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Every year, over a hundred talented law students from across the African continent gather in a different capital city to compete at the prestigious Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, the largest mock court competition in Africa. Here, young aspiring lawyers act as both prosecution and defense in a cutting-edge fictional human rights court case, each hoping to win the case and bring back the trophy to their home country. African Moot follows four passionate teams from Cape Town, Cairo, Kampala and Nairobi during their months of preparation for a case dealing with refugee rights. The film joins them on their journey to Botswana, where they converge for one intense week of legal oratory, debate, adventure, bonding and high emotion, leading to a dramatic finale before international judges at Botswana’s highest court.
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The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) and the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS, and Gender (CSA&G) at the University Pretoria together with the Center for Gender Studies and Feminist Futures (CGS) and the Center for Conflict Studies (CCS) at the Philipps-University Marburg cordially invite you the third edition of the Pretoria-Marburg Queer Conversations on the Colonial Legacies of Anti-LGBTIQ+ Rights in African States.
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The International Development Law Unit, Centre for Human Rights together in collaboration with Oxfam cordially invite you to a hybrid webinar to launch the reports for the New Development Bank Transparency and Accountability Series.
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The Women’s Rights Unit Clinic, Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, hosted a Zoom webinar on the implementation of the Gender Action Plan (2017) to support gender-responsive climate action in Africa.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, hosts an annual conference on disability rights in an African context during the month of November. The inaugural disability rights conference was held in 2013. The annual conference serves as a platform for convening dialogue amongst key stakeholders on disability rights, and to spotlight pertinent and emerging disability rights concerns in the African region.
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On the 26 and 27 May 2022, the Children’s Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria hosted a meeting to validate its draft regional study report on child participation in the implementation of the Global and Regional Development with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, and the AU Agenda 2040 for Children.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) at a meeting on 24 May 2022, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Office for Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission in Kogi State, Nigeria (PDCRC). The PDCRC is a hybrid institution that provides legal aid for indigent individuals in Kogi State and also serves as a Human Rights Commission that tries to advance human rights in Kogi State.
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The Women’s Rights Unit of the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, cordially invites you to a webinar on implementation of the gender action plan to support gender responsive climate action in Africa.
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Following the success of the first edition of the series, the 2022 Pretoria-Marburg Queer Conversations continues with a discussion on ‘Threats to Human Rights for LGBTIQ+ Communities: Hate Crimes and Conversion Therapy’.
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The Disability Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria held a two-day regional convening on Promoting access to justice for persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in Southern Africa from 16 to 17 May 2022 at Capital Hotel Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, South Africa.
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The Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa (ICLA) invites members of the Faculty and broader University Community to a seminar entitled: The role of constitutional courts in post-coup d’état and post-insurrection transitions: The West African cases of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
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The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) under the aegis of the Rule of Law Program for Sub Saharan Africa developed an easy reference booklet that summarises the Bill of Rights as espoused in the constitution of Zambia.
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Global Campus Africa, in partnership with The Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, cordially invite you to the Global Classroom 2022 on Internal Displacement.
Dates: 30 May - 3 June 2022, 10:00-15:30 CEST
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Shifting language(s): the evolving landscape of words and meanings in queer lives
On the occasion of IDAHOBIT 2022, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, and the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the Embassy of France in South Africa and the Alliance Française in Pretoria are hosting a panel discussion on the theme “Shifting language(s): the evolving landscape of words and meanings in queer lives”.
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On 21 April 2022, the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS, and Gender (CSA&G) at the University Pretoria, facilitated the first webinar in the Pretoria-Marburg Queer Conversations: Scholarly and Activist Perspectives on LGBTIQ+ Lived Realities in Africa in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) and the Center for Conflict Studies (CCS) as well as the Center for Gender Studies and Feminist Futures (CGS), Philipps-University of Marburg. The Pretoria- Marburg Queer Conversations creates a monthly space for in-depth discussions designed to tap into the intersections of knowledge-production and transfer between diverse scholarly and activist spheres and contributes to methodological, conceptual, and normative aspects of centering LGBTIQ+ rights and lived realities in African contexts.
