In August 2000, a group of journalists and editors at a national newspaper sat around a conference table during a regular editorial meeting. The subject of discussion was the South African Human Rights Commission's recently published report on its inquiry…
The workshop organised by Linking Solidarity in 2003 in order to explore the possibilities for an African network stimulated the Southern African organisations in getting together to see if they could work together more and also to look for a…
Early proponents of democracy firmly believed that women, like lunatics, servants, slaves and children needed neither the vote nor representation on governance structures. Not only were they convinced that women's interests could be safely subsumed under those of male family…
Imagine your loved one simply "disappeared". You approach the local authorities and are met with blank stares. Years later you are still searching, wondering what happened to them or whether they are still alive. "Disappearances" have long been used as…
This week's anniversary of June 16th 1976 is an appropriate time at which to reflect on questions of the state response to the recent wave of protests. The brutal police response to the 1976 demonstrations set off a wave of…
It is when fear becomes part of the social fabric of society that the spoils of abused power become most lucrative. Amidst reports of decreased levels of physical violence in the run up to the 31 March election in Zimbabwe…