Pretoria, South Africa

This course, offered by the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria) Good Governance Programme and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (University of Oslo), explores the relationship between development and human rights and good governance in Africa. It intends to generate informed debate and hone advocacy and research skills in order to enhance the promotion of development and human rights at all levels.

This course is primarily intended for government officials, legal practitioners, managers and staff of human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), intergovernmental organisations, academics and other interested parties from Africa and abroad.

The course aims to cover the following:

• Definitions of development, including the rhetorics of development, classic versus radical definitions, Western and African definitions, and the World Bank and IMF models of development, as well as the rights-based, village-based and other models of development.
• The role players, the duty bearers, beneficiaries and bystanders in the development process.
• The impact and value of international programmes such as Structural Adjustment Programmes and Poverty Reductions Programmes.
• Women in development, gender mainstreaming in development.
• International trade in the development process.

The programme aims to include some of the following topics:

• International Framework and Mechanisms: Conceptions, concepts, ideologies regarding the International Law of Development
• The private sector and corporate social responsibility: The UN Global Compact;
• UN Millenium Development Goals and human rights;
• Regional Framework and Mechanisms: human rights and development in Africa - The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights;
• The New Partnership for Development in Africa (NEPAD) and human rights;
• Good governance, human rights and development;
• Engendering the right to development: A critique of United Nations strategies including poverty reduction strategies;
• Child labour, children’s rights and development;
• Trade: The World Trade Organisation (WTO), human rights and development;
• International financial and monetary agencies: human rights obligations of the World Bank/IMF with particular reference to the World Bank Inspection Panel;
• Regional markets: inter-regional markets and development;
• Right to health and development: HIV/AIDS - development and human rights discourse concerning treatment;
• The private sector and corporate social responsibility: human rights obligations of multi-national corporations in Africa with particular reference to economic rights;
• Economic development from a human rights perspective;
• Foreign aid: Mainstreaming human rights and human rights programming (experience of a donor);
• Environment: sustainable development, environmental management and human rights.

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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 in PDF format.