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Human Rights and Governance in Africa

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W

 International Organizations

***For information on human rights in individual countries, see African Studies Resources by Region and Country: Select "Countries"


• ADD--Action on Disability and Development (London, UK)
  ADD has partners in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. "ADD supports organisations of disabled people in Africa and Asia to influence policy and practice to end social exclusion and poverty."
  
  
• AfricaFiles (Toronto, Canada)
  • A human rights news and resources web site for teachers, students, journalists, and activists. The site compiles selected articles from "African and alternative sources."
  • For educational resources: AfricaProbe (Justice, Global & Ecumenical Relations Unit of The United Church of Canada, The United Church of Canada Foundation, & AfricaFiles)
  • Southern Africa Report. (Online)--Index to Table of Contents (1985-2000) and Full Text (1992-2000): originally published by the Toronto Committee for the Liberation of Southern Africa (TCLSAC)
  • AfricaFiles original news analysis: At Issue: Ezine. (Online) -- Toronto, Canada: AfricaFiles, 2005-
• AfriMAP--Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project Open Society Institute (Johannesburg, South Africa; London, UK)
  The site features news on African governance issues, country and regional reports, and AfriMAP activities newsletter. "[Begun in 2004]...AfriMAP works with national partners to complete audits of government performance in relation to the justice sector, political participation and democracy, and effective delivery of public services."
  
  
• African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights = Commission Africaine des Droits de l'Homme et des Peuples (Banjul, The Gambia)
  The official site of the ACHPR --in English or in French-- offers current news, resolutions, and full-texts of key legal instruments, including: The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (1979). "Established on 21 October 1986 after its adoption in Nairobi in 1981 by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)."
  
  
• African Elections Database (Albert C. Nunley, via Tripod.Com, USA)
  A compilation of electoral results by country; frequently updated, with results from the 1990s for some countries. Sources include various other election monitor websites; see links.
  
  
• African Human Rights Resource Center (University of Minnesota Human Rights Library,
  University of Minnesota School of Law, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota)
  This site provides access to the full texts of legal instruments for very basic human rights research and advocacy on the continent of Africa.
  
  
• African Human Security Review A project managed by Institute for Security Studies. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa)
  • The site includes project information and downloadable publications. "The African Human Security Initiative 2 (AHSI-2) is a follow-up to AHSI-1, a regional programme that used the system of peer review to monitor the extent of compliance of eight African countries with their commitments to democracy, good governance and civil society participation."
  • AHSI country reviews
  • AHSI background papers
  
  
• African International Courts and Tribunals (Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; New York University, New York)
  "This website [under construction] provides a centralized source for scholars, practitioners and laypersons working in or on the Continent and a reference to the work of these courts and tribunals for others studying the global phenomenon."
  
  
• African Law Association = Gesellschaft für afrikanisches Recht e.V. (Heidelberg, Germany ; via Universität Bayreuth)
  • Recht in Afrika = Law in Africa = Droit en Afrique: TOCs since 1998
  
  
• African Services Committee (USA) (New York)
  "Founded in 1981 by Ethiopian refugees to give a helping hand to other newcomers, today African Services is a multiservice agency based in Harlem and dedicated to assisting immigrants, refugees and asylees from across the African Diaspora."
  
  
• African Union = Union Africaine (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) Formerly the Organization of African Unity
  • Audit of the African Union (December 18, 2007) Unofficial copy, 33 pages in WORD format. --via Pambazuka news. (Online). (Oxford, UK)
    --See also: AU monitor. (Online) -- Oxford, UK: Fahamu, 2006-
    
    
  • 13th AU Summit, "Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security," 24 June--3 July 2009, Sirte, Libya
    
    
  • 12th AU Summit, "Infrastructure Development in Africa," January 26-February 3, 2009, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    
  • 11th AU Summit -- "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation," 24 June--1 July 2008, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
    
  • 10th African Union Summit, 25 January--2 February 2008, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    
  • 9th African Union Summit, 25 June--6 July 2007, Accra, Ghana
    
  • 8th AU Summit, January 22-30, 2007, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    
  • African Union Banjul Summit: 7th Session of Assembly of African Heads of State & Government, July 1-2, 2006 -- Banjul, The Gambia
    
  • 2nd African Union Meeting of Experts on the Revitalization of African Higher Education, 27-28 February 2006, Accra, Ghana (Reports, list of participants, etc.)
    
  • 6th AU Summit, January 11-24, 2006, Khartoum, Sudan
    
  • 5th AU Summit, June 28--July 5, 2005, Tripoli/Sirte, Libya
    
  • 4th African Union Summit, 24-31 January 2005, Abuja, Nigeria = 4ème Sommet de l'Union Africaine
    
  • Le mouvement panafricaniste du vingtième siècle, textes de référence, Dakar, du 7 au 9 octobre 2004. Edité par l'Organisation internationale de la francophonie. Conférence des Intellectuels d'Afrique et de la Diaspora, Dakar, Sénégal, octobre 2004. Format PDF
    
  • 3rd AU Summit, 6-8 July 2004, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    
  • African Union Summit, June 28 - July 10, 2002, Durban, South Africa (via The Government of South Africa, Pretoria)
    • This is the official English language web site for the OAU/AU Summit....inaugurating the new "African Union" and discussions on "Peace, Development and Prosperity: The African Century".
    • OAU Summit/Council of Ministers: Documents, July 1999--March 2001.
    
    
  • The Centre for Conflict Resolution Seminar: "Building an African Union for the 21st Century: Relations with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), NEPAD and Civil Society", 20-22 August 2005 (Cape Town, South Africa) A 66 page report in PDF format.
    
    
  • For other documents and a web site about the OAU, see below.
  
