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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 are pleased to announce the call for papers for the sixth volume of the African Human Rights Yearbook (AHRY).
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On Monday, 7 March 2022, Italian diplomat Fabrizio Petri, the country’s first Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ persons, visited the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria. Mr Petri is one of only four such Special Envoys globally. In this position, created in 2021 by the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, he works towards promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ persons around the world, with special focus on the decriminalisation of same-sex sexual relationships.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, welcomes the recently improved pace of ratification of the 2018 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (African Disability Protocol). In the past 12 months, Mali, Kenya and Rwanda have ratified the African Disability Protocol. We applaud these three states for demonstrating commitment and political will to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. However, three ratifications in four years represent a very slow ratification rate. Fifteen ratifications are required for its entry into force. At the current rate of ratification, it would take decades for the Africa Disability Protocol to take effect. An acceleration in ratifications is therefore urgently needed.
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Wellspring’s International Human Rights (IHR) Program seeks a consultant with experience as a practitioner in the transitional justice field to support the Senior Program Officer to further develop a line of grant making to advance implementation of reparation programs for victims and survivors of mass or war-related atrocities and crimes.
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Join the Global Campus Network for this online panel discussion on the current state of human rights in Afghanistan, the role of the UNin the crisis, and the social responsibility of universities.
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The Advanced Human Rights Courses (AHRC) and the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Units at the Centre for Human Rights (the ‘Centre’), University of Pretoria (UP) recently hosted the 2022 edition of its annual short course on Sexual Minority Rights in Africa. The course was presented through both virtual and physical sessions from 21 to 25 February 2022. The course was attended by 70 participants with more than 15 presenters from both across and outside Africa. Participants included the LLM/Mphil students of the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) and the Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa (SRRA) Masters programmes in the Faculty of Law, UP. Also in attendance were researchers, academics, judicial officers, government workers, and members of civil society. The hybrid format provided an opportunity for the Centre to accommodate a larger group of participants in an interactive, virtual classroom in conjunction with those who physically attended the course.
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Dear minister Enoch Godongwana
As you prepare for your first budget speech we urge you to provide the South African public with a full picture of how the government has used the resources it has received from international financial institutions (IFIs) and to announce the establishment of a South African IFI engagement group.
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From 13 - 17 February, the Centre for Human Rights hosted Prof Mutua Makau, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Margaret W. Wong Professor from the SUNY Buffalo Law School to teach on the Master's Programme on Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa. Prof Mutua Makau focused on different topics such as duties in international human rights law, democracy and globalisation, and the rule of law and development in Africa.
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The African Disability Rights Yearbook (ADRY) is calling for papers for consideration for publication in Section A of the ADRY in 2022. The ADRY publishes once a year with a focus on disability rights issues and developments of contemporary concern to persons with disabilities on the African continent. The ADRY is published by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) and is published as a peer-reviewed open-access journal.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria cordially invite you to a discussion on the impact of United Nations human rights treaties and mechanisms at the domestic level, organized jointly by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (University of Oslo) and the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria) as part of a project funded by Diku’s UTFORSK programme.
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The Centre for Human Rights (Centre) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) under the aegis of the Rule of Law Program for Sub Saharan Africa developed simple-easy-reference booklets (for non-lawyers) that summarise the Bill of Rights as espoused in the constitutions of selected “Anglophone African” countries which are: Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.The broad aim is to promote human rights and constitutional literacy in Africa.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is concerned about the growing anti-immigrant sentiments and attacks fuelled by the recent xenophobic statements of political parties.
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The Women’s Rights Unit of the Centre for Human Rights is looking for an experienced consultant with research expertise to conduct a study on the impact of COVID 19 pandemic and state measures in relation to the pandemic, on the rights of older women in selected Southern African states.
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ACCA is looking for a dedicated, creative, and energetic person who will work as ACCA Project Administrator. The ACCA Project Administrator will work under the supervision of ACCA’s Manager and will support the work of the ACCA secretariat by providing assistance on project development and implementation, supporting ACCA partners, undertaking advocacy and conducting research.
