The Centre for Human Rights, in partnership with the Centre for Child Law both at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, and Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights, University of the Western Cape as well as the Université de Namur hosted the annual Advanced Human Rights Course on Children’s Rights in Africa from 23 to 27 June 2025. The course was also supported by the Global Campus of Human Rights.
The applications to undertake the individual consultancy and develop the General Comment on Article 28 should be submitted by email to the Secretariat of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child via ACERWC-SECRETARIAT@AfricanUnion.org with a copy to SenaitY@africanunion.org. The deadline for submission is 04 July 2025 at 23:00 South African Standard Time.
The Centre for Human Rights Participates in the 45th Session of the ACERWC in the Kingdom of Lesotho
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre), participated in the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), held in Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho. In its statement before the ACERWC, the Centre expressed concern over ongoing conflicts in Eastern DRC and Sudan, urging the ACERWC to reframe them as children’s rights emergencies.
This year commemorates the 31st anniversary of the establishment of democratic governance in South Africa which is ‘based on the will of the people’. South Africa exemplifies a democracy distinguished by a progressive constitution. Since then, it has made major strides in fostering a unified and inclusive nation, while safeguarding democratic values such as equality, respect for human rights, and a government that prioritizes the interests of its people. In the May 2024 general elections, no party achieved a majority for the first time. Consequently, in June 2024, a Government of National Unity (GNU) was established marking a collaborative effort aimed at promoting accountability, transparency, and public participation in governance. Thus far, the GNU has performed admirably, with the exception of the recent stalemate regarding the budget. According to the Commission for Human Rights (2002) some of the essential components of democracy include free and fair elections, a commitment to human rights, and adherence to the rule of law, the separation of powers, a diverse political party system, judicial independence, and a free and independent media. As articulated by former President Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inauguration speech: “We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination”.
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to a twin side event on the rights of intersex children and the launch of the book, The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: A Commentary.