  
• AWID--Association for Women's Rights in Development on Africa and other regions (Toronto, Canada ; Cape Town, South Africa)
  "AWID's work is structured through multi-year programs known as Strategic Initiatives. Each strategic initiative includes a range of activities from membership consultations and surveys, primary research and dialogues with policy makers (including targeted advocacy) to capacity building institutes, regional networking and information dissemination."
  --See also: AWID News on Africa and other regions.
  
  
• Aide Transparence = Aid Transparency (Jacques Habib Sy et allii., Dakar, Sénégal)
  • Ce site -- en français ou en anglais -- offre une grande archive des contributions analytiques sur le développement en Afrique--surtout au Sénégal, une revue de presse, et un recueil des liens.
    << AT est une organisation non gouvernementale régionale basée à Dakar. Elle a été créé en réponse au besoin accru d'une meilleure gouvernance et d'une meilleure distribution de l'aide au développement... >>
  
  
• AMANI Forum--The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum of Peace (Nairobi, Kenya)
  A regional organization of African parliamentarians which tries to monitor conflict resolution cases in the Eastern Africa and offer training, with national chapters in 7 countries. The site includes news and reports from workshops and meetings.
  
  
• Amnesty International on Africa -- News and Reports (New York and Washington, DC)
  
  
• ARTICLE 19 on Africa (The International Centre Against Censorship, London, UK)
  • "ARTICLE 19 is an international human rights organization which promotes freedom of expression and fights censorship all over the world. We take our name from Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
  • Article 19 publications on Africa (PDF format)
  
  
• Associations - O.N.G. Annuaire international africain via PlaneteAfrique.Com (Niamey, Niger)
  
  
• Bonn International Center for Conversion (Bonn, Germany)
  "BICC is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace and development through the efficient and effective transformation of military-related structures, assets, functions and processes."
  
  
• Business & Human Rights Resource Centre on Africa (London, UK ; New York, USA)
  An information clearinghouse portal for current news and links to information about corporate responsibility and human rights issues around the world.
  
  
• Centre for Democracy and Development = Centre pour la démocratie et le développement (2004) (London, UK ; Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria)
  The website offers news analysis on elections, constitutional development, and other political and social issues in Africa--especially West Africa, program information on training and advocacy, and annual reports and other publications.
  
  
• Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions: Africa Programme (Geneva, Switerland)
  "[COHRE is]...an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit human rights organisation...the leading international human rights organisation campaigning for the protection of housing rights and the prevention of forced evictions."
  --See also: COHRE country reports
  
  
• "Children in Africa" Web Dossier (September 2008) -- Leiden, The Netherlands: African Studies Centre and Leiden University Library, Documentation and Information Department, 2008.
  
  
• Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (London, UK)
  • Regional and Country Reports -- Current and Archive (2003--)
    
    
  • "The Use of Children as Soldiers in Africa - A Country Analysis of Child Recruitment and Participation in Armed Conflict." (Online) -- Switzerland : The Coalition, August 1999. via ReliefWeb, UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
    • This report is a background document to the April 1999 conference in Mozambique hosted by the Mozambican government and organised jointly by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and the Save the Children Alliance.
    • Maputo Declaration (1999)
  
  
• CCEM--Comité Contre l'Esclavage Moderne (Paris, France)
  "Fondé en 1994..le CCEM a pour objectif premier de lutter contre toutes formes de servitude, d'assister, et de libérer s'il y a lieu, les victimes de l'esclavage." Le site comprend un bulletin des actualités, "Esclaves encores," les rapports d'activité, une grande liste de liens sur la Toile, et les actualités dans le monde.
  
  
• Commission d'Enquête Citoyenne pour la vérité sur l'implication française dans le génocide (France)
  • Rapports du Rwanda, de la Belgique, de la France, d'ONG et d'institutions internationales
  • Génocide au Rwanda: Bibliographie (2009)
  
  
• Commission for Africa (London, UK)
  • "The Commission for Africa was launched by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in February 2004...Five formal objectives were established to guide the Commission's work...to respond to positive changes taking place on the continent, such as the leadership shown by the AU and NEPAD...to generate new ideas and action; to support the best of existing work; to help deliver implementation of existing international commitments; to offer a fresh and positive perspective; to understand and help fulfil African aspirations..."
  • Commission for Africa Report, March 11, 2005 (PDF format)
  • See also: United Kingdom web sites for: The Commonwealth Secretariat ;
    Foreign & Commonwealth Office ; and, Department for International Development
    (via Columbia University Libraries)
  
  
• Committee to Protect Journalists on Africa (New York)
  The site features current news, annual reports on cases of attacks on the press, and country summaries on over 20 African countries; also, includes links to archives of reports since 1996!
  --See: 2007 | 2008 | 2009
  --See also: Attacks on the Press (global annual survey, search by country)
  
  
• Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (New Delhi, India; London, UK; Accra, Ghana)
  • "The CHRI is a non-partisan independent international non-governmental organisation. Human rights education and advocacy are at the core of all CHRI's activities, and the aims and ends of its reports and investigations."
  • All Commonwealth Countries
  • Selected reports on: Cameroon | Ghana | Kenya | Nigeria | Sierra Leone | South Africa | Uganda
  
  
• The Commonwealth Regional Law Conference: "The 21st Century Lawyer: Present Challenges & Future Skills," 8-11 April 2010, Abuja, Nigeria Programme Themes--'Human Rights & the Rule of Law' and 'Corporate & Commercial Law'
  
  
• Conciliation Resources (London, UK)
  • "[Founded in 1994, with offices in London and Sierra Leone] ...provides practical and sustained assistance to people and groups in areas of armed conflict or potential violence. We specifically work with those working at community or national levels to prevent violence or transform conflict into opportunities for development."
  • Peace Agreement Directory (with a searchable subject index)
  • Accord: an international review of peace initiatives. (Online) -- London, UK: Conciliation Resources, 1997-- HTML format (Each issue offers analyses on conflicts and peace processes in a single country.)
  • Uganda
  • West Africa
  
  
• Constitutions on the Internet
  • Constitution Finder: Search by Country (John Paul Jones et al., T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia)
  • Encyclopédie numérique des droits de l'homme -- les constitutions des pays africains (Paris, France)
  • International Constitutional Law -- Country Information (Axel Tschentsher, Universität Bern, Switzerland)
  • See also: Lexidin World Law Guide: Legislation -- By Country (below)
  
  
• Courrants de Femmes: Les Associations en Afrique de l'Ouest (Paris, France)
  Un répertoire des associations locales de promotion féminine: plus de 100 associations africaines partenaires.
  
