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“We Just want to work”: The struggle of informal traders in Malawi ArticlesCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice Criminal Law ReformCriminal Justice Police AbuseMalawi

“We Just want to work”: The struggle of informal traders in Malawi

Malawi Voice 24 June 2024 Thabo Buthelezi In the bustling streets of Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial hub, informal traders form the backbone of the local economy. Selling everything from fruits to…

Thabo Buthelezi25 June 2025

Desertification and Drought Day: Access to water information for drought resilience ArticlesBotswanaSocio-Economic RightsSocio-Economic Rights ArticlesSocio-economic Rights Climate JusticeSocio-Economic Rights Climate Justice ArticlesSocio-economic Rights News

Desertification and Drought Day: Access to water information for drought resilience

Botswana Guardian 20 June Emmanuela Sakala This year’s UN Desertification and Drought Day is commemorated under the theme “Restore the Land. Unlock the opportunities”, highlighting how land restoration boosts water…

Emma Heo24 June 2025

Wolves in a sheep’s skin ArticlesEquality RightsEquality Rights ArticlesEquality Rights LGBTIQ+Equality Rights WomenSADC

Wolves in a sheep’s skin

Modern Ghana (23 June 2025) Washington Blade (23 June 2025) MambaOnline (23 June 2025 Midweek Sun (24 June 2025) Botswana Guardian (27 June) Wolves in a sheep’s skin, American Evangelist…

Daniel Digashu24 June 2025

SALC 20th anniversary timeline Civic RightsCriminal JusticeEquality RightsInternational JusticeResourcesSADCSocio-Economic Rights

SALC 20th anniversary timeline

From 2005 to 2025, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre has stood alongside communities, partners, and movements in the fight for justice, dignity, and human rights. As we mark 20 years…

Staff Writer20 June 2025

High Court of Malawi declares police abuse of a child as torture ArticlesCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice NewsCriminal Justice Police AbuseCriminal Justice Prison ReformInternational JusticeInternational Justice NewsMalawi

High Court of Malawi declares police abuse of a child as torture

On 19 June 2025, the High Court of Malawi granted an order declaring the use of excessive force against a child as torture in the case of Chrissy John Lawrence…

Atilla Kisla20 June 2025

International Albinism Awareness Day 2025: Inclusion Is Strength ArticlesEquality RightsEquality Rights ArticlesEquality Rights DisabilityEquality Rights Disability ArticlesEquality Rights NewsSADC

International Albinism Awareness Day 2025: Inclusion Is Strength

Every year on 13 June, the world marks International Albinism Awareness Day, a moment to reflect, stand in solidarity, and, most importantly, affirm the dignity and rights of persons with…

Staff Writer13 June 2025

Crackdown on Rights Defenders in Tanzania Requires Urgent Action ArticlesCivic Rights ArticlesSADCSubmissionsTanzania

Crackdown on Rights Defenders in Tanzania Requires Urgent Action

  12 June 2025 – Johannesburg, South Africa The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is deeply concerned by the alarming trend of harassment, intimidation, and criminalisation of human rights defenders…

Melusi Simelane12 June 2025

How capitalism, patriarchy and neo-colonialism are repackaging ArticlesEquality RightsEquality Rights ArticlesEquality Rights Health ArticlesEquality Rights LGBTIQ+ ArticlesEquality Rights Women ArticlesSADC

How capitalism, patriarchy and neo-colonialism are repackaging

The Midweek Sun (4 June 2025) Modern Ghana (4 June 2025) Botswana Guardian (6 June 2025) MambaOnline (6 June 2025) Washington Blade (10 June 2025) *By Bradley Fortuin The old…

Bradley Fortuin5 June 2025

Compulsory NGO registration – a death knell to activism? ArticlesBotswanaCivic RightsCivic Rights ArticlesCivic Rights Association & AssemblyCivic Rights Association & Assembly ArticlesCivic Rights ExpressionCivic Rights NewsMalawiZambiaZimbabwe

Compulsory NGO registration – a death knell to activism?

Botswana Guardian 30 May 2025 By Tambudzai-Gonese-Manjonjo There is a rising trend of countries in the region enacting laws that compel all non-governmental organisations to register in order to operate…

Tambudzai Gonese30 May 2025

Lesotho is an example of the power of communities ArticlesEquality RightsEquality Rights ArticlesEquality Rights LGBTIQ+Equality Rights LGBTIQ+ ArticlesEquality Rights NewsLesotho

Lesotho is an example of the power of communities

A Pride event in Lesotho (Photo courtesy of the People's Matrix Association) Washington Blade (27 May 2025) By Tampose Mothopeng and Bradley Fortuin People’s Matrix Association’s tangible policy reforms have changed…

