THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (HRDI)

HRDI is a regional non-governmental organisation based in Pretoria, South Africa working in Southern Africa and the Great Lakes Region.

HRDI’s mission is to challenge political, economic and social elitism and promote equality of people regardless of race, place of origin, gender, social status, class, religion, sexual orientation, belief, ethnicity, HIV status or any other quality or trait that might be used as a basis for unfair discrimination, using international and regional human rights standards as the barometer.

Constantly bearing in mind that human rights is not about what we write or say, but what we do.

HRDI's overall goal is to contribute to the protection, promotion and respect for the rule of law and human rights in Africa through increasing access to regional and international human rights forums to the poor and vulnerable groups in society.

To this end, HRDI works with university based law clinics at leading universities and human rights non-government organisations in Southern and East Africa to build a cadre of young lawyers dedicated to social and economic justice.

NEWS

January 2012

The teams from universities in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia are in the process of establishing much needed free legal aid clinics within their faculties. The teams from universities in Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo are strengthening their existing legal aid clinics. The teams from non-governmental organisations in Namibia and Zimbabwe are expanding and deepening their work with vulnerable groups.

HRDI will, in 2012, expand its work in DRC to include universities in Goma and Lubumbashi. In addition, it will work with universities in Angola, Lesotho, Swaziland, a second university in Rwanda and train additional people in Namibia and Mozambique.

December 2011

Mme. Asuagbor replaced Mme Alapini as chairperson of the ACHPR Committee for the protection of the rights of PLHIV, those at risk, vulnerable to and affected by HIV. The new composition of the committee is as follows: ACHPR Commissioners: Mme Lucy Asuagbor, Mme Alapini Reine Gansou and Mme Soyata Maiga.

Experts: Ms Atim Agnes(Uganda), Mr Patrick Michael Eba(Cote d’Ivoire), Mr Alain Patrick le Doux Fouge Dzutue (Cameroon), Ms Nicolette Merle Naylor (South Africa), Mr Christian Garuka Nsabimana (Rwanda), Mr Durojaye Ebenezer Tope (Nigeria).

For the contact information please click here.

HRDI will support a legal officer who will assist the Chairperson of the Committee in Cameroon, and currently supports a legal officer who assists Mme Alapini in Benin

18 students from 10 countries completed a really intense first phase of the LLM in "International Human Rights Law and HIV in Africa". 14 students who were trained during the period 2006-2010 joined them in the last 10 days. At the closing event, students reflected on the change that they would want to see, and that they are committed to being that change upon their return to their home countries.