“Everything we owned got smashed. We lost everything.”... Getro Nelio was not referring to the devastating earthquake of January 12. The unemployed, 24-year-old Haitian was speaking about losing his home a second time in three months, on this occasion due to the government. Since late March, armed Haitian police have been closing camps and destroying the shelters that quake victims created out of whatever supplies they could scavenge, from cardboard to small strips of tin. U.N. troops sometimes aid in the evictions.

The reputation of South African mining companies operating in southern Africa is no better than that of western or Asian multinationals in the region, many of which have long been accused of unbridled exploitation, says a new report by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa). The report — the latest to question South African companies’ social responsibility obligations — says concrete strategies and training are needed to counter negative perceptions of South African miners with regional operations.

UN agency Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has unveiled a major online petition calling on people to get angry at the fact that around a billion people suffer from hunger. ''The 1billionhungry project" uses strong images to illustrate hunger at its worst. Bold language and typography grab attention saying that enough is enough. A yellow whistle works as an icon encouraging people to blow t he whistle against hunger, FAO said in a statement.

US lawmakers called on President Barack Obama Thursday to quickly sign legislation mandating his administration develop a strategy for battling Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). "Congress is committed to ending the LRA's reign of terror," said Democratic Senator Russell Feingold, a key author of the measure, which cleared the House of Representatives late Wednesday.

President Jacob Zuma continues to express optimism about the negotiation process in Zimbabwe, telling Parliament this week that ''some achievements have been registered''. Zuma, the Southern African Development Community's chief mediator on Zimbabwe, said that country's political rivals had agreed to establish a human rights commission, an electoral commission and a media commission, and that the commissioners - who were respected by most Zimbabweans - had been sworn in.

Preparations are already underway for the next Common Agricultural Policy set to coincide with the EU’s long term budget in 2014. Calls for a greener approach will likely encounter strong support given the 2004 reform of the payment scheme that put strict limits on the amount of harmful fertilisers that can be used in certain areas.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for “effective collaboration" globally to fight the menace of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as other diseases saying, "We either win this fight or we lose it". Ban made the call in his message in a new video spotlighting the progress made by the United Nations-backed Global Fund in combating AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

On May 21, Burundi begins a four-month election season , the country's first elections following the end of a nearly 16-year civil war in 2009. Five distinct elections—municipal (communal), presidential, parliamentary, senatorial and local (collinaire) —are slated to take place by September 7, with the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie-Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie, CNDD-FDD) seeking to maintain its hold on power.

Zimbabwean Attorney General Johannes Tomana has appealed a High Court decision earlier this week acquitting Roy Bennett, a senior official of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, of charges that he conspired in 2006 to assassinate President Robert Mugabe and overthrow his government.

Pensioner Makena Makanga slowly savours a piece of manketti fruit unaware that the tree it came from will soon be chopped down and mulched along with the rest of her forest to make way for a massive agribusiness project.

The mining and port city of Nouadhibou, 465 kilometres from Nouakchott, on Saturday afternoon was to host rallies planned by both the ruling party and the opposition. The Coordination of Democratic Opposition (COD), an umbrella of a dozen political parties, announced it would hold a big rally on Saturday in Nouadhibou, the economic capital of Mauritania.

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf has called for urgent attention to be directed at Africa’s present food security situation. “In sub-Saharan Africa, since 2009, over 265 million people are malnourished and 30 percent of the population suffers from hunger,” Diouf said in his opening statement for the Ministerial Segment of the 26th session of FAO’s Regional Conference for Africa in Luanda, Angola.

In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, many families have been battered by war, rape, poverty and a lack of education. However, a humanitarian group says there’s a way to help families not only deal with the issues, but rise above them. The eastern DRC has become synonymous with war and rape. In recent years, various rebel groups have attacked and looted villages, driving civilians into the bush to escape. Attempts by government forces and U.N. troops to defeat them have often made matters worse for civilians, as militias launch retaliatory strikes against villagers.

The number of reported rapes and sexual assaults of Zimbabwean migrants to South Africa is increasing, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said. "From March 1 to May the number of cases treated was 71," MSF nurse Mashudu Nelufule said from Musina in Limpopo. Of these victims, 45 were female and 26 were male. Fifteen were children. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Nelufule. Many victims who were attacked had not sought treatment to prevent the contraction of HIV.

