The Advanced Human Rights Course on Indigenous People’s Rights in Africa was held at the University of Pretoria from 23 to 27 September 2019. The course was presented by the Centre for Human Rights in collaboration with International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa (WGIP) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

This year’s course was attended by 30 participants representing 8 African countries. Participants included postgraduate students, human rights activists, academics, judicial officers and policymakers.

Presenters on the course included:

• Dr Melakou Tegegn, Member of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa
• Mr Samuel Tessema, Member of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa
• Dr Christina Holmgren, Senior Labour Standards Specialist, ILO, Pretoria
• Prof Cindy Baskin, Ryerson University, Toronto
• Dr Albert Barume, Member of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa Advisory Network of Experts

Themes that were explored during the course included the definition and conceptualisation of indigeneity, indigenous peoples’ rights within the African regional human rights system, indigenous peoples’ rights within the global human rights system, land acquisition, the right to manifest, practice, develop and teach spiritual and religious traditions, and development and its impact on indigenous communities. Course participants made country presentations on the issues discussed throughout the week. Documentaries, mainly focussing on business and human rights-related themes, were also screened during the course.

This course was made possible by the generous support of the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA).

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