The Master's programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) is an academic and practical programme on human rights hosted by the Centre for Human Rights. The programme, established in 2000, focuses on human rights in Africa but with a global footprint. Taught by eminent scholars and practitioners in the field of human rights and international development around the world, the programme is the first of its kind designed to address the gap in human rights scholarship and advocacy in Africa. Now, with an alumni strength of 537 and counting, HRDA has become a beacon of hope for human rights development in Africa and in the world. The original mandate of HRDA to strengthen human rights debate on the continent has been largely achieved in the last twenty years with its alumni spread in almost all sectors including legal practice, inter-governmental organisations, national judiciaries, academic institutions, governments, philanthropy and many more in and out of Africa.

Achieving all of these is no mean feat. It has been through the focus of the visionaries of the Centre and the ever-amazing HRDA cluster who have demonstrated over and over again that positive change is possible in our world. It is for these reasons that we have decided to celebrate our shining lights in each of their various areas of endeavours. This year, we will be celebrating the 20^thanniversary of the HRDA programme. 

Starting from 7 December 2019, the Centre will be hosting the HRDA alumni at the University of Pretoria in a series of programmes scheduled to bring into focus the past achievements of the programme and a stronger consolidation for a more promising future of the HRDA programme.

Tentative programme

Saturday 7 December 2019
Welcoming of Alumni at the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
Activities and Braai at LC de Villiers Sports Campus, Hillcrest

Sunday 8 December 2019
Alumni symposium at Future Africa
Tour of the Freedom park
Alumni dinner at Freedom Park

Monday 9 December 2019
Sub-regional launch of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty
Fieldwork on xenophobia
Cocktail and 'Born Naked' performance

Tuesday 10 December 2019
Centre for Human Rights Master’s graduation ceremony