Human Rights

This is an interdisciplinary platform for exciting insights, opinions, reviews, and critical analyses of human rights issues in Africa. A cross-section of contributors shares and cover human rights issues related to policy, advocacy, practice, and awareness. The insights shared unveil a wide spectrum where human rights principles and theories interface with lived realities of people and communities in Africa.

Besides the blog contributions, the africanlegalstudies.blog and the Chair of African Legal Studies at the University of Bayreuth are constantly developing new initiatives to exchange and engage with scholars and practitioners. These include research projects such as “Intractable Human Rights Issues” or debate series (e.g. “Everyone’s human rights”).

Between Human Rights Law and African Literature: Interview with Grace A. Musila

Prof. Grace A. MusilaDec 6, 202510 min read
Between Human Rights Law and African Literature: Interview with Grace A. Musila

Introduction This interview was conducted during a conference hosted by the Chair of African Legal Studies (26 – 28 November 2025) at the University of…

Law and Belonging in the Context of SOGIESC Rights: The Case of South Africa

Sabrina SteudtelNov 28, 20259 min read
Law and Belonging in the Context of SOGIESC Rights: The Case of South Africa

Introduction Belonging is not visibility, and it is not law on paper. It is the ability to live without fear, to move in public without…

EACOP and Land Rights: Addressing Legal Inequities Between Uganda’s Indigenous and Local Communities

Viviane WenischNov 21, 20258 min read
EACOP and Land Rights: Addressing Legal Inequities Between Uganda’s Indigenous and Local Communities

Introduction Uganda’s pursuit of economic development through large-scale projects, such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), has raised significant concerns about land rights…

“Unfortunately, we are not allowed to express ourselves”: epistemic injustice in the human rights discourse on women’s empowerment

Géraldine MboloNov 14, 20259 min read
“Unfortunately, we are not allowed to express ourselves”: epistemic injustice in the human rights discourse on women’s empowerment

Introduction Human rights’ global relevance and legitimacy can and must be strengthened by grounding the development and interpretation of human rights standards in grassroots experiences.[1]…

A Crisis in Plain Sight: Forging a New Strategy Against Human Trafficking in Southern Africa’

Gerald MandisodzaNov 7, 20255 min read
A Crisis in Plain Sight: Forging a New Strategy Against Human Trafficking in Southern Africa’

A Crisis in Plain Sight Human trafficking is a devastating crisis across Southern Africa, with Zimbabwe at its epicentre. This modern slavery thrives where poverty,…

A Landmark Victory: Kenya’s Court Backs Transgender People’s Rights

Carolin HauensteinOct 31, 20259 min read
A Landmark Victory: Kenya’s Court Backs Transgender People’s Rights

The Background: Trans Rights Under Pressure in Kenya Transgender People all over the world face discrimination, violence and harassment daily, just as they do in…