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

It's Day 1 of this year's Public Interest Law Gathering #PILG2025 Today's programme includes panels on themes from countering dangerous narratives to statelessness, disability rights, basic services, social security and animal law CALS is hosting a panel on land reform later this afternoon

This week, Anesu Dera will be representing CALS at the United Nations in Geneva for the latest round of negotiations on the #UNBindingTreaty on business and human rights But, what is the #BindingTreaty? A short thread 🧵

📢 Lawyers for Human Rights is in Geneva for the 11th UN Binding Treaty talks on Business & Human Rights! Together with @calsza.bsky.social & AIDC, we’re sharing insights and community voices from the negotiations. Follow for updates & our Daily Briefs with BHRRC 🌍✍🏽 #UNBindingTreaty #humanrights

Our Dr Sheena Swemmer is the recipient of the Social Justice Champion of the Year Award! We send our warmest congratulations to Sheena on this well-deserved recognition of her work combating gender-based violence and discrimination

CALS and @right2protestafrka.bsky.social recently made submissions to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders @marylawlorhrds.bsky.social We discuss our work countering #SLAPP suits and the need for South Africa to develop anti-SLAPP laws www.wits.ac.za/media/wits-u...

CALS is proud to announce that our Dr Sheena Swemmer is a finalist for this year's Social Justice Champion Award presented by the Centre for Social Justice and Prof Thuli Madonsela Sheena heads our Gender Justice programme and has a deep commitment to promoting the right to equality

🚰 Johannesburg’s water crisis has become a political flashpoint. Veteran politician Helen Zille made 6 claims about Joburg & Cape Town’s water infrastructure. We fact-checked them: ✅ 2 correct ❌ 4 incorrect 🔎 Read more: africacheck.info/zille_water

READ: Our @sheena_swemmer and @leeannegaertner share their thoughts on why we are challenging the way the law defines sexual offences www.news24.com/opinions/col...

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...

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...

We are in the Constitutional Court this morning for an important case looking at how the law defines sexual offences in terms of #consent We are represented by Mx Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane and Dr Sheena Swemmer We rely on expert evidence from Dr Jameelah Omar #ConsentMatters

This application is set to be heard in the Constitutional Court on Thursday We argue that consent should not form part of the definition of sexual offences because this places an added burden on complainants to show that they did not consent groundup.org.za/article/apex...

Read more about the arguments Dr Sheena Swemmer and Mx Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane will be making in the Constitutional Court on Thursday on consent You can read the full article and find other issues of the Wits University research magazine #Curiosity here: wits.ac.za/curiosity/

READ: Head of our Gender Justice programme Dr Sheena Swemmer unpacks why the way our law defines sexual offences compared to other violent crimes could be a form of indirect discrimination that infringes on the constitutional right to equality mg.co.za/thought-lead...

CALS is set to appear in the Constitutional Court next week in a case with important implications for prosecuting sexual offences. We are represented by Mx Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane and Dr Sheena Swemmer and rely on expert evidence by Dr Jameelah Omar. Find our papers: wits.ac.za/news/sources...

We welcome Karene Ponde from the @raithfoundation.bsky.social to discuss the topic of “Aid and Austerity: New pathways for the CSO sector in Africa” in conversation with our Sithuthukile Mkhize at the #ActivistSymposium

Day 2 of this year's #ActivistSymposium is about to get underway!

Today is the day! This year's #ActivistSymposium brings together human rights defenders from across Africa to share challenges and strategise on how to combat repression on the continent

Reminder: CALS is looking for candidate legal practitioners to join our team in January 2026 The closing date for applications is 19 September 2025

Next week's #ActivistSymposium provides a powerful space to reflect, strategise and reimagine the future of activism. Find out more: www.wits.ac.za/news/sources...

One week to go! This year’s #ActivistSymposium takes place on 16 – 17 September at Wits University under the theme “Navigating Activism in an Anti-Human Rights Era”

This year’s #ActivistSymposium brings together activists from around the continent We are proud to partner with @right2protestafrka.bsky.social, @lhr-sa.bsky.social, @whrdinitiative.bsky.social, @mediamatterza.bsky.social, SARWatch, AfricanDefenders, CER, CHR, CIVICUS, AISA & Digital Society Africa

📢 We're hiring! CALS is looking for candidate legal practitioners to join our team in January 2026. Please share widely! Find the full requirements and apply here: irec.wits.ac.za/OA_HTML/OA.j...

READ: Our Lulama Madyaka discusses the importance of keeping gender-based violence on the agenda after the end of #WomensMonth mg.co.za/thought-lead...

The DMPR released the Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill for comment earlier this year But, does the Bill address key environmental justice issues raised by civil society organisations which form part of the #MPRDA coalition? Read our scorecard👇 Find our comments: wits.ac.za/media/wits-u...

CALS will be marking this #WomensMonth by reflecting on our history, the women who have shaped our organisation, the landmark cases on women’s rights we've been involved in and the current cases of our Gender Justice programme