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17 May 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo iStock
Africa Reparation Hub Launch 2024
Join us as we unite to confront the challenges of our past and pave the way for a more just and equitable future for all Africans.

The Department of Public Law at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Law is proud to announce the launch of the UFS Africa Reparation Hub alongside a colloquium centred around the theme Unifying Africa for Action to Advance Reparatory Justice.

Date: 6 June 2024

Time: 11:00-16:00

Venue : Microsoft Teams; join the event here

Click to view documentClick here to RSVP and here for more information and speakers.

The pursuit of reparations for historical and contemporary injustices in Africa has gathered significant momentum. From the adoption of the African Union resolution advocating a united front to the push for reparations of past atrocities, the continent is asserting its demand for justice. This drive traces its roots back to historical landmarks like the Abuja Proclamation of 1993 and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in 2001.

Launch of the hub

Aligned with the UFS Vision 130, the university has established the UFS Africa Reparation Hub to serve as a nucleus for frank discussions on Africa's reparations. It houses a comprehensive database of resources on the subject and is poised to host expert groups dedicated to furthering the cause.

The Colloquium

The faculty invites academics, policymakers, human rights advocates, justice professionals, and representatives from international, regional, and national bodies to the colloquium which will precede the launch of the hub. This virtual gathering aims to foster dialogue and action toward reparatory justice in Africa. Thereafter, attendees will witness the official launch of the UFS Africa Reparation Hub, marking a significant step forward in the continent’s journey towards healing and restitution.

Leading voices on reparatory justice

In an eagerly awaited keynote address, Prof Verene Shepherd, the esteemed Director of the Centre for Reparations Research at the University of West Indies, Jamaica, is poised to set the stage for a thought-provoking discussion on reparatory justice. Joining her will be a distinguished line-up of speakers including Prof Serges Kamga (Dean of the Faculty of Law at the UFS); Martin Okumu-Masiga (Secretary-General of the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum); Dr Ahmed Bugri (Senior Expert and Coordinator for Reparatory Justice and Racial Healing at the African Union); and Prof Kula Theletsane (Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Affairs in Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Dr Catherine Namakula, Convenor of the Africa Reparation Hub, is anticipated to moderate the discussion, guiding the conversation towards actionable strategies for advancing reparations and fostering racial healing across Africa and beyond.

News Archive

Memorial lecture: Language and language activism in a time of transformation.
2005-05-11

The Faculty of the Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS) will present the 24th DF Malherbe Memorial Lecture on Wednesday 18 May 2005 at 19:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.

 

The lecture will be delivered by Proof. Hennie van Coller and Jaap Steyn and the title is “Language and language activism in a time of transformation”.

 

Prof van Coller is a distinguished professor and head of the Department of Afrikaans and Nederlands, German and French at UFS. Prof Van Coller has had more than 100 academic articles published in accredited journals and books; he has been author, co-author or editor of 17 books, and has delivered more than 50 lectures at conferences in South Africa and abroad. He has been awarded the Gustav Preller Prize by the SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and the Elizabeth Eybers Prize.  Prof van Coller was recently elected as chairperson of the Akademie.

 

Prof Steyn has written numerous articles in academic journals, a collection of poems, and several prose works, including Tuiste in eie taal, a study in the politics of language, and biographies of NP van Wyk Louw, MER and PJ Cillié. His work has been widely acclaimed.  Among his many awards are the following from the SA Academy: the CJ Langenhoven Prize for linguistics, the Stals Prize for historiography, the NP van Wyk Louw medallion for a valuable contribution to a field of study; the Elisabeth Eybers Prize and the Eugène Marais Prize for a debut work (the volume of poems Die grammatika van liefhê).

 

Enquiries can be directed to Ms Joan Nel at (051) 401-9301.

 

Media release

 

Issued by:                     Lacea Loader

                                    Media Representative

                                    Tel:  (051) 401-2584

                                    Cell:  083 645 2454

                                    E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

 

11 May 2005

 

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