Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa
The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, is an internationally recognised university-based institution combining academic excellence and effective activism to advance human rights, particularly in Africa. It aims to contribute to advancing human rights, through education, research and advocacy.
The award for the best thesis by an African doctoral candidate completed in 2023, goes to Dr Barbra Ontibile Bhebe. The runner-up is Dr Siphosami Patrick Malunga
Academic programmes presented by the Centre for Human Rights:
HRDA
LLM/MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa
The LLM/MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa is a prestigious one-year intensive course where 25-30 exceptional individuals spend 6 months in Pretoria and 6 months at one of the 13 partner universities all over Africa.
LLM (International Trade and Investment Law in Africa)
The LLM degree in International Trade and Investment Law in Africa is a higher education and training programme based in, and focused on, Africa with full exposure to the international world of trade and investment.
LLM/MPhil (Sexual & Reproductive Rights in Africa)
The Master's degree (LLM/MPhil) in Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa is a two-year programme that is offered as a blended learning course comprising of online interaction and residential block-weeks in Pretoria.
The LLM/MPhil degree in Multidisciplinary Human Rights gives students from various disciplines the opportunity to engage with human rights issues from a number of perspectives. This programme is for lawyers and non-lawyers.
The two-year programme is offered as a hybrid teaching approach comprising online interaction and residential face-to-face weeks in Pretoria. Two face-to-face sessions will be scheduled every year. The first face-to-face session is in December 2018.
The Centre for Human Rights hosts a number of Research Units whose main objectives are to do research in their prospective fields.
Most Units have a short course, a clinical group and a resource database linked to the Unit. Focus areas include freedom of expression and access to information, business and human rights, children's rights, disability rights, women's rights, litigation, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics and Freedom from Violence.
The Centre presents annually a number of short courses, two moot court competitions and a conference:
AHRC
Advanced Human Rights Courses
The Advanced Human Rights Courses (AHRC) programme consists of annual advanced short courses dealing with issues pertinent to human rights, development and good governance in Africa.
The annual African Human Rights Moot Court Competition is the largest gathering of students, academics and judges around the theme of human rights in Africa.
The International Development Law Unit (IDLU) presents the LLM (International Trade and Investment Law in Africa) and its mission is to conduct and promote policy-oriented legal research on international development law topics.
Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa
The Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa (ICLA) aims to become a first port of call for those who wish to engage in legal research and legal reform in Africa involving comparative or international law at the advanced level.
World Press Freedom Day: Protecting press freedom in Africa amid the global environmental crisis
3 May 2024
The World Press Freedom Day is commemorated annually on 3 May to reiterate State obligations to respect, protect and promote press freedom. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this day in December 1993.
Centre for Human Rights welcomesLaunch of Principles and Guidelines for the use of digital and social media in elections in Africa
13 March 2024
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, welcomes the launch of the "Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa" developed by the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA).
Centre for Human Rights welcomes judgment declaring labour legislation constitutionally invalid
30 October 2023
On 25 October 2023, the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa handed down a revolutionary judgement in the case of Van Wyk and Others v Minister of Employment and Labour [2023] ZAGPJHC 1213.
World Press Freedom Day: Protecting press freedom in Africa amid the global environmental crisisPress Statement (3 May 2024)
Centre for Human Rights welcomesLaunch of Principles and Guidelines for the use of digital and social media in elections in AfricaPress Statement (13 March 2024)
The Centre Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria calls on the Senegalese government to Protect Digital RightsPress Statement (23 February 2025)
Centre for Human Rights welcomes judgment declaring labour legislation constitutionally invalidPress Statement (30 October 2023)
Awards & Prizes
UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education
In 2006, the Centre for Human Rights was awarded the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education, with particular recognition for the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition and the LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa
2006
UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education
African Union Human Rights Prize
In 2012, the Centre for Human Rights was awarded the 2012 African Union Human Rights Prize, in recognition of the Centre's contribution to the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.
2012
African Union Human Rights Prize
The Centre is an academic department and NGO at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria