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The Scholars At Risk (SAR)’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Workshop was hosted by the Centre for Human Rights from 2-6 April 2013 and was attended by SAR staff, SAR’s monitoring partners and staff of the Centre. Participants were welcomed by the Dean of Faculty of Law, Prof André Boraine and the Director of the Centre for Human Rights, Prof Frans Viljoen.
The aim of the Academic Freedom Monitoring Workshop is to improve SAR’s monitoring and information distribution system which creates awareness of conducts which constitute violation of academic freedom and human rights of members of the academic institution.
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The Scholars at Risk (SAR) has recently launched a global monitoring system to identify, track, and analyse attacks on academic freedom and university values. Using the information gathered through the monitoring system, SAR aims to build awareness and develop targeted advocacy responses to key attacks, ultimately enhancing protection for academic freedom and improving condition for higher education communities worldwide.
From 3 to 5 April, Scholars at Risk, with the support from the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria will convene its global team of monitors to evaluate the monitoring system’s progress to date, and build on the advancement already made.
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The Gambia, 22 March 2013 -The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has found the Zimbabwe Government responsible for the torture and ill-treatment of Gabriel Shumba, a well-known human rights advocate and lawyer from Zimbabwe. This is the first time in its 26-year history for the most important human rights body in Africa to hold Zimbabwe responsible for torture.
Mr Shumba, who was representing human rights activists and members of the opposition party MDC before courts in Zimbabwe at the time of his arrest and torture at the hands of the police and intelligence personnel, emphasised that the ruling went beyond his case.
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The quest to challenge the negative attitudes in society and unwind repressive state machinery towards sexual minorities in Africa has been embraced by many individuals and organisations across Africa and in other parts of the world. This was evidenced by the selection of participants who attended the annual short course on sexual minorities, presented by the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria from 11 to 15 February 2013. In total 39 participants from 26 African countries attended. Five others from Finland, Belgium, Britain and the USA also attended. Participants were drawn from both the public sector (including diplomatic missions) and civil society.
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The Centre for Human Rights (CHR), University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, has commenced a two-year project entitled ‘Strengthening Legal Frameworks on Access to Information in Africa’. The project is for a period of two years (from 1 March 2013 to 28 February 2015)) and is being funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), with additional funding from the Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA).
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The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) adopted the ‘Model Law on Access to Information for Africa’ during its recently concluded Extra-Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia. The adoption of the Model Law is a milestone for the African Commission, as it - for the first time - provides a practical tool to assist States in complying with the obligation under article 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to ‘adopt legislative, or other measures to give effect’ to the ‘rights, duties and freedoms enshrined’ therein.
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Six recent graduates of the LLM (Human Rights & Democratisation in Africa) programme participated in the It Gets Better South Africa campaign. It Gets Better South Africa forms part of the global It Gets Better Project where online videos are used to share unique messages of hope and solidarity with LGBT youth. Since its first video, the It Gets Better Project has inspired more than 50 000 user-created videos that have been viewed more than 50 million times.
It Gets Better South Africa features struggle hero Ahmed Kathrada, FreshlyGround violinist Kyla-Rose Smith, presenters Jo-Ann Strauss and Sade Giliberti, models Kerry McGregor and Shashi Naidoo and Mr Gay World 2011, Francois Nel.
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It was a gentle clash of ideas at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, when two distinctive personalities, Mr Stephen Lewis, the Co-Director of AIDS-Free World, and Mr Mandiaye Niang, the Regional Representative for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Southern Africa presented brilliant arguments for and against an interesting theme: Is strict control of drugs essential to the realisation of the right to health before a diversified audience drawn from different states of Africa. Moderated by Ms Mary Crewe, the Director of the Centre for the Study of AIDS, the highly informative event was organised jointly by the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy, the University of Essex and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
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On 6 February 2013, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, in collaboration with Media Institute of South Africa Malawi (MISA-Malawi), World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the Centre for Human Rights, organised a stakeholders meeting on the decriminalisation of laws limiting Freedom of Expression, in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The meeting brought together organisations that had worked on the decriminalisation of laws limiting freedom of expression in Malawi in the past, those that are well positioned to do so in the future, as well as representatives of media groupings whose activities are most jeopardised by the existence of these laws.
