Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Denver, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 269-280).

In 1996, Zimbabwean graphic designer Chaz Maviyane-Davies created a set of human rights posters which represent several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, from what he calls an “African perspective”. In this study I investigate how Maviyane-Davies has constructed ‘African-ness’ and probe what he refers to as the “alternative aesthetic” that he is trying to create. I use a visual social semiotic approach to examine the discourses he draws on to re-image and re-imagine Africa and Africans in a manner that contests the stereotypical representations found in political, news and economic discourses about Africa, paying particular attention to the ways he uses images of the body. My analysis of the posters shows how complex and difficult it can be to contest regimes of representation that work to fix racialised and derogatory meanings. In response to the pejorative stereotypes of the black body, Maviyane-Davies uses images of strong, healthy, and magnificent people (mostly men) to construct a more affirmative representation of Africa and Africans. Significantly, he draws on sports, touristic, traditional and hegemonic discourses of masculinity in an attempt to expand the complexity and range of possible representations of African-ness. In so doing he runs the risk of reproducing many of the stereotypes that sustain not only the racialised and gendered (masculinist) representations of Africa, but also a sentimentalisation and romanticisation of a place, a people and their traditions. Apart from women in prominent positions, other conspicuous absences from these images include white people and hegemonic references to Western modernity. I do not believe he is discarding whites and modernity as un-African, but is rejecting the naturalisation of whiteness as standing in for humanity, and particular icons of Western modernity as significations of ‘modernity’ itself

O presente trabalho procura analisar a relação entre a Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (CIDH), suas decisões em relação ao Brasil e como elas podem influenciar o ordenamento jurídico interno. Para isso, pretende analisar a história da Comissão e como ela acabou por possuir uma dualidade de competências, em razão dos tratados internacionais que a orientam, especialmente a Declaração Americana de Direitos e Deveres do Homem (DADH), a Carta da Organização dos Estados Americanos (OEA) e a Convenção Americana de Direitos Humanos (CADH). Embora não seja o tema central do trabalho, também será mencionada a atuação da Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (CteIDH) no procedimento da Convenção. Com intuito de compreender a influência das decisões da Comissão no ordenamento brasileiro, que é o objetivo central do presente estudo, o trabalho busca estudar e analisar alguns casos práticos, tanto do período em que a Comissão atuou como órgão reconhecido da Carta da OEA, como da época em que atuou como órgão do sistema da Convenção, posteriormente à ratificação do Brasil. / The present work analyzes the relation between the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR), its decisions regarding Brazil and how they could influence the internal legal system. In order to do so, it analyzes the history of the Commission and how it became an organ with a dual competence in the Inter- American System of Human Rights (ISHR), due to the international treaties that guide it, specially the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Men, the OAS Chart and the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR). Although it is not the central issue of the research, the work also mentions the role of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (ICtHR) in the ACHR’s procedure. In order to comprehend the influence of the Commission’s decisions in the internal legal system, which is the central objective of the present study, it will study and analyze some practical cases, from the period when the Commission were solely the OAS Chart human rights organ, as well as from the time when it was an Convention organ, after Brazil’s ratification of the Convention.

No abstract available / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Philosophy)

O presente trabalho procura analisar a relação entre a Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (CIDH), suas decisões em relação ao Brasil e como elas podem influenciar o ordenamento jurídico interno. Para isso, pretende analisar a história da Comissão e como ela acabou por possuir uma dualidade de competências, em razão dos tratados internacionais que a orientam, especialmente a Declaração Americana de Direitos e Deveres do Homem (DADH), a Carta da Organização dos Estados Americanos (OEA) e a Convenção Americana de Direitos Humanos (CADH). Embora não seja o tema central do trabalho, também será mencionada a atuação da Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (CteIDH) no procedimento da Convenção. Com intuito de compreender a influência das decisões da Comissão no ordenamento brasileiro, que é o objetivo central do presente estudo, o trabalho busca estudar e analisar alguns casos práticos, tanto do período em que a Comissão atuou como órgão reconhecido da Carta da OEA, como da época em que atuou como órgão do sistema da Convenção, posteriormente à ratificação do Brasil. / The present work analyzes the relation between the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR), its decisions regarding Brazil and how they could influence the internal legal system. In order to do so, it analyzes the history of the Commission and how it became an organ with a dual competence in the Inter- American System of Human Rights (ISHR), due to the international treaties that guide it, specially the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Men, the OAS Chart and the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR). Although it is not the central issue of the research, the work also mentions the role of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (ICtHR) in the ACHR’s procedure. In order to comprehend the influence of the Commission’s decisions in the internal legal system, which is the central objective of the present study, it will study and analyze some practical cases, from the period when the Commission were solely the OAS Chart human rights organ, as well as from the time when it was an Convention organ, after Brazil’s ratification of the Convention.

