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Prof Benyam Mezmur is Professor of Law, and Deputy Dean for Research & Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa He is also the Coordinator, Children’s Rights Project, Dullah Omar Institute, UWC. Prof Mezmur served on the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, from 2010 to 2021; and was the Committee’s Chairperson twice (2012–2014, 2015–2017). He was also elected by the UN General Assembly as a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Child, in 2012, and still serves as a member of that treaty body. He was its Chairperson between 2015 and 2017. He holds an LLB degree from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and LLM from the University of Pretoria; and an LLD from the University of the Western Cape.
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Judge Chantel Fortuin is currently serving as a judge of the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa, based in Cape Town. In November 2024, she was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a member of the Special Tribunal that handles civil matters arising from investigations by the Special Investigating Unit, primarily aimed at recovering public funds lost through corruption, fraud, and maladministration. Judge Fortuin was the Regional Director of the Legal Resources Centre between October 2003 and May 2008. Previously, she served as an acting judge both in the Eastern Cape and in the Western Cape.
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Dr Solomon Dersso is a Commissioner at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, serving his second term as member of the Commission. He served as Chairperson of the Commission from 2019 to 2021. He also is the Chairperson of the Commission’s Working Group on Extractive Industries, Human Rights, and the Environment (WGEI). Dr Dersso is also the founding Director of Amani Africa Media and Research Services, a pan-African policy research think tank based in Addis Ababa; and is an Adjunct Professor at the Addis Ababa University College of Law and Governance Studies.
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Kissi Agyebeng is the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Ghana, responsible for investigating corruption and corruption-related offences, prosecuting suspected offenders, preventing corruption, and disgorging illicit and unexplained wealth through asset recovery and management. Prior to assuming this role in August 2021, he ran his law firm operating from Accra, and he taught Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law, and Legal Research and Writing at the University of Ghana School of Law for more than 17 years. He served as the Chairman of Ghana’s ad hoc Electronic Communications Tribunal.
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Prof Catherine Maia is professor of international law at Lusófona University (Portugal), visiting professor at Sciences Po Paris, the Catholic Universities of Lyon and Lille (France) and Swiss UMEF (Switzerland). She is also a judge assessor appointed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to the French National Court of Asylum. Her main areas of specialisation include issues relating to human rights, with a particular interest in the African regional human rights system, international criminal law, international humanitarian law and global peace and security.
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Hon Justice Duncan Gaswaga, a national of Uganda, was elected as Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in July 2024, for a six-year term. Justice Gaswaga is a Judge of the High Court of the Republic of Uganda, and was also attached to the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Uganda, which deals with international crimes. Prior to this, Justice Gaswaga was a Senior Magistrate in Seychelles, a practicing Advocate and Magistrate in Uganda and the first General Secretary of the East African Magistrates and Judges’ Association (EAMJA). Justice Gaswaga is also a Fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, Halifax, Canada. He holds an LLB degree from Dar-Es-Salaam University, Tanzania, and LLM degrees from the University of Pretoria and Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA.
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The event will be lived-streamed
The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Bonavero Institute, Mansfield College, Oxford University invite you to the Third Christof Heyns Memorial Lecture. This lecture will be held at the Auditorium, Bonavero Institute, Mansfield College, Oxford University.
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The 17th edition of the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition officially kicked off on 14 July at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
More than just a competition, this prestigious event is a powerful celebration of justice, equality, and the rule of law—principles that Nelson Mandela championed throughout his life. It serves as a vital platform to highlight the importance of human rights and international law, bringing together the brightest law students from across the globe.
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11 July 2025
On the occasion of African Anti-Corruption Day 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, joins the continent in reaffirming its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and human dignity in the fight against corruption. This year’s theme: ‘Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption’, rightly situates anti-corruption as a human rights imperative. Corruption is a legal and economic issue, which is also a direct assault on the dignity, rights, and welfare of African people. It undermines public trust, weakens the rule of law, and deprives communities of essential services, including access to justice, health care, education, water, and housing. Human dignity is enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and other international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Call for Ratification: The Federal Republic of Somalia should ratify the African Disability Protocol
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The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa, referred to as the African Disability Protocol (ADP), was adopted on 29th January 2018 and entered into force on 3 May 2024 following its 15th ratification. This significant treaty aims to safeguard and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa. It serves as an important continental treaty tailored for the African context. The ADP addresses fundamental issues of disability discrimination to guarantee equitable access to protection against harmful practices, health, education, and employment, among others. This call seeks to encourage the government of Somalia to ratify the APD by highlighting the significance of the treaty.