  
• Cultural Survival on Africa (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
  "Promoting the rights, voices, and visions of indigenous peoples." The website features current and recent news reports and campaign documents on ethnic communities under threat, conflict situations over economic and environmental issues, or struggles of politically-marginalized cultural groups.
  
  
• Darfur Crisis in The Sudan (via Columbia University Libraries)
  
  
• Droit de l'Homme et Dialogue Interculturel (Groupe de Travail DHDI, Université Paris I, France)
  Une archive de textes intégrals et de bibliographies sur un grand nombre de sujets dans le domaine du droit et l'anthropologie; beaucoup d'auteurs traitent des questions juridiques en Afrique...surtout en Afrique francophone.
  
  
• Réseau Sénégalais "Droit, Ethique, Santé" (via Refer; Dakar, Sénégal)
  • "[Le Réseau] a été créé pour promouvoir le droit et l'éthique dans le domaine de la santé. Il s'inscrit dans le contexte du développement du réseau 'Droit de la Santé', créé en juillet 2003 par l'Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)..."
  • Publications et documents en ligne
  • Ressources documentaires
  • Sites utiles sur le Droit de la santé et l'éthique
  • Premières Journées de Bioéthique de Dakar pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre, du 11 au 13 juillet 2005
    L'introduction sur la thèmatique et le programme (en formats WORD et PDF).
    
    
  
  
• Economic Development, Education, and Environmental Affairs in Africa (Compiled by Columbia University Libraries)
  
  
• "Elections in Africa, between hope and reality" Web Dossier (November 2009)
  -- Leiden, The Netherlands: African Studies Centre and Leiden University Library, Documentation and Information Department, 2009.
  
  
• Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (Johannesburg, South Africa)
  The website provides general information about research, findings, and publications. "EISA (with field offices in Angola, Burundi, Dem. Rep. of Congo, and Mozambique)...established in 1996 in South Africa ...Its mission is to strengthen electoral processes, good governance, human rights and democratic values through research, capacity building, advocacy and other targeted interventions."
  -- See especially: EISA country profiles (15 countries)
  
  
• E-MINE: Electronic Mine Information Network: Country Profiles and Reports (United Nations Mine Action Service, Department of Peackeeping Operations, United Nations, New York)
  
  
• Enough Project: The project to end genocide and crimes against humanity (Center for American Progress, Washington, DC)
  This website features current news, editorials, policy arguments, and campaign information by an advocacy group in Washington, DC...which focuses on US foreign policy towards "conflict areas" in Africa, especially Darfur and Southern Sudan, Eastern Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo), Northern Uganda, Chad, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.
  --See especially: Enough Project publications
  
  
• Ensemble pour l'égalité (UN-INSTRAW, Saint-Domingue, Dominican Republic ; CAWTAR, Tunis, Tunisia)
  Le site comprend les actualités du programme et plusieurs publications--en français et en anglais. "[C'est] un projet UN-INSTRAW/CAWTAR sur 'le renforcement du leadership féminin de la participation des femmes à la vie politique et au processus de prise de décision en Algérie, au Maroc et en Tunisie.'"
  --Publications
  
  
• European Union External Relations -- News and Reports (via Europa--European Union On-Line, Brussels, Belgium)
  
  
• Fahamu : Networks for Social Justice (Oxford, UK ; Nairobi, Kenya ; Claremont, South Africa ; Dakar, Senegal)
  • "[Fahamu]...supports the strengthening of human rights and social justice movements by: promoting innovative use of information and communications technologies ; stimulating debate, discussion and analyses ; publishing news and information ; developing and delivering educational courses, including by distance learning."
  • AU monitor. (Online) -- Oxford, UK: Fahamu, 2006-
  • Pambazuka news. (Online) below.
  
  
• Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme sur l'Afrique = International Federation for Human Rights on Africa (Paris, France)
  Les actualités sur les droits de l'homme et les appels urgents des organisations membres -- en français, en anglais, en arabe, ou en espagnol. "Créée en 1922, la FIDH fédère aujourd’hui 141 ligues dans près de 110 pays."
  
  
• Femmes Africa Solidarité (Geneva, Switzerland ; New York, USA ; Dakar, Senegal)
  • FAS is a non governmental development organisation founded in 1996.
  • FAS Publications (2004--)
  • Human Rights Documentation
  
  
• FEMNET--African Women's Development and Communication Network (Nairobi, Kenya)
  The web site features information about FEMNET activities and publications, online reports and books, and general human rights news. "[Established in 1988]...FEMNET aims to strengthen the role and contribution of African NGOs focusing on women's development, equality and other human rights."
  
  
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Africa (Compiled by Columbia University Libraries)
  
  
• Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) (Nairobi, Kenya)
  • General information about FAWE and its activities, plus contact information for national chapters. "The Forum for African Women [FAWE] ... brings together African women ministers in charge of national education systems, women vice chancellors of universities and other senior women policy makers in education in Africa. Founded in 1992, and registered in Kenya as a pan-African NGO in 1993, FAWE has 56 full members drawn from 30 African countries, 25 associate members comprising male ministers of education and permanent secretaries ... to stimulate broad policy reform and create a conducive environment for increasing parental demand for girls' education."
  • FEMSA--Female Education in Mathematics and Science in Africa: Findings Project 1. (via UNESCO; co-sponsored by FAWE)
    A report of findings in four African countries: Cameroon, Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda.
  