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The Centre for Human Rights,Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the Global School on Socio-Economic Rights Adjudication partners: University of Oslo, University of Stellenbosch, Centre for health and human rights at Harvard University,Universidad de Los Andes, and Abo Akademi University hosted their annual Advanced Human Rights Course (AHRC) on the “Judicial Enforcement of Socio-Economic Rights in Africa” from 2 - 6 May 2022.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, and Mzalendo Trust in partnership with Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) hosted a two-day civil society engagement on the workings on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) for the East African Community. This forum was held on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 April 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum focused on developing networks for increased engagement between civil society in the East African region and the Pan-African Parliament.
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The Centre for Human Rights University of Pretoria officially launched its #GreenJusticeAfrica campaign on the impact of climate change on the protection and fulfilment of human rights in Africa on 4 May 2022.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) in partnership with African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and Afronomicslaw invites you to the virtual book launch of COVID-19 and Sovereign Debt, edited by Daniel D. Bradlow and Magalie L. Masamba (2022)
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Today, Global Partners Digital (GPD), the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria (CHR), Article 19 West Africa, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and PROTEGE QV jointly launch LEXOTA—Laws on Expression Online: Tracker and Analysis, a new interactive tool to help human rights defenders track and analyse government responses to online disinformation across Sub-Saharan Africa.
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On 28 and 29 April 2022 the Children’s Rights Unit, at the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre), in collaboration with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (Kenya office), hosted a stakeholder meeting and training workshop on Children’s Privacy Rights in Africa. During the event, the Center also launched its study on children’s right to privacy in the digital sphere in Africa. The event was attended by key stakeholders from various countries across the continent and representatives from the African and UN Children’s Committees.
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Lesbian Day of Visibility is celebrated internationally on 26 April each year, as part of Lesbian Visibility Week. Lesbian Visibility Day seeks to combat the erasure of lesbians by celebrating their existence, achievements and contributions. The Centre for Human Rights is proud to celebrate Lesbian Visibility Day and to note the important role lesbians have played in the feminist, LGBTIQ+ and anti-apartheid movement in South Africa as well as various movements for justice across the continent and globe.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria (the Centre), and ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa are assessing state compliance with the Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa (the Guidelines) that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) adopted during its 61st Ordinary Session in November 2017. The Centre completed its initial country assessment under the Guidelines focusing on the 2019 elections in South Africa. The Centre is collaborating with ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa to examine the performance of stakeholders (Election Management Body; appointing authority; law enforcement agencies; political parties and candidates; media and regulatory bodies; election observers; and civil society) in proactively disclosing election-related information as envisaged under the Guidelines in the 2022 general elections in Kenya. The study is a joint initiative between the Centre and ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.
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In pursuit of the ideals of excellence, the University of Pretoria wishes to invite applications for the following vacancy. The University of Pretoria's commitment to quality makes us one of the top research Universities in the country and gives us a competitive advantage in international development.
The Centre for Human Rights (the Centre) is looking for experienced local researchers to conduct a review of discriminatory laws related to violence against women (VAW) in the following countries: Uganda, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tanzania, Madagascar, South Africa, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Republic of Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabonese Republic, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Cape Verde.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, invites you to a hybrid campaign launch event in the form of a #BrownPaperBag lunch. This event is the first of a series of activities for the #GreenJusticeAfrica campaign.
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First of a series
As part of its efforts in increasing awareness and understanding among relevant stakeholders about the jurisprudence of African human rights bodies, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, on 7 April 2022 launched a quarterly webinar series on decisions of African human rights bodies.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, has released volume 2 of the photobook series titled Looking through the prism: Narratives of queer dignity in South Africa. This series features photographs and narratives of the lives of LGBTIQ+ persons living in South Africa. Volume 2 of the series focuses on lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) cisgender and transgender women.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, condemns the xenophobic attacks against non-citizens in South Africa and in particular the brutal murder of Elvis Nyathi, a Zimbabwean national residing in the Johannesburg township of Diepsloot. Elvis’ brutal murder happened after several inflammatory statements targeting non-citizens, by representatives of political parties and vigilante groups. The state cannot allow vigilante groups to take the law into their own hands and in the name of curbing crime, engage in an extra-judicial killing of a person solely based on their nationality. If this behaviour is not curtailed through application of the rule of law and protection of the human rights of all people in South Africa by the government, more people will be killed and more livelihoods and property will be destroyed.
