LATEST NEWS
MAY 2011
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.
MARCH 2011
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
FEBRUARY 2011
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.
OCTOBER 2010
HRDI is currently hosting a one month training on 'Social Change, Social Dialogue, and Special Human Rights Mechanisms for the Protection of PLHIV in Great Lakes, East and Southern African Regions'. The participants include trainees from previous years dating back to 2006, as well as trainees who are new to the programme. The aim of the training is to enable the participants to build stronger relationships with the communities they are working with in their home countries as well as to react and undertake strategic interventions in situations which dissatisfy them. In addition there will be a fundraising component to help ensure the sustainability of the various institutions to which the trainees belong.
SEPTEMBER 2010
On the 2nd of October HRDI will be hosting a Conversation between the three members of the newly appointed Committee of the ACHPR for the Protection of the Rights of PLHIV and Those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Health (abbr.).
This working session aims at achieving two very specific objectives, namely ensuring the effectiveness of the ACHPR Committee in the human rights response to HIV stigma and discrimination on the continent, as well as exploring ways in which the UN system and the African system can work together in a concerted manner that compliments, rather than duplicates their efforts.
For more information click here
JULY 2010
Call for Nominations – Independent Experts to Support ACHPR Committee for Protection of PLHIV
The ACHPR calls for nominations of independent experts to support the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of PLHIV and Those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV.
Deadline for nominations is 31 August 2010.
For more information click here.
Building a cadre of lawyers for social justice in Africa