  
• France. Assemblée Nationale: Reconnaissance de l'esclavage comme crime contre l'humanité (Loi no. 2001-434 du 21 mai 2001) (Paris)
  
  
• Freedom House: Freedom of the Press -- Search By Country (Washington, DC and New York)
  • Draft 2006 Freedom of the Press--Country Reports PDF format
  • Special report: Freedom in Africa today (2006) PDF format
  • Freedom House Home Page
  
  
• Gender and Women's Studies for Africa's Transformation (African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa)
  • "The project will strengthen African teaching and research in gender studies by bringing teachers and researchers based in African universities together in a series of carefully-designed training, research and publishing activities, involving a combination of online communications and workshops. ...This enhanced capacity will result in a pool of locally-grounded gender competent personnel equipped with the analytical and policy advocacy skills required to ensure the delivery of gender justice in African contexts."
  • Womens' organising activities: announcements, conferences, contact info, and links
  • Feminist knowledge: essays, bibliographies, policy papers, issues analysis, etc.
  
  
• Gender Links (Johannesburg, South Africa)
  • "GL is committed to a Southern Africa in which women and men are able to participate equally in all aspects of public and private life...achieved through three closely linked programmes: media, governance and gender justice."
  • Publications
    -- SADC Gender & Development Protocol Campaign (2008)
    -- HIV and AIDS Gender Baseline Study: a media survey in Southern African countries
    -- Southern Africa Gender Justice Barometer (e-newsletter)
  
  
• Global IDP: Internal Displacement in Africa (See IDMC below)
  
  
• Global Rights: Africa Programs (Washington, DC)
  The website includes summaries of activities and downloadable reports from "a human rights advocacy group that partners with local activists to challenge injustice and amplify new voices within the global discourse."
  -- Burundi
  -- Democratic Republic of Congo
  -- Nigeria
  -- Sierra Leone
  
  
• Gouvernance en Afrique (Paris)
  Le site comprend un annuaire des alliés (la plupart des organisations-participants se sont basée aux pays francophones en Afrique de l'Ouest), toutes les informations sur les activités de l'alliance et leur réunions, et une archive des documents en français et quelques-uns qui sont en anglais. "L'Alliance pour refonder la gouvernance en Afrique relie des acteurs africains et non-africains engagés dans l'action et la réflexion, soucieux de promouvoir à la fois au niveau des citoyens africains et du monde, un dialogue sur la gestion des affaires publiques en Afrique."
  
  
• Governance Matters 2009 (Washington, DC) --See The World Bank below
  
  
• Health Information and Health Organizations on Africa (Compiled by Columbia University Libraries)
  
  
• Hirondelle Foundation = Fondation Hirondelle: Media for Peace and Human Dignity (Lausanne, Switzerland)
  This website offers information --in French, English, German, & Italian-- about the activities of an international media support organization and includes special reports and links to news agencies in so-called crisis areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the Great African Lakes region. "
  -- See for example: Hirondelle Agency Arusha: information, documentation and training agency covering Rwandan genocide trials, Arusha, Tanzania...in English, French, Kinyarwanda or Swahili
  
  
• Human Rights First -- International Justice (New York) formerly The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
  News, reports, and campaign statements on human rights violations in countries around the world. See especially: "Justice in...Africa" section.
  
  
• Human Rights Watch on Africa (New York)
  Current and recent news of crisis situations, press releases, full-text investigative reports on individual countries and issues, and campaign statements.
  -- HRW World Report 2009 (For Africa, see Country Chapters)
  
  
• HURISEARCH (HURIDOCS -- Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems, International, Versoix, Switzerland; via Norway)
  A searchable database of web links to documents published on the Internet by human rights NGOs around the world. "[Established in 1982] The HURIDOCS network can be said to be composed of: general human rights activist organisations, local as well as regional; thematic and sectoral interest groups such as women, children's rights and refugee organisations; professional organisations; academic institutions; some government institutions; documentation centres of IGO bodies."
  
  
• Human Security Gateway -- Recent Reports on Africa (Human Security Research Group, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  A searchable archive of current and past reports since 2004 from major international organizations and research institutes on conflict areas around the world.
  --Search by region, country, and topic.
  --See also: Human Security Report Project (including "Miniatlas")
  
  
• Ibrahim Index of African Governance. Mo Ibrahim Foundation (Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts)
  This index is a governance ranking project covering the years 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2008/2009. "The Ibrahim Index provides both a new definition of governance, as well as a comprehensive set of governance measures [for 48 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa]. Based on five categories of essential political goods, each country is assessed against 58 individual measures, capturing clear, objective outcomes: Safety and Security; Rule of Law, Transparency and Corruption; Participation and Human Rights; Sustainable Economic Development; Human Development."
  
  
• IFES on Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East & North Africa (Washington, DC)
  The website of this consultancy organization includes reports on elections and other aspects of democratic participation and institution building; some regional program web pages also include reports and videos in French or Spanish. "Since our founding in 1987, IFES has worked with election assistance and democratic development in over 100 countries...Every IFES project team partners with local organizations, and every project is staffed by local personnel."
  
  
• Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (The Hague, The Netherlands)
  [Founded in 2004]...the Institute "works with educational and public policy institutions to organize and sponsor historical discourse in pursuit of acknowledgement, and the resolution of historical disputes." There are projects in Uganda and Kenya, and elsewhere outside of Africa.
  
  
• Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa = Institut pour les droits humains et le développement en Afrique (Banjul, The Gambia)
  The website includes general information about the activities of the Institute and a few documents on the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. "The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa is a non-profit, non-governmental pan-African organisation headquartered in the Gambia. The Institute is committed to contributing to the development of the African human rights system through its programme activities.
  
