Catch up on recent CALS highlights in the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter: payg.rocketseed.net/public/messa... Or sign up for future editions here: wits.ac.za/cals/cals-qu...

Land reform delays in #SouthAfrica are not just slow progress; they reflect a failure to address the legacy of apartheid. @calsza.bsky.social argues this inaction breaches constitutional & human rights obligations. 🔗 www.escr-net.org/news/2026/so...

Our Sheena Swemmer marks 70 years since the 1956 #WomensMarch by reflecting on the work of current activists such as those at Embrace: The Movement for Mothers working towards ending #ObstetricViolence www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...

CALS mourns the loss of human rights lawyer Nicholas Haysom. We send our deepest condolences to all his loved ones at this difficult time. Prof Haysom joined CALS as a research officer in 1981, working in the areas of labour law and human rights violations in the “homelands”

CALS was proud to host our partners at Embrace: The Movement for Mothers yesterday for the launch of their birth survey report on the nature and prevalence of #ObstetricViolence in Gauteng and KZN You can find the full report here: embrace.org.za/birth/

Join us next week as we host Embrace, the Movement for Mothers for the launch of their birth study exposing the nature and prevalence of #ObstetricViolence in Gauteng and KZN 📅 11 March 2026 🕘 9:00 - 12:00 📍 Chalsty Centre 🔗 m.youtube.com/channel/UC5L...

Join us for the online launch of the “Handbook on Business, Human Rights, and the Environment in Africa” featuring editor Jean-Claude N. Ashukem and moderated by Charmika Samaradiwakera Wijesundara 📅 20 March 2026 🕚 11:00 📍 MS Teams 🔗 Register here: bit.ly/40tnF0k

Wishing everyone writing exams this week the very best of luck!

Our director Christopher Gevers on the limits of self-defence under international law: “The requirement is not that a state has dangerous capabilities. It is that an armed attack is imminent. [This does not] include long-term or speculative threats.”

I joined the Embrace movement for the #LaundryDay protest outside of DoH. Obstetric violence is GBV!

Our director Prof Christopher Gevers discusses the conflict in the Middle East, weighing in on the legality of the strikes under international law www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiyr...

CALS was proud to join Embrace today for #LaundryDay, where we protested outside the Department of Health to draw attention to #ObstetricViolence Read the memorandum submitted here: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

Our Thuto Gabaphethe and Lulama Madyaka discuss why South Africa is far from meeting its 2030 targets for land reform. As a member of @escrnet.bsky.social, CALS is intervening in litigation to address government's failures around land reform. Read more: www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...

The top 16 teams have been selected for this year's Public Interest Law Moot Court Competition! Find a full list of everyone through to the next round of virtual oral argument in the #PILMOOT here: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

Unlawful arrests or detentions cost the South African Police Service (SAPS) over R620-million in 2024/25, according to an answer in Parliament by Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia. Read groundup.org.za/article/the-... by GroundUp and The Outilier.

"The persistent conflation of the IHRA definition of Jewishness with Zionism harms not only Palestinians but also Jewish people, by suggesting that the illegal and abusive actions of the State of Israel are inherently Jewish — an antisemitic notion." groundup.org.za/article/what...

At 33, Edwin Cameron thought he had maybe 7 years left. At 73, the former Concourt justice is still here — a living testament to the power of activism that made #HIVTreatment accessible in South Africa. Read our profile by Tanya Pampalone and Mia Malan. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...

In case you missed it: Our Sheena Swemmer on the #Mbenenge report “In the end, our Constitution does not pretend that power, history and inequality disappear in the name of neutrality. It insists that they matter, especially in cases of sexual harm.” www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026...

Reminder: We are partnering with Brunel University, UENF and the @britishacademy.bsky.social for an in-person and online conference on the protection of people threatened with death 📅 Deadline for abstracts: 15 February 2026 🔗 Find our more: wits.ac.za/news/sources...

Essential reading: Our Dr Sheena Swemmer unpacks the finding of the #Mbenenge sexual harassment tribunal, its impact and how it understand neutrality, bias and power

Reminder: We are calling for abstracts on evidence on the protection of people threatened with death 📅 Deadline for submission: 15 February 2026 🔗 Find out more: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

In case you missed it: Our Lulama Madyaka makes the case for an African treaty to address human rights abuses by corporations on the continent www.news24.com/opinions/ana...

Call for abstracts: People threatened with death In partnership with @Bruneluni, @uenf and the @BritishAcademy_, CALS is co-hosting a conference on programmes and policies protecting witnesses and activists under threat Read the full call for abstracts: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

The top 32 teams have been selected from over 400 entered into this year's Public Interest Law Moot Court Competition! Find a full list of everyone through to the next round of the #PILMOOT here: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

CALS founding director Prof John Dugard SC has been awarded the 2026 Olof Palme Prize along with Dr Navi Pillay for their outstanding contribution to the defence of fundamental human rights. Find out more: palmefonden.se/en/pristagar...

A huge thank you to everyone who has registered for this year's Public Interest Law Moot Court Competition! Well over 400 teams have entered this year's #PILMOOT Our judges are working hard at marking and we will announce the top 32 teams moving onto the next round shortly

CALS wishes all our friends, partners and colleagues a happy end to 2025! Thank you for all your support throughout the year. We will have a limited number of staff on duty for the rest of December and will return from 5 January 2026.

Catch up on recent CALS highlights in the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter: payg.rocketseed.net/public/messa... Or sign up for future editions here: www.wits.ac.za/cals/cals-qu...