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As South Africa get set for the 4th cycle of its review by the UPR in November 2022, the Social Policy Initiative (SPI) and the Centre for Human Rights (Centre) have requested the UPR Working group to encourage South Africa to adopt a new composite index in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
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Season 4 Episode 1: Reversing the commercialisation of public services with a particular focus on the right to health
In conversation with Dr Rosella de Falco and Ms Ashina Mtsumi
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On Friday 25 March 2022, the Centre for Human Rights hosted an official ceremony to welcome and introduce the students of its Master’s students from three different programmes. This is an annual event, which was hosted in person after 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria is convening a conference to bring together activists and scholars working on the protection and promotion of LGBTIQ+ rights in Africa for a dialogue and exchange of ideas on the goal of decriminalising sexual rights offences and eradicating conversion practices in African countries. The Centre hopes to build a body of academically sound literature harmonizing context and strategy on these topics and, as such, welcomes contributions from scholars based at or affiliated with universities in Africa. We are inviting submission of papers including scholarly articles, essays, comments on recently decided cases and further comments relating to the themes of the conference.
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International Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated globally on the 31st of March every year. International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the existence and achievements of transgender persons and seeks to raise awareness of the discrimination experienced by the trans community. Transgender persons have been at the forefront of LGBTIQ+ communities’ struggles and activism and have contributed to the collective human endeavour in fields as diverse as science, law, philosophy and the arts. Unfortunately, transgender persons in Africa and across the world experience a plethora of human rights violations that have not been effectively addressed, such as transphobic killings, inaccessibility to healthcare, lack of legal recognition and exclusion from public areas of life, such as sports and media. Increasingly, there are attempts to portray trans inclusion as anti-feminist, a move which must be rejected as bad faith and ill-informed. The Centre for Human Rights stands by the principle that human rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, cordially invites you to apply for its Capacity Building Workshop on Strategic Litigation and Advocacy for human rights defenders working on the promotion and protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and other non-binary and gender-nonconforming persons in Africa.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, invites you to a webinar discussion on two casesThe Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, invites you to a webinar discussion on two cases recently decided by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This event is the first of a series of discussions of decisions by African human rights bodies.
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The Centre for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Department of Public Law at the University of Pretoria, held a panel discussion to reflect on South Africa's foreign policy, against the background of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The panel discussion was presented in a hybrid format on 17 March 2022. Panellists agreed that the invasion by Russia of Ukraine was a flagrant violation of international law. However, there were divergent views on the appropriateness of South Africa’s foreign policy position, which tends not to favour unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s actions.
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Two Mondays, 22 years apart
On Monday 21 March 1960, South Africans protesting a race-based and discriminatory pass-law system converged at a police station in Sharpeville. Their peaceful protest was met with state violence, leading to the death of an estimated 69 people. Today, on this Monday 21 March 2022, we mark ‘Human Rights Day’. We think back to those dark days of pervasive human rights violations and denial of basic human dignity. We are reminded that, despite the many causes for being disgruntled, we have come a long way.
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The Working Group seeks to collect inputs from States and civil society on private actor involvement in the provision of social services - including services such as health, education, social security, water and sanitation. The Working Group also seeks to take into account relevant perspectives on the human rights impacts of privatisation, financialisation and commodification in the social service sector.
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The Centre for Human Rights cordially invites you to the Opening Ceremony of Human Rights Master’s Programmes. On this occasion, students on the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa, Multidisciplinary Human Rights, Sexual and Reproductive Rights programmes in Africa will be individually introduced.
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The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child are pleased to announce the call for papers for the sixth volume of the African Human Rights Yearbook (AHRY).
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On Monday, 7 March 2022, Italian diplomat Fabrizio Petri, the country’s first Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ persons, visited the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria. Mr Petri is one of only four such Special Envoys globally. In this position, created in 2021 by the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, he works towards promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ persons around the world, with special focus on the decriminalisation of same-sex sexual relationships.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, welcomes the recently improved pace of ratification of the 2018 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (African Disability Protocol). In the past 12 months, Mali, Kenya and Rwanda have ratified the African Disability Protocol. We applaud these three states for demonstrating commitment and political will to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. However, three ratifications in four years represent a very slow ratification rate. Fifteen ratifications are required for its entry into force. At the current rate of ratification, it would take decades for the Africa Disability Protocol to take effect. An acceleration in ratifications is therefore urgently needed.