O presente trabalho procura analisar a relação entre a Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (CIDH), suas decisões em relação ao Brasil e como elas podem influenciar o ordenamento jurídico interno. Para isso, pretende analisar a história da Comissão e como ela acabou por possuir uma dualidade de competências, em razão dos tratados internacionais que a orientam, especialmente a Declaração Americana de Direitos e Deveres do Homem (DADH), a Carta da Organização dos Estados Americanos (OEA) e a Convenção Americana de Direitos Humanos (CADH). Embora não seja o tema central do trabalho, também será mencionada a atuação da Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (CteIDH) no procedimento da Convenção. Com intuito de compreender a influência das decisões da Comissão no ordenamento brasileiro, que é o objetivo central do presente estudo, o trabalho busca estudar e analisar alguns casos práticos, tanto do período em que a Comissão atuou como órgão reconhecido da Carta da OEA, como da época em que atuou como órgão do sistema da Convenção, posteriormente à ratificação do Brasil. / The present work analyzes the relation between the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR), its decisions regarding Brazil and how they could influence the internal legal system. In order to do so, it analyzes the history of the Commission and how it became an organ with a dual competence in the Inter- American System of Human Rights (ISHR), due to the international treaties that guide it, specially the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Men, the OAS Chart and the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR). Although it is not the central issue of the research, the work also mentions the role of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (ICtHR) in the ACHR’s procedure. In order to comprehend the influence of the Commission’s decisions in the internal legal system, which is the central objective of the present study, it will study and analyze some practical cases, from the period when the Commission were solely the OAS Chart human rights organ, as well as from the time when it was an Convention organ, after Brazil’s ratification of the Convention.

Pas de résumé / Doctorat en droit / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Pas de résumé / Doctorat en droit / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

"The judiciary in Zimbabwe used to be viewed as a progressive bench recognised for its activism, particularly its purposive approach in interpreting the Bill of Rights to ensure protection of human rights. It was one of the best Commonwealth judiciaries, which was inspired by international standards in interpreting human rights and at the same time contributed to the origination of normative standards through its decisions. Although Zimbabwe is a dualist system, the judiciary accepted and drew inspiration from international human rights treaties. The Supreme Court (SC) under Chief Justice (CJ) Gubbay (the Gubbay bench) made several progressive pronouncements that favoured the promotion and protection of human rights. In tandem with its tradition of judicial independence, the judiciary interpreted draconian legislation in favour of human rights often striking down the offensive clauses in legislation. Indeed the perception towards the judiciary by the common person was that of a protector of human rights. One landmark human rights decision on the Land Reform Programme (LRP) stated that farm invasions were unlawful and an affront to section 16 of the Constitution. The SC ordered the executive to take necessary measures to ensure that invasions were sanctioned. It further requested the executive to furnish a plan of action for the LRP. The execuitve did not welcome this ruling and the SC judges wre hounded out of office in a clear culmination of judiciary-executive tension. A new bench came in under CJ Chidyausiku (the Chidyausiku bench). This bench made several rulings that took away individual property rights without justification. In a clear shift of jurisprudential ideology, the current bench has not engaged in activism resulting in less, if not no, protection of human rights. The disparity in the jurisprudence is evident in other cases. The current bench seems to have abrogated its mandate to protect human rights. This study is thus prompted to investigate why the different benches in Zimbabwe have produced totally variant jurisprudence, particularly in light of the fact that the judiciary is operating under the same laws and is appointed under the same procedures as before. ... Chapter 1 sets out the focus and content of the study. Chapter 2 gives a national framework for human rights protection in Zimbabwe. This looks at the structure of courts in Zimbabwe. Special emphasis is placed on the SC as the court that has the prime mandate of protecting human rights. Constitutional guarantees for the independence of the judiciary and the Bill of Rights, among others, is analysed. Chapter 3 deals with human rights jurisprudence of the SC benches. The chapter focuses on approach of the benches to human rights protection. It examines the approach to procedural and technicalities that often hinder human rights litigation and protection such as standing, delay, interpretation, compliance with court orders and use of international instruments. Chapter 4 focuses on the experiences from Uganda and analyses the approach of the Ugandan courts. Chapter 5 consists of best practices from the two jurisdictions, conclusion and recommendations for the Zimbabwean judiciary." -- Introduction. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2005. / Prepared under the supervision of Professor Frederick Jjuuko at Human Rights and Peace Centre, Faculty of Law, Makerere University in Uganda / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/academic_pro/llm1/dissertations.html / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

"In response to President Kabah's request of June 2000, the United Nations Security Council called on the Secretary-General to negotiate an agreement with the government of Sierra Leone for the creation of a special court for Sierra Leone (hereafter SCSL), to investigate the atrocities committed within the country, by Resolution 1315 of 14 August 2000. Under the agreement concluded in February 2001, the SCSL has jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed since November 1996. The author assesses in detail the efficacy of the SCSL in dispensing justice up to date. The author concludes that, although the SCSL has accomplished much, it has shortcomings and faces changes that hamper the attainment of its objectives. ... This study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one provides the context in which the study is set, the focus and objectives of the study, its significance and other preliminary issues, including a statement of the problem and the literature review. Analysis of the conflict in Sierra Leone are necessary to grasp the graveness and the nature of the human rights violations and to understand the nature and extent of justice already meted out. Chapter two focuses particularly on the historical background of the conflict and the reasons that necessitate the establishment of the SCSL. The SCSL was established specifically to respond to human rights abuses committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Chapter three examines the major achievements of the Court in dispensing justice, and chapter four identifies the shortcomings and the challenges that confront the Court in its aim to fulfil its mandate." -- Chapter one. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2006. / Prepared under the supervision of Professor Lovell Fernandez, Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/academic_pro/llm1/dissertations.html / Centre for Human Rights / LLM