The Digital Freedom Network (DFN) promotes human rights around the world by developing new methods of activism with Internet technology and by pro-viding an online voice to those attacked simply for expressing themselves. With the use of Internet technology, DFN extends traditional methods of activism by applying the latest innovations to confront attacks on freedom of expression, privacy, and other forms of oppression.

Project managers who complete a survey for the Eco-Index are asked this important question: "Please advise colleagues who are interested in starting a project similar to yours: If you could start over, what two or three things might you do differently?" The best, most forthright answers to this question are illuminating and helpful to everyone working in conservation.

Openlaw is an experiment in crafting legal argument in an open forum. With your assistance, we will develop arguments, draft pleadings, and edit briefs in public, online. Non-lawyers and lawyers alike are invited to join the process by adding thoughts to the "brainstorm" outlines, drafting and commenting on drafts in progress, and suggesting reference sources. Building on the model of open source software, we are working from the hypothesis that an open development process best harnesses the distributed resources of the Internet community. By using the Internet, we hope to enable the public interest to speak as loudly as the interests of corporations. Openlaw is therefore a large project built through the coordinated effort of many small (and not so small) contributions.

Stopping forced labour is the second Global Report issued under the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) new promotional tool, the follow- up to the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The Report looks closely at the myriad forms of forced labour found in the world today and the various responses to them, with the aim of mobilizing greater support for their eradication. It closes by proposing a specific programme of action for discussion and approval by ILO constituents that strives for a holistic approach to eliminating this terrible practice.

Ethiopian police have arrested several top officials and businessmen in the country's current crackdown campaign against corruption, said government officials Wednesday. Among the detained are former defense minister Siye Abraha and former head of the office of regional administration Bitew Belay, they said.

Nominations for the 2002 Reebok Human Rights Award are currently being sought. Please put in your nomination by the June 15, 2001 deadline.
The Reebok Human Rights Award seeks to shine a positive, international light on young human rights activists and to support their work with a $50,000 grant from the Reebok Human Rights Foundation. The Award has honored 64 past recipients in 28 countries. Visit the website for the announcement and application materials for the 2002 Reebok Human Rights Awards.

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has launched an internet-based campaign with Yahoo! and other partners to create public awareness about the urgent need for an accessible AIDS vaccine. The Call for Action petition will be presented during the UN Special Session on HIV/AIDS in New York June 25-27 2001. Sign by June 25.

Three years have passed since the launch of Roll Back Malaria, the global campaign to halve the burden of malaria by 2010, and one year since its high profile African summit in Abuja. The campaign has had two major successes. Firstly, it has built an impressive partnership of the United Nations and development agencies, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, governments, the private sector, researchers, and non-governmental organisations. Secondly, it has raised the visibility of this neglected diseaseone that causes at least 3000 deaths a day and that slows economic growth by 1.3% per year in endemic areas.1 But it has not yet produced a major impact where it matters mostat the ground level in the world's poorest countries.

Secondary schools heads from a Kenyan rural district of Kenya have petitioned the government to lift the ban on corporal punishment citing indiscipline. Media reports here say that the school heads from Machakos district which was in the news last month after two students torched a school domitory leading to death of more than 60 students wanted the government to review the ban.

As we have done for many years, the Washington Office on Africa has developed this directory of key contacts in the administration and on select committees in Congress, together with a listing of the Congressional Black Caucus. We hope you find it helpful in your own advocacy efforts. Essential for all of us with a concern for a more just US policy toward Africa is to ensure that our views are heard, and this guide seeks to provide an aid in doing so.

CIVITAS International hs established an international Advocacy Campaign for the institution of the eight "Action Steps" necessary for adequate civic education, including a K-12 curriculum, teacher training, and classroom materials that support education for democracy, as well as the development of a professional civic educators association, and the capacity to evaluate student progress.

The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide demonstrates the many ways nonprofits can use lobbying to advance their causes in federal, state and local legislatures. Author Bob Smucker draws upon his more than 25 years of experience as a lobbyist for charitable organizations to give a jargon-free explanation of the laws governing lobbying limits, lobbying with private foundation and corporate grants, reporting to the IRS, and education efforts during a political campaign.

Please sign the petition on behalf of AAU Students, and Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam and Dr. Berhanu Nega. A world wide hunger strike is being organized in solidarity with the hunger strike of Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam and Dr. Berhanou Nega. Please stay tuned for further instructions. Please go immidiately to the following webpage to express your concern on the situation at AAU, of EHRCO and the state of Ethiopia.

Paper from Hakikazi - Local Catalysts in Tanzania.

Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest is working to dispel the myths that lobbying by charities is unimportant, inappropriate, or illegal by providing information on the important role of lobbying in achieving an organization's mission. Please visit the areas below for detailed information on why lobbying is important, lobbying laws for organizations, how to lobby, and motivating others to lobby.

Canada has become the latest Western government to protest to Zimbabwe over the intimidatory behaviour towards its nationals by so-called "war veterans", who have targeted foreign employees in a rash of labour disputes.

A new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO) projects that deaths caused by HIV/AIDS* in the ten most affected African countries will reduce the labour force by as much as 26 percent by 2020. The report estimates that since 1985 some 7 million agricultural workers have died from AIDS related diseases in 27 severely affected African countries. An estimated 16 million more deaths are reported likely in the next two decades. The report, prepared for the 27th Session of the Committee on World Food Security, meeting in Rome 28 May - 1 June, says: "Throughout history, few crises have presented such a threat to human health and social and economic progress as does the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

Advocacy materials and actions from the Bretton Woods Project.

What is Monitoring is now available on the HURIDOCS Web site. This practical manual is intended for documentalists and information workers of human rights organisations. It deals with the following issues: what is monitoring, purposes of monitoring, types of monitoring, methods of monitoring, and data analysis. This volume has been written by Manuel Guzman and Bert Verstappen. It is at the moment available only in English, and can be printed in HTML and PDF formats.

McSpotlight gives critical information and analysis on a wide range of topics and campaigns relating to Mcdonalds and other multinationals.