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The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (African Disability Protocol) are the only international human rights instruments that contain a substantive right to access justice. The inclusion of a substantive right to access justice in article 13 of both instruments was a response to the lived experience of persons with disabilities who encounter numerous barriers to accessing justice, including communication, accessibility, attitudinal, legal and procedural barriers, with devastating and far-reaching effects on their ability to enforce all other human rights and fundamental freedoms. For persons with disabilities, the right to access justice is of particular importance. In an effort to improve persons with disabilities’ access to justice, the Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria (the Centre) hosted the 4th Regional Convening on Access to Justice for Persons with Disabilities in Africa from 24 to 25 June 2025 at Southern Sun Hotel, OR Tambo International Airport.
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By Tendai Mbanje & Tito Magoti
As Tanzanians brace for the October 2025 general elections, the country finds itself at a perilous juncture. Once hailed for its peaceful transitions and political maturity, Tanzania is now witnessing a quiet but dangerous erosion of democratic norms. The silence from regional bodies like the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) in the face of mounting electoral concerns is not merely a lapse in oversight it is a form of complicity that erodes the very democratic norms these institutions were created to uphold
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, together with the Accelerator Fellowship Programme of the Institute for Ethics in AI (University of Oxford) and the Global Center on AI Governance, invites you to a timely public seminar on the intersection of artificial intelligence and human rights.
34th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Cape Town: Highlights and Results
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The long-awaited 34th edition of the Christof Heyns African Moot Court Competition took place at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, from 29 June to 5 July 2025. The winners of this year’s competition were the combined team from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique, Mozambique. The University of Nairobi was represented by Mwiti Edna Nkirote and Dickson Gitonga, while the Délcia de Albertina Julião and Miguel Enzo Antonio represented Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique.
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As Malawians prepare to head to the polls on September 16, 2025, the country finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. A phenomenon distinct from previous elections in the country's democratic history. The silence from regional bodies, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), is deafening. Once praised for its relative stability in a region often plagued by contested elections, Malawi is now grappling with intensifying violence, growing political distrust, and deepening public skepticism over its electoral institutions. The echoes of the annulled 2019 elections still ring loud and this time, the stakes are even higher.
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From Commitment to Action
From 17 to 19 June 2025, the Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with government officials and civil society representatives in Guinea-Bissau, hosted a workshop in Bissau to strengthen state reporting under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). The workshop marked a critical step as Guinea-Bissau prepares to submit its first state report on both instruments, demonstrating its growing commitment to advancing human rights and gender equality.
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Pretoria, 5 - 6 November 2025
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) and the Institute for International and Comparative Lawin Africa (ICLA), of the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the African Peer Review Mechanism of the African Union are pleased to announce a call for papers for a conference on “Military coups and the militarisation of politics on constitutionalism and democracy in Africa,” that will take place in Pretoria on 5 - 6 November 2025.
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Zororai Nkomo and Rutendo Mugabe
Introduction
The discovery of transition minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements, across the African continent has been hailed as a gateway to economic transformation and a vital contribution to the global shift toward a just energy transition. These minerals are essential for powering renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and the broader decarbonisation agenda. Yet, this promise comes with a troubling cost: the exploitation of children.
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2 July 2025
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, strongly condemns the detention of Faith Zaba, editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, by Zimbabwean authorities over an article allegedly "undermining the authority" of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Ms Zaba was detained by Zimbabwean police on 1 July 2025, in connection with Muckracker, a satirical column published in the Zimbabwe Independent. The piece mocked Zimbabwe’s recent assumption of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairmanship, describing the regional bloc as a “trade union of dictators.” The Zimbabwe Independent is a weekly publication known for its independent journalism and critical reporting.
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On Monday, 30 June 2025 the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria and the Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town co-hosted a one-day international conference as part of the 34th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
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The Centre for Human Rights, in partnership with the Centre for Child Law both at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, and Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights, University of the Western Cape as well as the Université de Namur hosted the annual Advanced Human Rights Course on Children’s Rights in Africa from 23 to 27 June 2025. The course was also supported by the Global Campus of Human Rights.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in partnership with the Democracy Development Program, is hosting a regional symposium entitled 'Rethinking Democracy in Southern Africa: Lessons from the 2024 Electoral Cycle'. The event is scheduled to take place on 31 July 2025 at the University of Pretoria. This timely symposium will bring together policymakers, electoral stakeholders, civil society leaders, and academics to critically reflect on the significant political shifts that occurred during the 2024 electoral cycle across Southern Africa. These include South Africa's coalition governance, Mozambique's post-election unrest and the challenges to the dominance of liberation movements in Botswana. The symposium will provide an opportunity to assess regional democratic trends and electoral integrity, as well as the future of democratic inclusion.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, through its Expression, Information and Digital Rights (EIDR) Unit, participated in the 13th African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG25) and the African Internet Governance Forum (Africa IGF 2025). Both events were hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Petition Summary:
Join the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in demanding justice and freedom for two pro-democracy Members of Parliament in Eswatini who were unjustly sentenced for standing up for the people’s right to democratic reform.