  
• Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria, South Africa
  • "The mission of the Institute for Security Studies is to enhance human security in Africa. This is achieved through applied research and the dissemination of information that can inform decisions on critical areas of individual, national, regional and international security. The Institute is committed to democracy, good governance and the promotion of common security. The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) was originally established as the Institute for Defence Policy by Dr. J. K. Cilliers, and Mr. P-B Mertz in 1990 ..."
  • ISS Home Page
  • ISS Publications: monographs, papers, and reports -- available online!
  • African security review. (Online) -- Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 1992--
    Current online issues and archive. "The African Security Review is the ISS bi-monthly journal published in conjunction with the Instituto Superior de Relações Internacionais in Maputo, Mozambique. ... The Review was previously published as the African Defence Review (1994) and the Southern African Defence Review (1992-1993)."
  
  
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre on Africa Norwegian Refugee Council. (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • "...IDMC established in 1998 by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), is the leading international body monitoring conflict-induced internal displacement worldwide. At the request of the United Nations, the Geneva-based IDMC runs an online database providing comprehensive information and analysis on internal displacement in some 50 countries. Based on its monitoring and data collection activities, the Centre advocates for durable solutions to the plight of the internally displaced in line with international standards."
  
  
• International Campaign to Ban Landmines (Geneva, Switzerland)
  Search for country reports in Landmine Monitor 2008 and earlier annual reports.
  
  
• International Center for Transitional Justice (New York, USA ; Geneva, Switzerland)
  • "[Since 2001] The Center is committed to building local capacity and generally strengthening the emerging field of transitional justice, and works closely with organizations and experts around the world to do so."
  • ICTJ Home Page
  • ICTJ Publications: online texts in PDF format (General)
    Recent reports include:
    -- Living with fear...in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo = Vivre dans le peur (août 2008)
    -- Contribution substantielle à l'élaboration d'un cadre de fonctionnement...sur la justice transitionnelle au Burundi (mars 2008)
    -- Negotiating peace in Sierra Leone (December 2007)
    -- Negotiating peace in Liberia (November 2007)
    -- Reparation and the Darfur Peace Process: Ensuring Victims' Rights (November 2007)
    -- Ghana's National Reconciliation Commission (February 2007)
  
  
• International Committee of the Red Cross in Africa = Activités du CICR en Afrique (Geneva, Switzerland)
  This website offers general and individual country reports on ICRC humanitarian operations in Africa.
  
  
• International Court of Justice = Cour internationale de Justice (The Hague, The Netherlands)
  • The legal arguments, judgements, and discussion surrounding the cases before the court.
  • ICJ Home Page = CIJ Page d'accueil.
  • Bénin vs. Niger, 2003-
    Différend frontalier = Frontier Dispute, 2003-
  • Democratic Republic of Congo vs. Rwanda, 2002-
    Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (2002-)
  • Republic of Congo vs. France, 2002-
    Criminal Proceedings in France, 2002-
  • Republic of Guinea vs. Democratic Republic of Congo, 1999-
    Ahmadou Sadio Diallo case, 1999-
  • Cameroon v. Nigeria, 1994-
    -- Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria = "Frontière terrestre et maritime entre le Cameroun et le Nigéria."
    -- Dec. 1998 Application Request for an Interpretation on June 11, 1998 Judgement = Demande en interprétation de l'arrêt du 11 juin 1998
  • Botswana / Namibia, 1998- : Kasikili/Sedudu Island
  
  
• International Criminal Court (The Hague, The Netherlands)
  • "...The ICC is the first ever permanent international institution, with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals responsible for the most serious crimes of international concern : genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes."
  • ICC Home Page
  • Central African Republic
  • Darfur, Sudan
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Uganda
  
  
• International Crisis Group on Africa (Washington, DC)
  "The ICG is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, with over 110 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict. Crisis Group's approach is grounded in field research. Teams of political analysts are located within or close by countries at risk of outbreak, escalation or recurrence of violent conflict. Based on information and assessments from the field, Crisis Group produces regular analytical reports containing practical recommendations targeted at key international decision-takers."
  
  
• International Federation of Journalists on Africa = Bureau régional pour l'Afrique (Dakar, Sénégal; Bruxelles, Belgique)
  Le site --en français, en anglais, ou en portugais-- offre les actualités surtout sur la liberté de la presse en Afrique, quelques rapports des réunions du FIJ, et une liste des associations membres en Afrique.
  
  
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa = Fédération internationale des Sociétés de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge en Afrique (Geneva, Switzerland)
  The website provides information on Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian programmes in Africa.
  
  
• IFEX: International Freedom of Expression Exchange: Africa = Echange international de la liberté d'expression: Afrique (Toronto, Canada)
  [Since 1992] IFEX has provided this clearinghouse website of current news on press freedom and related matters; plus links.
  
  
• IPIS--International Peace Information Service (Antwerp, Belgium)
  The web site features project reports, news and weekly briefings, and maps on economic resources, conflict, and human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo--especially Katanga and Eastern DRC. "[Funded by the European Union and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs] IPIS is an independent research institute...three core themes: arms trade, exploitation of natural resources and corporate social responsibility."
  
  
• International Peace Institute on Africa -- Highlights Formerly International Peace Academy. (New York)
  • "The IPI is an independent, non-partisan, international organization dedicated to promoting the peaceful settlement of armed conflicts between and within states."
  • IPI on Africa (Full archive)
  • IPI Home Page
  • IPI's work (Research & policy development)
  • IPI Publications (Newsletter, occasional policy papers, meeting notes, reports, book information, etc.)
  
