Human Rights Defenders Annual Summer School

Sustainability, Innovation and the Future of Defending Human Rights and Democracy in Africa

29 September-03 October 2025 

University of the Western Cape

Background

The 2025 summer school comes in the context of continued threats to Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Africa. HRDs, including journalists, activists, scholar-activists, and students, face arbitrary arrests, judicial harassment, and other forms of persecution. In countries such as Zimbabwe, journalists are detained for their work; in Uganda, Tunisia, and Kenya, opposition activists and HRDs experience repression. In Mozambique, post-election violence has led to increased persecution of HRDs. HRDs on university campuses across different parts of the continent also suffer persecution. Scholar activists and student leaders face threats, especially when authoritarian regimes tighten their control of academic institutions to restrict freedom of expression and academic freedom. 

Besides the direct threats to HRDs, other broader contextual issues continue to affect human rights on the African continent.  These include armed conflicts in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Sudan, that have resulted in the displacement of millions of people and many other human rights violations (Amnesty International, 2024). Climate change also affects food insecurity and displaces marginalised groups such as indigenous and minorities (African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 2024). The rights of women also continue to be violated in many countries, e.g. male guardianship policies still hinder women’s mobility (Human Rights Watch, 2024).  Democratic norms and human rights continue to be undermined in many parts of Africa (Freedom House, 2024), thus indicating both the difficulties that HRDs face and their importance. 

The challenges above are made worse by the shifts in global politics. Funding cuts to foreign aid, particularly by the US and the UK governments, could threaten the financial sustainability of HRD protection mechanisms in Africa. This reduction in international support could embolden authoritarian regimes, weaken civil society, and erode the incremental gains realised over the years. Thus posing further threats for HRDs.

HRDs also face other long-standing challenges that affect their work, including barriers to accessing digital technologies and threats posed by digital tools.  Many HRDs experience burnout, stress and trauma from their work. On the other hand, protection mechanisms for HRDs remain limited, with those led by civil society heavily reliant on donor funding, which raises concerns about their long-term sustainability. Despite the challenges, HRDs have had successes in some contexts, including successful campaigns for the end of the death penalty in some countries, increased transparency around natural resource governance, among others.

Through the Summer School, the African Universities Hub for Human Rights (AUH) will enhance HRDs’ skills and knowledge to support them in their roles. HRDs require leadership skills to navigate these uncertain times, the capacity to forge strong networks for solidarity and support and innovative ways of securing financial support to maintain their work. In aiming to balance responsiveness and long-term impact, the 2025 Summer School will focus on the sustainability of human rights advocacy, the innovation needed to maintain effectiveness, and the future of defending democracy in Africa. The theme of summer school is Sustainability, Innovation and the Future of Defending Human Rights and Democracy in Africa. 

The 2025 Summer School will bring together HRDs, including student activists, human rights practitioners, and scholars from around Africa to share knowledge and skills, drawing from both theory and practice. The Summer School aims to build capacity, provide psycho-social support and networking for participants. Facilitators will come from within UWC and externally to create a well-rounded program, representative of different contexts and expertise. Furthermore, the participants will engage not only in learning, but also in collectively sharing experiences, thus teaching while they learn.  

 

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Objectives

1. Create a space for defenders of human rights and democracy to reflect, learn, share knowledge and network, thereby expanding and strengthening the protection ecosystem.
2. Enhance participants’ knowledge and skills for increased effectiveness in the work of defending human rights and democracy.
3. Explore areas and methods of collaboration and cooperation between civil society and universities to advance human rights and democracy in Africa. 

 

Summer School Application Timeline

We open for Summer School applications once a year. In 2025, applications will open on 17th March. The timeline for this year’s application process is as follows:

17 March 2025

Applications opened on Monday, 17 March at 10am.

18 April 2025

Applications closed on Friday, 18 April at midnight (23:59 pm). Late applications will not be considered.

May 2025

Applicants receive communication regarding their shortlisting outcome.

June 2025

Shortlisted candidates are notified via email regarding the outcome of their application.

June – August 2025

Selected candidates process VISAs and other travel requirements.

August – September 2025 

Selected candidates are provided with the summer school preparatory materials.

29th September – 3rd October 2025

Summer School at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.

 

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