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20 June 2025
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at the end of 2024 an estimated 123,2 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide. This sobering figure reflects the devastating impacts of conflict, persecution, environmental disasters, and widespread human rights violations.
Nowhere is this crisis more evident than in Africa.
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Every year on June 18, the world comes together to observe the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, a solemn reminder that words can wound deeply and sometimes irreparably. Hate speech is not a new problem. Throughout history, language has been weaponised to demean, divide, and destroy, but today, in our interconnected digital age, the scale, speed, and sophistication of hate speech’s spread are unprecedented. This is especially true in Africa, a continent marked by extraordinary diversity in ethnicity, religion, culture, and language, where hate speech can quickly inflame tensions and threaten peace. The devastating consequences of hate speech in Africa are not merely theoretical. The 1994 Rwandan genocide stands as the darkest example, where incendiary radio broadcasts and printed propaganda dehumanised the Tutsi minority, turning words into deadly action. This tragedy also became a powerful lesson in the importance of vigilance, legal safeguards, and coordinated responses to hateful rhetoric.
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On this International Day for Countering Hate Speech, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, joins the global community in amplifying the call for urgent and coordinated action to confront the rise of hate speech, especially as it proliferates through artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and digital platforms. While the phenomenon of hate speech is not new, its reach and consequences have grown dramatically in the digital era.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria is accepting abstracts on the Domestic Implementation and Impact of Decisions of The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Accepted papers will be presented at a two-day conference on 30 September – 01 October 2025, to deliberate on the state of implementation of the decisions of African Children’s Committee and to consider pathways for improved domestic implementation of decisions.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is convening the 13th Annual Disability Rights in Africa conference from 4 - 5 November 2025. The theme for this year’s conference is “The African Disability Protocol: Promise and challenges.” The conference aims to critically engage with the substantive content of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (African Disability Protocol) and to interrogate strategies for its successful implementation, to bring about the desired social change. The conference will explore the unique contribution of the African Disability Protocol, in light of the existence of other human rights instruments that already address the subject of disability and are widely ratified by African States. These other instruments include the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter). The annual disability conference is a flagship platform for convening dialogue among key stakeholders on disability rights and to spotlight pertinent and emerging disability rights concerns in the African region.
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Second Child-Led Conference and Engagement with the ACERWC Working Group on Climate Change on Child Rights-Based Approaches to Climate Action in Africa
As a build up to the commemoration of the Day of the African Child (DAC 2025) in Lilongwe Malawi, the Centre for Human Rights hosted 2 events in Malawi on the 15 June 2025. The first, was the second child-led conference and the second, an engagement with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child’s (ACERWC) working group on Children and Climate Change. Both events were focused on climate change and child-rights based approaches to climate action in Africa.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in collaboration with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva Switzerland codially invite you to the 6th annual Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture, which forms part of the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
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Students who have completed their doctoral studies in law at an African University in 2024 are encouraged to submit their doctoral theses for consideration for the Christof Heyns Memorial Thesis Award, which is awarded annually. The winning thesis will be published in book form by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP).
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The applications to undertake the individual consultancy and develop the General Comment on Article 28 should be submitted by email to the Secretariat of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child via ACERWC-SECRETARIAT@AfricanUnion.org with a copy to SenaitY@africanunion.org. The deadline for submission is 04 July 2025 at 23:00 South African Standard Time.
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The recent murder of Olorato Mongale is not an isolated tragedy. It is a painful reminder that South Africa’s criminal justice is failing and refusing to learn from its own history. Recent reports suggest that Olorato was a victim of a syndicate. Her death has now been confirmed as yet another femicide in a country with some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. Disturbingly, the men now implicated in her abduction and killing were previously arrested and released on bail on kidnapping charges.
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A conference on the African-Caribbean Dialogue on Justice through Reparations was held on 2 and 3 June 2025 at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa campus. The event was organised and hosted as a collaboration between University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights and South African National Research Foundation Chair in International Constitutional Law, the University of The Bahamas, Université de Goma, Africa Judges and Jurists Forum and the Bahamas National Reparations Committee. The conference brought together scholars on one of the most current and controversial topics of the century, namely, reparatory justice for the transatlantic enslavement of Africans and its continuity through colonialism.
