By Ashraf Patel, Independent Development Policy Analyst. As global leaders meet at the G-8 Sapparo in Japan this week, the spectre of super high food and fuel prices further blots an already gloomy economic outlook. This news is bound to burden Africa’s ‘development agenda’ at the G-8 which is already grappling with stalled trade talks, aid effectiveness, fighting HIV-Aids, meeting MDG ’s and expanding infrastructure development.   more »

By Renate Bloem, CIVICUS UN Representative in Geneva. The recent CIVICUS World Assembly promoted and discussed human rights, particularly reflecting on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also lent support to a campaign focusing on the realisation of the Declaration - “Every Human Has Rights” led by the influential group, the Council of Elders. These discussions led me to think more about how we can further promote and deepen civil society’s engagement with international human rights processes, such as those at the United Nations.   more »