Posted on May 09, 2018
Students on the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) programme at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, recently visited the African human rigfhts icon Dr Vera Chirwa.
On 15 April 2018, Professor Frans Viljoen (Director), Johannes Buabeng-Baidoo (HRDA Programme Coordinator) and three students on the HRDA programme (Hawi Asfaw fromEthiopia, Reshoketswe Mapokgole from South Africa and Urerimam Raymond Shamaki from Nigeria), paid a courtesy visit to the home of Dr Vera Mlangazua Chirwa in commemoration of her selfless service to human rights in Africa as well as her support to the Centre.
Since 2006, the Vera Chirwa Human Rights Award has been awarded annually by the Centre for Human Rights, to the alumnus or alumna of the LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa, who best embodied the principles of the programme in his or her subsequent career by “making a difference” to the protection of human rights or the strengthening of democratisation in Africa. The following alumni are worthy recipients of the Vera Chirwa Award:
“As I sat across from her I wondered, what strength it takes -
in a world that said to be Black was to not human, let alone being a woman -
to strive for a fair and just world, as she did.
When we left her house, in our conversations it was clear what she reminded us of -
the fight for a better world is long from over, and we must follow from the sacrifices she has made, and continue on in the battle.”
Reshoketswe Mapokgole (South Africa)
Prof Frans Viljoen showing Dr Vera Chirwa the Alumni Diaries
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