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The Free State Centre for Human Rights, University of the Free State, South Africa, in collaboration with the Department of Law and Political Science, University of Siena, Italy, the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa, the Human Rights Centre, University of Dayton, USA, Universidade Autonomia de Lisboa, Portugal, and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will present the eighth International Conference on the Right to Development under the theme “critical minerals and the right to development.” This Conference scheduled to take place at the University of Siena in Italy from 4 to 6 November 2025.
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On 29 May 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) collaborated with the Bridgitte Mabandla Justice College to host a training workshop on Access to justice for persons with disabilities in South Africa. This collaborative effort between the Centre and the Bridgitte Mabandla Justice College is pursuant to a memorandum of understanding that was entered into by the two organisations on 22 August 2024 in which they agreed to work together to strengthen the capacity of court clerks on various human rights issues including the rights of persons with disabilities.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria invites applications for a two-day residential capacity-building training on litigating sexual and reproductive health
and rights (SRHR) claims before national and regional mechanisms in Africa. The training will be held for two days (Thursday 7 - Friday 8 August 2025) in Pretoria, South Africa.
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The Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) Alumni Association of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, proposes to organise a specialised blog writing workshop as its inaugural activity for 2025. This event aims to enhance the professional writing skills of HRDA alumni and current students while fostering knowledge exchange on human rights topics across Africa.
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On 28 May 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, hosted a virtual launch of the Access to Information in Africa Newsletter. This milestone event provided an opportunity to reflect on the evolving access to information landscape in Africa, celebrating progress, confronting persistent challenges, and identifying strategic priorities for the future.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, invites you to a hybrid discussion on the landmark judgment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Application No. 019/2018 Centre for Human Rights & Others v. The United Republic of Tanzania which reaffirmed the rights of persons with albinism. The application was filed as part of the Centre’s response to the plight of persons with albinism in the United Republic of Tanzania, and in particular challenged the State’s failure to protect persons with albinism from widespread discrimination, persecution and humiliation that have occurred since time immemorial.
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On Friday 23 March 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre) and the Université Catholique d’Afrique Centrale (UCAC) co-hosted the Julius Osega Memorial Lecture at UCAC, Ekonou Campus in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Julius Osega Lecture is an annual lecture on governance and human 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). UCAC is one of these partner universities.
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The Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa (SRRA) Digest is an initiative of the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria. It runs quarterly and features works on emerging sexual and reproductive health/rights (SRHR) issues in the African region. The SRRA Digest invites past and present students, researchers, policymakers, advocates, academics and civil society to contribute to robust dialogue on SRHR by submitting case analyses, opinion pieces and short articles.
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Over the past few months, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has been engaging in a nationwide and diaspora-wide consultation process on the state of human rights in Zimbabwe and the critical role of Zimbabweans living outside the country. These dialogues have been both rich and meaningful, and ZimRights expresses sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed.
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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 (African Children’s Committee) are pleased to invite submissions for fully developed articles and case discussions aiming to make ground-breaking academic-style contributions to the human rights discourse in Africa.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, cordially invites you to the official launch of the Access to Information in Africa Newsletter. This special publication features articles presented during the 2023 seminar marking the 10th anniversary of the Model Law on Access to Information in Africa, complimented by additional contributions from researchers across the continent. Although two years have passed since the anniversary, the Model Law continues to be a significant influence in shaping national access to information frameworks and implementation efforts across the continent. This virtual launch not only marks the public release of the newsletter but also offers an opportunity to reflect on the evolving access to information landscape in Africa, celebrating progress, examining ongoing challenges, and identifying priorities for future action.
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Congratulations on ranking within the Top 24 teams.
Kindly take further note that all teams that intend on attending must confirm in writing that they will be able to do so by Friday 23 May 18:00hrs SAST/CET and individuals who need a visa to enter Switzerland must send their passport copy and complete the UN Visa Support Information form below in order for me to facilitate a visa support letter through the UN office.
You are also reminded of the registration fees that will be required and are thereby referred to part 13 of the official rules for the applicable fees.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, cordially invites you to a panel discussion on the Opportunities and Pitfalls for Access to Justice for Women under the AU “2025 year of justice for Africans and Peoples of African Descent through reparations” which will take place on 28 May 2025 from 11:00 to 12:30.
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The African Union (AU) declared 2025 as the “Year of Reparations” under the theme “Advancing Justice through Reparations: Reparations, Restoration, and Renaissance”. Reparations for historical injustices and human rights violations due to slavery, colonialism, and other forms of exploitation against people of African descent is one the burning issues of our time.
