FSCHR HUMAN RIGHTS AMBASSADORS HOST ANNUAL DEBATE

The second annual Multilingual debate took place from 3 to 5 October 2024. The theme for the competition this year was ‘Recognising minority languages’; motions centred around languages such as the Khoisan language and touching on the rights of these languages, with low speaker numbers and the role of the government in the preservation of such languages. This tournament has seen growth and expansion in reach, as the competition has been opened up to local high schools to join – namely Grey College and Brebner High School – each with speakers who will represent the Free State in debate at national level in December. Competing in the second spurt of this tournament was teams from the UFS Debate Society, the Debate Klub, the two above-mentioned high schools, a team consisting of former Human Rights Ambassadors, students from the Faculty of Law, and a number of independent teams. It was a highly competitive tournament that saw both high school teams reaching the semi-finals, but only Brebner High School advanced to the finals, which were ultimately won by the independent team Vipor 2.

2024 Prize-winners:

- Best Sesotho speaker – Tshepiso Lesoetsa (Brebner High School)

- ⁠Best IsiZulu speaker – Thando Qwabe (Team Vipor 2)

- ⁠Best Afrikaans speaker – Thomas Schoeman (Grey College)

- ⁠Best in code switching – Ntsako Shivanda (Debate Klub 1)

- ⁠Overall best speaker runner-up – Zaheed Henney (Grey College)

- ⁠Overall best speaker winner – Keabetswe Rabodiba (Team Vipor 1)

- ⁠Runner-up team – Brebner High School (Eto’o Thamae, Owami Mjekula, Lindiwe

  Nqwakuza, and Tshepiso Lesoetsa)

- ⁠Winning team – Team Vipor 2 (Neo Mntambo, Tshireletso, and Thando Qwabe)

FREE STATE CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CELEBRATE MANDELA DAY

On 18 July 2024, the human rights ambassadors of the Free State Centre for Human Rights along with the University of the Free State Law Clinic, visited Bloem Shelter, a non-governmental organisation that provides shelter to the homeless. In commemoration of 67 minutes of kindness, a widely known initiative that encourages charitability on Mandela day, all those in attendance worked together to lend a helping hand to the shelter.

Working hand in hand with the manager of Bloem Shelter, Ms Heidi Morgan, the FSCHR curated a list of things to donate, which included sanitary products and a bulk of groceries. The UFS Law Clinic donated colouring books for the children and also provided cleaning materials. The activities of the day included amongst others, cleaning the property, painting the house, working on the garden, and having a soup kitchen for the surrounding community. Human rights ambassadors of the Centre also handed out informative booklets on human rights received form United for Human Rights.

Ms Heidi and the occupants of the shelter expressed immense gratitude for the work that had been done, a testament to the importance of charitable activities and lending a helping hand to those in need. 

UFS QWAQWA CAMPUS EMPOWERS STUDENTS THROUGH HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE

On 25 April 2024, the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus held a Round-table Dialogue on Human Rights in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs, Residence Life, and Human Rights Ambassadors. This event aimed to educate students about their human rights and empower them to stand up for themselves. Read more.

SOUTH CAMPUS HOSTS HUMAN RIGHTS DEBATE

On the 24th of April 2024, the FSCHR’s Human Rights Ambassadors in collaboration with the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office of the UFS hosted the South Campus Human Rights Debate. This event saw South campus residences go head to head to crown two winning teams. Two rounds took place:

1. Can the youth take part in changing the current situation we face as a country regarding our government?

2. ⁠Should educational institutions allow initiations and rituals to happen within its residences? And how does it affect your human rights?

The teams representing House Legae  and House Unison emerged as the respective winners. 

UFS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVANCES INCLUSION AND EQUALITY

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) through the Free State Centre for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) and Counterpart International, recently hosted the International Conference on Disability Rights from 24-26 April 2024. This significant event not only convened experts and advocates but also marked the launch of the Disability Rights Unit within the Faculty of Law. Read more.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVATION: UFS ENCOURAGES YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN UPCOMING NATIONAL ELECTIONS

As South Africa prepares for its national elections scheduled for 29 May 2024, the University of the Free State (UFS) emphasises the importance of youth engagement in the democratic process. These sentiments were echoed during the Human Rights Day event recently hosted by the Free State Centre for Human Rights. Read the full story here.

UFS FACULTY OF LAW CELEBRATES HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

The UFS Faculty of Law hosted a Human Rights Celebration on 18 March 2024. The day commenced with a panel discussion on the contribution of Sir Sydney Kentridge to human rights in South Africa and beyond. Panelists included Emeritus Constitutional Court Justice Zak Yacoob, Honourable Madam Justice Yvonne Mbatha and Dr Adri du Plessis. Emeritus Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs delivered a public lecture on whether there is cause for celebration on the 30th anniversary of human rights in South Africa. The day included a donation of books chronicling the life of Former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson by the Albie Sachs Trust. Read the full story here.

Watch the day's events.

DR MARTIE BLOEM DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT SABPP CONFERENCE

Dr Martie Bloem, recently appointed coordinator of the legal services division of the Free State Centre for Human Rights, delivered the keynote address, What happens to the human in the world of AI?, at the Ethics and HR Governance Conference hosted by the SA Board for People Practices on 14 March 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

PROF DANIE BRAND APPOINTED ACTING JUDGE IN HIGH COURTS

Prof Danie Brand, Director of the Free State Centre for Human Rights at the UFS, has been appointed as an acting judge in the North Gauteng High Court. Prof Brand will sit in both the Pretoria and Johannesburg High Courts for the first court term of 2024, from 22 January to 29 March 2024.

Prof Brand acted as a judge in the High Court several times in the past. He says he is honoured by the appointment and excited by the prospect.