The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in partnership with the University of Antwerp, Belgium, annually
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) annually
The annual Advanced Human Rights Course on Children’s Rights in Africa is currently underway. The course is hosted as a
The COVID-19 lockdowns, restrictions and regulations caused a momentary shuddering of the democratic criminal justice systems worldwide, including in Africa.
The Centre for Human Rights held a one-week intensive short course on judicial enforcement of socio-economic rights from 17 to
From 8 to 12 March 2021, the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, hosted the Advanced Human Rights Course
The annual Advanced Human Rights Course (AHRC) on the African human rights system in comparative perspectives in comparative perspectives is
The Advanced Human Rights Courses (AHRC) and the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Unit at
All courses will be conducted in a hybrid format. Participants are therefore required to have access to a stable internet connection. Applications are fully online and prospective applicants need a Gmail account to be able to apply.
Course dates: 2026
Sexual Minority Rights in Africa
23 – 27 February 2026
Deadline: 09 February 2026
The Advanced Human Rights Course on Sexual Minority Rights in Africa introduces participants to basic SOGIESC concepts and a thematic and geographical exposition of challenges faced by LGBTI persons in Africa. This course is designed for people who wish to obtain basic/introductory information, an understanding of the terminology and a general appreciation of the problems faced by LGBTI persons in realising basic human rights in many societies.
Business and Human Rights in Africa
9 – 14 March 2026
Deadline: 13 February 2026
Business organisations and transnational corporate actors operate in a complex global environment, especially when operating in high risks sectors such as oil and gas, mining, construction, banking and health care amongst others. Understanding human rights responsibilities, impacts and socially responsible behaviour for companies is, therefore, an essential component of corporate risk management in our current world.
Disability Rights in an African Context
23 – 27 March 2026
Deadline: 09 March 2026
The Advanced Human Rights Course on Disability Rights in an African Context is part of the Centre’s efforts in promoting disability rights in Africa by raising awareness about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) (2006) and the newly adopted Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (2018).
African Human Rights System in Comparative Perspectives
20 – 24 April 2026
Deadline: 13 April 2026
The course covers issues such as a general introduction to human rights law and the role players in the development and enforcement of human rights norms in Africa, the United Nations system, human rights treaties and their status in Africa, European human rights systems, Inter-American human rights systems, the African Union and human rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights as well as the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Judicial Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights
11 – 15 May 2026
Deadline: 30 April 2026
The aim of the course on the judicial enforcement of socio-economic rights in Africa is to provide participants with a critical understanding of the possibilities of and problems associated with judicial enforcement of socio-economic rights in Africa. During the one-week intensive course, training is provided to practitioners, policy-makers, scholars and students on national and international litigation of socio-economic rights.
Women’s Rights in Africa
25 – 29 May 2026
Deadline: 4 May 2026
The course examines the international and regional human rights frameworks that guarantee the human rights of women and girls in Africa, with a particular focus on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol). The course provides an opportunity to critically evaluate the potential of these human rights frameworks to challenge obstacles undermining the effective protection of women’s rights in Africa.
Accountability and Oversight of the Criminal Justice System
8 - 12 June 2026
Deadline: 29 May 2026
This course will draw upon longstanding expertise around human rights and policing, insights from practitioners within oversight institutions, and strategies from advocates in civil society and the media. Enhancing oversight of the criminal justice can directly contribute toward the objective of SDG 16 to build up effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions to reduce levels of violence.
Children’s Rights in Africa
22 - 26 June 2026
Deadline: 1 May 2026
The course is an initiative intended to build the technical capacity of diverse professionals working for and with children across the African continent. During the course, participants are equipped with the necessary knowledge and practical skills that will enable them to meaningfully contribute to the realisation of children’s rights in Africa.
Civil Society Law in Africa
10 - 14 August 2026
Deadline: 20 July 2026
Through the Legal Education Initiative, ICNL partners with selected African educational institutions to promote the study of laws affecting civil society.The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, will host a one-week intensive short course on Civil Society Law in Africa from 10 - 14 August 2026.
The Right to Development in Africa
24 – 28 August 2026
Deadline: 10 August 2026
The course covers issues such as: Theories of development; Right to development in Africa; International financial institutions and the right to development; Development and aid: The obligation to provide assistance; Transnational corporations and the right to development; Other non-state actors and the right to development; Food, development and security in Africa; Governance and development; Anti-corruption and development; Foreign debt and its effect on development.
Data Protection in Africa
7 – 11 September 2026
Deadline: 24 August 2026
The Advanced Human Rights Course on the Right to Privacy in Africa is hosted by the Expression, Information and Digital Rights (EIDR) Unit of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. The main objective of this course is to improve existing knowledge on various intersecting aspects of data protection within the African context from 7 – 11 September 2026.
Protection of Forcibly Displaced Persons in Africa
21 - 25 September 2026
Deadline: 7 September 2026
This course presents a human-rights perspective on the protection of forcibly displaced persons in Africa, with a view of enhancing the knowledge of policy makers, lawyers, scholars and students on the protection of the rights of forcibly displaced persons from 21 - 25 September 2026.
Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights in Africa
12 - 16 October 2025
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, and the Global Centre on AI Governance will host an intensive short course on Artificial intelligence and human rights in Africa on 12 - 16 October 2026. This course explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and human rights, focusing on how AI impacts various human rights.
Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Africa
23 - 27 November 2026
Deadline: 23 October 2026
The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights will host a hybrid format one-week intensive short course on indigenous peoples’ rights from 23 - 27 November 2026.
