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The  Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, extends its heartfelt congratulations to its Director Professor Frans Viljoen on his recent appointment to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. The appointment was announced on 11 October 2021 at the 48th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, composed of 18 experts, has been established to function as a think-tank for the Council and work at its direction. The Advisory Committee replaces the former Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The Committee held its first meeting in August 2008. It meets twice a year, for one week in February immediately before the March session of the Council and for one week in August.

The following three experts were elected as members of the Advisory Committee by acclamation: Frans Jacobus Viljoen (South Africa) from the Group of African States; José Augusto Lindgren Alves (Brazil) from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States; and Vassilis Tzevelekos (Greece) from the Group of Western European and other States. Nurah Maziad S. Alamro (Saudi Arabia) was elected by secret ballot as the member from the Group of Asia-Pacific States.

Lloyd Kuveya, Assistant Director of the Centre for Human Rights congratulated Prof Frans Viljoen on his appointment by the Human Rights Council and said that "this is well deserved recognition for one of Africa's eminent human rights experts. We wish him well in this exciting role." 

Dr Solomon Dersso, Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights commented: "Congratulations to Prof Frans Viljoen, an exceptional leader in human rights scholarship and advocacy with lasting contributions in the field, particularly in Africa!"

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Professor Frans Viljoen holds the degrees MA, LLB and LLD from the University of Pretoria, and an LLM from Cambridge University. He is a professor of law and Director of the Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria. His research area is international human rights law, with a focus on the African regional human rights system. He has been involved in advocacy and training on the African regional human rights system, and published widely on international human rights law, including International human rights law in Africa (Oxford University Press, second edition, 2012). He is editor-in-chief of the African Human Rights Law Journal and co-editor of the English and French versions of the African Human Rights Law Reports. He is also the academic co-ordinator of the Master’s programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa, presented by the Centre, in collaboration with partner law faculties across Africa. He has been involved with advocacy campaigns and litigation before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.