Placing the Affected at the Centre of the Debate

Opinion Paper: Those affected must be placed at the centre of the debate in order to ensure the implementation of existing documents with existing resources, instead of constantly “bringing new…

Justice in the “critical minerals value chain” – moving in tandem for a just transition

Introduction Humanity is at a crossroads, confronted with the effects of climate change that no nation can solve on its own without working with others. It requires all countries to…

Leave it to our children

An Appeal To Involve The Youth In Climate Policy Introduction Some of the most influential politicians could be our grandfathers and -mothers. They stand there confidently and preach that they…

Investment and Investor Protection in Somalia

Introduction With Somalia’s accession to the East African Community (EAC), the internal market of this community is also becoming increasingly attractive for foreign investments. A common market with over 300…

Is Article 34 (6) rendering the African Human Rights System ineffective?

Introduction The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the ‘African Charter’) is the central international human rights instrument charged with the promotion and protection of human rights on the…

Universalism of Human Rights versus Cultural Relativism within the African discourse

Introduction The discourse surrounding cultural relativism and universalism in the context of human rights is a contentious and thought-provoking subject which is not just an academically discussed issue, but also…

University of Pretoria expert assesses Botswana’s state of readiness for 2024 elections

The government of Botswana should take steps to address gaps in the legal framework such as fixing of the election date, finalisation of the constitution review process and state funding…

August is Women’s Month in South Africa – why this matters

South African Pass Laws and the Women’s March in 1956 The pass laws in South Africa already existed for decades, and in the 1950’s, during Apartheid, they were extended and…

The Communications’ Procedure of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: Some anecdotal reflections on possible applicants

1.      Introduction The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter)[1] has an inbuilt communications procedure with which states recognise the competence of the African…

From Dubai to Baku: Energy Justice at the COPs and the Question of Fossil Fuel Abandonment

The twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties (COP28), which took place in Dubai from 30 November to 13 December 2023, made a modest yet significant contribution to energy justice by expressing…