Pretoria, South Africa

This course, being offered by the Centre for Human Rights’ (University of Pretoria) Good Governance Programme, focuses on the role of socio-economic rights in modern democratic states. The programme aims to generate informed debate and hone advocacy and research skills in order to enhance the promotion of socio-economic rights at all levels.

The course will cover the following topics:

• Introducing socio-economic rights.
• The recognition of socio-economic rights at global, regional and national levels.
• The scope and contents of specific rights.
• State reporting obligations on socio-economic rights under international human rights law.
• South African Case Law on socio-economic rights and case studies.
• The role of the SA Human Rights Commission in monitoring the implementation of socio-economic rights.
• The role of budgeting in realising socio-economic rights.
• Litigating socio-economic rights.

The course programme will include the following:

• Introduction to socio-economic rights as human rights: Conceptual and practical issues
• Optional Protocol to International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Socio-economic rights in the African Regional Human Rights System
• Justiciability of Socio-Economic Rights
• Indicators and benchmarks how to assess the realisation of socio-economic rights (state reporting)
• The role of the SA Human Rights Commission in monitoring the implementation of socio-economic rights
• Social security as a human right
• The right to food
• The right to adequate housing
• Land rights
• The role of "Social Movements" to ensure socio-economic rights: TAC
• Enforcement and implementation of socio-economic rights
• Introduction to the right to health: Conceptual issues/international law
• The right to health: Legislation, policies, case law
• Children’s socio-economic rights: Legislation, policies, case law
• Introduction to the right to education: Conceptual issues/international law
• The right to education in South Africa: legislation, policies, case law
• The role of budgeting in realising socio-economic rights: Introduction
• The role of budgeting in realising socio-economic rights: The South African legal and policy environment
• Women and socio-economic rights
• Litigating socio-economic rights.

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. Approximately 20 – 25 participants are accepted.

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Applications should be submitted at least one month prior to the starting date of the 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.

To apply for this course, please see contact details below: