Socio-Economic Rights

Challenging large-scale agricultural and extractive land use that results in customary land dispossession without adequate consent, consultation and compensation, and increases poverty, environmental degradation and social inequality.

Ongoing Cases

See More Socio-Economic Rights Ongoing Cases
International Justice

Amicus in class action on lead poisoning by Anglo America in Zambia

On 9 May 2022, Amnesty International and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) have applied to intervene in an unprecedented class action lawsuit. The case was brought by a group…
Socio-Economic Rights

Challenging land grabbing, obstruction of water sources, and environmental damage

On 3 February 2022, fifty-five community members (“Petitioners”), with the assistance of the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC), filed a Petition in the High Court of Zambia against Mr. Gregg…
Equality Rights

Zambia: Challenging illegal deforestation and encroachment of the Kasanka National Park and the Kafinda Game Management Area

On 19 October 2021, the Mapepala and Nabowa Community Forest Management Groups (CFMG), together with Kasanka Trust Limited, which co-manages the operations of the Kasanka National Park  in Chitambo District with…
Equality Rights

Zambia: Challenging the displacement of communities from customary land in the Serenje District

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

See More Socio-Economic Rights Completed Cases

Botswana: Challenging the constitutionality of the legislative scheme relating to tribal land

| Botswana, Equality Rights, Equality Rights Completed Cases, Equality Rights Women, Equality Rights Women Completed Cases, Socio-Economic Rights, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Land Rights, Socio-Economic Rights Land Rights Completed Cases | No Comments
SALC is assisting the Ba-Ga-Malete Tribe, represented by Kgosi Mosadi Seboko and the Gamalete Development Trust, against the Malete Land Board and the Attorney General to retain the land known…

Eswatini: Supporting the right to protest at a university

| Civic Rights, Civic Rights Association & Assembly, Civic Rights Association & Assembly Completed Cases, Civic Rights Completed Cases, Civic Rights Expression, Civic Rights Expression Completed Cases, Eswatini, Socio-Economic Rights, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Education, Socio-Economic Rights Education Completed Cases | No Comments
SALC is concerned that the doctrine of common purpose is on occasion used by university councils to punish student leaders where damages of university property occurred during a student protest.…

Malawi: Challenging refusal of admission to school

| Civic Rights, Civic Rights Completed Cases, Civic Rights Expression, Civic Rights Expression Completed Cases, Equality Rights, Equality Rights Completed Cases, Malawi, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Education, Socio-Economic Rights Education Completed Cases | No Comments
Factual Background The applicant was refused enrolment at a school on the basis that he had dreadlocks. Over the years, there have been a number of reports of schools refusing…

Malawi: Detention of learners for pregnancy

| Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Completed Cases, Criminal Justice Criminal Law Reform, Equality Rights, Equality Rights Completed Cases, Equality Rights Health, Equality Rights Health Completed Cases, Malawi, Socio-Economic Rights, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Education, Socio-Economic Rights Education Completed Cases | No Comments
SALC is working with Youth Watch Society (YOWSO) in Malawi on a case seeking the review of a Magistrates Court decision to fine parents of students who were pregnant and…

Articles

See More Socio-Economic Rights Articles
Blog

Rural Women Confront Land Dispossession as a Form of GBV

In the predominantly women-owned agricultural lands of Serenje District in Zambia's Central Province, home of the Lala people, a lesser-known form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has been unfolding for several…
Articles

Bridging the gap: The interconnected struggle for water access and the elimination of gender-based violence

In the pursuit of a world that upholds universal human rights, the pivotal role of access to clean water and sanitation cannot be overstated. Acknowledged by the United Nations as…
Articles

Unearthing the truth: How discriminatory laws and social norms lead to insecure land rights for women and undermine sustainable development

Desertification and Drought Day, marked on 17 June 2023, shined a spotlight on women’s land rights under the theme “Her land. Her rights”. Key fundamental questions arise: Do women still face…
Articles

Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow: International Women Human Rights Defenders Day

On 29 November 2022, the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) commemorates International Women's Human Rights Defenders Day under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow." SALC, whose mandate…

Resources

Resources

Civil Liability for Human Rights Violations: A Handbook for Practitioners

The Bonavero Institute of Human Rights led the project on civil liability for human rights violations from 2019 to 2022, which involved an analysis of existing domestic law mechanisms or…
Civic Rights

SALC submission on Zimbabwe’s 3rd universal periodic review

Zimbabwe is in the midst of an economic crisis, which has only been exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown restrictions have led to a decrease in manufacturing,…
Civic Rights

2019-2021 Biennial report

SALC's biennial report captures activities for March 2019 to February 2021. Read the report here.
Equality Rights

Using the court to protect vulnerable people: Perspectives from the judiciary and legal profession

In February and March 2014 the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, the National Association of Women Judges and Magistrates (Botswana) and the judiciaries in Malawi and Zambia co-hosted judicial colloquia on…