On-going cases
SALC seeks cancellation of visa of convicted Dutch war criminal and fugitive fro...
SALC has filed an application to cancel the visa of convicted Dutch war criminal and fugitive from justice, Guus Kouvenhowen. The Southern Africa Litigation Centre has filed an application requesting the Western Cape High Court to cancel the visa of…
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Eswatini: Challenge to the Common Law Marital Power and Marriage Act...
SALC is working with Women and Law in Southern Africa’s Swaziland chapter (WLSA-Swaziland) on a case challenging the common law marital power and the Marriage Act of 1964. Under the common law marital power, a married woman cannot conclude contracts…
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Tanzania: Challenging Child Marriage...
SALC is supporting Msichiana Initiative and Rebeca Gyumi in an appeal filed by the state in the Tanzania Court of Appeal against a judgment obtained in 2016. In 2016, Rebeca Gyumi filed a case on behalf of children at the…
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Botswana: Challenging Criminalisation of Same-Sex Sexual Relationships...
In September 2016, a gay man, filed an application challenging the constitutionality of sections 164(a), 164(c) and 165 of the Botswana Penal Code. These provisions criminalise same-sex sexual acts between consenting persons. The man seeks an order that the continued…
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Zambia: Challenging the enforcement of the offence of defamation of the Presiden...
The offence of defaming the President has been used far more in Zambia over the past decade than in many other countries. This is a great cause of concern and requires clear statements from the courts which would narrow the…
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Nigeria: Challenge to arbitrary arrest of women during sweeping exercises...
Factual Background The applicants were among 71 women who were arrested at various public spaces in Abuja between 17 and 26 April 2019. The arrests were carried out by the FCTA Joint Task Team comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Securities…
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SWAZILAND: A CHALLENGE TO THE CUSTOMARY PRINCIPLE OF MALE PRIMOGENITURE...
SALC is working with Women and Law in Southern Africa’s Swaziland chapter (WLSA-Swaziland) on a case challenging the customary principle or practice of male primogeniture for being inconsistent with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland Act No. 001 of…
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Zambia: Challenging the taking over of customary land and allocation to commerci...
SALC is supporting four residents (Petitioners) of Senior Chief Muchinda in Serenje District of the Central Province of Zambia. In 2015, the Petitioners were approached by an investor and commercial farmer who claimed that he owned the land the Petitioners…
Read More Zambia: Challenging the taking over of customary land and allocation to commerci...
SALC is supporting four residents (Petitioners) of Senior Chief Muchinda in Serenje District of the Central Province of Zambia. In 2015, the Petitioners were approached by an investor and commercial farmer who claimed that he owned the land the Petitioners…
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Malawi: Challenging constitutionality of offence which criminalises poverty...
Factual Background One of the enduring legacies of colonialism in Africa is the police practice of arbitrary mass arrests. These so-called ‘sweeping’ or ‘swooping’ exercises are typically conducted by police over weekends and at night. Such sweeping exercises tend to…
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Protecting right to freedom of expression for Woman Human Rights Defenders...
SALC is supporting the Women Lawyers Association (WLA) of Malawi to challenge the arbitrary arrest and detention of a Woman Human Rights Defender(WHRD) on a charge of "Insulting the Modesty of a Woman" in contravention of section 137(3) of the…
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Malawi: Advancing human rights in mental health...
SALC is working with the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) to support the case of an individual subjected to forced psychiatric treatment on the basis of a forensic detention order. The applicant argues that human rights…
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