Internally displaced women and girls suffered high rates of rape and other abuses during Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said in a report released on Wednesday. The report, 'War-Related Sexual Violence in Sierra Leone: A Population-Based Assessment', said 53 percent of displaced women and girls who had "face to face" contact with Revolutionary United Front (RUF)rebels experienced some form of sexual violence.

Thousands of Madagascar children find themselves in domestic slavery, according to this piece published on the Daily Mail & Guardian.

The United Nations and Sierra Leone's government on Wednesday agreed to establish a unique war crimes tribunal to try those most responsible for atrocities in a civil war noted for its horrific treatment of civilians, particularly children.

Commonwealth, European Union and United States officials have begun investigating the overseas assets of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, his family and his close associates in readiness for possible sanctions against the country.

UNU/INCORE International Summer School, 10 - 15 June 2002, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland: Offering a structured learning opportunity based on the latest research and concepts of conflict resolution. Senior level participants from all backgrounds: practitioner, policy maker and academic are invited to attend. The deadline for
registration is 19 April 2002. The new Introduction to Northern Ireland programme from 9 - 10 June 2002 provides an introduction to peacebuilding and policy in Northern Ireland.

"The Future of Conflict Prevention in the Post September 11 World" February 6 -14, 2002. Registration in Advance now Open. The more that actively participate, the greater the success for conflict prevention.

The Zimbabwe government has failed, for the second time in a week, to introduce in parliament a controversial bill that would clamp down on press freedom.

Oxfam has commited funds to assist victims of Congo volcanic eruption and has appealed to international community to honour their moral obligation to help Congo. It says the international community has failed to help Congo escape years of war and now they have a chance to get it right following Thursday's horrific volcanic eruption in Goma.

Concern has responded by allocating an initial €100,000 to aid those affected by the eruption of the Nyiragongo Volcano near Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Australian government will provide $500,000 in emergency aid following the devastation caused by the eruption of Volcano Nyiragongo last Thursday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

There are signs that the Zimbabwean government is trying to honour commitments it made to its neighbours at the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC)summit in Malawi, a leading human rights activist told IRIN on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe faces the near certainty of EU sanctions yesterday after failing to give assurances on press freedom, or to say how international observers will be able to monitor the presidential elections.

Baseless allegations against a human rights organization printed in Zimbabwe's state controlled daily newspaper signal the newest phase in the government's campaign to undermine civil society, according to Amnesty International.

If the Special Court for Sierra Leone is to tackle impunity effectively and fairly and contribute to the peace and reconciliation process, the independence of the prosecutor must be assured and monitored, adequate and sustained funding must be guaranteed, and a clear relationship between the Special Court and Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) established," Amnesty International has said.

SA OPINION makers have identified crime and corruption as the two biggest obstacles to doing business in the country.

Already burdened by brutal civil wars, internal conflicts, socio-political unrest, and economic difficulties - all of which have retarded development- West and Central African countries have woken up to another challenge: child trafficking and exploitation.

After spending one and half months in prison, the 29 alleged plotters of a coup attempt reported in Guinea Bissau last month, will finally be allowed to meet defence lawyers, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported on Friday.