NEWS ARCHIVE 2016
August 2016: Training representatives from 11 law faculties at universities in Southern Africa and East Africa on establishing, strengthening and sustaining university based law clinics and using clinical legal education as a tool for social justice hosted by Midlands State University, in Harare, Zimbabwe
HRDI's executive director presented an inspirational paper at a conference on Clinic Legal Education to law teachers and deans of law faculties from universities in Southern Africa. The highlight of this interaction were the individual consultations with each institution during which Ms Ramgobin assisted the institutional teams to work through bottlenecks that arose out of contextual constraints that they were confronted by. Ms Ramgobin’s experience of universities in the African context and of clinical legal education enabled her to provide unique insights into the implementation challenges that they all faced.
July 2016: Training of Civil Society Representatives and Academics from 15 Countries in Africa at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria on “Illicit financial flows and human rights in Africa”
HRDI's executive director taught representatives from civil society, national human rights institutions and academics from 15 countries in Africa on “Illicit Financial Flows and Human Rights in Africa”. She simplified complex concepts like transfer mispricing, trade misinvoicing, thin capitalisation, tax havens, secrecy jurisdictions and brought them all into the sphere of human rights. She challenged the participants to take on this massive Goliath and to use human rights weapons in that battle. For the power point presentation, further reading materials and for further enquiries, contact Ms Asha Ramgobin at aramgobin@hrdi.org.za
April 2016: Speeches at the 58th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
HRDI's executive director raised the issues of illicit financial flows and human rights at the 58th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, highlighting the revelations reported in the leaked Panama Papers. She talked about the great betrayal of ordinary African people at the hands of other African people for a mere “30 coins of silver”.
To download the full text of the speech, click here
HRDI highlighted the link between illicit financial flows, human rights and secrecy jurisdictions and urges the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information to engage with state parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to increase transparency, openness and accountability in their financial systems.
To download the full text of the speech, click here
HRDI requested the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders to include in her mandate the rights of activists who challenge big business and mining interests and to particularly engage with the government of South Africa regarding the killing of an activist and the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding the killing priest.
To download the full text of the speech, click here
HRDI named prominent individuals linked to politicians who were named in the Panama Papers and called upon the ACHPR to engage with the relevant governments to investigate further and take steps to recover the lost revenue.
To download the full text of the speech, click here
November 2015
During the 57th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR, the new Chairpersons of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa and the Working Group on Extractive Industries, the Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa, Commissioner Jamesina King and Commissioner Solomon Dersso respectively renewed HRDI’s appointment as the Secretariat for the ACHPR Study on “The Human Rights Impact of and Human Rights Based Solutions to Illicit Financial Flows from Africa”.
October 2015
In its capacity as secretariat for the ACHPR study, HRDI revised the draft interim report based on input received from the two responsible ACHPR Commissioners and other experts in the field. The revised version has been translated into French.
August 2015
The first draft of the ACHPR’s Interim Report on "The Human Rights Impact of and Human Rights Based Solutions to Illicit Financial Flows from Africa" received the following comments from independent experts.
"I am working my way through the document and it is truly unique. It will be an excellent resource for all of us looking to solidify the connection between human rights and illicit financial flows."
Ms Shauna Levin, Global Witness, UK
"This is a very comprehensive report first of all because of its “Africaness”. It captures various issues that matter for the development of Africa. The multi and transdisciplinary analysis of the impact of illicit financial flows as they relate to the continent is fascinating. The linkages with various areas of law and more specifically within the African human rights system are equally excellent. This report is likely to be a ground breaking report in Africa because it will lead to further research on the impact of illicit financial flows across disciplines. There is something for everyone. I would argue that almost every aspect could constitute a research topic for Masters or Phd students who will therefore popularise and seek answers and recommendations to deal with the issues at stake."
Prof Serges Djoyou Kamga, Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute, UNISA, RSA
July 2015
The chairpersons of ACHPR Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa and to the ACHPR Working Group on Extractive Industries, the Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa, Vice-President Commissioner Bechir Khalfallah and Commissioner Pacifique Manirakiza respectively, reviewed and commented on the draft interim report prepared by HRDI on their behalf on "The Human Rights Impact of and Human Rights Based Solutions to Illicit Financial Flows from Africa".
June 2015
The chairpersons of the two working groups assigned to the study on “The Human Rights Impact of and Human Rights Based Solutions to Illicit Financial Flows from Africa” worked with HRDI to complete a draft interim report. Namely, the ACHPR Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa and the Working Group on Extractive Industries, the Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa. The report was translated into English and French and circulated among key experts in the field for comment.
