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Climate Risk Impacts and Adaptation in Southern Africa
This seminar report details a presentation by Dr. Emma Archer and a response by Dr. Jakkie Cilliers on climate risk impacts and adaptation in Southern Africa. The event, hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria on 22 June 2009, examined the vulnerability of sectors such as agriculture, water, and health, and discussed the role of governance and urbanization in mitigating climate-induced risks.
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Document type: Report
The International Criminal Court: Working for Africa
This seminar report details a public event held on 3 June 2009 in Pretoria, featuring Judge Sang-Hyun Song, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The document outlines the ICC's operational status, its relationship with state sovereignty, and the tensions between the Court and the African Union (AU) regarding the prosecution of sitting heads of state.
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Document type: Report
Arts and Cultural Heritage Restitution
This report summarizes an Institute for Security Studies (ISS) seminar held on June 17, 2009, in Pretoria. The session, featuring historian Stefan August Lütgenau and respondent Issake Souaré, examined the complexities of arts and cultural heritage restitution, focusing on Austria's post-WWII experience with Nazi-looted assets and the broader challenges of returningCS colonial looting in Africa.
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Document type: Report
Intelligence and Accountability in Africa
This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the historical development and current challenges of establishing democratic accountability and oversight for intelligence services in Africa. It argues that intelligence agencies have traditionally served regime security rather than public security, often facilitating human rights abuses, and outlines the necessary mechanisms and political shifts required to transition toward transparent, democratically governed services.
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Document type: Policy brief
Statement by La Via Campesina and Friends of the Earth International
A joint statement by La Via Campesina and Friends of the Earth International supporting the proposals of UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter to the 17th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. The document advocates for a transition from industrial agricultural models to food sovereignty, emphasizing the rights of small-scale farmers to land, seeds, and water while opposing the influence of transnational corporations and international financial institutions.
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Document type: Statement
Soberanía Alimentaria: Un Nuevo Modelo para un Derecho Humano
This statement, issued by La Vía Campesina and Friends of the Earth International, supports the proposals of UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter regarding the right to food and advocates for a model of 'Food Sovereignty' to replace industrial agricultural systems.
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Document type: Statement
Reckoning with the APRM recommendations
This research paper evaluates the quality of recommendations provided in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports for six pioneer countries, arguing that while the reports identify governance problems effectively, they often fail to provide actionable, concrete policy guidance.
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Document type: Research paper
SIERRA LEONE: A country review of crime and criminal justice, 2008
This foreword introduces a country review of crime and criminal justice in Sierra Leone, produced as part of the second phase of the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI). The initiative aims to complement the NEPAD/APRM process by providing empirical evidence on criminal justice systems to encourage reforms that enhance human security and democracy.
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Document type: Report
Trade and Development: The rising importance of sustainable development in the trade agenda of Brazil
This report examines how sustainable development issues are integrated into Brazil's international trade and investment agenda, noting a shift from official government resistance to practical adaptation by economic actors due to international pressures and domestic political evolution.
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Document type: Report
The more things change, what Zuma’s presidency means for the rest of Africa
This research paper analyzes the potential impact of Jacob Zuma's presidency on South Africa's foreign policy and its relationship with the African continent, arguing that continuity is more likely than dramatic change due to the overarching influence of the African National Congress (ANC).
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Document type: Research paper
Developments and Challenges in the Operationalisation of the ASF: An Insider’s Perspective
This report summarizes a seminar held on 8 April 2009 in Addis Ababa regarding the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF). The ASF is a key component of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), designed to enable the African Union (AU) to respond to conflicts and prevent atrocities such as genocide and war crimes. While the AU aimed for the ASF to be operational by 2010, the seminar highlighted significant gaps in civilian and police components, logistics, funding, and legal clarity regarding the AU's right of intervention versus UN Security Council authority.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change and Security in Africa
This IISD report analyzes how climate change threatens security in Africa by impacting water, food, and migration, while proposing governance and adaptation strategies to mitigate these risks.
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Document type: Report
Appendix 1 Master questionnaire
This document is a master questionnaire developed by the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI2) to assess the efficacy of the criminal justice system in selected African countries, specifically as a complement to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It provides a structured framework of questions and indicators to evaluate state capacity, adherence to international human rights standards, and the functionality of policing, prosecution, the judiciary, and prison systems.
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Document type: Guide
The African Peer Review Mechanism: Assessing Origins, Institutional Relations and Achievements
This research paper by Steven Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), examining its institutional origins, its relationship with the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), and its achievements in promoting good governance across Africa.
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Document type: Research paper
Le Mécanisme africain d’évaluation par les pairs : Evaluer les origines, les relations institutionnelles et les réalisations
This research paper by Steven Gruzd evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), analyzing its origins within the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), its institutional challenges, and its impact on governance across the African continent as of April 2009.
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Document type: Research paper
Chinese Development Co-operation in Africa: The Case of Tembisa’s Friendship Town
This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines Chinese development co-operation in Africa, using the 'Friendship Town' housing project in Tembisa, South Africa, as a primary case study. It outlines the evolution of China's aid framework from ideological solidarity to a 'mutual benefit' model and analyzes the implementation, community impact, and sustainability of the Tembisa project.
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Document type: Research paper
Has South Africa’s foreign policy influence peaked?
This research paper examines the institutional, structural, and domestic challenges facing South Africa's foreign policy following its tenure on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It analyzes the tension between South Africa's desire for UN reform and its perceived failures regarding human rights, while noting a shift toward more moderate diplomatic ambitions and a prioritization of domestic economic stability over global influence.
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Document type: Research paper
Operationalizing the African Peace and Security Architecture: Challenges and Opportunities
This report summarizes a seminar held on March 20, 2009, in New York, organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) to examine the challenges and opportunities in operationalizing the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The event featured discussions on strengthening the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), improving synergy between the AU and international organizations like the United Nations (UN), and addressing funding and structural barriers to continental security.
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Document type: Report
Prioritising Energy Security in Southern Africa
This research paper argues that Africa's energy security challenges stem from a reliance on nation-state planning, which limits energy source diversification and fails to attract sufficient investment due to small market sizes. The author advocates for deeper regional energy integration and the establishment of a regional energy regulator and a regional bourse to mobilize private capital, reduce risk, and harmonize energy policies, specifically within the context of Southern Africa.
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Document type: Research paper
Transformation of the Pan-African Parliament
This research paper evaluates the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) at the end of its first term (2004–2009), analyzing its prospects for transforming from a consultative body into a full legislative assembly. The author argues that while the PAP Protocol envisions this evolution, the institution currently suffers from significant structural weaknesses, a lack of enforcement power, and a democratic deficit due to the indirect nomination of its members.
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Document type: Research paper