On 25 and 26 June 2026, the NRF SARChI Chair in International Law and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with Monash University (Melbourne, Australia), hosted a conference on landmark judgments of African Union (AU) human rights bodies. Organised by Professor Frans Viljoen and Dr Gina Bekker, the conference brought together scholars, practitioners, civil society representatives, students, and members of the public to critically engage with key decisions of three regional human rights institutions: the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission), and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Children’s Rights Committee).
The conference sought to critically examine and reimagine key judgments from these bodies, while also increasing awareness among both the public and relevant stakeholders of their jurisprudence, which has remained relatively underexplored and insufficiently disseminated. It created a forum for engaging with, analysing, and promoting the growing body of African human rights jurisprudence. This event was particularly timely, coinciding with two significant milestones in the African human rights system: the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and 20 years since the African Court started operating. These anniversaries offered an important opportunity to reflect on the development, achievements, and future trajectory of the African regional human rights framework.
The conference was organised into two segments and featured 26 presentations, with sessions chaired by scholars from the Centre for Human Rights and the University of Pretoria’s Department of Public Law. The first segment examined landmark judgments of AU human rights bodies, with presenters analysing their significance through diverse conceptual and contextual frameworks. The discussions emphasised that a landmark judgment is not confined to its final outcome but also encompasses dissenting opinions and obiter dicta, which can reveal tensions, signal disagreement, and shape future legal developments.
The second segment concentrated on revisiting and rewriting selected judgments to promote greater inclusivity and enhance the protection of human rights. It encouraged reflection on how the outcomes of decisions by African Union human rights bodies might have been different if their reasoning had more deliberately drawn on African intellectual traditions such as Ubuntu, Afro-feminism, African communitarianism, TWAIL, and post-colonial theory as well as on the lived experiences of the communities whose rights are directly affected.
A key theme that emerged throughout the conference was the persistent gap between the formal recognition of human rights and their effective implementation across the African continent. Participants underscored the continued prevalence of violations, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities, and called for more robust legal and institutional responses.
Despite these challenges, the conference reflected a strong sense of optimism about the evolving jurisprudence of the African Court, Commission and Children’s Rights Committee, with participants noting their increasingly progressive approach to human rights interpretation and protection. Discussions also addressed strategies to improve state compliance with decisions and to enhance the effectiveness of remedies available to victims.
Another recurring concern was the limited engagement with the jurisprudence of AU human rights bodies. Participants emphasised that greater awareness, respect for, and utilisation of these decisions are essential for strengthening the continent’s human rights system. The conference further highlighted the importance of grounding African human rights jurisprudence in shared values such as dignity, equality, and justice. In this regard, there was a notable call for the incorporation of Ubuntu as a guiding principle in judicial reasoning, particularly in cases involving vulnerable populations.
Beyond its substantive contributions, the conference served as a dynamic platform for networking and academic exchange. It facilitated meaningful interactions among scholars, civil society actors, and students, fostering collaboration and ongoing dialogue both during formal sessions and informal engagements.
In conclusion it was resolved that selected papers on landmark judgments will be published in a special edition of the African Human Rights Yearbook, while the rewritten judgments will form part of an edited volume.
For more information, please conatct:
Professor of International Human Rights Law
Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 3228
frans.viljoen@up.ac.za