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The International Development Law Unit is seeking a student to work as a part-time office administrator and personal assistant to the SARChi Chair of International Development Law and African Economic Relations.
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The first Christof Heyns Human Rights Scholarship has been awarded to Keketso Kgomosotho to undertake doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria. Keketso was introduced to Christof’s wife and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University, Professor Tawana Kupe, during a lunch event at the Heyns’ residence on 23 January 2022.
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Technological developments have made what was once science fiction reality. This gives some hope for a utopian future while others get nightmares. It also highlights the extent to which technologies that are not explicitly designed with human rights and equity in mind have tremendous potential to do harm.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly disrupted many of the systems that assure children’s mental health and well-being but it also highlights already existing failures to care for the mental health of children and the adults caring for them (parents, other carers, teachers).
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The African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA) is looking for a dedicated, creative, and energetic person who provide overall intellectual leadership to and be responsible for the operational management of the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA), a coalition of more than 100 African organisations (mostly non-governmental organisations), working in the field of business and human rights on the continent.
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A life Interrupted: essays in honour of the lives and legacies of Christof Heyns
In honour of the late internationally-renowned human rights lawyer, Professor Christof Heyns, a volume of essays, A life interrupted: essays in honour of the lives and legacies of Christof Heyns, was launched (virtually) on 10 January 2022, which is the date marking 63 years since Christof’s birth.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) invites you to the virtual book launch of A LIFE INTERRUPTED: Essays in honour of the lives and legacies of Christof Heyns, edited by Frans Viljoen, Charles Fombad, Dire Tladi, Ann Skelton and Magnus Killander (2022).
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is concerned and condemns the arbitrary detention and deportation of Corlett Letlojane by Cameroon authorities on 16 December. Ms Letlojane had travelled to Cameroon and arrived at Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport on 15 December to attend a high-level regional consultation on advocacy for peace and national reconciliation at the invitation of the Human Rights Defenders Network in Central Africa (Réseaux des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC)). The detention and deportation of Ms Letlojane by Cameroon violated several rights guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which it is a state party.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre), is concerned about the recent series of deaths and other harm arising from initiation rites in South Africa. It calls for this matter to be treated with urgency, and that the Eastern Cape Provincial government immediately embark on an in-depth study into these deaths, with a view to identifying and adapting concrete recommendations that will ensure that, more deaths do not occur in the next initiation season.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria is calling for submissions for a book publication on the experiences of African LGBTIQ+ persons in South Africa, to be released in 2022. Submissions can be in the form of non-fiction (including opinion pieces and essays), fiction including short stories, poems, photographic essays (with accompanying text) or visual artwork (with accompanying text). While the primary focus is on South Africa, we welcome contributions from other contexts where these can be correlated with the South African experience.
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In the past years the University of Pretoria in South Africa has not participated in the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in light of the fact that the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) is located at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pretoria. The CHR has, in the person of the late Professor Christof Heyns, initiated and for the past thirteen years organised the Moot Court Competition. For the last few years, the Competition has been co-organised by the CHR and the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Washington College of Law American University, Washington DC, with the collaboration of the United Nations Human Rights Council Branch at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, selected Zimbabwean human rights champion Roselyn Hanzi to receive the 2021 Vera Chirwa Award. Ms Hanzi is the Executive Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), a non-governmental organisation that has for long been working for human rights protection in Zimbabwe. She has held this position since 2016, making her one of the most seasoned leaders in Zimbabwean civil society. The Award was in recognition of her work in championing human rights protection in Zimbabwe and the ZHLR where she leads the organisation’s work in human rights litigation, education and awareness despite unfavourable conditions.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (Centre) invites applications for a one-year post-doctoral fellowship focused on research and policy with respect to the right to privacy in the digital age in Africa, based at the Centre in Pretoria.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (UP), on 10 December 2021 celebrated the achievements of its graduating students during a private event at the Future Africa Campus of the University of Pretoria The annual graduation on 10 December, International Human Rights Day, has become a regular item on the Centre calendar.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in 2021 marks 35 years of its existence. To commemorate this milestone, the Centre on 9 December 2021 hosted a Forum (CHR @ 35 Forum) to reflect on its main achievements and contributions; and shortcomings or missed opportunities; and to consider how the Centre needs to (re)position itself to best fit into a dramatically changing landscape relevant to human rights. Centre and Faculty staff, students, graduates, partners, donors, and other stakeholders in the work of the Centre attended this event. The event was celebrated online, connected via Zoom.
