Good governance in municipalities is essential for service delivery. Without clear reporting lines, functional accountability mechanisms and a clear separation of politics from administration, municipalities do not stand a chance at delivering on their mandate to communities. This research paper examines the practice of governance in municipalities. More than 30 interviews were conducted to establish how councillors relate to officials, how political parties relate to municipalities and how municipal office-bearers relate to one another. The picture it paints is bleak.
This issue captures news reports on the following topics: Sentencing and Parole; Conditions of Detention; Unsentenced Prisoners; Security and Escapes; and News reports from other countries in Africa.
In this issue: Living below the minimum standards for prisoners - the state of Uganda's prisons.
The brochure contains information on the following: What does the New Children's Act do? How does the Children's Act protect our children? How are children protected against HIV, STD'S and unplanned pregnancies? Who must report abuse? What are our parental responsibilities and rights? Who has parental responsibilities and rights? What about child-headed households? What about our cultural and religious practices?
Socio-Economic Rights Project Research Series 5, 2009. This research paper by Heléne Combrinck examines the nature and extent of state duties to promote the realisation of the right to have access to adequate housing of women who are victims of gender-based violence, with specific reference to domestic violence. The paper first sketches the background to domestic violence and housing in South Africa generally and explains the housing needs of women experiencing domestic violence as well as the link between domestic violence and forced evictions. It then examines constitutional obligations to promote access to housing, with reference to the Grootboom and subsequent judgments. The paper further sets out the legislative and policy framework supporting access to housing in South Africa and examines whether this framework currently makes adequate provision for women who are victims of domestic violence. Though the focus is on South Africa, the paper also looks at the standards and norms that have emerged in international human rights law, with specific reference to the rights to adequate housing, gender equality and freedom from violence. Finally, the paper proposes certain recommendations based on the conclusions reached.
Sentencing and Parole; Deaths in Custody; Election 2009; Security & Escapes; Medical Parole; as well as Media articles from other African countries.
by Malah Ana, submitted to Central European University Legal Studies Department, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Masters in Law (LLM).
In this issue: The Correctional Services Portfolio Committee: 2004 - 2009; SA Prisons at a glance.
South Sudan's Code of Criminal Procedure
Presentation by Frederic Loua Reagan-Fascell, Democracy Fellow, National Endowment for Democracy.
On 25th March 2002, two soldiers of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, were indicted, tried and executed on the same day for the murder of three civilians in Kotido District in North Eastern Uganda. The petitioners filed these two petitions seeking declarations that the entire process was unconstitutional. The court found as petitioned.
"Another major problem identified by the Special Rapporteur was the allegation that some persons suspected of political crimes had been held in solitary confinement in Black Beach Prison for up to four years, without being allowed the one hour of exercise per day required by the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. Moreover, they were said to have been held in leg irons practically all the time. Prolonged solitary confinement and the permanent use of leg irons amount to inhuman treatment. In addition, the Special Rapporteur received allegations from various sources about persons held incommunicado and in secret detention, which he could not verify because of lack of access."
by Clare Castillejo. A publciation of the Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE).
In this issue: Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of HIV in arrested, detained and sentenced persons.
Amnesty International Publication, 2008
by Vanja Karth, Jean Redpath & Michael O'Donovan. Report prepared for the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA).
by Human Rights Watch, December 2008.
The Quality of Local Democracies: A Study into the Functionality of Municipal Governance Arrangements
