The Community Law Centre is mourning the loss of Professor Tobias van Reenen. As an erstwhile member of the Centre's Management Committee and as a member of the Faculty of Law he has made an immense contribution to the Centre's pursuit of the realisation of human rights.
During the 51st ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission), held in Banjul, The Gambia from 18 April to 2 May 2012, the Commission agreed to an important resolution on the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
During the 51st ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission), held in Banjul, The Gambia from 18 April to 2 May 2012, the Commission agreed by resolution 220, to extend the mandate of the Committee for another term of two years with effect from 2 May 2012.
The articles in this issue focus on the theoretical basis for the assessment of criminal capacity within children between the ages of 10 and 14 years and developments in child justice on the African continent and at a UN level.
On 26 April 2012, the Socio-Economic Rights Project, CLC, and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) held a roundtable seminar on housing allocation and the Housing Demand Database system in South Africa.
Togo has only twelve prisons, which on average hold more than twice their capacity. The crowded conditions exacerbate poor hygiene, food, medical care, leading to disease and death.
The African Press Organization reports that an Amnesty International Report on Chad to be released on 10 September will detail human rights violations in prison in Chad
Over-population in the Nigerian prison system has been identified as the challenge to prison reform. More than 70 per cent of over 50,000 inmates across the country are awaiting trial.
Prominent journalist, Daudi Mwangosi, died on Sunday, 2 September 2012 while covering clashes between the police and members of Tanzania's largest opposition political party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema).
The aim of these initial workshops was to bring together stakeholders from government, NHRIs and civil society organisations of each respective country to discuss the contents of the UNCAT and to present the draft Domestication and Implementation Package (DIP). Participants met in Bujumbura, Burundi, on 8-9 August 2012 and Pretoria, South Africa, on 28-29 August 2012.
The coalition Let's Save Togo said more than 100 people were injured and 125 arrested during the rallies on 21 and 22 August. The rallies were dispersed by police with tear gas.
On Thursday 16 August 2012, 36 miners were killed by South African Police Services officials at Marikana mine in Mpumalanga. The violence arose out of a protracted labour dispute involving rival labour unions and Lonmin management. The final death toll of the week of 13 August 2012 is close to 50. Clare Ballard argues that the recent amendment of section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act, now awaiting the President’s signature, has weakened protection by significantly broadening the grounds on which the use of deadly force may be used and justified. She states that having constitutionally compliant legislation will not fix the seemingly endemic problems within the SAPS, nor will it repair its damaged reputation. What it can do, however, is strike the best the balance between undoubtedly complicated policing concerns, public safety and the rights to life, freedom from violence and dignity.
