What the UN needs most is an administrative justice system open to people directly affected by UN policies. (For more information on global administrative law, read B.S. Chimni's study, on the expansion of global administrative law.) In the long run, the UN should have a unified tribunal system with a high court at the top that can issue binding rulings, but it could start with judicial oversight of UN entities that wield power over vulnerable individuals.

The Youth, Media, Development Forum is a forum for media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The global aim of the forum is to produce more quality media projects with children, using all technologies and art forms available - television, radio, internet, print, video, music, theatre, photography, cartoons, etc.

If the developments at the just-concluded African Union (AU) ministerial conference on World Trade Organisation talks are anything to go by, there is a real danger of failure to conclude ongoing Doha round of free trade negotiations. In the words of WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, the refusal by the big players - the European Union, the United States, Brazil and India - "to make real offers that can facilitate the signing of an agreement" is to blame for the stalemate.

Zambian blog, Real Life of a Journalist (http://oliviaphiri.blogspot.com/2006/04/making-icts-accessible-to-women…) writes on how to make ICTs more accessible to women. Technology has been traditionally “male” in both its construct and usage. She praises the coming of FOSS but writes that it is not user friendly and requires a certain level of technology literacy. She believes one way to overcome technophobia and illiteracy is to start teaching ICTs at primary school level.

“The computer must not be seen as a sophisticated machine, it is a tool like a cooking stick, which any person needs to study and gets used to. The world is becoming a global village; virtual offices are ruling the day…Women should be included in this growing process if sustainable development is to be achieved. Everyone should be awarded an opportunity to explore the world beyond their boundaries while sitting down.”

Random Rants of a Kenyan Girl Next Door (http://randomgirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2006/04/black-africa-vs-black-am…) is reminded of the tensions between Africans and African Americans. As she was told last week: “A lot of you (Africans) think you're better than us.” As she writes, this is largely true. One possible explanation she raises is:

“The majority of Kenyans, and other Africans, leave home in pursuit of education and job opportunities. Because of the stress we go through to get abroad, most of us are very driven in accomplishing specific goals. After living here (US or wherever else) for a while, you get a reality check about the system. You realize that there are certain benefits reserved for citizens (loans, scholarships, affirmative action programs) and then you wonder ‘Why aren't these people taking advantage?’ For us, it just makes sense.”

African immigrants to the US come with a colonial experience that is very different from the racist experience of African Americans. Both have struggled against white supremacy but the sight and nature of those struggles are different. White America relates very differently towards new African immigrants than towards indigenous African Americans who relative to their population are the poorest and most disadvantaged in America.

Black Star Journal (http://blackstarjournal.blogspot.com/2006/04/secretary-and-her-good-fri…) comments on the recent meeting between US Secretary of State, Ms Rice and the “tyrant in charge of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema” and wonders if:

“Equatorial Guinea's nightmarish human rights' record (which is significantly worse than Robert Mugabe's 'outpost of tyranny' but without the bluster) was part of the talks. Given the country's position as one of Africa's emerging oil exporters, I doubt the set of discussions between the secretary and her 'good friend' were that 'full.'”

I doubt it. The US is well known for it’s selective amnesia when it comes to issues of human rights – thus Zimbabwe, Burma, Belarus and Cuba are singled out, Guinea and Ethiopia are not. Neither is Nigeria, despite its blatant disregard for human rights in the proposed gay ban legislation that is presently being presented in the Senate.

Enough is Enough (http://enoughzimbabwe.org/mugabe-misfires-again-on-independence-day) is a new “super blog” from Zimbabwe. The project has been supported by the Committee to Protect Bloggers.

“In addition to my regular posts (Zimpundit) you will be able to find a wealth of information in different multimedia formats from a variety of vantage points including other Zimbloggers, observers, and Zimbabweans abroad.

Alt.Muslim (http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1695_0_24_0_M">Alt Muslim) writes on Muslim immigration to the US which he sees as being a particularly challenging experience especially since 9/11. However the Muslim voice has been largely silent during the highly visible immigration debate taking place in the US today.

“The last few years have shown us the early targeting and detained (without a single terror-related conviction among them), the plight of Muslim immigrants caught in INS red tape, the special registration that specifically targeted Muslim visitors, the prevention of the immigration of US scholars, and the deportation of Muslim women who made the mistake of divorcing their US citizen husbands. Based on this, one would think that Muslims would have a lot to say on the current raging debate on immigration. But aside from a few voices joining calls for a more humane immigration policy as scattered endorsers of various protests, there has been little contribution from Muslim circles.”

Although the present immigration protests are largely drawn from the Hispanic community, he feels the Muslim community needs to participate as the issue affects them as much as any other recent immigrant community.