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On 25 November 2021, the Disability Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, hosted a report validation workshop at Avani Hotel and Casino, Gaborone, Botswana. The draft report titled ‘Persons with disabilities and barriers to equal access to justice in Botswana: A research study of the criminal justice system’ forms part of a larger study on access to justice, which the Unit is undertaking in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana. The workshop was facilitated by Ms Dianah Msipa and Mr Wilson Macharia from the Disability Rights Unit, alongside the consultant who undertook the research Ms Keikantse Phele. In attendance were persons with disabilities, and representatives of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and government departments such as the Judiciary.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (CHR/Centre) on 9 December 2021 will host a virtual CHR@35 Forum to take stock of successes and failures, and to reflect on the future. The Centre invites its staff, Faculty colleagues, students, graduates, partners, friends, donors and other stakeholders in the work of the Centre be part of this virtual event. The event will inform the Centre’s Strategic Plan for the next 5 years.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) invites applications for two research assistants to work with the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit.
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The Disability Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria has successfully hosted its 9th Annual Disability Rights Conference. The 9th Annual Disability Rights Conference focused on the sexual and reproductive health rights of persons with disabilities in the African region. The Conference was held virtually via zoom on 16 and 17 November 2021.
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The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is a multilateral treaty that establishes a uniform legal regime for contracts for the cross-border sale of goods. Such sales contracts operate as the backbone of international trade, and uniform rules for sales contracts provide traders with an efficient, modern and comprehensive legal framework to support their commercial activities.
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The Institute of International and Comparative Law in Africa cordially invites you to an online screening of It Stays With You: The Use of Force by UN Peacekeepers in Haiti a documentary film directed by Siobhán Wills and Cahal McLaughlin.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) hosted a virtual book launch of the French translation of Albie Sachs’ book The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law (originally published by Oxford University Press) L’étrange alchimie de la vie et de la loi, translated and commented by Christine Schurmans
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, welcomes the appointment of Dr Mumba Malila as Chief Justice of Zambia by President Hakainde Hichilema on 17 November 2021. This is a deserved recognition by the Zambian president for his commitment to human rights, rule of law and independence of the judiciary. The Centre commends Zambia’s Judicial Service Commission for recommending his appointment on 12 November.
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Towards the end of 2020, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities established the Working Group on Deinstitutionalisation in response to a critically acclaimed global report launched by the Covid-19 Disability Rights Monitor on the impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities. The report highlighted shocking findings on the extremely disproportionate impact of the pandemic on persons with disabilities, and specifically, the exacerbating role played by institutions and indeed institutionalisation.
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The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Unit, Centre for Human Rights is presenting a webinar on Resolution 275 and its protection of lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) cis and trans women in Africa. The webinar will explore various challenges faced by the LBQ cis and trans women in Africa and how these challenges can be tackled using Resolution 275 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission). The webinar will also provide a space and an opportunity for dialogue and education for the community on the African human rights system.
