Formed in 2005 by the International Center or Civil Society Law (ICCSL), the African Centre for Civil Society Law (ACCSL) seeks to protect human freedoms, by improving the laws that affect the freedoms of belief, expression, association, assembly, information, and participation throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

ACCSL pursues its mission through three separate but inter-related programs: Research and publications; technical assistance; and education and professional development.

ACCSL is well positioned to address both theoretical and practical aspects of legal issues affecting civil society and citizen participation. Current country technical assistance projects include Ghana, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Regional projects are also underway. ACCSL works with local partners, including CSOs; bilateral and multi-lateral donors; and government officials to devise sound legal and fiscal framework structures that will promote and encourage civil society and citizen participation.

Study Tour to South Africa Completed in July

ICCSL led a Study Tour on behalf of the Aga Kahn Foundation to learn about the enabling environment for civil society in South Africa and to assess needs and concerns about those legal and fiscal framework issues in East Africa. The four East African jurisdictions represented - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zanzibar - each sent teams of NGO representatives and government officials. Also joining the tour were Grace Isharaza, Regional Rep for the AKF Civil Society Programme in East Africa, and Ricardo Wyngaard and Peter Hendricks, South African NPO lawyers. Ricardo was the local facilitator.

More pictures and further description of the tour can be found here.

After a long two years and five months in prison, the two Ethiopian anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie were released from prison on 28 March 2008. Daniel and Netsanet were the last two people who remained detained in the high profile treason trial that originally charged 131 journalists, politicians, and civil society leaders with a range of charges from genocide to treason. They were among thousands who were detained following protests accusing the government of rigging the 15 May 2005 parliamentary elections. Daniel, who is a Board member of ACCSL, has now been returned to his family. ICCSL and ACCSL, along with their many partners such as ActionAid, CIVICUS, etc., welcome the release of Daniel and Netsanet.

"The Future of Sudan," by Prof. Andrew S. Natsios (pictured above), the President's Special Envoy for Sudan was a speech delivered on 15 October 2007. The event was sponsored by the Military and National Security Law Students Association, in connection with the International Law Students Association, and the Center for International Social Development, all of the Catholic University of America. ICCSL was pleased to be invited to be a co-sponsor of the event.

Natsios, who is also Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and Advisor of International Development at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, outlined the progress made and challenges that remain in resolving the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, which has been most heavily affected by 21 years of nearly unbroken internal strife. According to him, "The only solution for lasting peace in Darfur is a politically inclusive solution."

In real terms, Prof. Natsios said that political inclusion means the following:

• Participants should be realistic about the peace talks that will begin in Libya in late October. Not everyone will get everything they want.



• Rebels need to repair internal divisions and hammer out a common position before the talks. All invited rebel groups need to attend the talks.



• The violence needs to stop. Both the government and rebels have been launching incredibly damaging attacks.



• The voices of ordinary people in Darfur, tribal leaders, Arab groups, women, and others, must be included in the talks.



• The international community needs to continue to use pressure and leverage to keep the talks moving in a positive direction.

Dr. Irish with Workshop Leaders

Dr. Lee Irish has returned from Ghana and continues his work on several projects, including the Cooperatives Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the proposed District Registration Act, and the proposed "NGO" Act.

Concerning the new legal framework for NGOs, Dr. Irish met with GAPVOD (Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organizations) as well as the Office of the Attorney General (Mr. Joe Ghartey) to discuss changes to the current legal environment for NPOs and CBOs and to develop plans for simplifying the pending legislation on charitable trusts.