Black Looks (okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2006/04/remembering_iqb.html) remembers April 16 (the International Day Against Child Slavery) and comments on the use of child labour in Nigeria where it is estimated there are 15 million working children. The government is presently drafting new policy which aims to support legislation against child labour but this will not include domestic or occupational work, which the draft describes as:

“…mild involvement of children in household and occupational activities carried out in safe conditions and environments and constitutes a mechanism for socialising children necessary for their adjustment to social and economic milieu.”

Black Looks comments:

“The words used to describe domestic labour and hawking as ‘mild involvement’ is outrageous. Children are made to work for up to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. The child hawkers spend their day walking the streets with their wares with no relief and instructions that they must sell x amount in a day. All the children, domestic servants and hawkers are vulnerable and open to sexual and physical abuse by punters and employers or rather owners. It is unacceptable that these two groups of children are therefore not to be included in this policy which makes a mockery of the whole idea.”

Afrikan Eye (http://afrikaneye.blogspot.com/2006/04/effect-of-colonialism-on-african…) has an excellent piece on the affect of colonialism on African Women in which she explores the economic, social and political impacts and the responses by African women.

“The first socio-political effect of colonialism was the concept of the Victorian woman which the colonisers brought with them. The colonialists came with the belief that women were to remain creatures of the private domain. Women were to preoccupy themselves with domestic issues and leave the ‘real work’ of ruling and running the nation in terms of politics and economics in particular to the men. (Economically) Firstly, women were affected by the alienation of land experienced by most Africans. However, women appear to have been more personally affected by this land alienation.”

Feminist African Sister (http://feministafricansisters.blogspot.com/2006/04/sexual-offences-bill…) comments on the proposed Kenyan legislation known as the “Sexual Offences Act” and finds it “ludicrous to the extreme” that activists are having to lobby parliamentarians to support a bill of this kind.

“The Bill is meant to be about the national, common good! It is meant to be about Kenya against the big, bad, perpetrators of sexual violence!”

She is also irritated by activists having to justify the bill in terms of how it will also help men and boys who are raped as if women being raped is an insufficient reason for passing the bill. She asks:

“…why can't we just support efforts to punish sexual violence period! Why must we qualify it by saying, ‘even men and boys are raped?’ I don't buy for one minute, that this kowtowing will get men and boys to empathize with the rampant rape of women and girls! I don't need to be told that I too could be hit by a car, to empathize with a person who has been hit by a car! The fact that the person is telling me they were hit by a car should be enough! They need not roll up their sleeves to show me the bruises or broken bones! So why are we allowing ourselves to do so? Why do we need to qualify the reasons men should support the campaign against sexual violence and this Bill?”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected]

The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AFRICOMNET) is hosting this event with the theme 3rd Generation HIV and AIDS Communication: The Key to Prevention, Care and Treatment. The conference will bring together about 500 HIV and AIDS communication practitioners.

Global numbers of refugees are falling dramatically as people return to former war zones, the United Nations says. Some 9.2m people were refugees in 2005, the lowest figure for 25 years. But in a five-year survey, the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) warns of "asylum fatigue" in both industrialised and developing nations. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres warns that public confusion meant people who needed help were seen as a public threat.

Is there an online protest so the women of the world can demonstrate their support for Khwezi? (See

Pambazuka News replies: The One in Nine campaign has been organised to support Kwezi. You can find out more at

Civil society organizations in the US and South Africa are applauding the rejection of the USTR's efforts to revive the US-Southern Africa Customs Union Free Trade Agreement (U.S.-SACU FTA) negotiations. Citing elements of the potential deal that could have limited access to affordable generic AIDS drugs and other life-extending medicines and impeded development in the region, activists, unions, and churches expressed satisfaction that a "comprehensive" FTA is looking increasingly unlikely.

In Uganda, the Coalition on Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Bill ("CONOB") notes with much concern that on Friday, 7 April 2006, the parliament of Uganda passed the Non-Governmental Organisations Registration (Amendment) Bill ("NGO Bill") without taking into consideration the grave concerns expressed by the NGO community. They have issued a press release outlining these concerns.

With up to a million and a half people displaced by civil war and conflicts over land and ethnicity in Côte d’Ivoire, Walter Kälin, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), is visiting the country to investigate their plight and advocate for their rights. He will meet members of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, organizations representing displaced persons, and national and international bodies concerned with their protection.

In the wake of the allegations of multi-billion-rand theft by Brett Kebble, civil society has vowed to flex its muscles over the lack of accountability, as well as abuse, by those that hold "entrusted power", particularly corporate graft. A group of non-governmental bodies with an anti-corruption mandate will attempt to uncover the failings of corporate governance at this week's closed National Anti-Corruption Forum with the government and business.