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In remembrance of the late Professor Christof Heyns, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, held a tree-planting ceremony on 15 November 2021. Copies of a memorial publication, containing a collection of tributes to Christof, Christof Heyns: In memoriam 1959-2021, were also handed to family and friends.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) invites you to the virtual book launch of the French translation of Albie Sachs’ book The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law (originally published by Oxford University Press) L’étrange alchimie de la vie et de la loi, translated and commented by Christine Schurmans
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Climate change is a devilishly complex challenge that affects all aspects of our lives. It affects weather patterns, biodiversity, access to and sustainability of water and land resources, air pollution, inequality, employment, industrial production, distribution and consumption, and migration patterns.
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The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) is proud to announce the winner of the first recipient of the Christof Heyns Memorial Thesis Award. The award for the best thesis by an African doctoral candidate completed in 2020, goes to Dr Tabeth Lynn Masengu.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) in collaboration with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development hosted a capacity building workshop on state compliance with reporting obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). The workshop took place from 9 to 10 November 2021 and participants attended in a hybrid format. Some participants attended in person in Hatfield, Pretoria while others attended virtually from different provinces which include the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, cordially invites you to participate in a webinar launching the reports on the right of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life in Namibia and Malawi.
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The International Development Law Unit cordially invites you to a lecture on 'The multiplication of proceedings and of courts and tribunals and the tools at disposal to address the risks attached to this multiplication phenomenon' by Prof Laurence Boisson de Chazournes.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, is seeking a Communications and Advocacy Manager. The deadline for applications is 23 November 2021
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In view of the disparity of outcomes in judicial reasoning across the continent on SOGIE and ESCR, this symposium will bring together judges, lawyers, researchers and human rights defenders from across Africa to share ideas on good practices and lessons learned when dealing with these cases. The Symposium will bring together judges, lawyers, human rights defenders and researchers from across Africa to share ideas on good practices on the adjudication of both SOGIE and ESCR related cases on the African continent. Presenters and participants will have the opportunity to review and comment on perspectives on selected SOGIE and ESCR cases and discuss national and regional challenges in these areas in order to understand, advance and grow a progressive jurisprudence that respect, protects, promotes and fulfils human rights, departing from colonial-era constructions of state and society in Africa.
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GENIDA e-learning on IDPs is aimed at empowering and equipping advocates, civil society actors, lawyers, researchers, policy analysts and lawmakers with practical leadership skills tailored towards creating a society that respects protects and supports IDPs. GENIDA envisions an Africa where the rights of IDPs are observed, protected and promoted. We believe that an investment in mentorship, civic education, capacity development in form of training will secure the respect, protection promotion and observance of the rights of IDPs today and in the future.
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The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter or Charter) was adopted 31 years ago. To date, 50 countries have ratified the African Children’s Charter, which demonstrates a growing commitment to the respect, protection, and promotion of the rights of children in Africa. There is no doubt that the Charter has contributed immensely to the development of standards and practice of the wellbeing of children, in the region.
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The course of the year 2020, and the lives of us all, were fundamentally altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the regulations restricting personal interaction. At the height of these restrictions, no international air travel was possible, and no gatherings could be held. Restrictions on physical meetings and travel, in particular, impact on many Centre activities. Planning and adjustment of projects proved to be extremely complicated. The situation was one of constant uncertainty and need for adjustment. While South Africa experienced significant adverse effects in the second quarter of 2020, the situation improved towards the fourth quarter of 2020.
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Background
The rapid growth in recent years of internet access and the technologies enabling its use has been a catalyst redefining the overall development of global economies, including Africa. The use of the internet and related technologies has also become a central issue within the human rights discourse in the current decade. The discourse acknowledges both the positive contributions of technology, such as those that enhance certain protections and guarantees and those that negatively facilitate human rights violations in other respects.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is deeply concerned about the recent military takeover in Sudan following authorities' demands to hand over to a civilian-led government and pro-democracy protests in the nation.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the International Commission of Jurists, cordially invites you to participate in a webinar on the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa.
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The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter or Charter) was adopted 31 years ago. To date, 50 countries have ratified the African Children’s Charter, which demonstrates a growing commitment to the respect, protection and promotion of the rights of children. There is no doubt that the Charter has contributed immensely to the development of standards and practices related to children in the region.
