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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria stands in solidarity with the global community in observance of World Radio Day on 13 February 2025. This year’s theme, “Radio and Climate Change,” underscores the critical role that radio plays in disseminating essential information about climate change, one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, welcomes the Wednesday 12 February 2025 public hearing by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, of the first inter-state case filed before it in Application 007/2023, Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Republic of Rwanda.
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Objective of the reader
The Centre for Human Rights is seeking a wide range of multidisciplinary submissions for the compilation of a reader on the best interest of the African queer child and surviving conversion therapy in Africa. The central objective of the proposed reader is to advocate for the eradication of conversion therapy targeted at African queer children guided by the rationality of the best interests’ principle, a child’s evolving capacity and a child’s age. In analysing legislation and case law, cultural, religious and societal understanding of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and sexual characteristics the book further aims to clarify the complex issues of childhood conversion therapy, spotlight their different approaches to childhood conversion therapy and to suggest the statutory recognition of the rights of a queer child in domestic African law.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria is pleased to announce a groundbreaking judgment issued by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights today (5 February 2025), in Application No. 019 of 2018 Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) v. United Republic of Tanzania.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, invites you to a memorial service in honour of Professor Charles Ngwena.
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The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) has issued an e-Note confirming that pharmacists may not refuse to dispense abortifacients (a drug that induces abortion) due to personal beliefs or moral reasons. This e-Note comes after 13 NGOs and legal centres addressed an open letter to the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) and the National Department of Health. The letter highlighted alarming reports of pharmacists refusing to dispense abortifacients despite patients having valid prescriptions. A vast majority of these pharmacists cited moral or religious grounds as the reason for their refusal to dispense. A staggering 40% of surveyed pharmacies were implicated in these refusals, undermining constitutional rights to reproductive autonomy and access to healthcare.
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The Centre for Human Rights is saddened to announce the death of our own, Professor Charles Ngwena. Prof. Ngwena passed away in Pretoria on the 31st of January 2025.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria cordially invites alumni of the various academic programmes, training and special projects, friends, former colleagues, the human rights communities and sympathisers to a webinar honouring and celebrating the life and achievements of the Late Prof Michelo Hansugule.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, joins the global community in commemorating Data Privacy Day, observed annually on January 28. This day serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of data privacy, empower individuals and institutions, and promote proactive measures to protect personal information.
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The SINO Africa Legal Forum 2025 invites submissions exploring the critical relationship between the rule of law and the development of the digital economy. As digital technologies reshape economies, robust legal frameworks are essential to ensure fairness, innovation, and protection of fundamental rights.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, calls for the immediate release of Ugandan lawyer Eron Kiiza, who was condemned to a nine month jail sentence summarily passed by Uganda’s military court martial.
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We are honored by your interest in our work. This report provides a detailed account of theWe are honored by your interest in our work. This report provides a detailed account of thekey activities that we undertook in the course of 2023. This report demonstrates our continuedcommitment to the advancement of human rights protection especially in the African context.We continued to pursue our mission through excellence in academic teaching and learning,research and publication, and advocacy to advance the promotion and protection of humanrights. The need for these interventions is immense, especially in the African context where thecapacities of key human rights actors to pursue implementation and accountability for humanrights protection is greatly constrained. Against a background of the shrinking resource basketand competing needs, the contribution of the Centre to the advancement of human rights anddemocracy remains an invaluable investment.
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Dear friends and partners,
Compliments of the New Year!!
The Centre for Human Rights is excited to welcome you to yet another year, full of promise and anticipation. We are eager to welcome new students, partners and to strengthen existing partnerships and relationships towards the advancement of human rights and democratic governance in our region and beyond.
Our home, the African continent, continues to experience significant challenges in the protection of human rights, and good governance. The continent continues to be characterized by conflict, inequality, social economic deprivation, and various forms of intolerance. The ongoing post-election conflict in our backyard of Mozambique provided a particularly dark backdrop for the recent holidays festivities. These realities can often feel daunting, and make our mission of contributing to human rights and democracy even more urgent.
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On 6 December 2024, the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), hosted a regional roundtable to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention). Held at The Capital Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, this hybrid event brought together 80 participants including government representatives (DRC, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zimbabwe), diplomatic missions, civil society organisations, academics, and international organizations to discuss the pressing challenges of internal displacement in Southern Africa and identify actionable solutions.
