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Conversations on human rights. A Centre for Human Rights podcast series. Hosted by Victoria Amaechi.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
In conversation with Mr Likho Bottoman
The National Schools Moot Court Competition is an annual event organised by the Department of Basic Education in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development under the guidance of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Between 5 October and 8 October 2023, the preliminary rounds were held at the University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus and the Grand Final was held at the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The competition aims to create greater awareness in schools and communities in South Africa about the Constitution and the values that it embodies through active participation.
In this episode, Africa Rights Talk speaks to Mr Likho Bottoman on the inspiration behind the National Schools Moot Court competition. He goes on to discuss the evolution of the competition since its inception, the key challenges faced organising this competition and highlights the most memorable moments and key achievements of the competition. Also, he discusses the key impacts this competition has had on the young orators and communities across South Africa and the future he imagines for the competition.
Likho Bottoman is an occupational therapist by profession and currently the Director for Social Cohesion and Equity in Education at the Department of Basic Education. He graduated from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa and later obtained a Master of Education in Inclusive Education (Cum Laude) from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He is currently a PhD candidate at UJ. Likho joined the then National Department of Education in 2008 as an Assistant Director: Health Promotion, responsible for School Health Services. His work involves promoting human rights, nation building, peace-building, equity and equality issues, gender equality, issues around decolonisation of basic education, and promoting active citizenry among young people as part of the whole agenda of child and youth agency. He has been working on the National Schools Program for almost 12 years now, which was implemented with the South African Human Rights Commission and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
This conversation was recorded on 05 October 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386
Monday Oct 09, 2023
Monday Oct 09, 2023
In conversation with Hon Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo and Hlengiwe Dube
On 29 September 2023, the Centre for Human Rights Africa Rights Talk Podcast featured the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Hon Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo. This podcast is part of the Centre’s commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa (Model Law). In this episode, Commissioner Topsy-Sonoo delves into the significance of access to information, emphasising its role in upholding democracy and being an enabler of other human rights.
The Special Rapporteur outlined the African Commission’s normative standards on the right to access to information in Africa, emanating from article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which provides for the right to receive information. These are: the Guidelines on Access to information and Elections in Africa, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and the Model Law. On the Model Law, she discussed its adoption and implementation, highlighting notable successes and challenges. The discussion also included the contribution of digital technologies to the information ecosystem and the obstacles that vulnerable and marginalised groups encounter in navigating the digital space and using digital technologies. The podcast concludes with a call for States to create a conducive environment for the exercise of the right to access information in Africa, taking into account the digital age.
Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, was elected as a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in October 2021. She is the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa; Vice-Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa; Member of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa; and member of the Resolutions Committee. She is a lawyer with great expertise in International Maritime Law. She currently works as a Parliamentary Counsel in the Attorney General’s Office in Mauritius.
Hlengiwe Dube is the Project Manager of the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
This conversation was recorded on 29 September 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386
Monday Oct 09, 2023
Monday Oct 09, 2023
In conversation with Honourable Machesetsa Mofomobe and Hlengiwe Dube.
In 2022, the Expression, Information and Digital Rights unit of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria undertook a research and advocacy project on digital rights in Southern Africa. The initiative produced the report titled The Digital Rights Landscape in Southern Africa. Subsequently, the Centre embarked on stakeholder training and capacity-building workshops to enhance awareness and interest in digital rights in Southern Africa. In June 2023, the Centre for Human Rights, in partnership with the Transformation Resource Centre, engaged members of the National Assembly and the Senate in Lesotho.
This episode features Honourable Machesetsa Mofomobe and Hlengiwe Dube who share insights on thematic areas covered during the training sessions. Hon Mofomobe explores Lesotho’s progress towards the promotion and protection of digital rights, with due consideration to the challenges including those faced by vulnerable groups in Lesotho. He also provides commentary on the Lesotho Cybersecurity and Computer Crimes Bill and proposes recommendations for some of the best approaches towards legislating in the digital age.
Honourable Machesetsa Mofomobe is a member of the National Assembly, Lesotho.
Hlengiwe Dube is a Project Manager of the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
This conversation was recorded on 26 September 2023.
Music: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc
Monday Oct 09, 2023
Monday Oct 09, 2023
In conversation with Advocate Pansy Tlakula and Hlengiwe Dube
On 11 September 2023, the Centre for Human Rights Africa Rights Talk Podcast hosted Advocate Pansy Tlakula for a discussion on the 10th anniversary of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa. The session was moderated by Hlengiwe Dube from the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit.