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Wellspring’s International Human Rights (IHR) Program seeks a consultant with experience as a practitioner in the transitional justice field to support the Senior Program Officer to further develop a line of grant making to advance implementation of reparation programs for victims and survivors of mass or war-related atrocities and crimes.
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Join the Global Campus Network for this online panel discussion on the current state of human rights in Afghanistan, the role of the UNin the crisis, and the social responsibility of universities.
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The Advanced Human Rights Courses (AHRC) and the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Units at the Centre for Human Rights (the ‘Centre’), University of Pretoria (UP) recently hosted the 2022 edition of its annual short course on Sexual Minority Rights in Africa. The course was presented through both virtual and physical sessions from 21 to 25 February 2022. The course was attended by 70 participants with more than 15 presenters from both across and outside Africa. Participants included the LLM/Mphil students of the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) and the Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa (SRRA) Masters programmes in the Faculty of Law, UP. Also in attendance were researchers, academics, judicial officers, government workers, and members of civil society. The hybrid format provided an opportunity for the Centre to accommodate a larger group of participants in an interactive, virtual classroom in conjunction with those who physically attended the course.
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Dear minister Enoch Godongwana
As you prepare for your first budget speech we urge you to provide the South African public with a full picture of how the government has used the resources it has received from international financial institutions (IFIs) and to announce the establishment of a South African IFI engagement group.
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From 13 - 17 February, the Centre for Human Rights hosted Prof Mutua Makau, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor from the SUNY Buffalo Law School to teach on the Master's Programme on Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa. Prof Mutua Makau focused on different topics such as duties in international human rights law, democracy and globalisation, and the rule of law and development in Africa.
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The African Disability Rights Yearbook (ADRY) is calling for papers for consideration for publication in Section A of the ADRY in 2022. The ADRY publishes once a year with a focus on disability rights issues and developments of contemporary concern to persons with disabilities on the African continent. The ADRY is published by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) and is published as a peer-reviewed open-access journal.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria cordially invite you to a discussion on the impact of United Nations human rights treaties and mechanisms at the domestic level, organized jointly by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (University of Oslo) and the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria) as part of a project funded by Diku’s UTFORSK programme.
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The Centre for Human Rights (Centre) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) under the aegis of the Rule of Law Program for Sub Saharan Africa developed simple-easy-reference booklets (for non-lawyers) that summarise the Bill of Rights as espoused in the constitutions of selected “Anglophone African” countries which are: Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.The broad aim is to promote human rights and constitutional literacy in Africa.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is concerned about the growing anti-immigrant sentiments and attacks fuelled by the recent xenophobic statements of political parties.
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The Women’s Rights Unit of the Centre for Human Rights is looking for an experienced consultant with research expertise to conduct a study on the impact of COVID 19 pandemic and state measures in relation to the pandemic, on the rights of older women in selected Southern African states.
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ACCA is looking for a dedicated, creative, and energetic person who will work as ACCA Project Administrator. The ACCA Project Administrator will work under the supervision of ACCA’s Manager and will support the work of the ACCA secretariat by providing assistance on project development and implementation, supporting ACCA partners, undertaking advocacy and conducting research.
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The International Development Law Unit is seeking a student to work as a part-time office administrator and personal assistant to the SARChi Chair of International Development Law and African Economic Relations.
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The first Christof Heyns Human Rights Scholarship has been awarded to Keketso Kgomosotho to undertake doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria. Keketso was introduced to Christof’s wife and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University, Professor Tawana Kupe, during a lunch event at the Heyns’ residence on 23 January 2022.
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Technological developments have made what was once science fiction reality. This gives some hope for a utopian future while others get nightmares. It also highlights the extent to which technologies that are not explicitly designed with human rights and equity in mind have tremendous potential to do harm.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly disrupted many of the systems that assure children’s mental health and well-being but it also highlights already existing failures to care for the mental health of children and the adults caring for them (parents, other carers, teachers).
