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The University of Pretoria joined the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network last year. SAR is an international network of over 250 academic institutions in 30 countries organized to support and defend the principles of academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars around the world.

In an on-going attempt to raise awareness of the importance of academic freedom, the Centre for Human Rights at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria on Monday 18 April 2016 hosted a public lecture on 'Academic freedom in Africa under attack: A tribute to Professor Gilles Cistac.' It was delivered by a scholar from one of the partners in the Centre’s Master’s programme, Dr Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua,  Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.

This Master’s programme focus on human rights and democratisation in Africa and is presented in collaboration with 13 law faculties across the continent.

pdfDownload the lecture notes

The lecture served to highlight the important link between the rule of law and good governance in a country, on the one hand, and academic freedom, on the other. It also honoured the memory of Prof Gilles Cistac, who was a law professor at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo, Mozambique. Universidade Eduardo Mondlane is also a partner in the Master’s programme.

A strong advocate for human rights and democratisation in Mozambique and critical of the ruling party he was assassinated in Maputo on 3 March 2015. His assassination is linked to his outspoken and critical participation in public debates on federalist constitutional reform options. To date no one has been held accountable for his death.