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On Tuesday 29 November, Ms Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Founder and President of the Foundation for Climate Justice, and Extraordinary Professor at the Centre for Human Rights, presented the annual Helen Kanzira lecture in Senate Hall at the University of Pretoria. HE Brendan McMahon, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to South Africa introduced Ms Robinson.
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1 December is World AIDS Day. This day is clouded by the cuts to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Stephen Lewis, Co-Director of AIDS-free World made the passionate plea fro donor states to reconsider their position, and suggested some alternatives.
On this day, the Centre for Human Rights adds its voice of support to that of Stephen Lewis.
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Over seventy students, lawyers, nurses, midwives, NGO staff from across Africa and other interested individuals packed a lecture hall on Wednesday 19 October for a panel discussion on maternal health in South Africa presented by the Centre for Human Rights. As the rate of maternal mortality more than quadrupled in South Africa in the last decade, the need to examine the related issues, challenges and opportunities is critical.
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The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) University of Pretoria, and the Institute for Democracy in Africa (IDASA), in collaboration with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, held a West and Central Africa consultation on the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Draft Model Law for AU Member States on Access to Information from 10 to 12 October 2011, in Dakar, Senegal.
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You are cordially invited to a panel discussion on Maternal Health in South Africa.
Date: 19 October 2011
Time: 10:30 - 12:30 (with a light lunch to follow)
Venue: University of Pretoria, Faculty of Law, Room 1-45
(first floor, Law Building and follow signs
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The International Development Law Unit at the Centre for Human Rights was pleased to host the 8th Annual African Trade Moot Competition from 3 – 7 October 2011.
This event has been a focal point for undergraduate students interested in Trade Law since its inception in 2005.
Ten teams from three African countries participated in this competition, with the problem to be argued set on the connection between trade law and third generation human rights, particularly environmental law. Two days were put aside for each team to argue twice as complainants and respondents before a panel consisting of faculty representatives of the participating universities.
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The Centre for Human Rights was admitted as a member of the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI) at the last meeting of its Executive Committee in Venice, Italy, on 21 September 2011.
The AHRI network consists of 32 member institutions that carry out research and education in the field of human rights. Its primary objective is to promote research, education and discussion in the field of human rights. For more information on AHRI, its activities and members, please visit http://www.ahri-network.org
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The following civil society organisations support the Pretoria Statement on the strengthening and reform of the UN human rights treaty body system.
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Amidst increasing awareness about the particular needs and the precarious position of many indigenous peoples in Africa, the Centre for Human Rights this week for the first time presents a week-long training course on the rights of indigenous peoples in Africa to government officials, members of civil society, representatives of indigenous communities and academics from across Africa. It is the first course of this kind presented by an academic institution in Africa.
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On Monday 22 August 2011 and at the request of the Flemish Government, the Centre for Human Rights was privileged to host HE Mr Kris Peeters, Minister-President of Flanders as part of his official visit to South Africa. Mr Peeters was accompanied by the Representative of the Flemish Government in Southern Africa, Mr David Maenaut, and HE Ambassador Johan Maricou of the Belgian Embassy in Pretoria.
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Professor Michelo Hansungule has demanded that President Rupiah Banda postpones the elections to allow for serious investigation into the corruption surrounding UPG. And Prof Hansungule says the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has discredited itself by harassing sources of information.
Commenting on the continued corruption revelations surrounding Universal Print Group (UPG), a South African company engaged to print ballot papers for this year's general election, the Pretoria University law lecturer said government should not bury its head in the sand and behave as though everything were normal.
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The combined team from the University of Pretoria, the University of Botswana and Université de Cocody (Côte d’Ivoire) emerged as the winner at the 20th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition final in Pretoria yesterday.
The final of the Competition was held at the Conference Hall of the SA Reserve Bank in Pretoria. It was adjudicated by five members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including the Chairperson, Advocate Reine Alapini Gansou, the Deputy Chairperson Mr. Mumba Malila, as well as South Africa’s Advocate Pansy Tlakula, who is also the Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression.
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The US hit its $14 trillion debt ceiling as early as May. If it is not to be raised by 2nd August, the country will face a potential default on its debt, threatening military salaries and social security payments.