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This year commemorates the 31st anniversary of the establishment of democratic governance in South Africa which is ‘based on the will of the people’. South Africa exemplifies a democracy distinguished by a progressive constitution. Since then, it has made major strides in fostering a unified and inclusive nation, while safeguarding democratic values such as equality, respect for human rights, and a government that prioritizes the interests of its people. In the May 2024 general elections, no party achieved a majority for the first time. Consequently, in June 2024, a Government of National Unity (GNU) was established marking a collaborative effort aimed at promoting accountability, transparency, and public participation in governance. Thus far, the GNU has performed admirably, with the exception of the recent stalemate regarding the budget. According to the Commission for Human Rights (2002) some of the essential components of democracy include free and fair elections, a commitment to human rights, and adherence to the rule of law, the separation of powers, a diverse political party system, judicial independence, and a free and independent media. As articulated by former President Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inauguration speech: “We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination”.
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On this 15th day of May 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) joins the international community in commemorating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). This international initiative aims to raise awareness about digital access and inclusion, particularly for the more than 1.3 billion persons with disabilities (PWDs) worldwide. GAAD began in 2011 as a blog post by Joe Devon, urging developers to consider digital accessibility. Since then, it has evolved into a global movement, observed across industries, sectors, and regions. Today, GAAD continues to spotlight the often invisible barriers that hinder full and equal participation in the digital world, advocating for a future where technology is truly inclusive for all. The Centre for Human Rights stands in solidarity with this movement, advocating for a digital future that is inclusive, accessible, and equitable for all.
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The Centre for Human Rights (the Centre) hosted a two-day training workshop to strengthen the capacity of persons with albinism and their representative organisations on how to engage with the Equality Courts in South Africa. Held from 6 – 7 May 2025, the workshop sought to provide information on how persons with albinism can seek redress for unfair discrimination, harassment, and hate speech through the Equality Courts in South Africa.
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On 6 and 7 May the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria proudly co-hosted the Equality Court Clerk Workshop with the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College (‘the College’) in Pretoria.
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The SOGIESC Clinic at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), cordially invites you to apply for its Capacity Building Workshop on Strategic Litigation and Advocacy for human rights defenders working on the promotion and protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and other non-binary and gender-nonconforming persons in Africa.
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On 23 and 24 April 2025, the Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in collaboration with PANOS, convened a stakeholder engagement on elections and information ecosystem with a particular focus on the upcoming elections in Malawi and Zambia. The event was convened in Lusaka, Zambia, in anticipation of the national elections scheduled for 2025 in Malawi and 2026 in Zambia.
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Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which was commemorated on 3 May 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria joined the global community in reaffirming the importance of press freedom as a pillar of democratic societies and a safeguard for the protection of human rights.
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The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is inviting comments on its Draft Study on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Other New and Emerging Technologies in Africa.
The study was initiated following the adoption of Resolution 473 during the Commission’s 31st Extraordinary Session in 2021, which, recognising both the opportunities and risks posed by technologies such as AI and robotics, mandates the conduct of a comprehensive study on their impact on human and peoples’ rights as protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.
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BACKGROUND
Privacy and data protection have become increasingly critical in the digital era as states worldwide accelerate digital transformation. The rapid adoption of digital technologies, the expansion of e-governance, and the digitisation of services have led to an unprecedented collection, processing, and storage of personal data. While these developments offer immense opportunities, they also pose significant concerns regarding data security, privacy breaches, and the protection of individuals from intrusive surveillance and misuse of personal information by both state and nonstate actors.
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Introduction
The upcoming general elections in the Republic of Malawi, scheduled for September 2025, have garnered significant interest among stakeholders in the region. These elections signify a pivotal moment in the nation’s democratic journey. In the lead-up to the polls, citizens of Malawi have raised concerns about misgovernance, corruption, and the current administration's failure to address escalating economic challenges which has resulted in extreme poverty levels in the country. These issues are considered critical and defining to the outcome of the upcoming elections. This paper is a product of our interviews and stakeholder engagement with citizens and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Malawi. Below are key issues about the political context, legal framework, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), voter registration, political parties, campaign finances, the role of media, and civil society that African citizens should know as they pay close attention to Malawi’s 2025 elections.
