEF, other UN bodies, social and political organisations, policy-makers and governments. Join 'The Million Signature Campaign'.

The socio-economic system underpinning apartheid in South Africa was based on the exploitation of black workers in the mines, the factories, the fields and the shops. It is widely recognized that the struggles of the South African black working class contributed decisively to the overthrow of the racist regime. In recognition of the power of organised labour, the democratic government elected in 1994 granted South Africa's unions unprecedented legal and constitutional rights. However, despite these gains, the country's labour movement has been facing a fresh set of challenges, from macroeconomic policy to the factory floor, many of them emanating from labour's political allies in Government. The purpose of this book is to examine how the South African labour movement is responding to these challenges in the new millennium.

This exciting new post in the Africa Division will initiate and design policy and advocacy strategies on the priorities of the Africa Division and undertake policy work in one particular area of expertise. The postholder will contribute to the management of the Africa Division and manage staff in the Africa Policy and Advocacy Unit. Earliest start date 1st April (negotiable). See the link for a list of more Christian Aid jobs related to Africa.

In April 2002, at the Spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF, the UK government and other members of the G7 group of countries endorsed the Education for All Action Plan. If put into action, the Plan could ensure free primary education for every child by 2015. But, almost one year on, little money has been pledged to make the Plan a reality. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is being lost. To join the call for free, quality, primary education for every child, please complete the form provided at the link provided.

This Briefing document is intended to help TAC activists and supporters to understand the background to TAC's decision to embark on a civil disobedience campaign in March 2003. Hundreds of pages could be written about TAC's efforts to persuade government to work with civil society on an HIV/AIDS treatment programme - but this is just a summary. In addition, although there is a great deal of independent research and information that could be cited to support TAC's demands, in this document we refer only to government's own research and policy statements to show how, in reality, the reluctance to commit to a treatment plan, including anti-retroviral medicines, contradicts its own findings, policies and constitutional duties.

FAHAMU, in association with the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford, England, is offering courses specifically designed to meet the needs of non-profit human rights and advocacy organisations in the SADC region. Developed together with international and regional experts, the last two of the six available courses will begin during April 2003. Applications are now open for ‘Using the Internet for Research and Advocacy’. This course is designed for people and organisations grappling with how to harness the power of the internet for research and advocacy.

FAHAMU, in association with the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford, England, is offering courses specifically designed to meet the needs of non-profit human rights and advocacy organisations in the SADC region. Developed together with international and regional experts the last two of the six available courses will begin during April 2003. Applications are now open for Action for change: advocacy and citizen participation. The course's approach to advocacy is geared to improving the lives and participation of marginalized people and forging broad alliances for reform across society.

“We write to ask for your views and possible assistance in trying to secure democracy and justice for the victims of the 1981-1987 Matebele atrocities committed by President Mugabe in the name of national security. The atrocities led to the deaths of over 30 000 citizens mainly of the Ndebele tribe, in a campaign Mugabe dubbed "Gukurahundi".”

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has requested urgent action in a case involving the arbitrary arrest of Mona Zahir Alsadati and the incommunicado detention of Adam Abdel Hamied Adam by the Security Forces in Sudan. According to the information received, at 9pm on March 3rd, 2003, the Sudanese Security Forces arrested Adam Abdel Hamied Adam, a trainee advocate and member of the Abdelmajeed Imam Cultural Centre, and Mona Zahir Alsadati, a journalist. The OMCT has requested that those concerned by the case write to the Sudanese authorities.

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) says it has been informed by a reliable Tunisian source of acts of torture committed against seven internet activists and has made an appeal for those concerned to write to the authorities in Tunisia urging them to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the activists, and their immediate release.

“Every day more than 600 people in South Africa die of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. Many lives could have been saved had our government shown urgency and commitment. We still have a chance to save millions of lives. Regrettably, the Minister of Health continues to equivocate. After four years of negotiations, petitions, marches, litigation and appeals, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has decided to begin a peaceful campaign of civil disobedience on 21 March 2003. The TAC requests your support in this campaign. We are mobilising 600 people across the country who will volunteer to get arrested in our civil disobedience campaign. To volunteer, please fill out the form below and fax it to 021 788 3507. Please state if we can use your name in adverts of people who will volunteer to be arrested.”

Every day more than 600 people in South Africa die of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. Many lives could have been saved had our government shown urgency and commitment. We still have a chance to save millions of lives. Regrettably, the Minister of Health continues to equivocate. After four years of negotiations, petitions, marches, litigation and appeals, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has decided to begin a peaceful campaign of civil disobedience on 21 March 2003. TAC requests your support in this campaign.

The Anti-War Coalition has issued a call to workers, the youth and the unemployed to join the international movement against the war on Iraq and the plans of the giant monopolies.

This International sign-on letter to all WTO member countries demands that no secret deals on services are concluded. It states that services are the lifeblood of societies and that a moratorium should be placed on GATS negotiations until the process is made more public.

2003 is a big year for the trade justice campaign. From 10 to 14 September trade ministers from nearly 150 different countries will be meeting in Cancun, Mexico for the fifth ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation. On 23 and 24 September the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank hold their annual meetings in Dubai. Visit this web site and find out what you can do to further the cause of trade justice.

The HDN Microbicides E-Advocacy Project has been on-going since 2001. The project aims to report on local, regional and international efforts to advocate for prevention options for women and to facilitate virtual discussion and debate around microbicide research in popular discourses around HIV/AIDS. The Project Manager will co-ordinate and implement the project, manage a small international team of writers and engage in international advocacy efforts - in collaboration with the Global Campaign for Microbicides.

Have you ever wondered how change happens? Ever wonder if you could be a part of something that will improve the lives of billions around the world? The power to change the world, says the web site of Jubilee USA Network, lies in whether you choose to take action. The Network offers several ways to get involved on their web site.