  
• International Press Institute on Africa (2008) World Press Freedom Review (Vienna, Austria)
  --See also: IPI World Congress & 54th General Assembly, Nairobi, Kenya, May 2005 -- Programme and Congress Report from Kenya
  
  
• International Refugee Rights Initiative (New York)
  IRRI, an advocacy NGO, maintains an international perspective, but the current focus is on Africa: Great Lakes, Darfur, etc. The site also includes a short directory of NGOs working on the problems of the displaced, organized by country.
  
  
• International Women's Media Foundation on Africa (Washington, DC)
  • IWMF Home Page
  • Stats and Studies--Africa and elsewhere
    
  • Writing for our lives: how the Maisha Yetu Project changed health coverage in Africa (2005) 124 pages in PDF format
    
  • Deadline for health: the media's response to covering HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria in Africa (2004) 36 pages in PDF format
    
  • Reporting on HIV/AIDS in Africa: a manual (2002) 39 pages in PDF format
    
  
  
• Inter-Parliamentary Union = Union interparlementaire (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • Current and recent information on parliaments around the world, with news, event announcements and reports, web links, features on women, and databases.
  • The world of parliaments. (Online) Quarterly review -- Geneva, Switzerland: IPU, 1999-
  • PARLINE--Database on National Parliaments: a searchable directory of national assemblies and parliaments, with links to official web sites and recent documents.
  • PARLIT Database: bibliographic references on books and articles on parliamentary law and practice.
  
  
• Interpol -- Africa Activities (Lyon, France)
  General annual reports, legal materials, contacts, and African regional conference highlights (since 2001) are provided on this site. "Interpol is the world's largest international police organization with 181 member countries. ...established in 1923...receives, stores, analyses and circulates criminal data in co-operation with its member countries...deals only with international crimes; that is, crimes that involve two or more member countries."
  
  
• Journal of humanitarian assistance. (Online) -- Medford, Massachusetts: Alan Shawn Feinstein International Center, 1995-
  An online journal with a majority of articles on Africa in current and back issues. The old archive extends back to 1995.
  
  
• Jubilee USA Network Home Page (Washington, DC)
  Current news and reports on the debt problem around the world. "...an alliance of more than 80 religious denominations and faith communities, human rights, environmental, labor, and community groups working for the definitive cancellation of crushing debts to fight poverty and injustice in Asia, Africa, and Latin America." See especially: Country reports (2006-2008): Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, and Mali
  
  
• Justice Africa (London, UK)
  The website features current news and analysis on crisis situations and key issues, program information, a small collection of online papers, information about books, and related links. "Justice Africa was founded in 1999 ...work with a network of organizations based in different countries in Africa, initiating and supporting civil society activities for human rights, democracy, and peace in Africa. As a result built a civil society partnership with the African Union [AU) and its emerging institutions and established a publishing and educational arm with the Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Program (PADEAP)."
  
  
• Kabissa - Space on the Internet for the African Non-Profit Sector (Washington, DC)
  • An extensive clearinghouse and website provider, with news reports on "social justice" from various online news services, opinions, and links to information about African NGOs, as well as general Africa links.
  • Pambazuka newsletter. (Online) -- Oxford, UK; Cape Town, South Africa: Pambazuka, 2000-
    Formerly Kabissa-Fahamu Newsletter: Current weekly issue and back issues since December 2000. "Pambazuka News is a free weekly electronic newsletter covering news, commentary and analysis, and a range of other resources on African human rights and sustainable development. Pambazuka News is produced by Fahamu, Kabissa and Sangonet. The newsletter includes links to news reports from various online news services and organizations, and a catalogue of back issues."
  
  
• Kalahari Peoples Fund (KPF) (Austin, Texas)
  The site offers a list of KPF projects and brief information concerning this non-profit organization (est. in 1973) for the benefit of the San and other rural peoples of the Kalahari desert region in southern Africa.
  
  
• Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (Accra, Ghana)
  Since 2003, the centre has been offering training programs and support for policy research and publications on peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Africa. See especially, research publications on "Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution."
  
  
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung -- Namibia Office (Windhoek, Namibia)
  • The site features reports on human rights and legal issues relevant to Namibia and other African countries. "KAS helps to consolidate the democratic constitution and the political and socio-economic participation of disadvantaged groups (women) in Namibia through socio-political educational and training programmes."
  • Human rights in Africa: legal perspectives on their protection and promotion. (2009) Edited by Anton Bösl and Joseph Diescho. -- Windhoek, Namibia: KAS, 2009. 452 pages in PDF format
  • All e-books and other publications: elections, children's rights, and other legal issues in Namibia; Angolan elections; SADC; etc.
  
  
• Lexidin World Law Guide: Legislation -- By Country (The Netherlands)
  A library of links to major legislation organized by country, including constitutional, electoral, commercial, mining, banking, environmental, and administrative laws...download documents in WORD or PDF formats.
  
  
• Libération Afrique -- Solidarité internationale et luttes sociales en Afrique subsaharienne (Paris, France)
  Un portail des actualités et des commentaires: << Le site souhaite donner la parole à celles et ceux qui, en Afrique et ailleurs, luttent aujourd'hui pour l'annulation de la dette, les libertés, l'émancipation des femmes, un nouvel ordre économique mondial, la protection de l'environnement, etc. >>
  
  
• LDGL: Ligue des Droits de la Personne dans la région des Grands Lacs africains (Bujumbura, Burundi)
  Un site pour tous les ONGs dans la région, avec les actualités et beaucoup de rapports sur la situation des droits humains et de sécurité depuis 2003 pour chaque pays.
  
  
• Live 8 Concerts -- The Long Walk to Justice, July 2-6, 2005 and related events in 2006
  
  
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • MSF Projects in Africa
  
  
• Media Foundation for West Africa (Legon, Accra, Ghana)
  This site --in English or in French-- features current news and alerts on press freedom issues in the region. "The MFWA seeks to advance the development of free mass media and of a culture of free expression using advocacy strategies, networking and collaboration..."
  
