The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, will host a 5-day intensive hybridcourse on the protection of forcibly displaced persons in Africa from 06 - 10 October 2025.

Venue: University of Pretoria, South Africa
Online: Zoom 

Apply online Download brochure

About the course

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. It covers fundamental legal concepts and principles related to international law on forced displacement, critical challenges in the interpretation and application of key treaty provisions, and rights-based approaches to addressing challenges and ensuring durable solutions to forced displacement in Africa.

The main objective of the course is to enable participants to have a thorough understanding of the meaning, causes and scale of the various forms of forced displacement in Africa, pertinent normative standards at the global and regional level, and the rights of forcibly displaced persons. Participants will be able to critically reflect on the legal and institutional responses to forced displacement, and the roles of humanitarian and development actors in the protection of forcibly displaced persons.

The course covers issues such as

• The legal and institutional framework protecting the rights of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons
• Obligations of states and non-state actors
• The roles of, and standards related to humanitarian and development agencies and non-governmental organisations
• Legal developments: new trends in the interpretation and application of laws
• Strategic advocacy for the rights of forcibly displaced persons, and
• Rights-based approach to durable solutions

Fees

The course will be offered in a hybrid format. 
Participation in the course online is $150 (USD)
In person attendance is $250 (USD) 
The fee includes venue costs, course materials, lunch and tea for the duration of the course.

Payment

Account name: University of Pretoria
Bank: ABSA Bank
Account number: 214 000 0038
Branch code: 632005
Swift code: ABSAZAJJ

As reference please supply the following information: (A0D648) and Lastname
Please email a proof of payment to Mr Dennis Antwi at Dennis.Antwi@up.ac.za.

NB: Do not make payment until you have recived confirmation that you have been accepted for the couse

Scholarships

There are a limited number of scholarships for online participants and these are awarded on a competitive basis to deserving applicants.

Practical Information

Application procedure

Important Notice:
A high proficiency in English is required to attend this course. All lectures and materials are in English. Prior to applying for this course, please read through the information on the practical information and the payment details pages.

Documents to be submitted:

• Curriculum Vitae (short CV in PDF or Word document, maximum 3 pages, maximum 10 MB in file size)
• One Letter of Recommendation (PDF or Word document, maximum of 10 MB in file size)
• Academic Records (students only) (combined in one PDF or Word document, maximum 10 MB in file size)

Apply online

*Please note that in order to apply for any of the Advanced Human Rights Courses, you are required to use a Google Gmail account.
NB: If you don’t hear from us consider your application unsuccessful.

Application deadline

30 September 2025
If you do not hear from us within 5 days after applications have closed, please consider your application unsuccessfull.

Contact

For more information, please contact:

Dennis Antwi

Project Manager: Advanced Human Rights Courses (AHRC)

Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 4197
  dennis.antwi@up.ac.za

Abiy Ashenafi

Acting Manager: Migration Unit

Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 3810
  abiy.ashenafi@up.ac.za

Partner institution

Migrants’ Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria