“As much as universities have continued their effort to strengthen democracies and defend human rights, we know that many attacks against democracy and human rights, keep coming in various forms. We cannot relax. Activism in defence of human rights and democracy must be strengthened and it must be steeped in academic inquiry. Universities are the right spaces to enliven academic inquiry that supports activism around democracy and human rights”
says DVC Matete Madiba on the significant of AUH’s work.
The African Universities Hub for Human Rights (AUH) will host its inaugural Summer school for Human Rights Defenders between the 7th and10th of October at the University of the Western Cape, Cape in South Africa. Read more about AUH here. The first day of the summer school will be at the Greatmore Hall in Woodstock. The rest of the school, from the 8th to the 10th of October, will take place at the Faculty of Education.
Disclaimer: This programme is subject to changes.
AUH SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMME
Aims and Objectives
- Create a space for defenders of human rights and democracy to reflect, learn, share knowledge and network to expand and strengthen the protection ecosystem.
- Enhance participants’ human rights knowledge and skills to increase effectiveness.
- Explore areas and methods of collaboration and cooperation between civil society and universities to advance human rights and democracy in Africa.
Day One, 7 October 2024: Unpacking ‘Protection’ and the ‘Human’ in Human Rights
Session One: Opening
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 09h10 | Welcome, Introductions and Summer School Objectives | Fiona Anciano, PUG Director, Acting Deputy Dean: Research, Economic and Management Sciences, UWC |
| 09h25 | The university’s role in protecting human rights and expanding political space. | Paul Gready, UNESCO Chair in Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space and Co-Director for the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), University of York. |
| 09h40 | Introducing the African Universities Hub for Human Rights (AUH). | Mmeli Dube, Researcher at PUG, Democracy and Human Rights Programmes Lead. |
| 09h55 | Keynote Address: Defending Human Rights and democracy in Africa – within and beyond the International Human Rights System. Implications for HRDs’ efforts. | Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association. |
| 10h55 | Coffee and Tea | |
| 11h10 | Soft shoe shuffle: getting to know each other. Expectations and Community Agreements | Fiona Anciano, PUG Director, Acting Deputy Dean: Research, Economic and Management Sciences, UWC 🡪Mmeli Dube, Researcher at PUG, Democracy and Human Rights Programmes Lead. 🡪Lindokuhle Mandyoli, Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC |
Session Two: Democracy and Human Rights Discourse in Africa
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 11h:40 | Presentation and Q&A: A critical reflection on the twin concepts of human rights and democracy and their controversies, blind spots, and value in Africa. | Session Chair: Mmeli Dube, Researcher at PUG, Democracy and Human Rights Programmes Lead. Presenters: Asenathi Tukela, Lawyer and Researcher, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) |
Session Three: Human Rights Defenders and Protection
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 13h05 | World Cafe: The meanings of democracy, human rights, human rights defenders and protection in Africa. | Chair: Lindokuhle Mandyoli, Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC Group Facilitators: Nheo Fumba, Sindisa Monakali, Godwin Toko, Sheila Nhancale, Gloria Kimani |
| 14h00 | Report-back | Lindokuhle Mandyoli, Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC |
| 14h25 | Panel: Mapping the HRD protection ecosystem in Africa. Panellists will present critical reflections on the protection ecosystem in Africa, including current threats, actors, practices, and gaps in HRD protection mechanisms. | Chair: Mmeli Dube, Researcher at PUG, Democracy and Human Rights Programmes Lead. Panellists: 🡪Fidelis Mudimu – Protection Coordinator, Southern and Eastern Africa, Frontline Defenders 🡪Hlengiwe Dube – Expression, Information and Digital Rights Project Manager, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria 🡪Mary Pais Da Silva – Co-Founder and Co-Director at African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders 🡪 Perpetua Senkoro – Disability Rights Advocate 🡪 Alice Nah – Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Durham University, Board Chair for International Detention Coalition |
| 15h40 | Tea | |
| 15h50 | Q & A | |
| 16h25 | Walkabout (viewing of art pieces and networking) | AUH Staff |
| 17h45 | AUH Launch | |
Session 1
- Freedom House. (2024) Freedom in the World 2024 Regional Trends and Threats to Freedom: https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2024/mounting-damage-flawed-elections-and-armed-conflict/regional-trends
- UN. 1998. Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, resolution 53/144
- International Service for Human Rights. 2024. Declaration+25. PDF Available at https://ishr.ch/defenders-toolbox/resources/declaration-25/
Session 2
- Bratton, M., & Mattes, R. (2001). Support for Democracy in Africa: intrinsic or instrumental?. British Journal of Political Science, 31(3), 447-474.