  
• Minorities at Risk Project: Tracking Ethnopolitical Conflict Worldwide (Center for International Development and Conflict Management, University of Maryland, College Park)
  Selected country profiles and minority ethnic group reports (with endnotes and regional bibliographies) which are periodically updated. Access to some project data may require registration. "Minorities at Risk is an independent, university-based research project that monitors and analyzes the status and conflicts of politically-active communal groups in countries with a population of at least 500,000." See also:
  -- Peace and Conflict 2005: A Global Survey of Armed Conflicts, Self-Determination Movements, and Democracy. By Monty G. Marshall and Ted Robert Gurr. -- College Park, MD; University of Maryland, Center for International Development and Conflict Management, 2005. PDF format.
  
  
• Minority Rights Group International (London, UK)
  News reports, summaries, and selected full text reports (downloadable in PDF format---with registration). In-depth reports for Africa: Dem. Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, "Great Lakes" region, Kenya, Namibia, and Uganda. "MRG works to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote cooperation and understanding between communities."
  
  
• Mouvement contre les armes légères en Afrique de l'Ouest (MALAO) (Dakar, Sénégal)
  "[MALAO] offre à la communauté des internautes et des artisans de paix un espace d’échange d’expériences, de partage de connaissances et d’acquisitions d’armes pour lutter contre celles dites légères et de petit calibre." Voir surtout:
  -- Documentation qui comprend une archive de rapports du MALAO, des autres ONGs, et des médias (en format PDF)
  -- Liens aux organismes et aux sites governementaux
  
  
• 'NEPAD: New Partnership for African Development', 'New African Initiative' & Related Documents, 2001-- (via United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
  
  
• OHADA.com: Le Portail du Droit des Affaires en Afrique (Centre d'affaire La Défense, Paris, France)
  Une archive de publications en français sur le droit en Afrique. Il faut s'incrire pour avoir accés aux textes intégrals et aux autres services du site.
  
  
• OpenNet Initiative on SubSaharan Africa -and- Middle East & North Africa (The Citizen Lab at the Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto; Berkman Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University; Advanced Network Research Group at the Cambridge Security Programme, University of Cambridge; and Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford University, UK)
  "Our aim is to investigate, expose and analyze Internet filtering and surveillance practices in a credible and non-partisan fashion."
  
  
• Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) (Dakar, Senegal ; Abuja, Nigeria ; Monrovia, Liberia)
  • "...covers 18 countries, which include the 15 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as Cameroon, Chad, and Mauritania. It supports civil society communities and advocates to governments on issues of governance; law, justice and human rights; public health and development; information, communication technology, and media."
  • OSIWA News
  • Governance in West Africa: a survey of trends in 2006 Synthesis report, prepared on behalf of CODESRIA and the Monitoring Team by Adebayo Olukoshi. -- Dakar, Senegal: OSIWA, 2006. 24 pages in PDF format
  • WACSI--West Africa Civil Society Institute (Accra, Ghana)
    "...to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of CSOs." See especially: WACSI News
  
  
• Organisation internationale de la francophonie: Espace francophone des Droits de l'Homme, de la Démocratie et de la Paix (Paris, France)
  --Veuillez voir surtout: Élections -et- Conférences et colloques
  
  
• Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture = World Organization Against Torture (Geneva, Switzerland)
  "Created in 1986, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is today the main coalition of international non-governmental organisations (NGO) fighting against torture, summary executions, enforced disappearances and all other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment."
  -- Search OMCT reports by region & country
  
  
• The Organization of African Unity (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) For more information, see the new "African Union" website above.
  • Actions taken by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, 1992- (via African Human Rights Resource Center, University of Minnesota, Human Rights Library)
    Includes a link to the University of Cincinnati-College of Law, DIANA Collections, with online documents from the early years of the OAU.
  • The "Creation of the OAU" Web Site (Makonnen Ketema, USA)
    An unofficial site offering a historical summary on the OAU, with many photographs -- based on interviews with and the personal papers of Ketema Yifru, who served as Foreign Minister of Ethiopia during the Haile Selassie years.
  
  
• Pambazuka news. (Online) -- Oxford, UK ; Cape Town, South Africa : Fahamu, 2000-
  
  
  Formerly Kabissa-Fahamu Newsletter: Current weekly issue and back issues since December 2000. "Pambazuka News is a free weekly electronic newsletter covering news, commentary and analysis, and a range of other resources on African human rights and sustainable development. Pambazuka News is produced by Fahamu. The newsletter includes links to news reports from various online news services and organizations, and a catalogue of back issues."
  
  
• Partnership Africa Canada = Partenariat Afrique Canada (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
  • "PAC is a Canadian NGO working with African NGOs on issues of human rights, diamonds & human security and sustainable development."
  
  
• RADDHO--Rencontre africaine pour la défense des Droits de l'Homme (Dakar, Sénégal)
  • << La RADDHO est une organisation non gouvernementale internationale ayant le statu consultatif spécial auprès du Conseil Economique et Social des Nations Unies, member observateur de la Commission Africaine des Droits de l'Homme et des Peuples de l'Union Africain. >>
  
  
• RAP21--Réseau africain de presse pour le 21ème siècle = African Press Network for the 21st century (World Association of Newspapers, Paris, France)
  Le site offre un bulletin d'information --en français et en anglais-- sur la gestion des médias et les violations de la liberté de la presse sur le continent. "[Lancé en septembre 2000 en liaison avec l'Union des Editeurs de Presse d'Afrique Centrale] un réseau électronique pour la presse africaine, qui sert de plate-forme d'échange d'idées et d'informations, et de forum de discussion entre les directeurs de journaux, les journalistes et les autres professionnels des médias sur le continent africain."

