S2 E15: Poverty and human Rights In Africa

Season 2 Episode 15: Poverty and human rights in Africa

In conversation with Ebenezer Durojaye and Gladys Mirugi-Mukundi

In this week’s episode, we meet the editors of the book Exploring the link between poverty and human rights in Africa. This book was published by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) and launched virtually on 6 August 2020.

Professor Ebenezer Durojaye and Ms Gladys Mirugi-Mukundi discuss the topical issues covered in the book and the effect of poverty on human rights. Exploring the link between poverty and human rights in Africa is a book which addresses poverty, one of the important issues confronting Africa, from a multi-disciplinary approach. With contributions from eminent scholars from diverse backgrounds, the book explores poverty from a human rights perspective. Its central message is that poverty is not necessarily a failure on the part of an individual, but rather caused by the actions or inactions of governments, which are often exacerbated by structural inequalities in many African societies. This in turn requires a more pragmatic approach grounded in respect for human rights. This book is a useful book for researchers, policymakers, students, activists and others interested in addressing poverty.

Professor Ebenezer Durojaye is a Professor of Law and head of the Socio-Economic Rights Project at the Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. His areas of research include human rights, socio-economic rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender and constitutionalism. From 2012 to 2014 he provided technical support to the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. During this period, he participated in the drafting of the UN Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights adopted by the Human Rights Council in 2012.

Gladys Mirugi-Mukundi is a researcher at the Dullah Omar Institute, a think tank engaged in law and policy research, teaching and advocacy on governance and human rights in Africa, based at the University of the Western Cape. Her research expertise and interest are in human rights, socio-economic rights, social justice and inclusive societies, women and access to housing, rule of law and corruption. She is the co-editor the Economic & Social Rights Review in Africa (ESR Review) , a quarterly publication that aims to inform and educate policymakers, members of civil society, the academic community and legal practitioners about key developments relating to socio- economic rights at the national and international levels.

This book is available for free and can be downloaded from the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) website.

This conversation was recorded on 14 August 2020

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