HRDI conducted a training for some 45 lawyers from partner institutions in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, DRC (Goma), DRC (Lubumbashi), Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda on the following subjects: Working with Supporting and Benefiting from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Developing a Structured Regional Network of Social Justice Lawyers and University-based Law Clinics, Business and Human Rights, International Law Dimensions of Illicit Financial Flows from Africa.
Representatives from law clinics at the University of Goma, the Independent University of Kigali, the University of Rwanda, Light University of Burundi and the Great Lakes Initiative for Human Rights and Development met in Kigali. Around 25 people gathered at ULK to share experiences and lessons, to assist each other strengthen their university law clinics and to build a regional network.
On 5 May 2014, HRDI was appointed the Secretariat of the ACHPR Study on the Human Rights Implications of Illicit Capital Flight from Africa.
42 of the lawyers who were trained during the period 2006-2012 have come for a one month training programme. The topics for this year's training programme focus on the running of an efficient law clinic, the establishment and maintenance of effective financial management systems, the transition from a purely domestic law clinic to an international human rights law clinic and finally the understanding of the dimensions of illicit financial flows.
APRIL 2013
Since more money leaves Africa through illicit capital flight than comes in through aid and since without adequate resources states are constrained in their ability to respect, protect and fulfill their human rights obligations, HRDI embarked on a modest but intense advocacy drive aimed at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. In April 2012 it began highlighting the human rights dimension of illicit capital flight and intensified this effort in April 2013 at the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ACHPR.
On 23rd April 2013, the ACHPR adopted Resolution 236 and took the first bold step toward a human rights based approach to addressing the issue of illicit flight of capital.
MARCH 2013
HRDI is working in 13 countries with 19 partners with 50 human rights lawyers. HRDI has expanded its work in DRC by including the University of Goma and the University of Lubumbashi. In addition we are working with the Light University of Bujumbura in Burundi, the National University of Lesotho, the University of Swaziland and a second university from Rwanda, the Independent University of Kigali. An additional NGO from Rwanda, the Great Lakes Initiative for Human rights and Development (GLIHD) is also among the new partners.
10 DECEMBER 2012
12 of the 2011 LLM students graduated together with the LLM students of the ”Human Rights and Democratisation” programme of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
DECEMBER 2012
14 students from 5 countries and 6 institutions completed a really intense first phase of the LLM in “International Human Rights Law and HIV in Africa”. 32 of the students who were trained during the period 2006-2011 joined them for the last week of the 2012 training. The following week, 13 representatives from 12 partner institutions joined the network for the Partnership Forum in Pretoria. From this big gathering of human rights activists, the idea of the creation of sub-regional and regional structures has emerged and is being developed further.
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.
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.
On 27 June 2011, 18 students from 10 different countries (in Southern Africa, East Africa and the Great Lakes region) started the LLM programme in International Human Rights Law and HIV in Africa, the first of its kind in the world. It is unique, not only because of the theme, but also because every Friday is dedicated to hard manual work with PLHIV in a low income community outside Pretoria. HRDI is proud to run this in partnership with the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
The ACHPR's Committee for the Protection of the Rights of PLHIV, Those at Risk and Vulnerable to HIV in Africa has appointed six independent experts which completes the Committee. Among the appointees are the two nominees by HRDI, Ms Agnes Atim from the National Community of Women Living with HIV in Uganda, and Mr Patrick Eba from UNAIDS.
For a complete list of the independent experts see the Final Communique from the 48th Session:
http://www.achpr.org/sessions/48th/info/communique48/
HRDI's intensive training programme has now been accredited as an LLM through a cooperation with the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria. The programme remains true to its nature in that it continues to fight elitism and works towards keeping the students grounded in their communities, while at the same time providing them with the domestic, regional and international tools necessary to fight stigma and discrimination against PLHIV and other vulnerable groups. The students will now graduate with an LLM in International Human Rights Law and HIV in Africa – the first of its kind.
Sylvestre Pakabomba, a past trainee of HRDI from the DRC, has taken up appointment in Benin as a legal officer with Madame Reine Alapini-Gansou, Chairperson of the ACHPR and the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of PLHIV. He is based in Cotonou and will be working to ensure that submissions and other issues relating to the Committee are dealt with appropriately and effectively, as well as assisting Madame Alapini in other matters relating to the ACHPR. Sylvestre can be contacted directly on the following email address: spakmuk@yahoo.fr
The Justice Aids Trust (JAT), our partner in Zimbabwe, recently experienced a court victory in a case related to HIV discrimination. A woman was verbally abused by a man in public over her HIV status and consequently instructed JAT to sue for damages. The court ruled in favour of JAT's client and she was awarded USD 1500. This is an important victory as it shows the courts' willingness to protect the dignity of PLHIV.
