The so called third wave of democratization in Africa in the 1990s induced some optimism about human rights in the continent. This optimism, of course tempered by dramatic reverses in countries like Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra Leone, has led to declarations of what Posner and Young (2007) referred to as the ‘institutionalization of political power in Africa’. Important questions are however still being raised about the commitment of African states to the protection of human rights.
For instance, it is unclear how human rights can be protected within the context of deepening economic crisis, or for that matter, what human rights means to an uneducated and marginalized population. Many states continue to face legitimacy challenges driven by questions surrounding the overall inclusiveness of the political systems. State institutions like the police, the judiciary and the army are also still driven by colonial mindsets which tend to create incentives for gross abuses of human rights in the name of national security.
Marginalized social categories like homosexuals, women, children and youth still face widespread discrimination that calls to question the commitment of African states to human rights. It appears that while both policy and academic discourses have been focused on the protection of human rights, the reality is often that human rights is at best ignored and ill understood or, at worst, flagrantly violated and abused. This book hopes to bring together cutting edge and original research on the state of human rights in Africa.
CONTRIBUTIONS WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING THEMES:
- Theoretical perspectives of human rights
- The AU / regional organizations and human rights promotion (institutional
- frameworks, specific interventions, normative agenda etc)
- The Role of NGOs and International Organizations
- Environmental Rights Issues
- Sexual Rights
- The State and Human Rights
- Globalisation and Human Rights
- Specific Country Case Studies
- Media rights and access to information
- Labour Relations and Workers Rights
- Electoral Governance
- The Rule of Law (particularly in relation to investments and business)
- Police, army, militias and human rights
- Other related themes
The book will give priority to contributions that focus on current issues in African human rights.
SUBMISSIONS: Please provide a 500-word proposal for your submission by 1 August 2012. Submissions may be sent to: riakonai@yahoo.com If your proposal is accepted, full papers will be due by 15 November 2012.
Dr. R.I Ako-nai
Department of International Relations,
Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Email: riakonai@yahoo.com
Contact: riakonai@yahoo.com
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries/ submissions: riakonai@yahoo.com
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