24 March 2025
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Story Tshepo Tsotetsi
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Photo Supplied
Prof Gerard Kamga, Associate Professor in the Free State Centre for Human Rights and Serges Kamga, Dean: Faculty of Law, University of the Free State.
Human Rights Month in South Africa presents an opportune moment to reflect on the continued importance of the work of the University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Law in advancing human rights on a global stage.
Two distinguished academics from the Law Faculty, Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Prof Gerard Kamga, Associate Professor in the Free State Centre for Human Rights at the UFS, recently attended the Social Forum of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Social Forum is an annual gathering organised by the UN Human Rights Council to foster open discussions between governments, intergovernmental organisations, civil society, and academic experts. Unlike formal UN meetings, this forum serves as an interactive space for global discussions on human rights issues and sustainable development, specifically focusing on financing for development in Africa. The latest session took place on 31 October and 1 November 2024.
UFS academics take the stage
The UN Human Rights Council chose ‘The contribution of financing for development to the advancement of all human rights for all’ as the theme for the recent forum. The discussions explored how financial policies and domestic resource mobilisation can help reduce inequality, promote social justice, and ensure sustainable development.
Prof Serges Kamga moderated a session on domestic resource mobilisation and facilitated discussions on how countries can generate and manage financial resources to fund development while reducing reliance on foreign aid.
Domestic resource mobilisation is the process through which countries raise and allocate their own funds to serve their people, marking the long-term path to sustainable development finance. Prof Kamga explained that domestic resource mobilisation provides governments with the funds necessary to alleviate poverty and deliver essential public services. He stressed that this process is critical in breaking free from aid dependence, a vital step for Africa in the pursuit of economic self-sufficiency and long-term stability.
His introduction set the stage for a panel discussion featuring speakers including Prof Gerard Kamga from the UFS, Sharaf Sheralizoda (Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the UN), Chenai Mukumba (Executive Director of Tax Justice Network Africa), and Anu Peltola (Director of Statistics at UN Trade and Development).
Insights into Africa’s financial challenges
Prof Gerard Kamga took the stage next with a presentation on illicit financial flows (IFFs) from Africa and their impact on development. He highlighted the gap between Africa’s recent economic achievements and its ongoing struggles with poverty, corruption, economic crises, and political instability. These challenges create significant barriers to financing sustainable development. He emphasised that illicit financial flows and unsustainable debt are among the biggest obstacles to Africa’s progress.
He also highlighted some alarming statistics, including:
• Africa loses an estimated $88,6 billion annually to illicit financial flows, amounting to 3,7% of its GDP.
• This loss far exceeds the $48 billion in official development assistance and $54 billion in foreign direct investment the continent receives annually.
The financial drain caused by IFFs weakens public services, fuels social inequality, and contributes to economic instability. These factors have played a role in recent political crises and military coups in parts of Africa. Prof Kamga’s insights sparked a lively dialogue, with representatives from Bangladesh, Iraq, and various NGOs raising questions about potential policy solutions to curb illicit financial flows from the continent.
UFS Law Faculty hosts side event and follow-up discussions
In addition to participating in the formal forum, the UFS professors hosted a side event on the afternoon of 1 November 2024, focusing on ‘Illicit Financial Flows from Africa and the Financing of Development’. Prof Serges Kamga chaired this session, bringing together experts and stakeholders to discuss IFFs’ impact on Africa’s sustainable development, and practical solutions for curbing illicit financial activities.
During the 2024 UN Social Forum at the Palais des Nations, Profs Serges Kamga and Gerard Kamga also met with Thembela Ngculu, counsellor and head of the Human Rights Unit at the South African Permanent Mission in Geneva. Ngculu expressed his appreciation for the University of the Free State’s role in organising the side event and its representation at such a significant global forum.
Three days after the Social Forum and side event, the professors visited the UN Office in Geneva for a meeting with the Right to Development Section of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This meeting explored strategies for international cooperation and policy development to support African nations in addressing financial injustice.
“In line with [the UFS’s long-term Vision 130 strategy], our participation in such forums reflects the faculty and the university’s intent to be globally competitive and counted amongst the best,” Prof Serges Kamga said. “To this end, we contribute to the conversation on how financial policies and domestic resource mobilisation can help reduce inequality, promote social justice, and ensure sustainable development.”
Both professors then travelled from Geneva to Lisbon, Portugal, to co-host, together with the United Nations Human Rights Office and other partners, the Right to Development Conference from 6 to 8 November, further advancing discussions on human rights and sustainable development.
“The significance of our participation cannot be overemphasised, as it clearly shows our intention to connect globally to innovate and improve people’s standard of living in Africa and beyond,” Prof Serges Kamga said.