Professor Danny Bradlow, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria discussed the impact of this debt on emerging markets on Beyond Markets.
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To celebrate 30 years since the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights in 1981, the Centre for Human Rights is organising a one-day conference '30 years of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: Looking forward while looking back' on Monday 11 July, 8.30-17.00, at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria.
20th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, held at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
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This year marks the 30th anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and what has Africa got to show for it? This is a question that will be addressed by Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf of the International Court of Justice and Advocate Reine Alapini Gansou, Chairperson of the African Commission, at the 20th African Moot Court Competition and Conference from 7 - 12 July 2011 in Pretoria.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa and the Centre for Human Rights, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique, in collaboration with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, held a Southern Africa consultation on the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Draft Model Law for AU Member States on Access to Information from 28 to 29 June, in Maputo, Mozambique.
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The participants of the Civil society consultation on strengthening the UN treaty body system hosted by the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, 20 and 21 June 2011 call on all civil society organisations to endorse the Pretoria Statement on the strengthening and reform of the UN human rights treaty body system.
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The Centre expresses its sadness and sense of loss over the death of Professor Kader Asmal, who was a long-serving member of the Centre’s Advisory Board. The Centre was privileged to have benefited from his inspirational and wise counsel, his courageous example, and his stimulating teaching.
Although we will miss him and what he stood for, he leaves us all richer from our association with him.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, together with the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa, hosted a consultation of civil society organisations from around the world, to reflect on the strengthening of the UN human rights treaty bodies.
The Consultation, which took place at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, on 20 and 21 June 2011, is part of a process to improve the working methods of the treaty bodies. In recent times, the number of treaty bodies, the number of reports required by state parties, and the activities of the treaty bodies have increased dramatically. There is consensus that the situation has become intolerable and that reform is needed. Consultations have now been held among treaty body members, national human rights institutions, treaty body chairpersons and international NGOs.
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13 - 14 June 2011, Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
Government experts and academics from Southern Africa and around the world participated in a successful workshop on giving effect to the law on genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The workshop, held on 13 and 14 June 2011 at the Centre for Human Rights, was attended by experts from the Attorneys-General’s Chambers and national prosecution authorities in the SADC region, particularly from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, an expert from the International Criminal Court participated in the workshop.
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On 2 - 3 June 2001 the Centre for Human Rights hosted a two-day conference on Multi- and Inter-Disciplinary Human Rights in Africa, organised and co-chaired by Centre Director, Professor Frans Viljoen, and Visiting Fulbright Scholar, Professor Richard Maiman. The purpose of the conference was to showcase scholarship on human rights using perspectives other than the dominant legal paradigm.
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The Centre for Human Rights and the Department of Political Sciences held a public lecture on the 1st of June 2011 which was presented by the European Union (EU) Ambassador Mr Roeland van de Geer. His lecture was titled ‘Is Peace possible in the Great Lakes Region?’ The evening formed part of a project which focuses on South Africa’s human rights and foreign policy which is funded by the Open Society Foundation of South Africa.
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The Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa deployed an Election Observer Team to observe the South African Local Government Elections (LGE), which were held on the 18 May 2011.This is the Team’s assessment of the municipal elections.
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A panel discussion organised by the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa and the Centre for Human Rights of the Faculty of Law.
Date: Friday, 27 May 2011
Time: 13:30 to 15:00
Venue: Moot Court, Law Building
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You are cordially invited to a G20 Study Group Meeting, organised by the South African Institute of International Affairs; the International Development Law Unit in the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria; and
Oxfam.
Date: 16 May, 2011
Time: 09:30 - 15:30
Venue: SRC Chamber, UP Conference Centre
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The Centre for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, held a public consultation on the Draft Model Law for AU Member States on Access to Information in Africa on 29 April 2011, during the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul, The Gambia.
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On Saturday 7 May 2011, the Centre for Human Rights Commemorated its 25th anniversary in an informal lunch for current and former staff members and their families at the Pretoria Country Club.It was a fabulously festive event with over 150 guests including staff, board members, friends and institutional supporters of the Centre from all over South Africa.
