The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, will to host the 2026 Helen Kanzira Memorial Lecture on 4 June 2026 in Dakar, Senegal, under the theme “Reflections on women’s reproductive health rights in Africa in light of the Maputo Protocol.” The annual lecture honours the memory and legacy of Helen Kanzira, a pioneer graduate of the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) programme, whose life and work embodied a deep commitment to advancing human rights on the continent. Held within the framework of the HRDA university consortium, the lecture serves as an important platform for critical reflection and dialogue on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa.
Event Details
About the Helen Kanzira Memorial Lecture
The Helen Kanzira Lecture is an annual lecture on sexual and reproductive rights in Africa, held within the framework of a consortium of 13 African universities that present the Master’s programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA).
Helen Kanzira was a graduate of the HRDA programme. She studied towards and obtained the degree in 2000, the first year the programme was presented. This makes her one of the ‘pioneers’ – the first of a group of around 30 bright African minds, that would over the next 27 years grow into a formidable network of human rights professionals making a difference across Africa, and internationally.
After completing the programme, Helen returned to Uganda, where she applied her knowledge and skills to advance human rights. Sadly, and far too early, she passed away in 2007, due to complications from child birth. While we then and now mourn her untimely loss, we honour her memory – her vibrancy and humanity – through this lecture.
For more information, please contact:
Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 6703
michelle.maziwisa@up.ac.za