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The Draft Model Law on Access to Information has been updated in readiness for re-consideration by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) at its Extra-Ordinary Session taking place from 18 to 23 February 2013 in Banjul, the Gambia. The Model Law was initially presented to the ACHPR during its 52nd Ordinary Session last October in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. At the presentation, the Working Group received useful comments from Commissioners which formed the basis for the finalisation of the Draft Model Law.
The current draft has since been forwarded to the ACHPR ahead of its up-coming consideration.
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You are cordially invited to attend a debate on drug control and the right to health, organised jointly by the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy, the University of Essex and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
Date & Time:
Thursday 21st February 2013 at 14:00
Venue:
Moot Court Room (Ground Floor), Faculty of Law, Main Campus, University of Pretoria
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Advocate Pansy Tlakula, the Chairperson of the South African Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), who is also the African Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, recently addressed aspiring human rights students from across the African continent. This was during the official opening ceremony of the Centre for Human Rights’ Masters (LLM/MPhil) programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa. The ceremony took place on Friday 8 February 2013 at the University of Pretoria. This prestigious programme is presented by 13 African universities under the stewardship of the Centre for Human Rights based at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria. The event was attended by donors, members of the diplomatic corps and senior management of the University of Pretoria.
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It Gets Better South Africa to launch at the Cape Town Holocaust Centre on 20 February 2013 at 7:00 pm.
A diverse group of high profile individuals have teamed up with students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria to create It Gets Better South Africa. The collection of videos discourages homophobic bullying and promotes the Triangle Project Helpline, a service for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Apart from the six students who studied for their LLM (Human Rights & Democartisation in Africa) in 2012, the speakers include struggle hero Ahmed Kathrada, FreshlyGround violinist Kyla-Rose Smith, presenters Jo-Ann Strauss and Sade Giliberti, models Kerry McGregor and Shashi Naidoo and Mr Gay World 2011, Francois Nel.
Presentation by US Ambassador Stephen Rapp on 'Achieving justice for the victims of mass atrocities'
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The Centre for Human Rights invites you to a presentation on 'Achieving justice for the victims of mass atrocities' by Mr Stephen Rapp, US ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice.
Ambassador Rapp's presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Date: Tuesday, 29 January
Time: 17:30
Venue: Centre for Human Rights Lecture Hall, Level 2, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
For more information, please send an email to magnus.killander@up.ac.za or call 012 420 5407.
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The Centre for Human Rights invites you to the Opening Ceremony of the Class of 2013 enrolled in the LLM/MPhil (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) programme
Advocate Pansy Tlakula, Chief Electoral Officer of the South African Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, will be the Keynote Speaker at the event to welcome the students to the programme.
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The University of Pretoria held a graduation ceremony on International Human Rights Day (10 December 2012). The graduation ceremony was the culmination of a week of events organised by the Centre for Human Rights which included a conference on ending mass atrocities in Africa, the fourth World Human Rights Moot Court Competition as well as celebrating the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ award to the Centre for Human Rights.
At the graduation ceremony 42 students graduated with Masters of Laws degrees while 5 students received doctoral degrees. The following Masters degrees were awarded:
- 29 students graduated from the Master of Laws in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa
- 12 students graduated with the Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law and HIV in Africa
- One student received a Master of Philosophy in Multi-disciplinary Human Rights
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The Centre for Human Rights in collaboration with the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria, convened an international conference, 6-7 December 2012, under the over-arching theme: ‘Article 4(h) @ 10: How to End Mass Atrocities in Africa.’ The conference was held in commemoration of the fact that it is now 10 years since the coming into force of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. Article 4(h) of the Constitutive Act allows the African Union to intervene in a member state in the face of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. The aim of the conference was to provide an opportunity for academics, judges, practitioners, policy makers, military personnel, government officials, among others, to consider legal, procedural and practical challenges to the implementation of Article 4(h).
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The 4th World Human Rights Moot Court Competition was held from 7 to 10 December at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. The objective of the World Human Rights Moot Court Competition is to promote co-operation and collaboration between law faculties from around the world. It also has the ambition to facilitate exchanges between universities from various backgrounds and legal systems.
The final of the World Moot Competition, for four years now, has become part of the official celebration of the International Human Rights Day on 10 December. The final round was attended by World Moot participants as well as representative of diplomatic missions accredited to South Africa.