- IDEA. 2022. The State of democracy in Africa. Available at https://www.idea.int/gsod/2023/chapters/africa/
- Jalloh, B. Why Democracy in Africa needs a rethink. Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-why-democracy-in-africa-needs-rethinking/a-60594113
Session 3
- Ichim, I., & Mutahi, P. (2020). Intersections between formal protection mechanisms and informal protection practices for defenders at risk in Kenya. In Protecting Human Rights Defenders at Risk (pp. 84-103). Routledge.
- Bennett, K., Ingleton, D., Nah, A. M., & Savage, J. (2018). Critical perspectives on the security and protection of human rights defenders. In Critical Perspectives on the Security and Protection of Human Rights Defenders (pp. 1-13). Routledge.
- Strengthening the Inclusion, Protection, and Wellbeing of Human Rights Defenders with Disabilities (Chapter 1 and 3) Available at: https://www.protectioninternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Protection-International-2023-Strengthening-the-Inclusion-Protection-and-Wellbeing-of-HRDs-with-disabilities.pdf
Day Two, 8 October 2024: Defending human rights and democracy in times of crises
Session Four: Human Rights and Democracy in Times of Crisis
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 09h00 | Morning Recap Activity | Lindo Mandyoli, Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC |
| 09h15 | Session 4 – Breakout Groups GREEN – Climate crisis and its implications for human rights and democracy in Africa. key developments, debates and areas of concern vis a vis the climate crisis and defenders of human rights and democracy in Africa. YELLOW – Human Rights and the rise of a multi-polar world, populism and a shrinking democratic space. The impact of new world powers on democracy and human rights in Africa. BLACK – Inequality (social, economic, political, etc) and its implications for human rights and democracy in Africa. The effects of enduring inequality, discrimination and traditional social hierarchies (gender, tribe, race, etc) on human rights and democracy in Africa. BLUE – Defending human rights in the digital age; the risks and opportunities. How should HRDs respond to the inherent challenges of using technology in defending human rights and democracy? | 🡪Mark Hoskins – Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC |
🡪Ayanda Nombila – Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC | ||
| 🡪Meshay Moses – Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC | ||
| 🡪Hlengiwe Dube, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria | ||
| 10h30 | Tea Break | |
| 11h00 | Group Feedback to Plenary | Lindo Mandyoli, Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC |
Session Five: Universities Cooperation and Collaboration with Civil Society
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 11h40 | University-civil society cooperation and collaboration. | Facilitator: Mmeli Dube, Democracy and Human Rights Programmes Lead. Presenters: Paul Gready, UNESCO Chair in Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space and Co-Director for the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), University of York. Hlengiwe Dube, – Expression, Information and Digital Rights Project Manager, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria Response: Clement Voule, Former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association. |
| 12h40 | Lunch | |
Session Six: Storytelling as a tool for Defending Human Rights and Democracy
| Time | Topic: | Facilitator |
| 13h30 | Storytelling as a tool for defending human rights and democracy. | Fiona Anciano, UWC |
| 15h00 | Tea | |
| 15h30 | Storytelling cont. | Fiona Anciano |
| 17h00 | Dinner at UWC Barn | Lindo, Nheo, Michaelyn |
| 18H30 | Departure to the Hotel | |
Session 4
- Dube, H., Simiyu, M. A., & Ilori, T. (2020). Civil society in the digital age in Africa: identifying threats and mounting pushbacks.
