In partnership with African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF), the Centre for Human Rights will host a five-day intensive short course examining the international human rights standards, comparative good practice, and emerging continental trends concerning oversight and accountability of the criminal justice system.
Course date: 5 – 9 June 2023
In-person (University of Pretoria)
Zoom (Online)
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.
This is a high-level course, particularly designed for practitioners working in the field of police accountability and oversight in Africa. Applications from judicial officers, post-graduate students with a relevant research focus, government officials responsible for relevant issues, and members of civil society groups experienced in and engaged with the issues are encouraged.
Applicants from around the world are invited. However, the course will have an African focus, and will be aimed at equipping African experts to play a stronger role in international discussions around these topics. Applicants from African countries are therefore in particular encouraged to apply, as are young scholars.
Topics will include:
- Theories, Challenges and Opportunities for accountable policing
- International standards for policing
- Internal & external oversight mechanisms
- Use of force in law enforcement
- Management of assemblies (“public order policing”)
- Forensic investigation
- Police corruption
- Torture/custody visits