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The Gender Unit recently held the Due Diligence Project expert consultative meeting at the Centre for Human Rights from 3- 4 December 2012. The Due Diligence Project is a multi-year project to develop due diligence standards and indicators on State responsibility to end violence against women. It aims to add content to the international legal principle of “due diligence” in the context of State responsibility to address and end violence against women; and to instrumentalise the findings, indicators and good practices for practical application through manuals, tool kits and training modules. The Centre for Human Rights is an institutional partner of the Project, which is implemented by the International Human Rights Initiative based in Boston, USA.
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On the 7th of December 2012 the 4th edition of the World Moot Court Competition began with an exciting and eventful opening ceremony in which the participants expressed their diversity by dressing in their respective countries’ traditional dress. Sixteen teams from the five UN regions were invited to attend the Competition.
After arriving at the university the students registered for the competition where after they attended the opening ceremony in which Professor Frans Viljoen welcomed the students and introduced Mr Marco Kalbusch from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights who was the keynote speaker for the evening. Mr Kalbusch, as well as Professor Frans Viljoen, addressed the students and provided some words of encouragement to the students before embarking on their journey towards the final of the competition. The evening drew to a close after a lovely dinner where all the participants and organisers had a chance to socialise and become more acquainted with each other.
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You are cordially invited to attend the Graduation Ceremony of the 2012 class of the LLM (Human Rights & Democratisation in Africa) programme on international human rights day (10 December).
The keynote speaker at the event is Ms Jane Connors, Chief of Special Procedures, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Event details
Date: Monday 10 December 2012
Time: 14:00
Venue: Aula, University of Pretoria
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Senate Hall, Conference Centre, University of Pretoria
6-7 December 2012
The Centre for Human Rights in collaboration with the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria, will convene an international conference, 6-7 December 2012, under the over–arching theme: ‘Article 4(h) @ 10: How to End Mass Atrocities in Africa.’ The conference is being held in commemoration of the fact that it is now 10 years since the coming into force of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which ushered in a normative change to the pan-African peace and security agenda, particularly regarding the parameters of sovereignty and intervention for humanitarian ends. At the front and centre of this paradigm shift is Article 4(h) of the Constitutive Act, which allows the African Union to intervene in a member state in the face of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
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The Disability Rights Scholarship Program provides year-long LLM awards to disability rights advocates and lawyers so they can develop the expertise to pursue new legislation, jurisprudence, impact litigation, and scholarship.
With this scholarship, Fellows will have the ability to challenge rights violations in their home countries by drafting enforceable legislation consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), utilizing enforcement mechanisms set forth in the Convention, taking forward disability rights litigation, requesting CRPD-compliant remedies, and engaging in disability rights advocacy.
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Some of the Centre's students particpated in the Documentary Clinic as part of their studies towards the LLM (Human Rights & Democratisation in Africa) programme.
The documentary Changing Lenses: A short film about youth empowerment was the result of the 2012 Documentary Clinic.
As South Africa struggles to rise from the ashes of its Apartheid past, cracking the glass ceiling of extreme socio-economic inequalities using conventional methods has proven to be, at best, a shot in the dark.
As necessity is the mother of invention, people have developed innovative ways of raising awareness through creative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking.
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During its 52nd Session in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) adopted a general comment on article 14(1)(d) and (e) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (African Women’s Protocol, also known as the Maputo Protocol) which provides for women’s human rights in the context of the HIV pandemic.
It is the first time the African Commission has adopted a general comment, which is an interpretive text to clarify the normative content of human rights provisions and the nature and scope of state obligations. General comments have been elaborated in many instances in the UN human rights treaty body system.
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The Centre for Human Rights Gender Unit, with the generous support of UNAIDS, convened an expert working group meeting in Dakar, Senegal from 28 - 29 September 2012 to broaden consultation on the draft general comment on article (14)(1)(d) & (e) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
The general comment elaborates the nature and scope of the provisions in questions and clarifies state obligations towards complying with the identified provisions, namely concerning women's protection from HIV infection and issues related to information, testing and disclosure in line with international human rights standards.
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The African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, now for 21 years a very prominent feature on the calendar for African law faculties, recently celebrated its coming of age.
The 21st African Human Rights Moot Court Competition was held from 1 to 6 October in Maputo, Mozambique.
The Universidade Eduardo Mondlane co-hosted this important human rights competition with the Centre for Human Rights from the University of Pretoria
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The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), the oldest human rights body of the African Union, awarded its first ever NGO Prize for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to the Centre for Human Rights of the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria.