The podcast is based on Advocate Pansy Tlakula’s role as the former Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and her current role as the Chairperson of the South African Information Regulator. She outlines the significance of the right of access to information and the normative standards that the African Commission developed to enhance the protection and promotion of the right of access to information in Africa. Specifically on the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa, she discusses the African Commission’s rationale for developing such a normative instrument, its impact, and major developments, including challenges in the access to information landscape in Africa. Regarding her current role, Advocate Tlakula explains the establishment and role of the Information Regulator, including its advocacy strategies, challenges, successes and collaborations with like-minded institutions in Africa and beyond.
Advocate Pansy Tlakula is the Chairperson of the Information Regulator of South Africa. She has held several other influential positions throughout her career. She was a member of the South African Human Rights Commission between 1995 until 2002. From 2002 until 2011, she was the Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa and later served as its Chairperson between 2011 and 2014. In 2005 she was appointed as a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), until November 2017. During her tenure at the ACHPR, she served as the Chairperson (2015 and 2017), Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, and Chairperson of the Working Group on Specific Issues related to the work of the African Commission. In January 2020 she started her four-year tenure as a member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. She holds a Bachelor of Law (B.Proc) from the University of the North (now University of Limpopo), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Masters in Law (LL.M) from Harvard University and a Doctorate in Legal Studies (Honoris Causa) from the Vaal University of Technology. She was the Chancellor of the Vaal University of Technology from 2010 until 2014.
Hlengiwe Dube is the Project Manager of the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
This conversation was recorded on 11 September 2023.
Music: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Monday Oct 02, 2023
A conversation with Commissioner Lawrence Mute and Adv Jared Gekombe
On 22 September 2023, the Centre for Human Rights’ Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit (EIDR) hosted Lawrence Murugu Mute in its podcast series, the Africa Rights Talk. Mr Mute was the Research Consultant for the report: Proactive Disclosure of Information During Elections in Kenya (2021 General Elections). This report is part of the Centre for Human Rights assessment of state compliance with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 2017 Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa (the Guidelines). The Kenyan assessment was undertaken in partnership with ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.
In this episode, Mr. Mute and Jared Gekombe discussed the rationale behind the development of the Guidelines by the African Commission and the main findings and recommendations of the report. Mr. Mute outlined the general legal framework on access to information in Kenya and provided an overview of Kenya's compliance with the Guidelines in the 2021 general elections, through the performance of various stakeholders such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), the media and the civil society. He also elaborated on the recommendations of the report and lessons that other African countries can learn from Kenya's experience.
The discussion also took place during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the African Commission’s Model Law on Access to Information for Africa and Mute outlined some of the milestones and challenges in the access to information landscape in Africa since its adoption.
Lawrence Mute is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Law. He is a former Vice Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and former Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa. He also served as a Commissioner of Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Laws from the University of Warwick.
Jared Gekombe is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Moi University, a Postgraduate Diploma from Kenya School of Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria. He is a PhD Candidate and Project Officer at the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
The conversation was recorded on 22 September 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386
Sunday Aug 27, 2023
Sunday Aug 27, 2023
In conversation with Mokitimi Tšosane and Hlengiwe Dube.
In 2022, The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria undertook a research and advocacy project that assessed the status of digital rights in Southern Africa. Guided by the report titled The Digital Rights Landscape in Southern Africa, the Centre embarked on a training and capacity-building workshop to enhance awareness and interest in digital rights among parliamentarians. This podcast series features various stakeholders who share their expertise on thematic areas covered during the training.
In this episode, Mokitimi Tšosane and Hlengiwe Dube discuss the work of the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) in advancing digital rights and highlights some of the challenges in the promotion and protection of human rights in the digital age in Lesotho. Mr Ts’osane also provides insight into the Computer Crimes and Cybersecurity Bill, particularly the contentious provisions that are likely to infringe fundamental rights such as freedom of expression. He proposes the adoption of a human rights-based approach to cybersecurity and regulating responses to computer crimes.
Mokitimi Tšosane is an admitted advocate in the Courts of Lesotho currently serving as the Public Interest Litigation and Human Rights Officer at the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) in the Human Rights and Access to Justice Department. He is also a Member of the Public Interest Litigation Committee of the Law Society of Lesotho. Since 2021, he has been leading the Transformation Resource Centre intervention in advocating for a cyber bill which strikes a balance between digital rights and freedoms vis-a-vis the state's security interests and law enforcement.
Hlengiwe Dube is a Project Manager of the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
This conversation was recorded 21 July 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386
Sunday Aug 27, 2023
Sunday Aug 27, 2023
In conversation with Mokitimi Tšosane and Hlengiwe Dube.
In 2022, The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria undertook a research and advocacy project that assessed the status of digital rights in Southern Africa. Guided by the report titled The Digital Rights Landscape in Southern Africa, the Centre embarked on a training and capacity-building workshop to enhance awareness and interest in digital rights among parliamentarians. This podcast series features various stakeholders who share their expertise on thematic areas covered during the training.
