EVENT: Decriminalisation of Status and Activism Conference from [27-29 September 2022]

The annual convening of the Global Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status, of which Africa Criminal Justice Reform is a member will be held from 27 – 29 September 2022 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The conference will take on the theme: ‘Decriminalising Status and Activism’.
  • What Events ACJR Event
  • When 27 Sep, 2022 08:00 AM to 29 Sep, 2022 04:00 PM (Africa/Johannesburg / UTC200)
  • Where Stellenbosch
  • Add event to calendar iCal

The Campaign is a coalition of over 45 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) advocating for the decriminalisation and declassification of laws that criminalise people for who they are, rather than what they have done. The annual convening provides an opportunity for civil society member organisations from across the continent and abroad to meet, discuss and share information on activism and best practice.

This year’s conference will include panel discussions and workshops, with perspectives shared across countries and regions on a range of themes, including tracing criminalisation through colonial-era laws and logic; challenging the criminalisation of status, and the silencing of dissent; lessons from Africa on advocacy and law reform; multi-lateral and transregional advocacy strategies; legal defence strategies; and strategic communication and campaigning.

Notable guests such as Justice Edwin Cameron, retired Constitutional Court judge, current Inspecting Judge for Prisons and Chancellor of Stellenbosch University and Hon. John Jeffery, Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services will address campaign delegates.

The conference will also include the launch of a photography exhibition on the theme, and the launch of the Campaign’s Global Litigation Fund.

For more about the campaign please visit https://pettyoffences.org/