- Amnesty International. 2023. African Regional Overview. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/report-africa/
- Africa Regional Brief: Human Rights in the Context of Climate-induced Migration and Displacement. Available at: https://geneva.fes.de/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/2023/2023_06_Africa_Policy_Brief.pdf
- Moyo. C. 2023. Climate change and human rights in Africa. https://www.kas.de/documents/d/newyork/final-publication-with-both-articles
- Discrimination and gender inequalities in Africa: what about equality between women and men? Available at: https://igg-geo.org/en/2021/05/31/discrimination-and-gender-inequalities-in-africa-what-about-equality-between-women-and-men/
- Wescott, N. 2024. As the opposition wins in Senegal, is democracy in Africa really “backsliding”? Available at: https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2024/as-the-opposition-wins-in-senegal-is-democracy-in-africa-really-backsliding/
Session 5
- Gready, P. & Jackson, E. 2023. Universities as sites of protection.Human Rights Defender Hub Working Paper Series. Working Paper No. 14
Session 6
- Schlesinger, K. Storytelling as a tool for advancing human rights awareness. Available at: https://nhrf.no/blog/storytelling-as-a-tool-to-advance-awareness-of-human-rights
- Sharma, A. 2019. Storytelling in the work of ‘justice’. Available at: https://storytelling.greenpeace.org/story/1699/storytelling-and-the-work-of-justice-what-do-they-have-to-do-with-each-other/
Day Three, 9 October 2024: Wellbeing and Professional Growth
Session Seven: Panel on Activism and Wellbeing
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 09h00 | Recap and Check-in Activity | AUH Team |
| 09h30 | Panel on Activism and Well-being | Chair: Lindo Mandyoli, Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC Panellists: 🡪Naythan Kayser, Centre for Student Support Services (CSSS), UWC 🡪Fatima Swartz, Director of Programmes, Institute for Healing of Memories |
| 10h30 | Tea Break |
Session Eight: Wellness Workshop by Arise
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 10h45 | Wellness Workshop by Arise | Arise Team |
| 13h30 | Lunch | |
Session Nine: Storytelling as a tool for Defending Human Rights and Democracy
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 14h10 | Storytelling as a tool for defending human rights and democracy. | Fiona Anciano UWC |
| 15h30 | Practitioners’ Exchange | 🡪Buhle Booi, Reclaim The City (RTC) 🡪Sindisa Monakali, Equal Education 🡪Siviwe Mdoda, Tshisimani Activist Education |
| 18h00 | Dinner at the hotel |
Session 8
- “We Carry Generational Demands for Healing that will not Rest”: An African Feminist Exploration of Healing Justice as an Analytical Lens and a Practice. Available at https://www.uaf-africa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/An-African-Feminist-Exploration-of-Healing-Justice.pdf?
Day Four, 10 October 2024: Defending human rights and democracy in times of crises
Session Eleven: Human Rights Leadership
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 09h00 | Recap Activity | TBA |
| 09h15 | Panel Discussion: What is leadership in defending human rights and democracy, and what are its challenges? What skills and resources are needed? | Presenter(s): 🡪John Gray, Executive Coach and CAHR Associate 🡪Eric Hoddy– Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York. Reflections from HRDs: 🡪Gloria Kimani – AUH Protective Fellow, 2024 🡪Sheila Nhancale – AUH Protective Fellow, 2024 🡪Godwin Toko – AUH Protective Fellow, 2024 |
| 10h30 | Tea Break | |
| 10h45 | Leadership Session cont. | |
Session Twelve: Emerging Themes/Questions for Research and Areas of Cooperation and Collaboration
| Time | Topic | Facilitator |
| 11h15 | Research: Questions for Research and areas of cooperation and collaboration | 🡪 Lindokuhle Mandyoli, Lecturer, Political Studies, UWC 🡪 Nheo Fumba, Researcher, AUH, PUG |
| 13h10 | Closing Remarks Lunch and Departure | |
Session 11
- Hoddy & Gray, 2024. Human Rights Leadership. Available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6540fbb77df51973568ecb34/t/66740a42ea88802229f4e038/1718880866640/Unesco+policy+brief+No.3+%28Jun+24%29
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