Pretoria, South Africa

This course, being offered by the Centre for Human Rights’ (University of Pretoria) Good Governance Programme, places a strong emphasis on the importance of regional human rights norms and its application in Africa. The programme aims to generate informed debate and hone advocacy and research skills in order to enhance the promotion of human rights at all levels.

This course is primarily aimed at government officials, legal practitioners, managers and staff of human rights institutions, NGOs, intergovernmental organisations,
academics and other interested parties from Africa and abroad.

The course aims to focus on the following topics:

• A general introduction to human rights law and the role players in the development and enforcement of human rights norms in Africa.
• The United Nations System and organs responsible for the enforcement of human rights norms, and their role in Africa.
• The most important global and regional human rights treaties and their status in Africa.
• A comparative analysis of the European Human Rights System, the Inter-American Human Rights System and the African Human Rights System.
• A critical evaluation of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The course programme will include the following:

• The nexus between human rights and good governance
• Introduction to Human Rights law: International and regional perspectives and conceptual clarifications
• The United Nations system and organs responsible for the enforcement of human rights norms and their role in Africa
• The reform of the United Nations human rights system
• Introduction to regional human rights systems with particular reference to Africa
• The architecture of human rights systems in the African Union
• African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and human rights
• The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Substantive Provisions
• The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights an introduction and an evaluation of its effectiveness
• Protecting Human Rights through Judicial Mechanisms: African Court or an African Court of Justice
• Regional efforts combating terrorism and corruptio
• Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
• Case study: Taking a complaint to the African Commission
• State Reporting
• African Union and the environment
• Protecting Human Rights in Africa through Regional initiatives: NEPAD and related initiatives
• Regional efforts to protect refugees
• Other African regional instruments: The African Charter on the Rights of a Child

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Applications should be submitted at least one month prior to the starting date of the course. Please note that a total of 20 - 25 participants are usually admitted to each course.

Admission will be on a competitive basis and the admission criteria will include working experience, academic qualifications, and the levels of commitment and professionalism displayed through past experience.

In respect of South African candidates special consideration will be given to the advancement of potential applicants from previously disadvantaged groups.

Click here to download the application form as a PDF document.