News

News SADC SOGIE Rights

Statement: SADC LGBTIQ+ activists honour Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“I can't for the life of me imagine that God will say, 'I will punish you because you are black, you should have been white; I will punish you because you are a woman, you should have been a man; I will punish you because you are homosexual, you ought…

Staff Writer2 Mar 2022

International Criminal Justice News South Africa

News release: Civil Society Organisations welcome directive to avoid further delays in arms trade case

The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division: Pretoria has requested the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) to end delays in the review application relating to permits enabling weapons exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This comes at a time that violence is surging in Yemen fuelled in large…

Staff Writer21 Feb 2022

Children's Rights Malawi News Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

MEDIA ADVISORY: CHALLENGE TO USE OF DEFILEMENT OFFENCES AGAINST ADOLESCENTS ENGAGED IN CONSENSUAL SEX IN MALAWI

Blantyre, 14 January 2022 – On 15 January 2022, the Malawi High Court sitting as a Constitutional Court will hear an application made by two minors AJ and TS who are challenging the constitutionality of the offence of defilement where it applies to consensual and non-exploitative sexual relationships between adolescent…

Staff Writer14 Feb 2022

International Criminal Justice News

THE PROSECUTOR V DOMINIC ONGWEN: JOINT AMICUS CURIAE SUBMISSION BY SALC AND PROF. BONITA MEYERSFELD

SALC and Prof. Bonita Meyersfeld have been admitted as amicus curiae in the seminal case of The Prosecutor v Dominic Ongwen before the International Criminal Court (ICC). They will be making oral submissions during the hearing of the matter from 14 to 18 February 2022. From 14 to 18 February,…

Staff Writer31 Jan 2022

Namibia News SOGIE Rights

News Release: Disappointment and hope as same-sex couples are compelled to approach the Namibia Supreme Court for justice

Windhoek, 20 January 2022 – Today, a three-panel bench of the Namibia High Court dismissed two applications that challenged the denial of immigration status to non-Namibian spouses. In both matters, the couples had entered valid legal partnerships outside of Namibia, but their relationships were not recognised for immigration purposes because…

Staff Writer20 Jan 2022

Namibia News SOGIE Rights

Media Advisory: Namibia High Court to pronounce on immigration rights of same-sex partners

WHAT: Judgment in Digashu and Others v Government of Namibia and Others; Judgment in Seiler-Lilles and Another v Government of Namibia and Others WHEN: 20 January 2022 at 9am WHERE: High Court of Namibia, Windhoek On 20 May 2021, a full bench of the Namibia High Court…

Staff Writer19 Jan 2022

Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association News Zambia

News Release: Prosection finally withdraws charges against Zambian youth activist for defaming President

Johannesburg, 19 January 2022 – On 18 January 2022, the Kitwe Subordinate Court was due to continue the trial of youth activist Lawrence Kasonde. Kasonde was arrested on 24 November 2020 for allegedly defaming former President Edgar Lungu. Instead, the prosecution applied for the accused to be discharged per section…

Staff Writer19 Jan 2022

Children's Rights Criminal Justice Malawi News Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

News Release: Court sentences rapist cop to 30 years imprisonment

Blantyre, 18 January 2022 – Today, the High Court of Malawi sentenced former Police Officer, Andrew Chagaga, to 30 years’ imprisonment for rape of a minor in police custody. Background On 12 December 2020, the complainant, a 17-year-old girl, and her friends who were on their way to church were…

Staff Writer18 Jan 2022

International Criminal Justice News

Joint Statement: TRC and SALC condemn alleged torture of Human Rights Defender by the Lesotho Mounted Police Service

The TRC and SALC note with great concern the reports of torture and ill-treatment of Advocate Napo Mafaesa by the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) whilst being in custody. The TRC and SALC condemn any form of ill-treatment or torture. This incident follows the trend of other alarming acts of…

Staff Writer14 Jan 2022

Botswana News SOGIE Rights

BREAKING NEWS: BOTSWANA COURT OF APPEAL DECRIMINALISES CONSENSUAL SEX BETWEEN SAME-SEX PARTNERS

29 November 2021, Gaborone – Today, the Botswana Court of Appeal, through Judge President Ian Kirby, issued a monumental judgment to decriminalise consensual sex between same-sex partners. In a unanimous decision, Justices Kirby, Ranowane, Lesetedi, Gaongalelwe and Garekwe, found that the Penal Code provisions violated the right to privacy (section…

Thabo Buthelezi29 Nov 2021