Guest Lecture Series

The IHRE guest lecture series complements the interdisciplinary core course Human Rights: Perspectives from the Disciplines.  The lecture series aims, ultimately, to build a vibrant human rights community at Wits that engages human rights using lenses that are innovative and thought-provoking.

Mandatory for IHRE participants, the lectures are open to the general public and seek to stimulate debate on a range of topics related to human rights.  Prominent academics, practitioners, and commentators are invited to deliver the guest lectures, which are held at various venues at Wits and in the greater Johannesburg region. 

Recent guest lecturers include:

Roy Bennett

Movement for Democratic Change, Zimbabwe

George Bizos

Human Rights Advocate and Nelson Mandela's Counsel at the Rivonia Treason Trial

Justice Richard Goldstone

International Criminal Court

Ahmed Kathrada

Anti-Apartheid Activist and Advocate of Non-Racialism

Justice Johan Kriegler

IEC Chair and Head of Investigation, 2007 Elections in Kenya

Eusebius McKaiser

Wits Centre for Ethics  and Contributing Editor, Business Day

Hiroko Miyamura

United Nations Political Affairs Section

Andile Mngxitama

Landless People's Movement, South Africa

Njabulo Ndebele

South African Writer and Former Vice-Chancellor University of Cape Town

Andrew Passen

US Consul General to South Africa and Former Team Leader of Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team, Iraq

Paula Roque

South African Institute of International Affairs

Eleanor Sisulu

Zimbabwean-South African Human Rights Activist and Writer

Yasmin Sooka

Foundation for Human Rights, Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Tseliso Thipanyane

South African Human Rights Commission

Lecture topics have included:

• African Elections & Human Rights Challenges
• Non-Racialism & Human Rights
• Human Rights & U.S. Responses to 9/11
• Global Political Amnesia: Sweeping Human Rights Under Zimbabwe's Carpet
• Human Rights in the 20th Century
• Human Rights in Africa: Perspectives from Western and Southern Africa
• Hannah Arendt's New Law on Earth
• Material Ghosts: Photography and the City
• After the TRC: Legacies and Unfinished Business
• Land Rights in Southern Africa
  

"The Future of International Criminal Justice "

Listen to Justice Richard Goldstone's IHRE Lecture:

PART ONE

PART TWO