The Centre for Human Rights Participates in the 45th Session of the ACERWC in the Kingdom of Lesotho
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre), participated in the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), held in Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho. In its statement before the ACERWC, the Centre expressed concern over ongoing conflicts in Eastern DRC and Sudan, urging the ACERWC to reframe them as children’s rights emergencies.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, at the University of Pretoria and the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) cordially invite you to the virtual launch of Female Genital Mutilation in Africa: Politics of Criminalisation, which examines the complex politics surrounding the criminalization of FGM in Africa. It explores the motivations behind criminalization efforts, the challenges of implementation, and the socio-cultural factors that influence the effectiveness of legal frameworks. The book is edited by Satang Nabaneh.
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On 23 and 24 April 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre), in collaboration with the Department of Women, Youths and Persons with Disabilities, South Africa (DWYPD) hosted a two-day Workshop on the monitoring of the implementation of the rights of women as under international treaties. The Workshop was the culmination of a project to strengthen South Africa’s compliance with obligations under the CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol. To this end, the Workshop sought to promote an understanding of the roles that government officials and civil society organisations (CSO’s) play in the state reporting process, and to contribute to a less sporadic and more coordinated implementation of the treaty recommendations, through the development of the Tool.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre), expresses its disappointment that the visit by Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, on 24 April 2025 to South Africa had to be cut short due to an attack on the Ukrainian capital city killing at least 9 nine civilians.
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Thirty-one years of Democratic Rule; Whither South Africa?
This year marks the 31st Anniversary of democratic rule in South Africa. Thus, South Africa is a relatively young democracy with a progressive constitution. Democracy is often referred to as a way of governing, which depends on the power or will of the people. The former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as ‘the government of the people by the people and for the people’. It is premised on the basis that peoples’ will should always be considered before decisions are made. According to the Commission for Human Rights (2002), the predecessor of the Human Rights Council, some of the essential elements of democracy include free and fair elections, respect for human rights, respect for rule of law, a pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, transparency and accountability in public administration, free, independent and pluralistic media.
Date: 28 April 2025
Time: 12 pm-1.30pm
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As part of the 34 th Christof Heyns African Moot Court Competition, the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria and the Faculty Law at the University of Cape Town will on Monday 30June 2025 co-host a one-day international conference on a theme specified below.The working languages of the conference are English, French and Portuguese, with simultaneous interpretation available.
Call for Conference Papers
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria wishes to inform its partners and stakeholders that Prof Ebenezer Durojaye has been appointed as Acting Director from 1 April to 31 August 2025, pending recruitment of a substantive director. This appointment follows the end of the contract for Professor Nkatha Murungi who served as Acting Director with distinction from September 2023 to February 2025.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, strongly condemns the targeted attacks on civilians in IDP camps in North Darfur State, Sudan, by RSF forces, which have resulted in over 400 deaths and the displacement of thousands in the past three days. Beginning Thursday with coordinated ground and aerial assaults that continued unabated through Saturday, these operations have systematically destroyed homes, markets, and critical healthcare infrastructure in camps that were established as safe havens.
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Date: 15 April 2025
Issued by: Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria expresses deep concern over the escalating threats to democracy, political participation, and electoral integrity in Tanzania. The arrest of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, alongside the disqualification of the CHADEMA party from the 2025 general elections signals a disturbing regression in political freedoms and democratic governance.
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As of August 2023, with a total of 220, the African continent is regarded as the region that has experienced the highest number of military coups, hereafter, referred to as coups.[1] In fact, The Economist speculates that the continent will continue to witness an increase in the number of coups.[2] Since 2020, two specific regions of Africa that are almost considered as the ‘epicentre’ of coups are the Sahel and West regions. Exacerbated by corruption, authoritarian rule, entrenched social injustices, and fragile economies, the situation in some states has compelled the military to overthrow presidents and seize power. This has been the case in Guinea, Mali and Gabon where presidents have clung to power for too long, stifling the progress of democratic governance. However, a troubling pattern emerged in the aftermath of coups, as military leaders are often reluctant to relinquish power and organise democratic elections that would allow citizens to choose their representatives.
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By Belinda Matore, project officer in the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights.
