Where can IDPs turn for justice when their own governments fail to provide for their security and well-being? This newly released Guide to International Human Rights Mechanisms for Internally Displaced Persons and their Advocates is designed to assist IDPs in using international and regional human rights mechanisms to bring attention to their plight and where possible to secure redress.

Citizens may soon be able to complain to the United Nations when their governments are not treating them well, if the administrations agree to a host of new economic, social and cultural rights. At present, countries are sovereign in the services and benefits they provide for their nationals. In future, however, groups or individuals who have been denied such rights may have recourse to the U.N. if they fail to make their case at a national level.

The Development Gateway Foundation is calling for nominations for its US$100,000 prize for outstanding achievement in the use of information and communication technologies to improve lives in developing countries. Sponsored in part by Intel Corporation, this year's Development Gateway Award is focusing on initiatives that empower or improve the conditions of youth.

This article on the website of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) discusses the work of Population Media Center and the Sabido methodology of entertainment-education. According to the article, radio and television melodramas captivate wide audiences in every part of the world, and in developing countries, positive social messages are increasingly being interwoven into the narratives. The article proposes that this has resulted in dramatic behaviour changes...

New Economic Foundation's Steve Mandel writes, in the preface to this extremely well-timed and strongly argued paper: "Debt sustainability has, until now, been narrowly assessed according to a country's ability to pay in terms of its export earnings, regardless of other demands on public funds. This prevents governments in many developing countries meeting the basic needs of their citizens. A new approach to debt sustainability that takes this into account is urgently needed."

There is a need to link up the thousands of communications technology initiatives littered across the developing world, but is another UN technocracy the right answer?

Born as part of an intelligence military system, Internet has become an essential means of communication and information with great democratic potential as an organizational tool for social movements challenging the domination of political and economic power.

In the global economy where neo-liberal values of privatisation and market competition are dominant, it is crucial for those committed to public education to reaffirm the principle that education, including higher, technical, and professional education, is a right and not a merchandise.

Environment and development groups have slated the World Bank's Clean energy and development: towards an investment framework for its perverse definition of 'clean' energy, letting Northern polluters off the hook and neglecting the needs of the rural poor.

World Bank president Wolfowitz announces his move to disband the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) network within the Bank. It will be merged with the Bank's infrastructure department and report to the current head of the infrastructure department.

Human rights groups in Nigeria are in an uproar over the unconstitutional removal of the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission. Mr. Bukhari Bello. Over 30 groups have made their stance clear, arguing that not only does this undermine the country’s constitutionalism, but it also subverts the rights of Nigerians.

Sequel to the removal of Mr. Bukhari Bello, by Federal Government as Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), International Human Rights bodies including Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) yesterday (26 June) said they have withdrawn support from the National Human Rights Commission.

Meanwhile, 30 Nigerian civil society organisations have released separate complaints to Judge Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mrs. Salamata Sawadogo, Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights calling for the restoration of Bello to his position, an urgent international investigation of the independence of institutions for the protection of human rights in Nigeria, including the judiciary and the National Human Rights Commission and suspension of Nigeria from consultative relations with both bodies if the government fails to rescind its actions.

On Monday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, issued a letter to Bello, informing him of his removal as head of the commission.

The Minister said government was displeased with his criticisms of harassment and intimidation of journalists by the security services and denunciation by African National Human Rights Institutions of recent attempt at tenure extension and America’s role at Guatanamo Bay.

Mr. Bello is the Chairperson, Co-ordinating Committee of African National Human Rights Institutions.

They noted with dismay that the redeployment of Bello came at the time when the United Nations Human Rights Council is holding its inaugural meeting adding that Nigeria is one of the 47 elected members to the council based on its pledge to respect the promotion and protection of the rights of its citizens in general, as well as support the strengthening and independence of the National Human Rights Commission.

Condemning the action, Mr. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Director of the Africa Programme, Open Society Justice Initiative contended that the statements issued by Bello were in capacity as Chairperson, Co-ordinating Committee of African National Human Rights Institutions and that it was a collective decision of all the council members. “The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has run carts and horses through the Paris Principles. They have undermined stability of tenure of the members of the Commission, compromised the Commission’s institutional efficacy and independence, and chosen to subvert the protection of human rights in Nigeria. The High Commis-sioner for Human Rights and the African Commission cannot stand idly by while these happen,” he said.

