Challenging lack of bodily autonomy, discrimination, unequal access and legal barriers to enjoyment of rights. Support and empower communities to assert their rights and obtain redress for rights violations.
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Ongoing Cases
Malawi: Protecting the rights of refugees
On 29 May 2023, a judicial review application was filed on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi, challenging the detention of refugees and asylum seekers including children. The…
Malawi: Case concerning malnutrition in prisons
Background The Constitution of the Republic of Malawi states in Section 42(1)(b) that “every person who is detained, including every sentenced prisoner, shall have the right to be detained under…
Displacement of communities & Illegal conversion of customary land: Chipabwamba & 12 Others v Yssel Enterprises Limited & Others
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre, in collaboration with the Muchinda Royal Establishment together with the Zambia Land Alliance, is assisting 13 community members, each representing their family in bringing forth a case where they seek to…
Completed Cases
Botswana: Chobe Land Board v Rebeccah Banika
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre is working with the Botswana Khwedom Council to support Kgosi Rebeccah Banika, a female Chief, who challenged the decision of the Chobe Land Board to…
Malawi: Man arrested and convicted for attempting to commit suicide
Background Suicide continues to be a global health concern, affecting all continents. During the lockdown period to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic between April and September 2020, Malawi…
Malawi: Ending impunity of police officers for rape
Background Section 153 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and Section 4 of the Malawi Police Services Act provide that the Malawi Police Services’ mandate is to provide…
Botswana: Accountability for violation of rights of woman seeking reproductive healthcare in state institutions
SALC supported a case in which the Plaintiff, who had undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy and developed complications, and she was later diagnosed as having a vaginal fistula. She failed…
Articles
The emperor has no clothes: how rhetoric fuels repression in Eswatini
Washington Blade (10 April 2026) In an absolute monarchy, the words spoken by the sovereign can swiftly become a baton striking a citizen. When King Mswati III speaks, his words…
Is Ghana’s selective justice a human rights contradiction?
Modern Ghana (31 March 2026) Washington Blade (1 April 2026) Botswana Guardian (3 April 2026) Mamba Online (3 April 2026) Ghana’s mission to have the United Nations recognise the trafficking…
The rule of law, not the rule of religion
Botswana Gazette (11 March 2026) Midweek Sun ( 11 March 2026) Botswana Guardian (13 March 2026) Mamba Online (17 March 2026) The Washington Blade (17 March 2026) Botswana was in…
Hate speech is an assault on democracy.
Botswana Guardian (13 February 2026) *By Anna Mmolai-Chalmers Botswana self-identifies as a democratic country, and, according to the Democracy Index, the indicators of democracy include, but are not limited to, political participation, civil liberties, good governance, and…
Resources
Policy brief: Legal environment affecting key populations in Africa
This policy brief on Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda outlines the legal gains in sexual and reproductive rights for key populations in these countries over the…
Petty policing practices
African Disability Rights Yearbook Volume 12 Petty policing practices: Enforcement of minor offences against persons with psychosocial disabilities in three East African countries By Anneke Meerkotter Anneke Meerkotter contributed an…
