"The international community is divided in respect of what actually occurred in Darfur. There are differenct views on the conflict. Some reports show that the conflict cannot be characterised as genocide, but rather atrocities, namely war crimes and crimes against humanity. Yet others indicate that, apart from crimes against humanity and war crimes, there was also genocide in Darfur. Still other reports indicate that the Darful conflict is characterised by 'ethnic cleansing'. Clearly there is a disagreement on what happened in Darfur. ... This study poses a critique to past studies on the Darfur conflict on the question of genocide. It analyses facts about the conflict in relation to the law on genocide so as to find out whether facts can meet the definition of the crime of genocide. The study is limited to the legal issue - whether genocide was committed in Darfur between 2003 and 2004. It does not intend to introduce the background to the conflict; rather, facts are only applied in the legal arguments. ... This work has four chapters. Chapter one is an introduction to the study. Chapter two discusses material elements of genocide and determination of a protected group. Chapter three discusses intent to commit genocide and poses a critique to past studies on Darfur. Chapter four shows conclusion and recommendations." -- Introduction. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2005. / Prepared under the supervision of Dr. Paolo Comoane at the Faculty of Law, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mocambique / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/academic_pro/llm1/dissertations.html / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the current debate on corporate human rights accountability from an African perspective by critically analysing the ‘Ruggie Framework’. Questions whether it affords effective protection and remedies against corporate human rights violations occurring in Africa. / A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Prof J Oloka Onyango, Faculty of Law, Makerere University. Uganda. / LLM Dissertation (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa -- University of Pretoria, 2009. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

The recognition of the right to language under international human rights is still an ongoing debate. By examining the nature, extent and adequacy of the protection according to linguistic rights in international human rights laws, this paper offers solutions for this ongoing debate. In addition to resolving the issues in international law, it also discusses the extent of protection accorded to linguistic rights in Mauritius as well as under the express linguistic and ethnic form of Ethiopian federalism. Compares the practice and language policies of Ethiopia and Mauritius in light of international standards and identifies further issues to be addressed. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2009. / Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Bissessur Pramod, Faculty of Law and Management, University of Mauritius. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

This study investigates the following questions: (1) What is the rationale behind the participation of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in regional and international human rights mechanisms? (2) What is the role of NHRIs in relation to regional and international human rights mechanisms? (3) What is the role and what could be the role of NHRIs in the work of the African Commission? (4) What are the areas that the NHRIs can work with the African Commission to strengthen the protection of human rights within their jurisdictions and in Africa? (5) What rules should govern the relationship between the African Commission and NHRIs? The study will further contribute to the broader understanding of the role of NHRIs at the regional level, with particular reference to Africa, and how that can benefit the African Commission and Africa in general / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2008. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Prof J. Oloka-Onyango from the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), Faculty of Law, Makerere University, Uganda / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

In 1991, the first major international gathering on the issue of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) was held from the 7 to the 9 October in Paris during the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights under United Nations (UN) auspices. The outcome of such meeting is the Paris Principles adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission Resolution 1992/54 of 1992 and the General Assembly Resolution 48/134 of 1993. The Paris Principles relate to the status and functioning of national institutions for protection and promotion of human rights and ‘have become the benchmark against which national human rights institutions are measured'. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2010. / Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr. Solomon Dersso of the Faculty of Law, University of Addis-Ababa. 2010. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

The principal aim of this study is to examine law enforcement and human rights in a post war African society: Sierra Leone. The major question addressed in the course of this research is: should respect for human rights be relevant to law enforcement and should law enforcement officials in post conflict societies (such as Sierra Leone) be bound by national and international standards in domestic law enforcement in their countries? Also explores the use of dissuasive measures such as prosecution to minimise the culture of impunity by law enforcement officials especially during conflict and post conflict periods / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2008. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Professor Tsegaye Regassa, Faculty of Law, Addis Ababa University – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

This dissertation analyzes the political leadership crisis and the violations of human rights in the Arab countries during the period 1970 to 1990. The main purposes of this study could be briefly summarized as follows: (1) to explore scientifically whether there is a political leadership crisis in the Arab World; (2) to explore the concept of political leadership, i.e., what constitutes political leadership, what are its necessary requirements, and what differentiates it from dictatorship; and (3) to examine the effects of political leadership in the Arab countries upon the violation of human rights.

For over a century, corporations engaged in the extractive industries in Africa have operated without ethical rules. They have been notoriously fingered for rampant environmental, labour, health and human rights violations, including land despoliation, forced displacement, environmental pollution, cultural infringements and, sometimes, deaths. While the responsibility for regulating companies and protecting human and peoples’ rights primarily rests with states, they have often been unable or unwilling to do so effectively. Amidst these persisting challenges, the phenomenal rise of transnational corporations in the global economy have rendered more complex the gaps in global governance by presenting new challenges that make territorial regulation by single countries impracticable. While victims groan, contestations about the human rights obligations of corporations have allowed extractive and other companies to fly below the radar of accountability; thereby, enabling extractive businesses to ride roughshod over communities and the environment. After several United Nations-led initiatives to address the adverse impacts of corporations, they have proven insufficient to hold companies accountable for violations in the extractive sector. This thesis, therefore, is a dispassionate attempt to explore the role of the African regional human rights system as an important complementary level of normative and institutional governance for regulating abusive corporate conduct and advancing human rights accountability in the extractive industries. It adopts an African approach to corporate human rights accountability in critically evaluating the contours of the corporate accountability discourse. It problematises the near-total reliance on inadequate domestic action in host states for regulating powerful corporate conglomerates in this age of globalisation and highlights the limits of extraterritorial regulation by home states in addressing transborder abuses. After a careful assessment, it finds that African human rights norms and regional mechanisms can play a key part in regulating abusive corporate practices and protecting the human rights and environmental wellbeing of resource-rich communities affected by the extractive industries in Africa. / Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2021. / German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst - DAAD) / Centre for Human Rights / LLD / Unrestricted

African governments have been under pressure to develop their economies and as such have opened up their resources to all forms of FDI. In this regard, the continent continues to be the foremost destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) and notably, land is and has historically been the resource at the heart of these investments. These investments are causing a huge commercial pressure on land and other natural resources, resulting in large-scale land acquisitions by foreign corporations. These acquisitions, better known as ‘land grabs’ are not a new phenomenon, because land grabs in Africa date back to pre-colonial times and evolved during colonial rule but they have risen once again, in the post-colonial state, in what has been termed the new scramble for Africa. Land grabs are characterised by complex relations, amongst numerous actors and African states play the role of a mediator between the different prospective and existing investors (transnational corporations), and citizens whilst at the same time trying to pursue its national developmental goals. While the states facilitation of FDI is important to drive economic development, the current model impacts negatively on land rights in the communities where these investments occur. Research from various countries across the continent show that land grabs are a serious challenge for rural populations in Africa resulting in the violations land rights of these populations. Most research around land grabs has concentrated on the influence of foreign investors, however, it must be acknowledged that land grabs cannot occur without, and are facilitated by states. Therefore, the role of states or governments cannot be ignored. In this regard, this research focuses on the role of states in land grabs in Africa and how they undermine land rights. / Mini Dissertation (MPhil (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) --University of Pretoria, 2021. / European Union through the Global Campus of Human Rights / The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa / Centre for Human Rights / MPhil (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) / Unrestricted

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