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After 16 years of brilliant service to the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, Yolanda Booyzen, the Centre’s Communications and Advocacy Manager, is stepping down from this position.
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In marking #InternetDay2021, the Expression, Information and Digital Rights (EIDR) Unit in collaboration with Facebook (Southern Africa Public Policy Team), at the #Tech4RightsExpo will host a session on The role of state and non-state actors in addressing online harms and ensuring a healthy internet ecosystem in Africa
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That we must not work in silos in utilising the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, popularly known as the Maputo Protocol, to safeguard and uphold the rights of women and girls across the continent is a key reflection on 18 years since the adoption of the Protocol. In an effort to further promote women’s rights and improve women’s lives in Africa the Women’s Rights Unit (WRU) at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Advanced Human Rights Courses (AHRC) hosted a 5-day hybrid intensive short course on Women’s Rights in Africa. The course was presented from 18 to 22 October 2021 to provide participants, from various professional backgrounds, with a perspective of the women’s rights framework at the international and regional levels.
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Webinar on 40 years of achievements and challenges to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
To celebrate Africa Human Rights Day, 21 October, the South African Human Rights Commission, HURISA and the Centre for Human Rights, organised a joint webinar to take stock of achievements and challenged that have arisen during the 40 years since the Charter's adoption in 1981.
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To celebrate African Human Rights Day, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, on 21 October launched the French and Portuguese versions of its Guide to the African human rights system. The year 2021 marks 40 years since the adoption of Africa's primary human rights treaty, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, on 27 June 1981. Africa Human Rights Day has been inaugurated to mark the day when the Charter actually entered into force. This happened on 21 October 1986, 35 years ago!
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The Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to attend the #Tech4Rights Expo, which will be held online from 26 to 29 October 2021.
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Lloyd Kuveya took up the position of Assistant Director (Operations) of the Centre for Human Rights on 1 October 2021. He joins the Director and Assistant Director (Programmes) in the Centre’s management team. In response to its continuous growth, the Centre some years ago changed its operational structure to provide for a director and two assistant directors.
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Season 3 Episode 12: #Tech4Rights: Violence against women and girls online
In conversation with Ms Amanda Manyame
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This year, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights celebrates 40 years since its adoption on 27 June 1981. The Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA), the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria (CHR), are jointly hosting a virtual celebratory event.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, has launched a new photobook series titled Looking through the prism: Narratives of queer dignity in South Africa featuring photographs and narratives of the lives of LGBTIQ+ persons living in South Africa. Volume 1 of the series has been published online this October, which is also the South African Pride Month, commemorating the anniversary of the first Lesbian and Gay Pride March in Africa and held in October 1990 in Johannesburg.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, extends its heartfelt congratulations to its Director Professor Frans Viljoen on his recent appointment to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. The appointment was announced on 11 October 2021 at the 48th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
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(By Prof Daniel Bradlow)
An independently commissioned inquiry has alleged that IMF managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, may have put pressure on subordinates to favour China in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report during a previous role at the institution.
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The Disability Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, the Disability Student Unit at the University of Venda and the Mandate of the UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism cordially invites you to its 1st Live Chat with the Independent Expert on 27 October which will take place virtually via Zoom.
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The Mail & Guardian and Democracy Development Program (DDP) hosted this webinar to unpack the sociopolitical landscape; discuss the possible outcomes based on available data and voting behaviour; assess the potential impact of coalitions and evaluate the balance of power for the new municipal administrations. It was moderated by Sphamandla Brian Mhlongo, Senior Programmes Officer at the DDP. The guest speakers were: Bonolo Makgale, Programme Manager of the Democracy and Civic Engagement Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria; Andile Zulu, Political Writer; and Khanya Vilakazi, Researcher.
