Articles & Opinions

Articles and Opinions Eswatini Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association News Rule of Law SADC

Journalist a terrorist? How anti-terrorism laws constitute a threat to fundamental human rights in Eswatini

In May 2022, the African Union (AU) held an extraordinary session on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Governments in Africa in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, resulting in a declaration entitled “robust response, deepening democracy and collective security”. The declaration condemns and expresses zero-tolerance for all forms of “unconstitutional change of government”.…

Thabo Buthelezi6 Jul 2022

Articles and Opinions Blog Eswatini Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association

A chance for the strengthening of due process of law in Eswatini

On the morning of 10 June 2022, the Supreme Court of Eswatini held the hearing of interlocutory questions related to the appeal filed by the State after a 16 September 2016, High Court ruling declared unconstitutional certain provisions of the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act (1938) and the Suppression of…

Staff Writer15 Jun 2022

Articles and Opinions Criminal Justice Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association Malawi Rule of Law

Free Press: Cornerstone of Democracy

The Nation 13 April 2022 By Chikondi Chijozi and Ruth Kaima The role of the media in any society is to investigate and share information and ideas, in particular on issues of public interest so that the public is informed and able to play its part in political, economic, and…

Luntha Chimbwete13 Apr 2022

Articles and Opinions International Criminal Justice SADC South Africa

South Africa: A safe haven for perpetrators of international crimes?

Mail & Guardian 12 November 2021 Atilla Kisla The Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) visited Pretoria on 8 and 9 November to meet representatives of the South African departments of home affairs, police, justice and international relations. The IRMCT was mandated by the…

Staff Writer15 Nov 2021

Articles and Opinions Blog Malawi Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Malawi’s obligation to enact the Termination of Pregnancy Bill

In February 2021, Malawi was due to debate the Termination of Pregnancy Bill in Parliament. The Bill had finally been tabled after years of advocacy and various forms of resistance. There had been much debate over the Bill and what it represents, characterised by rabid resistance from some mainly religious…

Tambudzai Gonese27 Sep 2021

Articles and Opinions Children's Rights Zimbabwe

Tragic lack of urgency in dealing with child marriages

On 15 August 2021, Tambudzai Gonese-Manjonjo wrote an article for the Standard (Zimbabwe) tackling the lack of urgency in dealing with child marriages. Read the article here .

Staff Writer21 Sep 2021

Articles and Opinions International Criminal Justice South Africa

Back to old habits? South African arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Mail&Guardian By Atilla Kisla Following illegal and unethical arms trades to countries with very poor human rights records under apartheid, democratic South Africa established a legal framework so that the mistakes of the past would not repeat themselves. But 26 years later, the plan to implement a system that ensures…

Staff Writer7 Jun 2021

Articles and Opinions International Criminal Justice South Africa

The recently renewed NPA should show its teeth

Mail & Guardian 29 Jan 2021 By Atilla Kisla Wouter Basson is most notorious in South Africa and across the world for his leadership role in the chemical and biological warfare programme of the apartheid system, a programme that included Project Coast, where research into so-called “infertility vaccines” for black…

Staff Writer29 Jan 2021

Articles and Opinions Criminal Justice Focus areas Focus countries SADC

African Court challenges States to rethink the basis of their criminal laws

Published on Africa.com on 22 January 2021 On 4 December 2020, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued an Advisory Opinion which challenges the very notions which underpin our class-based societies. The African Court stated that there is no reasonable basis for a law which distinguishes between so-called…

Anneke Meerkotter27 Jan 2021

Articles and Opinions Criminal Justice Focus areas Focus countries News SADC

La Cour africaine met les États au défi de repenser les bases de leur droit pénal

Le 4 décembre 2020, la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples a émis un avis consultatif remettant en cause les notions mêmes qui sous-tendent nos sociétés de classes. Elle a déclaré qu’il n’y a pas de base raisonnable pour une loi établissant une distinction entre les soi-disant…