"There are no reliable statistics or information on the return of stolen funds to Liberia since the collapse of the Doe regime or the Taylor regime. This issue had not been given prominence by previous caretaker governments because they felt that they did not have the authority to take on such an issue. However the Sirleaf government is an elected one and possesses the authority to press for the return of stolen funds to Liberia. This is part of the process of fighting the culture of impunity that had existed in Liberia."

The World Bank, concerned about allegations of government corruption in Africa, may delay some debt relief announced with fanfare in September, officials said. The bank, which is owned by 184 nations and finances projects in developing nations, has agreed to cancel $37 billion in debt from 18 of 38 countries. Some of the remaining nations, including Chad and Congo, may not get aid as planned because of their handling of oil revenue.

Mugabe famously said in 1980: “Tomorrow is thus our birthday, the birthday of great Zimbabwe and the birthday of its nation. Tomorrow we shall cease to be men and women of the past and become men and women of the future. It is tomorrow then, not yesterday, which bears our destiny. As we become a new people we are called to be constructive, progressive and forever forward looking. For we cannot afford to be men of yesterday backward looking, retrogressive and distractive.” Sadly, says this article from the blog as Zimbabwe celebrates 26 years of Independence Mugabe has failed to be constructive or progressive.
* Related Link
Little to celebrate as country turns 26

Uganda will save about $2.7 billion over the next 40 years by not having to service the loans it owed International Development Association (IDA) as of December 31, 2003. The country recently qualified for 100 per cent external debt relief under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). The initiative, supported by the World Bank, cancelled Uganda's debt along with that of 16 other poor countries around the world. In total, IDA is expected to provide more than $37 billion in debt relief for the 17 countries over 40 years.

The UK Development Secretary, is to call for new rules to stamp out corruption and prevent aid being squandered in developing countries. In Washington for the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, he will urge member-countries to sign up to a new anti-corruption framework. "Corruption, like temptation, exists everywhere, but in poor countries it can kill," he said. "Money meant for drugs for a sick child, or to build a hospital, can be siphoned off into Swiss bank accounts." Paul Wolfowitz, the World Bank's president, has made anti-corruption a key theme since he took over the role last year.

In this critique of the World Bank paper, "Clean energy and development: towards an investment framework", Peter Bosshard of the International Rivers Network points out that at the Gleneagles G8 Summit held in July 2005, the World Bank was given a twin mandate. It was asked to propose a strategy that will facilitate a global transition to a climate–friendly, sustainable energy future, and that will support energy sector development for economic growth and poverty reduction. IRN contends that the Bank’s new paper espouses a business–as–usual approach and will not achieve the climate and development goals of the Gleneagles mandate.

Eritrea said Tuesday it would not lift restrictions imposed last year on United Nations peacekeepers monitoring its tense border with Ethiopia, despite fresh demands from the world body. Yemane Gebremeskel, director of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki's office, said the latest resolution, which gives Ethiopia and Eritrea until May to comply with earlier demands, was based on an unfair premise.

A portal to UK Department for International Development (DFID) funded research was launched recently. This is a guide to the latest DFID-funded research and it also provides information about previous research in rural livelihoods, health, social sciences, education, infrastructure and urban development.

Dear Joe,

The beginning of your piece was right on the mark (see Thank you so much, but I felt that, somehow, one needs to do better than fighting on all fronts. As you so eloquently put it, it boils down to how and who writes the equation. One needs to re-write the equation. The beginning of your piece actually does that. I do not know how to re-write it, except when I hear and read about reparation. The injustices committed in the process of building this triumphant capitalo-parliamentarist system are so huge that it defies our imagination. Be on all fronts is your response. It covers all bases, but in the process it gives up on redrawing the fronts as we should have learned from our collective histories.

Please do not misunderstand this comment. The discourse of authenticity re Mobutu is easy to dismiss and denounce, but what do we do when it is encouraged by the ones who trampled on our ancestors who, I can imagine, upon hearing of reparations might mutter under their eternal breath: "Really, now that the price is right and they have the heavy duty lawyers, are they trying to sell us a second time?"

I try to always remember what the slaves did in Haiti/St Domingue back between 1791 and 1804, without the help of human rights organizations or NGOs. There is still a possibility, as shown by the people of Haiti, of fidelity to that event. Fidelity to emancipatory politics. All fronts (read all armies of the day) were brought to the slaves and were defeated, but the same nations made sure that the emancipation did not bloom. Now we do have the proof that the system which has been built is relentlessly genocidal.

My concrete suggestion is to rally around the event of 1804 and make sure that Haiti becomes what the slaves really want it to be. Such fidelity goes beyond personalities, ideologies, left, right and center. Just one front. It is right there, begging us to join. Thank you for your piece and do take care. Thank you to the editors and workers of Pambazuka News.