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The African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA) is looking for a dedicated, creative, and energetic person who provide overall intellectual leadership to and be responsible for the operational management of the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA), a coalition of more than 100 African organisations (mostly non-governmental organisations), working in the field of business and human rights on the continent.
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A life Interrupted: essays in honour of the lives and legacies of Christof Heyns
In honour of the late internationally-renowned human rights lawyer, Professor Christof Heyns, a volume of essays, A life interrupted: essays in honour of the lives and legacies of Christof Heyns, was launched (virtually) on 10 January 2022, which is the date marking 63 years since Christof’s birth.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) invites you to the virtual book launch of A LIFE INTERRUPTED: Essays in honour of the lives and legacies of Christof Heyns, edited by Frans Viljoen, Charles Fombad, Dire Tladi, Ann Skelton and Magnus Killander (2022).
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is concerned and condemns the arbitrary detention and deportation of Corlett Letlojane by Cameroon authorities on 16 December. Ms Letlojane had travelled to Cameroon and arrived at Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport on 15 December to attend a high-level regional consultation on advocacy for peace and national reconciliation at the invitation of the Human Rights Defenders Network in Central Africa (Réseaux des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC)). The detention and deportation of Ms Letlojane by Cameroon violated several rights guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which it is a state party.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre), is concerned about the recent series of deaths and other harm arising from initiation rites in South Africa. It calls for this matter to be treated with urgency, and that the Eastern Cape Provincial government immediately embark on an in-depth study into these deaths, with a view to identifying and adapting concrete recommendations that will ensure that, more deaths do not occur in the next initiation season.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria is calling for submissions for a book publication on the experiences of African LGBTIQ+ persons in South Africa, to be released in 2022. Submissions can be in the form of non-fiction (including opinion pieces and essays), fiction including short stories, poems, photographic essays (with accompanying text) or visual artwork (with accompanying text). While the primary focus is on South Africa, we welcome contributions from other contexts where these can be correlated with the South African experience.
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In the past years the University of Pretoria in South Africa has not participated in the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in light of the fact that the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) is located at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pretoria. The CHR has, in the person of the late Professor Christof Heyns, initiated and for the past thirteen years organised the Moot Court Competition. For the last few years, the Competition has been co-organised by the CHR and the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Washington College of Law American University, Washington DC, with the collaboration of the United Nations Human Rights Council Branch at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, selected Zimbabwean human rights champion Roselyn Hanzi to receive the 2021 Vera Chirwa Award. Ms Hanzi is the Executive Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), a non-governmental organisation that has for long been working for human rights protection in Zimbabwe. She has held this position since 2016, making her one of the most seasoned leaders in Zimbabwean civil society. The Award was in recognition of her work in championing human rights protection in Zimbabwe and the ZHLR where she leads the organisation’s work in human rights litigation, education and awareness despite unfavourable conditions.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre) invites applications for a one-year post-doctoral fellowship focused on research and policy with respect to the right to privacy in the digital age in Africa, based at the Centre in Pretoria.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (UP), on 10 December 2021 celebrated the achievements of its graduating students during a private event at the Future Africa Campus of the University of Pretoria The annual graduation on 10 December, International Human Rights Day, has become a regular item on the Centre calendar.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in 2021 marks 35 years of its existence. To commemorate this milestone, the Centre on 9 December 2021 hosted a Forum (CHR @ 35 Forum) to reflect on its main achievements and contributions; and shortcomings or missed opportunities; and to consider how the Centre needs to (re)position itself to best fit into a dramatically changing landscape relevant to human rights. Centre and Faculty staff, students, graduates, partners, donors, and other stakeholders in the work of the Centre attended this event. The event was celebrated online, connected via Zoom.
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On 25 November 2021, the Disability Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, hosted a report validation workshop at Avani Hotel and Casino, Gaborone, Botswana. The draft report titled ‘Persons with disabilities and barriers to equal access to justice in Botswana: A research study of the criminal justice system’ forms part of a larger study on access to justice, which the Unit is undertaking in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana. The workshop was facilitated by Ms Dianah Msipa and Mr Wilson Macharia from the Disability Rights Unit, alongside the consultant who undertook the research Ms Keikantse Phele. In attendance were persons with disabilities, and representatives of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and government departments such as the Judiciary.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (CHR/Centre) on 9 December 2021 will host a virtual CHR@35 Forum to take stock of successes and failures, and to reflect on the future. The Centre invites its staff, Faculty colleagues, students, graduates, partners, friends, donors and other stakeholders in the work of the Centre be part of this virtual event. The event will inform the Centre’s Strategic Plan for the next 5 years.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) invites applications for two research assistants to work with the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit.