In this episode, Mokitimi Tšosane and Hlengiwe Dube discuss the work of the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) in advancing digital rights and highlights some of the challenges in the promotion and protection of human rights in the digital age in Lesotho. Mr Ts’osane also provides insight into the Computer Crimes and Cybersecurity Bill, particularly the contentious provisions that are likely to infringe fundamental rights such as freedom of expression. He proposes the adoption of a human rights-based approach to cybersecurity and regulating responses to computer crimes.
Mokitimi Tšosane is an admitted advocate in the Courts of Lesotho currently serving as the Public Interest Litigation and Human Rights Officer at the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) in the Human Rights and Access to Justice Department. He is also a Member of the Public Interest Litigation Committee of the Law Society of Lesotho. Since 2021, he has been leading the Transformation Resource Centre intervention in advocating for a cyber bill which strikes a balance between digital rights and freedoms vis-a-vis the state's security interests and law enforcement.
Hlengiwe Dube is a Project Manager of the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
This conversation was recorded 21 July 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386
Sunday Aug 27, 2023
Sunday Aug 27, 2023
In conversation with Tlhaloso Mpopo and Hlengiwe Dube
The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria undertook a research and advocacy project that sought to assess the status of Digital rights in Southern Africa. As guided by the report titled The Digital Rights Landscape in Southern Africa, the Centre embarked on a training and capacity-building workshop to enhance awareness and interest in digital rights among parliamentarians. This podcast series features various stakeholders who share their expertise on thematic stakeholders that were covered during the training.
In this episode, Tlhaloso Mpopo and Hlengiwe Dube, discuss privacy and data protection in Lesotho. Tlhaloso reflects on the significance of the right to privacy and data protection and she describes the current data protection framework in Lesotho and subsequently the gaps in the framework. This conversation also spotlights knowledge gaps among stakeholders, the absence of a data protection authority and the levels of awareness of the rights to privacy and data protection amongst Basotho.
Tlhaloso Mpopo is a duly admitted advocate of the courts of Lesotho and a tech policy fellow at the Lawyers Hub. She is a legal technology and technology law enthusiast based in Maseru, Lesotho. She currently works at the National University of Lesotho, Centre for Teaching and Learning in the EduTech Unit. Her responsibilities include capacity building and training as well as policy development on issues such as data privacy and protection, intellectual property, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Hlengiwe Dube is a Project Manager of the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
This conversation was recorded on 18 July 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
In conversation with Dr Serge Brammertz
On 2 August 2023, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) co-hosted Dr Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The theme of Dr Brammertz’s lecture was on the development and transformation of international criminal law as a branch of international law, and he also spoke about contemporary issues in the field.
During Dr Brammertz's visit to the Centre, Africa Rights Talk had a conversation with Dr Brammertz on themes covered in his lecture and on various aspects of international criminal justice. Dr Brammertz highlighted the evolution of international tribunals, the importance of state cooperation, the contribution of the mechanism to accountability and rule of law, the engagement and support of victims, the capacity building of domestic judiciaries, and the challenges and solutions for cross-border cooperation in criminal investigations. In conclusion, he provided examples, insights, and recommendations based on his role as the Chief Prosecutor of the most complex international criminal cases.
Dr Serge Brammertz is a Belgian prosecutor and jurist, who leads the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) since 2016. He is also the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In this role, Dr. Brammertz was responsible for the prosecution of all trials and appeals before the Tribunal. Prior to joining the ICTY, Dr. Brammertz was the Commissioner of the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) in Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Brammertz headed the investigation into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri from January 2006 until the end of 2007. He has a PhD in international law and has taught at several universities.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6HtFV83Wr8M
This conversation was recorded on 2 August 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Monday Aug 14, 2023
In conversation with Tshiamo Mpangeni, Panji Chirambo, Al-Amin Abdallah and Jolene Kibor.
On 2 August 2023, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, hosted a child-led conference on children’s mental health in Schools in Africa. The conference was attended by children from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
During this conference, Africa Rights Talk had a conversation with the participants children from Malawi and Kenya, namely, Tshiamo Mpangeni, Panji Chirambo, Al-Amin Abdallah and Jolene Kibor. They shared their understanding of mental health issues, the importance of child participation in mental health discussions, understanding the challenges that plague children concerning mental health, and what their individual countries can do to better approach mental health challenges amongst children and young adults in schools.
The Children’s Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria was established in 2013 to advocate for matters the protection of children's rights. The Unit works through research, advocacy, and training, to contribute to the regional discourse on the rights of children in Africa and beyond. In line with the Centre’s mission, the work of the Unit has a pan-African reach, while seeking to foster a contextually relevant understanding of global issues and concerns to children in Africa. The Unit provides an essential bridge between academic research and evidence-based advocacy in the African region.
This conversation was recorded on 3 August 2023.
Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=452592386