ISS Weekly Issue 12, 2012

Issue 12

6 April 2012

Contact the ISS

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Knocking on a closed door

In October 2011, the PAP criticised the AU for its failure to prevent the bombing of Libya by NATO and lamented that the latter should have sent an army to Libya to ‘stop it falling apart’. In a statement that surprised many, the vice president of the continental parliament, whose existence is hardly felt by most Africans, expressed disappointment over the AU`s passive role in the Libyan conflict.

Events

Pretoria, 18 April: South African Heritage Under Attack: from Rhinos to Pierneef`s - What is Going on?

The natural and cultural heritage of South Africa has been under fierce attack for the past few years. Media reports of poached rhinos, and priceless sculptures and paintings being stolen from Galleries and Museums compete for attention amidst reports of rapes and robberies. What is being done to address these crimes and to ensure that our natural and cultural heritage is preserved for posterity? Presenters from the South African Police Service, the South African Heritage Resources Agency and the University of South Africa will tackle these issues. They will discuss some ideas and thoughts on the current status and possible contributing factors as well as consider some possible solutions.

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Addis Ababa, 6 May: ACPST Course: Emerging threats to human security in Africa (ETHSA)

With the support of the Geneva Center for Security Policy the African Centre for Peace and Security Training (ACPST) was created by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in 2011 to boost practitioners’ ability to improve human security in Africa through short courses. Established in 1991, the ISS is a leading applied policy research institute with offices in South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Senegal and staff from 16 African countries.

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ISS Today

Ethical Leadership: Lessons from African Americans

Daryl Balia, Division Head, Governance and Corruption Division, ISS Cape Town

If Africa`s greatest deficit is its dearth of moral leadership for social transformation, can Africa learn something from the example of African Americans?

Read more...

Kony 2012 Has Missed its True Target

Luyolo Ngcuka, Research Consultant, International Crime in Africa Programme, ISS Pretoria

The documentary, though a noble effort, over-simplifies the LRA problem and undermines Africa’s role in resolving the crisis.

New on ISS Africa

Peace and Security Council Report No 32

Madagascar`s membership at the AU is still suspended in the absence of significant progress on a number of key issues, including the enactment of amnesty legislation, which is critical for the full implementation of the Road Map to end the ongoing crisis.

Guinea-Bissau went to the polls on 18 March 2012 to elect a new president; because of the death of President Malam Bacai Sanha.

The tension between various tribal and regional groups and militias in Libya is rising at an alarming rate.

A retrospective article on the AU PSC`s efforts in protecting women and children and other vulnerable groups in armed conflicts is also part of this month’s report.

Curriculum on International Criminal Justice

The International Crime in Africa Programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) was provided with a grant to develop the curriculum on International Criminal Justice and to meet with a select number of universities to introduce the course as part of their law degree. The project was conducted in partnership with the Institute for Practical Legal Training (IPLT) in Durban. The universities in southern Africa that have either begun to offer the course, or will commence in 2012 are Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, Chancellors College in Malawi, University of Botswana and Midlands State University in Zimbabwe.

During the curriculum development process, the ISS and IPLT conducted a vigorous process of consulting with regional lawyers and academics who have ICL experience and were keen to continue working in this field of law. Thus the final product has benefitted from the input of people from a variety of countries in the region. It will undergo translation into Portuguese and French and should become the pre-eminent source of information and knowledge for law students who are studying ICL. It is hoped that this curriculum will also be a valuable tool for lawyers who are in practice and wish to ensure that their knowledge is current and accurate. OSISA is committed to its wide distribution and implementation and believes that this curriculum will make a valuable contribution to a discourse on ICL that is informed, progressive and addresses some of the major challenges facing international justice on our continent.