Advocacy has found a powerful ally in social media. Platforms like TikTok, X and Facebook have transformed local injustices into national conversations, often within hours. Yet as the line between activism and exploitation grows increasingly blurred, we must ask: at what cost does awareness come? The tragic case of Cwecwe, a seven-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted at Bergview College in the Eastern Cape, serves as a stark reminder of how digital activism can devolve into digital exploitation.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the International Commission of Jurists, cordially invites you to an engagement with UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers
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On Friday 28 March, the Centre for Human Rights at the Law Faculty, University of Pretoria (the Centre), held its Opening Ceremony to welcome the new doctoral researchers and new master’s students from the following four Centre academic programmes:
- Human Rights and Democratization in Africa (HRDA)
- Trade and Investment Law in Africa (TILA), which alternates each year between the Centre and the University of the Western Cape, and is this year being held at the Centre
- Multidisciplinary Human Rights (MDHR); and
- Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa (SRRA)
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre), welcomes the adoption of the Resolution on Working Towards the Assessment of Public Interest Content in this Digital Era and Developing Guidelines to Ensure a Public Interest Element for All Platforms Operating in Africa – ACHPR/Res.631 (LXXXII) 2025 and the Resolution on Developing Guidelines to Assist States Monitor Technology Companies in Respect of Their Duty to Maintain Information Integrity Through Independent Fact-Checking – ACHPR/Res.630 (LXXXII) 2025 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) during its 82nd Ordinary Session.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre), proudly observed Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) 2025 on 31 March with a commemorative event. The event focused on unpacking the University of Pretoria Trans Protocol in conversation with the socio-political discourse on trans rights and identities in broader society and within university spaces. Held at the Akanyang building—an inclusive learning space with gender-neutral ablution facilities—the event brought together staff, students, activists, and key partners involved in campus transformation and inclusion. The day was defined by discussions, knowledge-sharing, and reflections on the realities faced by trans and gender-diverse individuals in South African universities and society.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to a twin side event on the rights of intersex children and the launch of the book, The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: A Commentary.
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In A Few Good Men, Kissi Agyebeng, Ghana’s Special Prosecutor, delves into the challenges and responsibilities of fighting corruption within the nation’s governance structures. He outlines the legal framework, ethical considerations, and institutional obstacles that shape the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre), proudly observed Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) 2025 on 31 March with a commemorative event. The event focused on unpacking the University of Pretoria Trans Protocol in conversation with the socio-political discourse on trans rights and identities in broader society and within university spaces. Held at the Akanyang building—an inclusive learning space with gender-neutral ablution facilities—the event brought together staff, students, activists, and key partners involved in campus transformation and inclusion. The day was defined by discussions, knowledge-sharing, and reflections on the realities faced by trans and gender-diverse individuals in South African universities and society.
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On 25 March 2024, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with Access Now, hosted a webinar on the impact of internet shutdowns on human rights in conflict-affected countries in Africa. The webinar explored how internet shutdowns exacerbate the impact of conflicts by preventing access to critical information, restricting humanitarian aid, concealing human rights violations, and depriving affected populations of essential services.
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From 17 to 21 March 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria hosted the Advanced Short Course on Disability Rights in an African context (short course). The short course was presented in hybrid format, with some participants attending in person at the University of Pretoria and others joining virtually via zoom. Participants at the short course were from various African countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe, The Gambia, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Lesotho, Madagascar, Eswatini, Botswana, Cameroon, Rwanda, Liberia, Togo, and Ireland. They were drawn from a number of sectors including academia, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations and government.
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Dr Sindiso N. Nkomo and Dr Lydia T. Chibwe
March 21st was declared by the Democratic Government of South Africa as Human Rights Day. The annual commemoration of this day provides an opportunity for taking stock on the progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. To commemorate this day this year, we believe it is important to focus on the progress made by Government in protecting the sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) and rights of marginalised groups such as rural women.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (CHR) invites applicants for a Publications Coordinator and Doctoral Candidate (one position), for an initial one-year contract period, renewable for a total of three year depending on satisfactory performance and available funding. The salary/scholarship will cover tuition, accommodation and related expenses. The selected applicant must be able to start as soon as possible.
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By: Belinda Matore
Historical Significance of 21 March
Every year on 21 March, South Africa commemorates Human Rights Day, a day that serves as both a tribute to the struggles of the past and a reminder of the ongoing quest for equality, justice, and dignity for all. This date is deeply rooted in the history of the Republic of South Africa, marking the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 which was a pivotal moment in South Africa’s fight against apartheid.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria is deeply concerned about the recent decision of the Government of the Republic of Tunisia to withdraw its declaration made under article 34(6) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights allowing individuals and NGOs to take cases directly to the African Court.
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The Centre for Human Rights cordially invites you to join an insightful and empowering day of discussion, advocacy, and learning as we commemorate Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) and reflect on the University of Pretoria’s Trans Protocol along with the research and advocacy taking place both on and off campus.