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This video invites you to take a journey down memory lane, as we look back at the 30 years of the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
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On behalf of the Project on Public Finance and Human Rights and its co-sponsors, the International Development Law Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria; the Business and Human Rights Initiative, University of Connecticut and the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law, we are delighted to invite you to attend a virtual roundtable discussion entitled, “What Role Should Central Banks Play in Dealing with Environmental and Social Challenges like Climate Change and Inequality”
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities in Africa, cordially invites you to participate in a webinar to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons with countries that have ratified or made progress towards ratifying the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons (Older Persons Protocol) targeting the Governments of Benin, Ethiopia, Lesotho and Malawi.
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A #Tech4Rights production featuring Wilson Macharia
We live in a digital age where technology makes it faster and easier to do almost anything. From using the GPS on your smart phone for directions to meeting with colleagues from all over the globe via Zoom, technology has become an integral part of our contemporary existence. But if we had to, most of us could probably do without technology, though this would make life harder in a lot of ways.
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The combined team of the law schools of the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Cocody, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenyatta University, Kenya, appearing as the applicants, emerged as the winners of the 30th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, held on 24 September 2021 at Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Law. The runner-up is the combined team of Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique, and Stellenbosch University.
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On 15 September 2021, the Disability Rights Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, hosted a report validation workshop at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia. The draft report titled ‘Persons with disabilities and barriers to equal access to justice in Zambia: A research study of the criminal justice system’ forms part of a larger study on access to justice, which the Unit is undertaking in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.
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Kenyatta University School of Law and Stellenbosch University Faculty of Law have progressed as the top 2 English-language teams to the final round of the 30th edition of the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition being held in Stellenbosch, South Africa. They join the law schools of the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Cocody, Côte d’Ivoire, as the top French-language team and the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique, the top Portuguese-language team during the preliminary rounds.
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The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, will co-host a webinar in Commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information
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At the 48th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, reiterated the importance of the ratification and entry into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa (Older Persons Protocol). During the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, the Centre for Human Rights advocated for the ratification of the Older Persons Protocol by African states to ensure improved protection of the rights of older persons on the continent.
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South Africa’s local government elections, to elect the municipal tier of government, are constitutionally mandated through section 159 of the Constitution of South Africa to take place every five years. These elections were scheduled to take place towards the end of 2021 and have been the subject of great deliberation in the nation. Conducting elections during a pandemic has been the subject of much debate on the continent and worldwide, with certain countries choosing to continue with elections amid the pandemic and others choosing to postpone their elections amid concerns of the risks involved. Nations on the continent that have held elections during the pandemic include Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire. Given the extent of the risks of holding elections during the pandemic and mixed calls on whether to postpone or continue with elections in the nation, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa ordered an inquiry commission to determine the nation’s capacity to hold free, fair elections during the initially scheduled period in October.
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On 13 September 2021, at its 48 ordinary sessions, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) had its enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s oral update about human rights in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The HRC was updated about the human rights situation in the Tigray region by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights; Mr. Daniel Bekele, Chief Commissioner of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission; Mr. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Vice-Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and Mr. Gedion Timothewos Hessebon, Attorney General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The oral update also witnessed presentations from representatives of the European Union, the United States of America, African states, and civil society organisations.
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On 15 September 2021, EndCode and the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, will co-host the launch of the Model Guidelines on Age-Appropriate Design for Online Services — an Impact Amplifier Africa Online Safety Fund project, funded by Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.
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S3 E11: #Tech4Rights: Reflections on conversion therapy, current practices, emerging technology, and the protection of LGBTQ+ rights in Africa
In conversation with Ms Thiruna Naidoo
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Applications are invited for the award of the first Christof Heyns Human Rights Scholarship. Applications are open to current or prospective doctoral candidates studying towards a doctoral degree in human rights at the University of Pretoria. The Scholarship is for study in 2022.
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On Friday 27 August 2021, the Disability Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, hosted a one-day training workshop on the right of persons with disabilities to participate in public and political life in Malawi. This right is entrenched in article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and in article 21 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (African Disability Protocol).
