Africa Rights Talk

In conversation with Ms Hlengiwe Dube The Centre for Human Rights campaign for 2020 is #Tech4Rights: Rethinking a human rights-based approach to new technologies in Africa . The year- long theme focuses on the impact of new technologies on different aspects of human rights. In this episode, Ms Hlengiwe Dube, unit manager for The Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit discusses the importa...

In conversation with Dr Joel Modiri Dr Joel Modiri is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence in the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria . He holds the degrees LLB cum laude and a PhD both from the University of Pretoria. His PhD thesis was titled ‘The Jurisprudence of Steve Biko: A Study in Race, Law and Power in the ‘Afterlife’ of Colonial-apartheid’ . Dr Modiri mainly teac...

In conversation with Professor Dire Tladi “…the immediate dangers we are facing right now are not legal dangers. The immediate dangers we are facing right now are health dangers...” In this episode, Professor Dire Tladi explains how his journey and passion for international law has led him to becoming a member of the UN International Law Commission and its Special Rapporteur on Jus Cogens. In a mo...

In conversation with Ms Patience Mungwari “The pandemic has travelled along the fault lines of social injustice to really expose some of the weaknesses in our governance systems”.  This conversation discusses the impact of Covid-19 and concomitant government regulations on skyrocketing cases of gender-based violence. Ms Patience Mungwari talks about the challenges women from different walks of lif...

In conversation with Ms Dianah Msipa This episode addresses the right to access to justice for persons with disabilities and the gap in knowledge that exists in the justice system on how to assist persons with disabilities on an equal basis in comparison with others. Ms Dianah Msipa talks about the challenges persons with disabilities face in accessing justice and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic...

In conversation with Dr Anastacia Tomson “I hate so much that we need to define the trans experience through the lenses of trauma, suffering and dysphoria. I really wish we could move forward towards a model where we define the trans experience by wellness and euphoria”. In this episode, Dr Anastacia Tomson, a transgender woman, and Thiruna Naidoo from the Centre for Human Rights , take the listen...

In conversation with Dr Adrian Jjuuko In this episode, Dr Adrian Jjuuko is in conversation with Thiruna Naidoo from the Centre for Human Rights, as they discuss issues affecting the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons in Africa. This conversation touches on violence against the LGBTIQ+ community and makes a comparison between the legal climate of Uganda and other African countries in relation to legislation...

In conversation with Adv Karabo Ozah The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a legally-binding international agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities. The guiding principles of the Convention include non-discrimination; adherence to the best interests of the child; th...

In conversation with Prof Manfred Nowak For children, deprivation of liberty means depriving them of their childhood. Placing children in institutions and other facilities where they are, or may be, deprived of liberty is difficult to reconcile with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019. The CRC clearly states that the deprivation of liberty...

In conversation with Dr Solomon Dersso In 2019, the Centre for Human Rights celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Master's programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA). The Centre hosted a number of HRDA alumni at the University of Pretoria in a series of events to highlight the programmme's past achievements and to investigate how the programme can be enhanced to respond better...

In conversation with Ms Abigail Dawson Throughout its history, Africa has experienced migratory movements that are both voluntary and forced and this have contributed to its contemporary demographic landscape. In many parts of the continent, communities bound together by languages, history and tradition are spread across two or three nation states, and movement is often not limited by political bo...

In conversation with Dr Linda Blokland October is Mental Health Awareness Month and a number of initiatives and campaigns were launched to raise awareness around issues of mental health. Good health is one of the most fundamental aspects that are crucial to our well-being, and transcends age, sex or socio-economic backgrounds. But health should be approached holistically - we can not look at healt...

In conversation with Prof Charles Ngwena Professor Charles Ngwena is a renowned expert on human rights law at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. In this episode, Adebayo Okeowo talks to Prof Ngwena about his book What is Africanness? Contesting nativism in race, culture and sexualities , a visionary philosophical inquiry into the contentious issue of African identity politics. Pr...

In conversation with Ms Saoyo Tabitha Griffith The issue of forced sterilisation is a little-known matter as women are generally reluctant to discuss their experience. Stemming from the social stigma attached to women unable to have children, many women suffer in silence. Ms Saoyo Tabitha Griffith (Deputy Executive Director, KELIN) sheds light on the challenges and continued battle against the ong...

In conversation with Prof Fareda Banda Experience has shown the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to be insufficient in addressing certain challenges faced by women across the African continent. Through the discussion with Prof Fareda Banda (SOAS, University of London) the background to the Maputo Protocol (Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ R...

In conversation with Prof Malcolm Langford Economic and social rights have a day to day importance that is often overlooked, despite reflecting the real issues effecting peoples’ lives. In the discussion with Prof Malcolm Langford (University of Oslo) we explore the interlink between globalisation and economic and social rights and the impact of growing income inequality. The focus moves to how Af...

In conversation with Ronie Zuze In this extended episode listeners are taken on Ronie Zuze’s (Programme Coordinator for the Intersex Community of Zimbabwe) journey as an intersex person and the misunderstandings and challenges faced. Through their story it becomes clear how decisions taken by family and medical professionals when they were a child, have long lasting consequences. The need for supp...

In conversation with Dr Elizabeth Kamundia Many of us take for granted the ability to report crimes, take part in criminal and civil legal proceedings and make ourselves understood. However, this is not necessarily the case for those with disabilities. There may be additional barriers and hurdles to overcome which prevent access to justice and remedies. In this episode, Dr Elizabeth Kamundia (Keny...

In conversation with Ms Perpetua Senkoro The false beliefs surrounding persons with albinism have led to discrimination and their persecution, something Ms Perpetua Senkoro (Advocacy and Human Rights Officer, Under the Same Sun) strives to change. While albinism can affect any living thing, many have a limited understanding of the condition. During the discussion with Ms Senkoro she explains the i...

In conversation with Prof Rashida Manjoo Has violence against women reached a state of emergency? This is exactly what Professor Rashida Manjoo (University of Cape Town, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women) considers in the conversation on violence against women. Exploring how violence against women manifests in both public and private spaces, with a particular empha...

In conversation with Mr Berry Nibogora One of the more contentious matters before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has been, and continues to be centred around sexuality. Many within Africa try to keep the discussion in the private sphere, yet, Mr Berry Nibogora (Law and Human Rights Programme Manager, African Men for Sexual Health & Rights (AMSHer)) sheds light onto how civil...

In conversation with Prof Frans Viljoen  The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights are key mechanisms within the regional human rights system. However, the African Union’s Executive Council’s June 2018 Decision 1015 raises concerns that the African Commission is being undermined, weakening the protection of human rights.  Looking at this...

In conversation with Prof Makau Mutua  The fight for the protection of human rights is a global phenomenon, yet the claim to universality of the current human rights system is sometimes questioned. Professor Makau Mutua (SUNY Distinguished Professor, University at Buffalo, School of Law) is known for his critical analysis of the human rights movement. In this episode we explore, with him, his crit...