Speaking at the joint press conference, Dr. Nana Tanko, Executive Director of OSIWA said: “Nigeria is supposed to be in the forefront for respect of constitutionalism in the continent. Now they have set a bad precedence what is expected of other African Countries that are looking up to it? “For any democracy to work, the protection and promotion of the citizenry is very crucial. Issues should be looked at beyond individuals. “The action of Nigerian government by removing Bello negates all the work that has been done over the years in the area of Human Rights in Africa. If such removal must be done, due process must be followed. We have done a lot to support the National Human Rights Commission over the years but at this point we have no choice but to withdraw our support. We can’t imagine doing all that we have been doing and the government comes and makes a nonsense of all we have done.”

Chinonye Obiagwu, Co-ordinator of the Legal Defence and Aid Project (LEDAP), observed: “We are appalled at the treatment of Mr. Bukhari Bello. This is not just an issue about Mr. Bello. It is about the rule of law, due process, and proper governance. “If we allow this to go unchallenged, it is going to be a return to anarchy. This is a call to the trenches. It is very clear that government is no longer sensitive to constructive decision-making. We ask all members of civil society to suspend collaborative activities with the Federal Ministry of Justice until it makes clear that it will no longer interfere with the National Human Rights Commission.” Obiagwu pointed out that the Abacha government, which established the NHRC, appointed Mohammed Tabir, who was very critical of their policies, but never removed him.

He revealed that for the past five years a bill to amend the NHRC Act to give it more powers and remove government control has been pending at the National Assembly.

The groups contend that: “In taking this decision, the Justice Minister did not notify or consult with the Chairperson or other members of the Council of the National Human Rights Commission. On Monday, 19 June, the Chairperson of the Commission, Honourable Justice Anthony Igu promptly visited the Justice Minister to protest this interference in the independence of the NHRC and to affirm that the allegations on the basis of which the Attorney-General claimed to have acted fell firmly within the remit of the Executive Secretary and were done at all times on the instructions of the Council of the NHRC. “Principle 3(a)(iv) of the Paris Principles, A/Res/48/138, requires the establishment of National Human Rights Commissions for the purpose of ‘drawing the attention of the government to situations in any part of the country where human rights are violated and making proposals to it for initiatives to put an end to such situations and, where necessary, expressing an opinion on the positions and reactions of the government.’ “Principle 6 of the Paris Principles requires governments to ‘ensure a stable mandate for the members of the national institution, without which there can be no real independence.’ “In Article 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is domestic law in Nigeria, the government of Nigeria undertakes to ‘guarantee the independence of ….appropriate national institutions entrusted with the promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Charter.’”

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AfriForum says it had seemed for a period of five years - from June 1991 to May 1996 - that South Africa was on the way of establishing a truly non-racial democracy. But since then, several laws and actions taken by government were in essence creating a new system of racial classifications.

Given China’s growing hunger for natural resources and Africa’s persistent need for economic aid, the world’s most populous country and the globe’s poorest continent appear to be nurturing a perfect symbiotic relationship. Or is it? Human rights groups caution that China’s quest for raw materials could undermine respect for human rights and efforts at political reform in Africa.

The Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships (AFPF) invites journalists from developing countries to apply for the 2007 fellowship programme, which brings roughly 10 print journalists to the United States for an in-depth, practical introduction to the professional and ethical standards of the American print media. The programme runs from mid-March to September and is open to journalists between the ages of 25 and 35.

Is the world becoming more just? Are we winning the struggle for justice? A big NO, as Salil Shetty, director of the United Nations Millenium Campaign, found out, much to his dismay, when he asked around at the closing of Civicus World Assembly.

26 June, the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, is marked by thousands of people at more than 100 locations worldwide. The need to allocate more resources to rehabilitation of torture victims is imminent. On 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the world says a clear NO to torture. On this special day, the struggle against torture is being celebrated by thousands of people worldwide, and the victims of this man-made atrocity are commemorated.

This BBC article discusses the challenges of growing populations in urban centers throughout the world and especially in Africa. Although Sub-Saharan Africa boasts the world's highest rate of urban migration, cities and governments fall short in providing basic social services. The UN Millennium Declaration addressed this issue, and UN-Habitat will continue to discuss potential solutions in the biannual World Urban Forum.

A coalition of academics, former UN officials and security experts has unveiled a proposal for the creation of a permanent UN peacekeeping force. Such an international rapid reaction force of "up to 15,000 military, police and civilian staff, including medics and conflict transformation experts," could be deployed within 48 hours at the request of the UN Security Council.

Amnesty International has compiled a collection of articles on trade, investment and human rights, examining the linkages between economic globalisation and human rights.

It is generally assumed that people living in the urban areas of developing countries are healthier, more literate and better off than their rural counterparts. This UN Human Settlements Programme report shows that the urban slum dwellers are as badly, if not worse off, than their rural relatives.