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria is pleased to announce the publication of the third paper in the African Human Rights Policy Papers series.
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EndCode and the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, will co-host the launch of the Model Guidelines on Age-Appropriate Design for Online Services — an Impact Amplifier Africa Online Safety Fund project, funded by Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, cordially invites you to a webinar organised by the Democracy and Civic Engagement Unit on spatial (in)justice and the post-apartheid state.
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On 15 September 2021, the Project on Public Finance and Human Rights hosted an online discussion entitled, “The Financial Services Human Rights Benchmark Project and its Potential Applicability to South Africa’s Financial Sector”.
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About a month after the African region reflected on progress in realising women’s rights with the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol) 18 years ago, the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, continued its efforts to support the implementation of the Maputo Protocol by ensuring states’ compliance with their treaty reporting obligations.
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The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, hosted a week-long capacity building workshop on strategic litigation and advocacy for LGBTI+ human rights defenders in Africa.
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Adopted on 30 January 2016, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons (Older Persons Protocol) has two of the 15 ratifications needed to bring it into force. Sierra Leone signed the Older Persons Protocol on 14 July 2016 but is yet to ratify it. The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, had a meeting to strategise on the ratification process in Sierra Leone and to reflect on how it can partner with and support stakeholders in the country to develop a plan towards the speedy ratification of the Older Persons Protocol.
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The Free State Centre for Human Rights, University of the Free State in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the National University of Lesotho present the Fourth International Conference on the Right to Development on the thematic of ‘Right to Development and Illicit Financial Flows from Africa’. The conference will bring together experts from various fields, including academics, emerging researchers, practitioners and policy designers to explore the issue of the right to development and illicit financial flows from a critical, interdisciplinary, and contextually engaged perspectives.
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The Global Engagement Network on Internal Displacement in Africa (GENIDA) and the Populace Foundation International (TPFI), in partnership with The State of the Union (SOTU), and in collaboration with the Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) and the Centre for Policy Analysis, convene a “Colloquium to Critically Examine Uganda’s National IDP Policy (2004) against the Kampala Convention” on zoom.
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in partnership with the University of Antwerp, Belgium, annually present an Advanced Human Rights Course (AHRC) on the Right to Development in Africa. In 2021, the course was presented from 16 to 20 August. As a result of the COVID-19 travel restrictions, this year’s course was presented online via Zoom.
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S3 E10:The role of state institutions in preventing violent conflict: A case of Angola
In conversation with Dr Eduardo Kapapelo
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(By Professor Daniel Bradlow)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will inject $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights into the global economy. It will allocate them among its member states, which can then decide for themselves how they want to use their Special Drawing Rights.
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The University of Pretoria wishes to invite applications for the following vacancy at the Centre for Human Rights (an academic department and a non-governmental organisation at the University).
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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, is seeking to recruit an experienced consultant with extensive knowledge on access to justice for persons with disabilities. The consultant is expected to conduct a desktop research study to ascertain the legal position and approach to the testimonial competence of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in the criminal justice systems in eleven Southern African countries.
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(By Daniel Bradlow and Kevin P. Gallagher)
On July 9, the International Monetary Fund’s executive board agreed to inject the equivalent of $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights — IMF’s unique reserve asset — into the world economy.
Op-Ed: Nixon’s decision to delink the dollar from gold still hounds the IMF, South Africa and Africa
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(By Professor Daniel Bradlow)
Five decades ago this month, US President Richard Nixon informed the world that the US would no longer honour its commitment to exchange US dollars for gold on demand. The commitment had been the foundation of the international monetary system created in 1944 at Bretton Woods, a conference established to regulate international financial order after the conclusion of the second world war. This system required each participating state to maintain a fixed par value for its currency in terms of the US dollar. In return, the US promised to freely exchange dollars for gold at the agreed price of US$35 dollars per ounce of gold.