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The Disability Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria has successfully hosted its 9th Annual Disability Rights Conference. The 9th Annual Disability Rights Conference focused on the sexual and reproductive health rights of persons with disabilities in the African region. The Conference was held virtually via zoom on 16 and 17 November 2021.
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The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is a multilateral treaty that establishes a uniform legal regime for contracts for the cross-border sale of goods. Such sales contracts operate as the backbone of international trade, and uniform rules for sales contracts provide traders with an efficient, modern and comprehensive legal framework to support their commercial activities.
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The Institute of International and Comparative Law in Africa cordially invites you to an online screening of It Stays With You: The Use of Force by UN Peacekeepers in Haiti a documentary film directed by Siobhán Wills and Cahal McLaughlin.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) hosted a virtual book launch of the French translation of Albie Sachs’ book The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law (originally published by Oxford University Press) L’étrange alchimie de la vie et de la loi, translated and commented by Christine Schurmans
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, welcomes the appointment of Dr Mumba Malila as Chief Justice of Zambia by President Hakainde Hichilema on 17 November 2021. This is a deserved recognition by the Zambian president for his commitment to human rights, rule of law and independence of the judiciary. The Centre commends Zambia’s Judicial Service Commission for recommending his appointment on 12 November.
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Towards the end of 2020, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities established the Working Group on Deinstitutionalisation in response to a critically acclaimed global report launched by the Covid-19 Disability Rights Monitor on the impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities. The report highlighted shocking findings on the extremely disproportionate impact of the pandemic on persons with disabilities, and specifically, the exacerbating role played by institutions and indeed institutionalisation.
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The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Unit, Centre for Human Rights is presenting a webinar on Resolution 275 and its protection of lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) cis and trans women in Africa. The webinar will explore various challenges faced by the LBQ cis and trans women in Africa and how these challenges can be tackled using Resolution 275 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission). The webinar will also provide a space and an opportunity for dialogue and education for the community on the African human rights system.
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In remembrance of the late Professor Christof Heyns, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, held a tree-planting ceremony on 15 November 2021. Copies of a memorial publication, containing a collection of tributes to Christof, Christof Heyns: In memoriam 1959-2021, were also handed to family and friends.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) invites you to the virtual book launch of the French translation of Albie Sachs’ book The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law (originally published by Oxford University Press) L’étrange alchimie de la vie et de la loi, translated and commented by Christine Schurmans
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Climate change is a devilishly complex challenge that affects all aspects of our lives. It affects weather patterns, biodiversity, access to and sustainability of water and land resources, air pollution, inequality, employment, industrial production, distribution and consumption, and migration patterns.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) is proud to announce the winner of the first recipient of the Christof Heyns Memorial Thesis Award. The award for the best thesis by an African doctoral candidate completed in 2020, goes to Dr Tabeth Lynn Masengu.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) in collaboration with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development hosted a capacity building workshop on state compliance with reporting obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). The workshop took place from 9 to 10 November 2021 and participants attended in a hybrid format. Some participants attended in person in Hatfield, Pretoria while others attended virtually from different provinces which include the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, cordially invites you to participate in a webinar launching the reports on the right of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life in Namibia and Malawi.
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The International Development Law Unit cordially invites you to a lecture on 'The multiplication of proceedings and of courts and tribunals and the tools at disposal to address the risks attached to this multiplication phenomenon' by Prof Laurence Boisson de Chazournes.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, is seeking a Communications and Advocacy Manager. The deadline for applications is 23 November 2021
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In view of the disparity of outcomes in judicial reasoning across the continent on SOGIE and ESCR, this symposium will bring together judges, lawyers, researchers and human rights defenders from across Africa to share ideas on good practices and lessons learned when dealing with these cases. The Symposium will bring together judges, lawyers, human rights defenders and researchers from across Africa to share ideas on good practices on the adjudication of both SOGIE and ESCR related cases on the African continent. Presenters and participants will have the opportunity to review and comment on perspectives on selected SOGIE and ESCR cases and discuss national and regional challenges in these areas in order to understand, advance and grow a progressive jurisprudence that respect, protects, promotes and fulfils human rights, departing from colonial-era constructions of state and society in Africa.
