1 Seizing and Stretching Participatory Space: Civil Society Participation in Tanzania’s Policy Processes

This paper takes as its starting point the perspective that civil society participation in governance—particularly policy processes such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and related policy developments—largely takes on a mere consultative rather than a transformative role when initiated and driven by government or donors.

2 Framing and Claiming Reproductive Rights: A Case Study of Civil Society Actors in Tanzania

This article focuses on the issue of maternal mortality in Tanzania  from a human rights perspective. It deals with the findings of a study  conducted in 2008, which examined the role of civil society actors in  framing and claiming rights. During the research process, qualitative  interviews were carried out with non-governmental organizations and  focus group discussions were held with rural women in Tanzania. A key  thrust of the research was to examine how re...

3 Claims to Success: Advocacy for the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa – Solidarity for African Women’s Rights and the Use of Information and Communication Technologies

The goal of this particular research has been to examine the role of  information and communication technologies (ICTs) in policy advocacy as  applied by civil society. Taking the Solidarity for African Women’s  Rights coalition and their work towards the ratification of the Protocol  on Women’s Rights of Women in Africa as a case study, this research has  looked at the opportunities and challenges in using Pambazuka News as a way of promoting the Protocol.

4 Localised Voices in the Globalised Amazon: Challenges of Civil Society Building in Ecuador Brian Wallis

Civil society building efforts in Ecuador have provided the Achuar and Kichwas of the Amazon with a voice. This is particularly relevant given the global significance of the Amazon, which makes it essential that local voices are empowered to have a say in the future of their local space. Civil society building efforts aim at empowering historically excluded groups, leading to their political inclusion, as well as to an increase in their decision-making power.

5 Rights, Politics and Power: The Struggle over the 2006 Abortion Reform and the Women’s Movement in Nicaragua Katherine Kruk

Since 2006 the Nicaraguan abortion law eliminates all forms of therapeutic abortion in the country with a penalty of up to three years in prison. This paper considers the 2006 Nicaraguan abortion law reform by looking at the situation in the country, with special attention to women’s rights, in particular reproductive rights—and, more specifically, abortion rights. The paper shows that the reform is unrepresentative of the attitudes and opinions of much of its civil society members, namely, w...

6 Contesting the Role of Social Movements in Post-Apartheid South Africa:The Treatment Action Campaign

This article contests the role of social actors within a democratic context by looking at post-apartheid social movements in general and the case study of the Treatment Action Campaign in particular. By illustrating the structure, activities, goals and accomplishments of the Treatment Action Campaign up until the end of 2006, this work will argue that it represents an innovation in social movements in South Africa via its unique strategies and networks that have transformed the issue of HIV/A...

7 Citizenship in Social Movements: Constructing Alternatives in the Anti-Privatization Forum, South Africa Meghan Cooper

This paper explores how social movements construct citizenship and redefine the very notion of the political realm. Social movements have quickly become powerful actors within South Africa’s civil society.

8 Citizens Forum Zambia

Zambia embraced plural politics in 1991. The multi-party democracy has, however, not yet brought stable and mature politics and governance to the country. Almost two decades after its introduction, it is still not clear whose interests Zambian politics really serve. The country’s citizens have largely remained spectators in the development process of their country, with little opportunities to be engaged in the decisions that rule their lives.