  
  
• Regional Centre on Small Arms (Nairobi, Kenya)
  The web site includes current news and publications, such as RECSA Bulletin, RECSA annual reports, and related documents. "RECSA is an institutional framework arising from Nairobi Declaration [2000] to coordinate the joint effort by National Focal Points in Member States to prevent, combat and eradicate stockpiling and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa."
  
  
• Slavery and Slave Trade -- UNESCO Documents
  
  
• Survival International on Africa and other world regions (London, UK)
  A fund-raising and advocacy campaign website featuring cases from Botswana, Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Central Africa. "Survival is the only international organisation supporting tribal peoples worldwide. It was founded in 1969..."
  
  
• Third World Network Africa (Accra, Ghana)
  The site features news analysis, some downloadable reports, and related links. "TWN Africa is a Non Governmental Organisation which carries out Research and Advocacy on issues of social and economic policy that advances the needs and interests of peoples of African and other third world countries (especially marginalized social groups), a fair distribution of world's resources, and forms of development which are sustainable and fulfil human needs."
  
  
• Transparency International (Berlin, Germany)
  • "TI...international non-governmental organisation devoted to combating corruption, brings civil society, business, and governments together in a powerful global coalition. TI, through its International Secretariat and more than 85 independent national chapters around the world, works at both the national and international level to curb both the supply and demand of corruption."
  • TI Publications (General)
  • Surveys and Indices -- Africa & The Middle East
  • Mapping of corruption and governance measurement tools in Sub-Saharan Africa (January 2008) PDF format
  • TI Kenya Chapter
  • "Local corruption diagnostics and measurement tools in Africa." (2004) By Anna Hakobyan & Marie Wolkers, February 2004. -- Bergen, Norway: U4 Utstein Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, produced for Transparency International, 2004. [Appendix: Overview Matrix] (PDF formats)
  • TI Source Book 2000 -- Confronting corruption: the elements of a national integrity system. By Jeremy Pope. -- Berlin, Germany: Transparency International, 2000. (HTML and PDF formats)
  
  
• Tufts University: Feinstein International Center -- Publications (Medford, Massachusetts)
  "The Center's research--on the politics and policy of aiding the vulnerable, on protection and rights in crisis situations, and on the restoration of lives and livelihoods--feeds into both its teaching and its long-term partnerships with humanitarian and human rights agencies."
  
  
• United Nations Agencies on Africa (via Columbia University Libraries)
• The page provides annotated links to Africa-related information from:
  UNAIDS ; UNDP ; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, including International Law Documents ; UNESCO ; UNICEF ; UNOCHA ; UN Peacekeeping ; etc.


• UNESCO on Contemporary Slavery and Slave Trade
  • Unfinished business: a comparative survey of historical and contemporary slavery (2008) by Joel Quirk. -- Paris: UNESCO, 2008. 141 pages in PDF format
  • Poverty, gender and human trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa: rethinking best practices in migration management (2006) By Thanh-Dam Truong. -- Paris: UNESCO, 2006. 141 pages in PDF format
  • Modern forms of slavery: protocols and reports
  • The Slave Route: historical and contemporary (Home Page)
  
  
• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) on Africa (Washington, DC)
  "To address the needs and rights of persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide by advancing fair and humane public policy, facilitating and providing direct professional services, and promoting the full participation of migrants in community life."
  --See also: World Refugee Survey
  
  
• United States. Department of State. Reports on Human Rights, International Religious Freedom, and Trafficking in Persons, 1993 to present (via Columbia University Libraries)
  
  
• United States NGOs, Research & Policy Institutes (via Columbia University Libraries)
  
  
• University of Peace -- UPEACE Africa Programme (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Geneva, Switzerland; San José, Costa Rica)
  The site includes downloadable research publications (books and reports) and practical manuals. "[Since 2002]...the programme focused on the necessity to stimulate and strengthen the capacity in Africa to teach, train and conduct research in areas of peace and conflict studies."
  
  
• West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) (Accra, Ghana)
  The site --in English or in French-- includes recent news, policy reports (PDF format), and information on the organization's activities. "Work began in 1990 to establish a regional network of peacebuilding initiatives in West Africa. This arose as a result of the Liberia civil war, which necessitated the creation of a regional peace intervention force. Religious and civil society groups were mobilized to collectively participate in active peacebuilding."
  
  
• Witness: Human Rights Video Advocacy Web Site (Brooklyn, New York)
  General information about the "Witness" program, a video archive catalog, and multi-media, online feature stories which include some on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, and Uganda.
  
  
• Women, Law and Development in Africa -- West Africa = Femmes, Droit et Développement en Afrique -- Afrique de l'Ouest (Lomé, Togo)
  "Created in 1990 [and headquartered in Harare], WiLDAF/FeDDAF...to promote and strengthen strategies that link law and development for the emergence of a culture for the exercise and respect of women’s rights in Africa. ...It brings together 500 organizations and 1200 individuals who, spread in 27 countries."
  
  
• The World Bank: Governance Matters 2009: Worldwide Governance Indicators, 1996-2008 (Washington, DC)
  [The WGI]...project reports aggregate and individual governance indicators for 212 countries and territories over the period 1996–2008, for six dimensions of governance: voice and accountability; political stability and absence of violence; government effectiveness; regulatory quality; rule of law; control of corruption.
  
  
• World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance" -- Durban, South Africa, 31 August - 7 September 2001 (United Nations, New York)
  • This site features general information, documents, conference-related texts, press releases, etc.
  
  
• World Social Forum---International Council Documents (2001 to present)
  See also: World Social Forum (São Paulo, Brazil)
  The site features all information on this annual event, the programme, and related links to current and past events. The WSF 2007 was held in January in Kenya, WSF 2006 meetings were held in January in Mali/Pakistan/Venezuela...and WSF 2001 was in October/November in Senegal.