This Prize was awarded on the occasion of the Commission celebrating its 25th birthday, during the opening of its 52nd Ordinary Session in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, on 9 October 2012.
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The Centre for Human Rights: Gender Unit and Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies, with funding from Irish Aid conducted training on gender mainstreaming from the 17th - 21st of September at the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Law.
The participants in this week long training were chosen from various Irish Aid development partners as well as University of Pretoria staff. This training, now in its second year, is geared towards the comprehensive realisation of gender equality in both the public and private spheres.
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The Model Law on Access to Information has been finalised for adoption by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), following the meeting of the Model Law Working Group from 6-8 July 2012 in Pretoria, South Africa.
At the Working Group meeting, all comments received electronically and at each of the sub-regional consultations on the Model Law,were considered by members of the Working Group and amendments to the draft Model Law, agreed upon.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, expresses its deep concern and dismay about the killing by members of the South African Police Force of demonstrators on 16 August 2012. Available evidence gives rise to serious questions about the appropriateness and proportionality of the Police response.
The Centre therefore calls on President Zuma to immediately appoint an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the causes and to establish responsibility for the killings. An internal Police or government inquiry would in our view constitute a ‘business as usual’-approach, which is not a suitable response to the extremity of the alarming events.
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The Centre for Human Rights is both honoured and delighted to have hosted Mrs Mary Robinson for a memorable 'fireside chat' in the Sanctuary room, overlooking the Eternal Flame, at Freedom Park in Pretoria last night (7 August 2012).
Mary Robinson is Extraordinary Professor in the Centre for Human Rights and the Centre for the Study of AIDS at the University of Pretoria, both of which were pleased to welcome all guests to Freedom Park.
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The Alberton Magistrates’ Court on Monday 30 July 2012 made an order vindicating the rights of two lesbian women who had lodged a complaint that they were not allowed to publicly celebrate their civil union at Sha-Mani, a privately-owned functions venue and conference centre in Alberton. Sitting as an Equality Court, the Court accepted the agreement between the parties and ordered that Sha-Mani must pay R20 000 to OUT, an NGO working towards gay and lesbian well-being. Sha-mani was also ordered to allow gays and lesbians to hire any of Sha-Mani’s three venues for any purpose, including for weddings.
After the case, the couple, Francis and Liani Buitendag, said: “We really hope this case will help others in the LGBTI community to realise they can stand up against unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity”.
Download this press release in PDF format (English)
Laai hierdie persverklaring af in PDF formaat (Afrikaans)
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A prominent human rights activist and LGBTI rights defender, Monica Mbaru, has been appointed as a Judge of the Industrial Court and will serve in the Judiciary.
Justice Mbaru Monica Wanjiru was sworn in by President Mwai Kibaki and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga at State House on July 13. Justice Mbaru was among 12 successful candidates who were vetted and selected by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
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A panel discussion on accountability and responsibility of international financial institutions was held on 20 June 2012 at the Centre for Human Rights.
The presenters were Prof Jan Wouters from the University of Leuven and Dr Andria Naude-Fourie from Erasmus University, the Netherlands. The panel discussion was moderated by Professor Danny Bradlow, the head of the International Development Law Unit at the Centre for Human Rights.
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The Centre for Human Rights with support from the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Network recently constituted a working group of experts, drawn from various organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS and related matters, at the University of Pretoria.
The Constitution of this group was geared towards the development of guidelines on state obligations relating to women's health and reproductive rights and HIV (Article 14 (1) (d) and (e) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa).
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On Tuesday 15 May 2012, Ms Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights presented the Annual Helen Kanzira Memorial Lecture at the University of Pretoria.
Helen Kanzira was an alumnus of the pioneer class of the Master of Laws in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa at the Centre for Human Rights. Helen passed away in Uganda following complications during childbirth.
In commemoration of her spirit and dedication to human rights in Africa, the Centre for Human rights instituted the lecture to raise awareness on issues of women’s reproductive health rights.
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Following the decision of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice of 13 March 2012 to adjourn the hearing of the case, RADDHO v Senegal, Case No. ECW/CCJ/APP/03/12, the Court proceeded to hear the matter on 4 May 2012.
The Republic of Senegal was represented by their Counsel, Mr Mafall Fall, while RADDHO’s Chairperson, Alioune Tine and RADDHO’s lawyer, Maître Amadou Kane were also present.
