Latest News
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The Ethiopian Elections: A Derision of Democracy
Election Day can be an inspiring moment for a country, permitting the display of democracy. But on May 23, 2010 there was a marked absence of hope and exhilaration at polling stations across Ethiopia. In the fourth general elections staged in this landlocked nation on the horn of Africa under the provisions of the current…
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Attorney Detained By Rwanda is Hospitalized Again; ICTR Declares Erlinder’s Immunity and Demands His Release; Secretary of State Hilary Clinton Calls for Erlinder’s Release
*Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* Contacts: Gena Berglund, International Humanitarian Law Institute of Minnesota, 651-208-7964; Scott Erlinder, brother of Peter Erlinder, 312-656-6098. *Peter Erlinder is hospitalized for high blood pressure; The ICTR issues a statement declaring Erlinder’s immunity and demanding his release; Secretary of State Hilary Clinton expresses concerns about Rwanda’s action against “opposition figures…
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American Lawyer Peter Erlinder finally Free from a Rwandan Jail
It is confirmed that Law Professor and International Human Rights Lawyer, Peter Erlinder, is free from a Rwandan jail where he has been detained since May 28th. President Kagame’s regime could not stand the pressure coming from lawyers and law institutions across the globe, politicians, human rights organizations, the United Nations, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), advocacy groups, including our own Africa Faith and Justice Network, US Congress and lastly, the cautious but important, pressure from the U.S. State Department.
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You Cannot Compare Apples to Oranges: Ubushingantahe vs. Criminal Justice
By: Josh Perry The solidified rules of law present in the United States have been ironed out over the course of centuries; now, when students learn about the American legal system they learn codified rules, regulations, punishments, and resolutions. These overall norms work well for the United States, but can this work for other countries,…
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Press Release: Wife of Detained Defense Attorney to speak with U.N. Security Council Members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Heidi Boghosian 212-679-5100, ext. 11, Gena Berglund 651-208-7964 Masako Usui, the wife of detained ICTR defense attorney, Peter Erlinder, will speak with U.N. Security Council Members this week. Monday June14, 2010 (Saint Paul, Minnesota) – Masako Usui, the wife of the U.S. Professor and Attorney Peter Erlinder, is traveling to New…
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D.R.Congo’s Conflict-Free Minerals: Advocacy priorities
A strong legislative campaign for buyers and electronic companies to comply with conflict-free mineral trade is well underway. In 2009, Representative Jim McDermott and Senator Samuel Brownback introduced, respectively, The Conflict Mineral Act H.R. 4128, a bill “to improve transparency and reduce trade in conflict minerals” and The Congo Conflict Mineral Act, S.891, a bill…
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AFRICOM on the Horn of Africa: The military’s fumbling humanitarian foot forward
By Allison Burket, Associate Director This article was initially published in our May -June 2010 newsletter One of the stated advantages of the new U.S. military command for Africa (AFRICOM), has been that not only is it the first military command dedicated exclusively to Africa, a continent increasingly on our national security radar screen, but…
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Support Free and Fair Presidential Elections in Rwanda to Prevent Another Genocide
Document submitted to the U.S Department of State through its Rwanda/Burundi Desk Officer on March 10, 2010 and to USAID Rwanda Desk Officer on March 11, 2010 Overview Since the 1994 Genocide of Rwanda, open political space for democratic governance has eluded Rwanda. Although Rwanda is officially a multiparty system, only one political party, the Rwandan…
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American Defence Lawyer Peter Erlinder Arrested in Rwanda
The Rwandan government’s latest arrest of Professor Peter Erlinder is one of the many attempts to silence the voices calling for justice and democracy in Rwanda. Peter Erlinder, a professor at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN., was President of the National Lawyers Guild, and is President of the International Criminal Tribunal…
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Alternatives to AFRICOM
Alternatives and Recommendations for AFRICOM Instead of establishing a military command, the US government should promote a just security doctrine. AFRICOM is not what the people of Africa need and it is not what will achieve long-term stability on the continent. What is needed is a boost in education, job opportunities, health care, debt relief,…
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AFJN supports Conflict Minerals Act ammendment to financial refrom
The Congo Conflict Minerals Act (S. 891), a bill promoting transparency and accountability in mineral supply chaings and thus aiming to help break the line between minerals and violence in Congo, is moving forward! Creative advocates and dedicated Hill staffers have found a way to include the bill in the larger piece of legislation for…
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Peace Strategy For the DRC
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), peace and prosperity remain elusive. In 2009 and through the first half of 2010, rebel groups (notably the CNDP, FDLR, and the Mai Mai) continued to fight for access to Congo’s natural resources while some rebels were rapidly integrated into the national army (FARDC). In the northeastern…
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VIDEO: Stop the Vulture Culture!
Jubilee USA has put together a great new video on Vulture Funds! Check it out below or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/jmTXfYLUB0k. AFJN is a member of the Jubilee Network.
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PRESS RELEASE: LRA/Northern Uganda Bill Passes, NGOs Raise Concern
Yesterday, The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (S.1067, HR 2478), a bill that AFJN and its members have been watching closely, passed the House of Representatives and is on its way to President Obama’s desk. Within 180 days of that time, President Obama will be required to report to Congress…
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LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act nears passage
The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (S.1067, HR 2478), a bill that AFJN and its members have been watching closely, is on the move. After it passed the Senate early March, the bill currently has a record number of co-sponsors in the House and recently received a unanimous vote of…
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Rwanda: AFJN Submits Letter to Oklahoma Christian University President
AFJN has long been concerned about Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s role in destabilizing eastern DRC, as well as his heavy-handed and undemocratic leadership style at home. Recently, his regime’s politically repressive behavior in the run-up to the elections in August – such as the arrest of lead opposition candidate and the closing of independent newspapers,…
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Support Human Rights Activist Paul Muite
In recent months, Kenya has become the target of severe criticism from the international human rights community due to the escalation of extra-judicial killings. In one of the more high-profile cases, human rights defenders Oscar Kamau King’ara and Paul Oulu were assassinated in broad daylight while stopped in heavy traffic. Earlier in the day, they had organized…
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Zimbabwe Students Attend AFJN Meetings
The US JPIC Committee and the JPIC staff met in Washington, DC from April 14 through the 15th to discuss the JPIC policies and priorities.
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New Statement from Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiatve
This month, the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative released another report, urging all parties involved in the LRA conflict to prioritize pursuing peaceful means in order to genuinely resolve the LRA issue. The introduction “Since 1997, the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) has been urging the conflicting parties to engage in dialogue in order to…
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Demanding Rights for Congolese Children
The child soldiers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are not the only children who are taken from their families and abused by the government and rebel groups. The DRC also houses a large number of street children, many of whom run away from their families because of abuses or starvation. Unlike in…