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A Conference devoted to the African Union (AU) theme of “Advancing Justice through Reparations: Reparations, Restoration, and Renaissance” will be held on 2 and 3 June 2025, in Pretoria, South Africa. Papers presented at this Conference will be published in the 2025 African Human Rights Yearbook. The Yearbook is a collaboration between the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The Yearbook is published annually
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Introduction
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are fundamental to human dignity and essential for achieving gender equality, social justice, and sustainable development. These rights, which encompass access to services related to reproductive health, family planning, maternal health, sexual education, and the right to make informed choices about one’s own body, are critical for the well-being of individuals, particularly women and marginalised groups. In Africa, despite the progressive provisions of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, on the Rights of Women (Maputo Protocol), SRHR remains a challenging terrain, as various socio-political, economic, and cultural barriers continue to impede the realisation of these rights.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with Access Now, invites you to a webinar on internet shutdowns and their impact on human rights in conflict-affected countries in Africa. The webinar will focus on how internet shutdowns exacerbate the impact of conflicts by preventing people from accessing critical information on conflict trends, restricting humanitarian access, concealing accountability for human rights violations, and depriving affected populations of essential information.
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Invitation to all doctoral candidates
Students who have completed their doctoral studies in law at an African University in 2024 are encouraged to submit their doctoral theses for consideration for the Christof Heyns Memorial Thesis Award, which is awarded on an annual basis. The winning thesis will be published in book form by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP).
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, cordially invites you to a documentary screening showcasing the mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa.
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As we commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 on March 8th, the theme #AccelerateAction calls us to step forward with urgency and solidarity to tackle the systemic barriers that continue to hinder gender equality, especially in the digital age. In many parts of the world, the digital divide disproportionately affects women, limiting their access to opportunities and preventing them from fully participating in the digital economy. In Africa, these challenges are even more pronounced, with deeply entrenched inequalities in access, literacy, safety, and opportunity. This year, as we observe IWD 2025, it is important to not only reflect on the progress made but also intensify efforts to overcome the persistent barriers preventing women from fully benefiting from the digital world.
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Belinda Matore & Tendai Mbanje
Ethical considerations must be considered when sharing graphic content online. While documenting and exposing human rights violations is essential, responsible reporting is necessary to ensure that the dignity of victims is preserved.
Social media has emerged as a powerful tool for exposing human rights violations, amplifying voices that often go unheard. Incidents of extreme violence, abuse, and inhumane treatment are usually brought to public attention through widely circulated videos, forcing authorities and society to confront these issues. However, the widespread sharing of such content raises an important debate: Does the exposure of graphic violence drive accountability, or does it contribute to desensitisation and the trivialisation of human suffering?
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, hosted the 2025 edition of the annual Advanced Human Rights Short Course on Sexual and Gender Minority Rights in Africa.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 03, 2025
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre for Human Rights) calls on the Zimbabwean government to respect and abide by its human rights obligations under the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international human rights instruments. Journalists should be allowed to do their work without interference. The recent reports on arrests and interference in the work of journalists will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and access to information. The use of the judiciary to silence journalists, activists, and government critics, if left unchecked, will cement the culture of impunity and entrench arbitrary arrests and prosecution of people with dissenting voices.
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On 28 February 2025, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the Gender Equity Unit at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), hosted a training session on accessing Equality Courts in South Africa. The training comes during the week of Cape Town Pride, and less than 2 weeks after the murder of Imam Muhsin Hendricks, a prominent LGBTIQ+ activist who advocated for the rights of LGBTIQ+ Muslims and pioneered safe religious spaces within the Islamic community.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to the opening of its academic programmes. On this occasion, students in the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA), Multidisciplinary Human Rights (MDHR), Trade and Investment Law in Africa (TILA) and Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa (SRRA) master’s programmes, and new doctoral researchers will be individually introduced.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in collaboration with the Open Society Foundations (OSF) cordially invites you to a Public Lecture on the Future of Human Rights. The public lecture will be delivered by Binaifer Nowrojee, President of OSF, one of the world’s largest funders of groups working for justice, equity and human rights.The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion bringing together diverse actors to discuss the future of human rights in South Africa and globally.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria adds its voice to the outpouring of mourning following the news of the death of Imam Muhsin Hendricks. Imam Hendricks was a stalwart in the LGBTIQ+ Muslim community in South Africa and paved the way for the recognition and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ persons in the Muslim community globally.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2025
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria condemns the recent violations of human rights, particularly with regard to the right to dignity, privacy and bodily integrity, that occurred at Zanzou Night Club in Pretoria. Reports have surfaced detailing incidents of violence, harassment, and abuse directed toward patrons, which are alarming and unacceptable in any society that values human rights and the rule of law.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria expresses profound concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The recent surge in violence has resulted in significant loss of life, mass displacement, and grave human rights violations.