The Centre for Human Rights, which has been the legal and technical adviser of RADDHO in this matter, was represented by Mr Horace Adjolohoun who also acted as lead counsel in this session of the hearing.
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On Wednesday 2 May, Sir Nigel Rodley, Professor at the Human Rights Centre of the University of Essex, member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and former United Nations Special Rapportuer on Torture presented a public lecture on the UK Human Rights Act.
During a week in Pretoria, Sir Nigel also taught on the LLM programme in human rights and democratisation in Africa as part of a teacher exchange between the Centre for Human Rights and the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex.
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The Centre for Human Rights at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, invites you to the Annual Helen Kanzira Lecture.
This public lecture on women’s reproductive health rights will be presented by Ms Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The title of the lecture is: "Valuing Women as Autonomous Beings: Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights"
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, has followed with great concern the events that have been unfolding in the Republic of Angola, particularly since David Mendes declared that his political party (Partido Popular) will run against the party of the incumbent President, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, in the upcoming national elections to be held sometime in 2012.
Following Mendes’s declaration of his intention to run in the elections as a competitor to the incumbent President, he has been receiving death threats and had his property and that of the human rights organization (Mãos Livres) and Partido Popular vandalized by unknown persons. The death threats have intensified after he filed a complaint to the Attorney Generals’ Office against the incumbent President accusing him of embezzlement of public funds.
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Roundup of four global experts' views, including that of Danny Bradlow, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations in the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, on the selection of the new President of the World Bank.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the selection of Jim Yong Kim, the U.S. candidate, as the next president of the World Bank has stimulated debate over reform of the institution's governance. Four experts size up the succession process, some judging it a missed opportunity for meaningful change while others seeing a crucial injection of new expertise at the sixty-eight-year-old development body.
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Following the decision of the Constitutional Council of Senegal to endorse President Abdoulaye Wade as a presidential candidate for a third term, RADDHO, a non-governmental organisation based in Dakar, Senegal, lodged a complaint to the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice against the government of the Republic of Senegal on 16 February 2012 cited as case no. ECW/CCJ/APP/03/12.
In bringing the suit, RADDHO enjoyed the support of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, which acted as legal and technical advisor.
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The Centre for Human Rights will be hosting a seminar on the Use of Official Languages Bill.
The presenters are:
- Prof Fernand de Varennes
Research professor at the international observatory of linguisic rights, Université de Moncton, Canada, and Convenor of the 13th Conference of the International Academy of Linguistic Law - Prof Koos Malan
Department of Public Law, University of Pretoria
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Professor Christopher John Robert “John” Dugard, Extraordinary Professor of Law in the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, will receive one of South Africa’s highest civilian honours, the Order of the Baobab: Gold, in a ceremony conducted by President Jacob Zuma on Freedom Day, 27 April 2012.
The Order of the Baobab is awarded by the President to South African citizens for ‘distinguished service that goes beyond the call of duty’ and for exceptional contributions to the nation.
Prof Dugard will be recognised for his achievements in international law and, in particular, for his efforts in opposition to apartheid, his contributions to the establishment of the rule of law, his work in the field of human rights and his role in the creation of a free and democratic South Africa.
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On 27 March 2012, Takele Soboka Bulto (Ethiopia, 2003) won the Harold Luntz Graduate Research Thesis Prize for 2011 for his PhD thesis submitted last year at the Melbourn Law School, Australia.
Takele says he is proud to say that he owes so much to the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, and its ever supportive Professors, for what he has achieved since 2003.
Dr Takele Soboka Bulto is currently Assistant Professor of International Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra.
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In 2010, the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, received funding from the World Bank to cover the costs of IDF Grant TF 090558: Enhancing Access to Legal Information – a grant between the World Bank and the Faculty of Law. The core activity under this project was the production by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) of a series of books on comparative African law, entitled the Rule of Law in Africa Series.
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Julius Osega Memorial Lecture CANCELLED
Unfortunately the Julius Osega Memorial Lecture which was to have been presented by Sir Dawda Jawara has been cancelled for the moment. The Memorial Lecture will take place later in the year, date to be announced.
Due to unforeseen circumstances Sir Dawda Jawara's entourage could not get their visas in time for the flights and he may not travel without them.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The PULP "Rule of Law in Africa Series" Book Launch will, however, still be taking place.