Co-organized and hosted by the Future Agricultures Consortium Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, 6-8 April 2011. The Journal of Peasant Studies, in collaboration with the Land Deal Politics Initiative (LDPI) is organizing an international academic workshop on ‘Global Land Grabbing’ to be held on 6-8 April 2011 at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.

Protesting dock workers in Mauritania Thursday clashed with the riot police in Nouakchott, the nation's capital, leaving many workers injured. The Police used teargas and batons to disperse the workers, who in turn retaliated by throwing sticks and stones.

The first anniversary celebration of the life and legacy of Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, pan-African friend, comrade, brother and inspiration to so many, is to be held in London on:

Date: Saturday 22 May 2010
Venue: Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre,
17 – 25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA
Time: 1pm - 6pm

The celebration is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

The celebration is jointly organised, in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, by friends of Tajudeen, including his widow Mounira Chaieb, Justice Africa, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Programme, the Royal African Society and Pambazuka News.

The day will comprise speeches on the life and works of Tajudeen, the launch of a book of the compilation of Tajudeen’s postcards entitled , performance poetry and traditional African music and the launch of the Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem Educational Trust.

We welcome all other organisations, groups and persons who wish to join our efforts to honour and continue the work of Tajudeen.

'Forward ever, backward never' Kwame Nkrumah (1909–72)
'Don't agonise, organise!' Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem (1961–2009)

Official results of Mauritius's most recent elections released on 6 May 2010 shows a 0.5% decrease in women's representation in parliament, sliding from 17.1% to 16.6%. Unless this situation is corrected with the best loser system, Mauritius will follow the trend of gender losses in two Southern African countries that had elections in 2009, Botswana and Namibia.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Africa Division
Deadline for applications: May 31, 2010

Human Rights Watch ("HRW") is seeking a highly-qualified, senior-level professional to head its Africa Division.
Description: The Executive Director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division is responsible for developing effective research, advocacy and communications strategies for maximum impact on human rights in sub-Saharan Africa. S/he is responsible for setting priorities and responding to emergencies. S/he oversees detailed research on human rights issues in sub-Saharan Africa, the publication of analytical and credible reports and other advocacy materials on those issues, and the use of these materials to generate domestic and international pressure to curb human rights violations. S/he represents the organization frequently before the international media and advocates with high-level officials from governments, UN, AU and other international and regional organizations. S/he coordinates with key colleagues, both within HRW and externally with allied organizations and NGOs. S/he manages staff based in three continents, including offices in Nairobi and Johannesburg, supporting staff and office development and overseeing their security. The Africa Executive Director is also responsible for fundraising, identifying and recruiting donors, and drafting funding proposals. S/he has overall responsibility for projecting Human Rights Watch’s wider international concerns on the continent. The successful candidate will have excellent leadership skills and a depth and breadth of management and organizational skills, including the demonstrated ability to lead a team of talented professionals in multiple global locations. S/he will preferably be based in the organization's New York City headquarters or an office in Africa, but other locations may be considered. Frequent international travel required.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated, creative, strategic thinker with substantive, senior-level experience working on human rights issues in Africa and will have the capacity to serve as an effective advocate and activist. S/he will have excellent leadership, management and organizational skills, including the demonstrated ability to lead a team of talented professionals in multiple global locations. S/he will be able to juggle multiple tasks and work collegially in a demanding, diverse, and fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have excellent oral and written communications skills in English and ideally another relevant language, keen political judgment, proven initiative and follow-through, the ability to work quickly and well under pressure, and a commitment to human rights. An advanced degree in law, international relations, African studies, public policy, or a related field is desired, as is familiarity with international human rights law.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY by emailing in a single submission: a letter of interest describing your experience, your resume, names or letters of reference, salary requirements and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than May 31, 2010 to [email]program@hrw.org Please be sure to indicate where you learned of this vacancy. Please use “Executive Director, Africa Division Ref 10-1021-I” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:
Human Rights Watch

Attn: Search Committee (Executive Director, Africa Division Ref 10-1021-I)

350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor

New York, NY 10118-3299

Fax: (212) 736-1300
Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.

* * *
Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.

A 23 year old Congolese woman told Human Rights Watch that the soldiers “raped us and dragged us to their camp which was not far away. I stayed there for one month, under constant supervision. Even when I went to fetch water, he came with me to ensure that I did not run away.... There was no conversation between us, he had sex with me at any moment, when he felt like it, and with a lot of violence. I spent my days crying. I begged God to free me from this hell.”