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GENIDA e-learning on IDPs is aimed at empowering and equipping advocates, civil society actors, lawyers, researchers, policy analysts and lawmakers with practical leadership skills tailored towards creating a society that respects protects and supports IDPs. GENIDA envisions an Africa where the rights of IDPs are observed, protected and promoted. We believe that an investment in mentorship, civic education, capacity development in form of training will secure the respect, protection promotion and observance of the rights of IDPs today and in the future.
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The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter or Charter) was adopted 31 years ago. To date, 50 countries have ratified the African Children’s Charter, which demonstrates a growing commitment to the respect, protection, and promotion of the rights of children in Africa. There is no doubt that the Charter has contributed immensely to the development of standards and practice of the wellbeing of children, in the region.
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The course of the year 2020, and the lives of us all, were fundamentally altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the regulations restricting personal interaction. At the height of these restrictions, no international air travel was possible, and no gatherings could be held. Restrictions on physical meetings and travel, in particular, impact on many Centre activities. Planning and adjustment of projects proved to be extremely complicated. The situation was one of constant uncertainty and need for adjustment. While South Africa experienced significant adverse effects in the second quarter of 2020, the situation improved towards the fourth quarter of 2020.
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Background
The rapid growth in recent years of internet access and the technologies enabling its use has been a catalyst redefining the overall development of global economies, including Africa. The use of the internet and related technologies has also become a central issue within the human rights discourse in the current decade. The discourse acknowledges both the positive contributions of technology, such as those that enhance certain protections and guarantees and those that negatively facilitate human rights violations in other respects.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is deeply concerned about the recent military takeover in Sudan following authorities' demands to hand over to a civilian-led government and pro-democracy protests in the nation.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the International Commission of Jurists, cordially invites you to participate in a webinar on the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa.
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The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter or Charter) was adopted 31 years ago. To date, 50 countries have ratified the African Children’s Charter, which demonstrates a growing commitment to the respect, protection and promotion of the rights of children. There is no doubt that the Charter has contributed immensely to the development of standards and practices related to children in the region.
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After 16 years of brilliant service to the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, Yolanda Booyzen, the Centre’s Communications and Advocacy Manager, is stepping down from this position.
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In marking #InternetDay2021, the Expression, Information and Digital Rights (EIDR) Unit in collaboration with Facebook (Southern Africa Public Policy Team), at the #Tech4RightsExpo will host a session on The role of state and non-state actors in addressing online harms and ensuring a healthy internet ecosystem in Africa
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That we must not work in silos in utilising the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, popularly known as the Maputo Protocol, to safeguard and uphold the rights of women and girls across the continent is a key reflection on 18 years since the adoption of the Protocol. In an effort to further promote women’s rights and improve women’s lives in Africa the Women’s Rights Unit (WRU) at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Advanced Human Rights Courses (AHRC) hosted a 5-day hybrid intensive short course on Women’s Rights in Africa. The course was presented from 18 to 22 October 2021 to provide participants, from various professional backgrounds, with a perspective of the women’s rights framework at the international and regional levels.
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Webinar on 40 years of achievements and challenges to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
To celebrate Africa Human Rights Day, 21 October, the South African Human Rights Commission, HURISA and the Centre for Human Rights, organised a joint webinar to take stock of achievements and challenged that have arisen during the 40 years since the Charter's adoption in 1981.
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To celebrate African Human Rights Day, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, on 21 October launched the French and Portuguese versions of its Guide to the African human rights system. The year 2021 marks 40 years since the adoption of Africa's primary human rights treaty, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, on 27 June 1981. Africa Human Rights Day has been inaugurated to mark the day when the Charter actually entered into force. This happened on 21 October 1986, 35 years ago!
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The Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to attend the #Tech4Rights Expo, which will be held online from 26 to 29 October 2021.