Bradley Fortuin28 May 2025

Urgent call to fully establish land dispute structures in Malawi and ensure adequate representation of women ArticlesEquality RightsEquality Rights ArticlesEquality Rights NewsEquality Rights WomenEquality Rights Women ArticlesMalawiSocio-Economic RightsSocio-Economic Rights ArticlesSocio-economic Rights Land RightsSocio-Economic Rights Land Rights ArticlesSocio-economic Rights News

Urgent call to fully establish land dispute structures in Malawi and ensure adequate representation of women

 Youth Watch Society (YOWSO), Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) and Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (PASI) welcome the Ministry of Lands'…

Staff Writer20 May 2025

When it comes to foreign aid cuts, we need to move from grief to action ArticlesEquality RightsEquality Rights ArticlesEquality Rights HealthEquality Rights Health ArticlesEquality Rights NewsSADCSocio-Economic RightsSocio-Economic Rights ArticlesSocio-economic Rights Climate JusticeSocio-Economic Rights Climate Justice ArticlesSocio-economic Rights Land RightsSocio-Economic Rights Land Rights Articles

When it comes to foreign aid cuts, we need to move from grief to action

Polity Botswana Guardian 14 May 2025 By Anneke Meerkotter Over the past five months, important national and international agencies such as USAID, PEPFAR, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, WHO and…

Anneke Meerkotter14 May 2025

The badge we fear ArticlesCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice ArticlesCriminal Justice NewsCriminal Justice Police AbuseCriminal Justice Police Abuse ArticlesSouth Africa

The badge we fear

Polity 14 May 2025 Makhosemvelo Mthembu In South Africa, police abuse is not an isolated incident — it is our daily reality. For many communities, especially the poor and marginalised,…

Makhosemvelo Mthembu14 May 2025

Running from the past? Afrikaner ‘refugees’ leave South Africa amid controversy and irony ArticlesCivic RightsCivic Rights ArticlesCivic Rights ExpressionCivic Rights Expression ArticlesCivic Rights NewsSouth Africa

Running from the past? Afrikaner ‘refugees’ leave South Africa amid controversy and irony

Polity 13 May 2025 Makhosemvelo Mthembu They once ruled the land through oppression and law. Now, they claim to be fleeing the country they once controlled. But can you genuinely…

Makhosemvelo Mthembu13 May 2025

A national crisis ignored ArticlesEquality RightsEquality Rights NewsEquality Rights WomenEquality Rights Women ArticlesSouth Africa

A national crisis ignored

Polity 09 May 2025 Makhosemvelo Mthembu South Africa’s rape crisis remains one of the most devastating issues confronting our society today and one of the most prevalent crimes that can…

Makhosemvelo Mthembu9 May 2025

eSwatini’s 20 years of constitutionalism characterised by a crackdown on freedom of expression ArticlesCivic RightsCivic Rights ArticlesCivic Rights ExpressionCivic Rights Expression ArticlesEswatini

eSwatini’s 20 years of constitutionalism characterised by a crackdown on freedom of expression

Mail & Guadian  8 May 2025 Melusi Simelane Although the African Union has declared 2025 the year of reparations, justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations, many…

Staff Writer8 May 2025

Lets Move from Concern To Action: SALC at 83rd ACHPR Session Civic Rights NewsPlain Language PublicationsSubmissions

Lets Move from Concern To Action: SALC at 83rd ACHPR Session

Introduction 1. Honourable Chairperson of the Commission, Honourable Commissioners, State Delegates, Participants, and esteemed guests, we appreciate the opportunity to speak at this 83rd session of the African Commission on…

Melusi Simelane5 May 2025

Malawi and Israel: Choosing economic gains over principles of international justice? ArticlesInternational JusticeInternational Justice ArticlesInternational Justice War Crimes ArticlesMalawi

Malawi and Israel: Choosing economic gains over principles of international justice?

Nyasa Times 30 April 2025 Atilla Kisla The newly signed bilateral agreement on exporting Malawian workers to Israel has been hailed by both sides to the agreement as a new…

Staff Writer5 May 2025

The ties that bind us Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice Criminal Law ReformCriminal Justice ResourcesResourcesSADC

The ties that bind us

This collection of photos is curated in honour of Desmond Tutu, who continues to inspire our work. Click here to view the English, Portuguese, and French exhibition booklet.

Staff Writer22 April 2025

Cosas 4: Naming the elephant in the room – the crime of apartheid ArticlesInternational JusticeInternational Justice ArticlesInternational Justice NewsSouth Africa

Cosas 4: Naming the elephant in the room – the crime of apartheid

Mail & Guadian 16 April 2025 Atilla Kisla Years from now, Monday, 14 April 2025, will be recited as a major step in the prosecution  of apartheid-era crimes. For the…

Atilla Kisla17 April 2025