This week, CALS is partnering with @lhr-sa.bsky.social and Wits Plus on our #ClimateJustice short course! This year the course is being offered to an all-women group of activists for the first time. Participants have joined us from mining, farming and fishing communities around the country.

As #16DaysOfActivism gets underway, our Dr Sheena Swemmer discusses administrative violence: “When the justice system disregards its own duties and deadlines, it does more than delay; it shows a profound indifference to the lives caught in its machinery.” mg.co.za/thought-lead...

CALS will be in the Constitutional Court next Tuesday for a case with important implications for the right to water and the functioning of the South African Human Rights Commission We are represented in the matter by in-house counsel Jatheen Bhima Find out more: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

Our Busisiwe Kamolane-Kgadima is representing CALS at the #G20 Social Summit this week. We are focusing on the themes: 1. Inclusive climate justice, a just transition and energy democracy; and 2. Building momentum for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063

In case you missed it: Our Blossom Matizirofa and Thuto Gabaphethe discuss a case heard in the High Court in Mthatha earlier this week on the right to water

Our final webinar for this year's #AntiRepressionWeek will see the Right2Protest Project unpacking some of its recent work on the criminalisation of social movements 📅 20 November 🕛 12:00 📍 MS Teams 🔗 Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8062e3...

CALS is in the High Court in Mthatha today seeking to compel the Amathole District Municipality to provide safe and sufficient water to communities in the Toboyi area Our Blossom Matizirofa and Thuto Gabaphethe share their thoughts on the case

Next week, our Sithuthukile Mkhize and Omhle Ntshingila join our partners for #DissentOnTrial – a discussion on strategies for countering criminalisation 📅 27 November 🕑 14:00 SAST Attend online: bit.ly/DissentOnTrial-Online Or in-person: bit.ly/DissentOnTrial-InPerson

We continue the conversation this #AntiRepressionWeek with a Wednesday webinar on misinformation and digital security with speakers from Digital Society Africa, Power Law Africa and Moxxi Africa 📅 17 November 🕑 14:00 📍 MS Teams 🔗 Register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/abc3a4...

Join CALS and @right2protestafrka.bsky.social for our first #AntiRepressionWeek webinar next Monday on Corporate Repression We will be joined by speakers from @opensecrets.org.za, @rightsindevt.bsky.social and @business-humanrights.org Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8d21eb...

Next week, CALS and @right2protestafrka.bsky.social host the third annual #AntiRepressionWeek, showcasing work resisting repression From Monday to Thursday, we are hosting webinars on corporate repression, misinformation and digital rights, and the criminalisation of social movements

Next week, CALS will be in the Eastern Cape High Court representing residents from three villages in Toboyi. They are seeking to compel the Amathole District Municipality to provide them with safe and sufficient water. Find out more and read our papers: wits.ac.za/news/sources...

📢 Calling all law students! Registration is now open for the next Public Interest Law Moot Court Competition! #PILMOOT 📅 Hypothetical case and information pack releases: 17 November 2025 📋 Register your team: forms.gle/wMHca2gxE7dm... 🔗 Find out more: www.mootcourt.co.za/moot/

Press Statement | Lawyers for Human Rights Welcomes Landmark Judgment Interdicting Operation Dudula The court affirmed that no one is above the law - a reminder that "isidima", our shared human dignity, knows no borders. Read the Judgement here: www.lhr.org.za/lhr-news/pre...

Our Anesu Dera reflects on the important role African states and civil society play in ensuring we have an effective #BindingTreaty that can hold corporations accountable www.businessday.co.za/opinion/2025...

Catch our Sheena Swemmer discussing consent in the higher education context at a webinar this Thursday presented by the Wits Division of Clinical Associates 📅 30 October 2025 🕕 18:00 – 19:30 📍 MS Teams Find out more and register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a3faa1...

It's Day 2 of this year's Public Interest Law Gathering #PILG2025 Today's programme includes panels on corruption, the unfinished business of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, refugee rights, early childhood development and the limits of legal remedies

📣✊🏿 Yesterday, LHR joined CALS, AIDC, Womens Assembly, People’s Dialogue Zambia & Fastenaktion at the 11th #BindingTreaty session. We explored the need for a legally binding treaty amid the global rush for critical minerals. Thank you to our panelists for a powerful discussion✊🏿

Our Sheena Swemmer will be speaking on the panel “Freedom for all? Building a diverse and inclusive democracy” hosted by Animal Law Reform 📅22 October 2025 🕓16:00 – 17:30 📍Wits University Catch up at #PILG2025

CALS will be hosting a panel on land reform and labour tenant protections today at this year's Public Interest Law Gathering 📅22 October 2025 🕑14:00 – 15:30 📍Wits University Follow along at #PILG2025

🌍 Proud moment for LHR! 🌍 Our colleague Jessica Lawrence is in Geneva for the 11th UN #BindingTreaty negotiations, alongside @calsza.bsky.social, AIDC, @fidh-bhr.bsky.social , with support from Fastenaktion. Follow us for daily updates & highlights: 🔗 lnkd.in/eW2_Assp

📍The 11th UN #BindingTreaty session on Business & Human Rights is underway in Geneva. We’ll be sharing key takeaways and daily highlights from state & civil society discussions all week. 📩 Stay updated: lnkd.in/eW2_Assp @calsza.bsky.social @fidh-bhr.bsky.social #UNbindingTreaty #humanrights