From 9 to 14 March 2026, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo, and the Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi, hosted the Advanced Human Rights Course on Business and Human Rights in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, with online participation via Zoom. The six-day intensive short course formed part of the Centre’s Advanced Human Rights Courses programme and was designed to deepen knowledge and scholarship on business and human rights in Africa.
The course brought together participants from 14 African countries, including academics, legal practitioners, government officials, civil society actors, community leaders and business professionals. It created an important platform for interdisciplinary engagement, exchange and networking on emerging business and human rights norms, their practical implications, and strategies for advancing accountability and access to remedy across the continent.
Throughout the week, participants engaged with a wide range of issues, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct, the draft treaty on business and human rights, children’s rights and business, gender and labour rights, climate change, digital technologies, business in conflict-affected areas, and access to remedy for business-related human rights abuses. The programme featured contributions from academics, practitioners, community leaders, business representatives and national human rights institutions from across Africa.
A key highlight of the course was the site visit to Thika Cloth Mills Ltd, which gave participants practical insight into human rights challenges in the textile industry and an opportunity to observe the production process from cotton to fabric. This excursion added an important practice-based dimension to the course by connecting classroom discussions to the realities of business operations and labour conditions on the ground.
By convening diverse stakeholders and combining rigorous academic engagement with practical learning, the course strengthened regional dialogue on the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights and the role of states, communities and other actors in ensuring accountability. The Centre for Human Rights remains committed to building African scholarship, networks and capacity in the field of business and human rights.
For more information, please contact
Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 4197
Fax: +27 (0) 86 580 5743
dennis.antwi@up.ac.za
Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 6209
Fax: +27 (0) 86 580 5743
mansah.amoah@up.ac.za
