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On Friday 16 March 2018 the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria welcomed the 2018 cohort of its Master’s degree students. The welcoming ceremony included the launch of the highly anticipated Alumni Diaries, a colourful chronicle of the journey and impact of the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) programme and its alumni from its inception in 2000 until 2017.

The Centre’s Master’s programmes brings together graduates from various countries across the African continent in order to further their post-graduate studies in multidisciplinary human rights studies. Students on the HRDA, Sexual Reproductive Rights in Africa (SRRA) and Multidisciplinary Human Rights (MDHR) programmes were individually introduced at the ceremony.

The welcoming ceremony was held at the University of Pretoria and included the following guests, each of whom delivered a short address:

  • HE Mr Solly Tshepiso Msimanga – Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane;
  • Prof André Boraine – Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria;
  • Ambassador Trine Skymoen – Norway’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana & Namibia
  • Prof Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic, University of Pretoria
  • Guests included representatives of the High Commissions of various African countries, diplomats, academics, students and friends of the Centre for Human Rights.

The highlight of the ceremony was the keynote adress delivered by HE Mr Solly Msimanga, the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, who recalled how apartheid violated human rights in the most unimaginable way.

Prof Frans Viljoen, the Centre’s Director, gave the closing remarks during which he launched the HRDA Alumni Dairies and expressed deep appreciation to all the staff of the Centre. Prof Viljoen presented the Mayor with a personalised plaque and a copy of the freshly launched Alumni Diaries.

The formal ceremony gave way to a cocktail and dance, where many of the students showed off their dance moves in their colourful traditional clothes.

The Centre for Human Rights is proud to welcom e the 2018 Master’s students and extends its gratitude for the generous and continued support to the following donors:

  • The European Union (main donor)
  • Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD)
  • Embassy of The Netherlands
  • Royal Embassy of Norway
  • General Representation of the Government of Flanders in South Africa