Incorporating HIV and AIDS into journalism curricula in Africa

UNESCO NEWS: When citizens and government talk to each other about HIV and AIDS, what do they say and how the media can catalyse this conversation? Since 2004, Idasa-GAP has been raising awareness of journalists about the link between HIV and AIDS and good governance. Last year UNESCO, with support from Sida and Norad, commissioned an assessment tool on how HIV and AIDS are incorporated into journalism curricula. Interviews with key respondents from South African journalism schools have now been completed as part of this assessment.

Commonwealth Calls for Aid Transparency and Accountability at Busan Forum

LONDON, PRNewswire via African Press Organization (APO) — As world leaders meet in Busan, South Korea, this week, for the Fourth High Level forum on Aid Effectiveness, the Commonwealth is calling participants at the international gathering to ensure that the outcomes help drive more effective development.

“This summit represents a milestone for international development and is a defining moment in the provision and use of global aid in a manner that will revise and set standards for aid and development finance policy for the future, said Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith.

Religious voices advocate for climate justice at Durban

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, African Press Organization (APO)— Religious voices advocate for climate justice at Durban


“This is the only home we have,” said Archbishop Desmond Tutu referring to the crucial significance of our planet and its survival. He was speaking in an interfaith rally in Durban, urging the United Nations conference on climate change (COP17) to deliver a fair, ambitious and binding treaty to address climate change effectively.

COP17 starts today, 28 November, in Durban, South Africa.

African Youth Call for more Justice in Critical Climate Change Negotiations Kicking off in Durban

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, African Press Organization (APO)— Young delegates representing all of Africa’s sub regions gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss and consolidate their position called upon the leaders of the World to deliver an outcome that would ensure climate, ecological, economical and gender justice at the 17th Climate Change Conference in Durban.

ECA to lead roundtable discussions at COP17

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

DURBAN, South Africa, African Press Organization (APO) — The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will lead six of the 8 thematic roundtable discussions within the Africa Pavilion at COP17, according to members of the Commission’s team present in Durban.

The series of roundtables and side-events that will address a range of climate change and development issues pertinent to Africa will significantly enhance the place of ECA as a key player on climate change issues in Africa, according to Mr. Youba Sokona, Coordinator of ECA’s newly established African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC).

UN Climate Change Conference in Durban kicks off with South African President calling on governments to “save tomorrow today”

DURBAN, South-Africa,  African Press Organization (APO)

Against a background of record greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, but also growing momentum for action to fight climate change, the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban (28 November to 9 December) kicked off today.


At the start of the conference, South African President Jacob Zuma pointed to the climate impacts in Africa as a reason for all governments to take action.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh

CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Gambian President Yahya Jammeh's public remarks on Thursday, in which he vilified members of the press. The following day, Jammeh won his fourth term in office as president.