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Satang Nabanech, a 2012 LLM student (Human Rights & Democratisation in Africa) recently won a prize for her paper in AAWORD's essay competition.
The Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD) organises the Advocacy Competition on Gender and Political Participation in Africa.
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It is with great sadness that the Centre for Human Rights learnt of the death of Steve Odero Ouma. Steve was a member of the LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) class of 2005. He passed away on 23 February, after having been admitted to hospital. The autopsy revealed that Steve had advanced gastrointestinal cancer and neither surgery or chemotherapy would have saved his life.
In 2005, one of the field trip destinations of the LLM students was Sierra Leone. I was fortunate enough to go with this group, of which Steve was part. On this trip, I got to know him as someone who could be playful and mischievous, but also extremely serious about issues affecting our continent, and as an inquisitive, determined and dedicated student.
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On 10 February, the Regional Office for Southern Africa of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (ROSA) launched a Human Rights Resource Centre at the Oliver Tambo Law Library at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
The inauguration ceremony took place on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 2012 Class of the LLM in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa, hosted by the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria.
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South Africa’s Public Protector Thuli Madonsela addressed aspiring human rights lawyers from across the continent at the opening ceremony of the Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa, a programme of the Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria. The ceremony, held on Friday 10 February 2012, was attended by nearly 200 people, including representatives of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, members of the diplomatic corps, and members of the senior management of the University of Pretoria.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, has followed with great concern the events that have been taking place in the Republic of Senegal since the decision of the Constitutional Council, on 27 January 2012, to allow the incumbent, President Abdoulaye Wade, to run for a third term. In our view, it is a contravention of the letter and spirit of the Constitution of Senegal, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) laws and the President’s own pledge to the Senegalese people.
The Government of Senegal has, despite the legitimate concerns raised by the opposition parties, civil societies as well as a large majority of the citizenry, decreed 26 February 2012 as the date for the presidential election.
Download the press statement (English)Download the press statement (Français)
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The Centre for Human Rights awarded an honorary doctorate degree to Advocate George Bizos SC on 9 December 2011. Advocate Bizos is a distinguished human rights lawyer who campaigned against apartheid in South Africa, most notably during the Rivonia Trial.
Currently associated with the Constitutional Litigation Unit at the Legal Resources Centre, Advocate Bizos delivered his address 'Blame neither the Constitution nor the Courts' during the Spring Graduation Ceremony.
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With the deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification by Cameroun on 15 January 2012, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (Democracy Charter)is set to enter into force on 15 February 2012, 30 days after the deposit of the last instrument of ratification. The Democracy Charter was adopted by the African Union on 30 January 2007, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The entry into force of the Democracy Charter means that for the first time, a binding treaty on democracy, elections and governance is in place in Africa, although it will only be binding on the 15 member States that have ratified it. The Democracy Charter is the culmination of successive non-binding instruments adopted by the African Union on democracy, good governance, human rights and development, and reinforces recent initiatives such asthe New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
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The University of Pretoria held a graduation ceremony for the Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa. The ceremony took place at the Musaion on Friday 9 December 2011. All the 30 students who were admitted to the programme in 2011 completed the programme successfully. There were 15 women and 15 men. The students were drawn from 16 African countries.
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On 9 December 2011, the Alumni Association welcomes 30 new members who will be awarded the LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa.
On 11 July 2011, nineteen alumni attended a meeting during which they discussed strategies to strengthen the alumni network. Implementation of the African Charter research project was discussed in the same meeting. Alumni discussed proposals including co-authoring articles, joint publication, sharing articles and jurisprudence, launching list serves on thematic groups’ basis.
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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.
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The Integrated Bar Project (IBP) was established in the late 1980's with the objective of exposing senior black South African law students to the legal practice of especially commercial law in the country's larger law firms. Since then approximately 1385 students from all law faculties in South Africa have undertaken 3-week internships during the July university holidays. Almost all the top law firms in the country participated and additional specialised phases were added.
The Integrated Bar Project (IBP) aimed to place 100-150 senior black law students from all South Africa's Universities on July holiday internships with South Africa's top law firms. Twenty of these students advanced to specialised internships with the High Courts, the Constitutional Court and the largest commercial banks in South Africa.
The IBP was an initiative resulting from a partnership between the
- Centre for Human Rights
www.chr.up.ac.za
- Legal Education and Development, Law Society of South Africa
www.lssalead.org.za
