The Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy (PCMLP) at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford is pleased to announce that registration has opened for the 2011 Monroe E. Price International Media Law Moot Court Competition. The moot court competition seeks to expand interest and expertise in media law and policy amongst students by giving them an opportunity to interact with leading academics, policy makers and industry players, both from the UK and abroad. This year's problem bridges issues of technology, content and regulation to expose students to cutting-edge areas of media law.

The Optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on 10 December of 2008 and opened to signatures and ratifications on 24 September 2009 enables new channels for the justiciability of the right to food at international level. The OP will enter in to force three months after its 10th ratification. On the first anniversary of the opening to signature and ratification, the NGO Coalition working for the ratification of the OP has launched a statement promoting the 10 first ratifications until 10 December.

The earthquake in Haiti has served only to worsen the condition of the Haitian people, writes Kamau Karl Franklin, of the US-based Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM). As grassroots organisations attempt to make up for post-disaster aid shortfalls and an unaccountable government, MXGM made this statement in solidarity with Haiti’s people, following a visit to the country earlier this year.

The Malcolm X Grass roots Movement (MXGM) is an organization of people of Afrikan descent in the United States who believe in fighting for and supporting self-determination and human rights for Afrikans in the United States and around the world. Our organization annually takes an international trip to build solidarity with other people struggling for liberation and social justice. This year, we come in solidarity to Haiti (with the people of Haiti).

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have confirmed that 83 WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) members are being held at Harare Central Police Station.

The Government of Uganda is violating the Article 12 (5) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples rights, by resorting on mass expulsions of non-nationals (Rwandan Refugees) on the basis of nationality and ethnicity. In addition of refoulement; it is very substantial to note that the ultimatums, verbal abuse, deadlines, anti-Rwandan refugee rhetoric, destruction of crops and huts, restriction of access to humanitarian assistance, bars on granting of refugee status, and starvation are some of tactics that are currently used by the Government of Uganda (GoU) to induce and force us to return to Rwanda.

In absence of evidence, Government Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees, Prof. Tarsis KABWEGYERE, continues to unfoundedly accuse Rwandan Refugees to be criminals (Reuters, Uganda Defends Deportation of Rwandan Refugees,July 20, 2010). Rwandan refugees are always treated as criminals who are running away from justice. This has resulted into perpetuated ethnic stereotypes and it is gradually becoming an excuse for Ugandan authorities to violate our rights. In the other hand, it has been a pretense always advanced by Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) to genocidal massacre Hutu refugees.

The third African meeting on Solidarity with Cuba was held in Luanda, Angola, 11-12 September, to consolidate the friendship between the African and Cuban people and contribute to strengthening African solidarity towards the Caribbean island nation. The general secretary of the Association of Angola/Cuba Friendship, Fernando Jaime, told the Angolan News Agency (ANGOP) that the event aimed to consider the difficult financial situation in Cuba due to the economic blockage imposed over the past 50 years by the US.

‘The whole nation of Pakistan continues to reel from devastating impacts of the unprecedented disaster that hit the country over a month ago,’ writes Jubilee South. ‘We call on our members and other peoples’ organizations, movements and citizens groups in the South and throughout the world to step up our efforts to press for Debt Cancellation for the people of Pakistan.’

We plan to provide regular information about mobilisation for the Dakar World Social Forum in February 2011. Watch out for more, and in the meantime check out the .

Mandela Park Backyarders have continued to stop the construction of houses in our community. Because of our efforts, construction has been unable to proceed for over two weeks - since the 17th of August. We have demanded that the MEC for Housing, Bonginkosi Madikizela, come and listen to our grievances. He had promised to come to our mass meeting last Sunday, the 29th of August. He didn't pitch. He again promised to come to our mass meeting on the 5th of September. We now hear that he won't be able to make it. We are still waiting for him.

On 12 September to 6 October, the V International Awareness Campaign for the Freedom of Antonio Guerrero, René González, Fernando González, Gerardo Hernández and Ramón Labañino, the well-known Cuban Five unjustly imprisoned in the United States. Twelve years have passed since they were incarcerated, psychologically tortured and separated from their families and beloved ones. That it is why we shall join together, once again, to demand their liberation.

It was social movements that mobilised many poor Kenyans to vote in the referendum, and it is social movements that must mobilise to ensure the country’s new constitution fulfils the people’s hopes for a better future, writes Gacheke Gachihi.

No state in the world has recognised the Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara. Still, the EU is paying millions of euros annually to the government of Morocco to allow EU vessels to fish in the waters of Western Sahara. The EU fisheries activities in Western Sahara must immediately come to an end. Morocco continues to refuse to cooperate with the decolonisation process in Western Sahara, thereby defying more than 100 UN resolutions that insist on the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination. Simultaneously, Moroccan authorities commit human rights violations against Saharawis who voice their political views. No EU states, nor the UN, recognise the Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP) fully supports the South African public sector employees’ demands for a decent living wage and good working conditions. We recognise that the strike action being undertaken by public sector workers comes after months of negotiations. Public sector unions have moderated their demands to a 8.6 per cent wage increase and R1,000 housing allowance. We also recognise that striking, historically and currently, is one of the only means of mobilising by workers once reasonable demands are not met.

Although supportive of the right of South Africa’s public workers to strike, Shailja Patel says there's no excuse not to protect and defend the country’s most vulnerable.

The International Council of the World Social Forum and the African Social Forum and the Senegalese Organizing Committee launch a public consultation until September 10th to finalize the thematic axes of the centralized edition of the WSF, to be held in Dakar, Senegal, on February 06-11 2011. This methodological proposal was defined after Mumbai (Maharashtra, India), five years ago.

The Kennedy Road shack settlement burnt once again at about 10 pm on Sunday, 08 August 2010 - two hours before women’s day. As of today thousands of residents in Kennedy are homeless in this cold winter weather. If the municipality had given them houses or provided them with basic services, such as electricity, refuse collection, road access and water they would have been safe from fire.

Professor Ernest Wamba-dia-Wamba’s work in the political reconstruction of Congolese society, characterised by ‘remarkable self-sacrifice and humility’, is worthy of support, writes Jacques Depelchin. Let’s show solidarity for ‘one of the most committed intellectuals for another Africa, for another humanity and for another world’, Depelchin urges, to ensure that Wamba-dia-Wamba is not faced with ‘destitution and isolation’ as a result of his singular path.

As African leaders prepare to meet at the SADC Summit in Windhoek this month from 15 to 17, they must draw concrete plans to prevent state-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe’s elections planned for 2011. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition calls upon SADC and AU leaders, as guarantors of Zimbabwe’s Global Political Agreement (GPA), which created a transitional power-sharing government to, among other things, ensure that Zimbabwe fully complies with SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections – including impartiality of electoral institutions.

This social experiment was carried out using hidden cameras in a townhouse complex in Johannesburg. Don't condone violence by doing nothing. If you or anyone around you is experiencing domestic abuse please call the POWA helpline on 083 765 1235 or visit Counseling services and support is available.