PLEASE NOTE: This course has been discontinued. As of 2015, this course will be replaced by the LLM/MPhil (Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa). More information to followin due course. Course name: LLM: International Human Rights Law & HIV in Africa Course code: 04251005 Credits: Total of 200 credits Duration: A minimum of 1 year full time Admission requirements: LLB or equivalent qualification required for entrance into the legal profession. (This is a selection course and only selected applicants will be admitted to the programme.)  Mini-dissertation: The student must submit a research proposal to the supervisor prior to commencing with the writing of the mini-dissertation. A mini-dissertation (MND 800) of 13 000 to 15 000 words inclusive of footnotes but excluding the list of contents and the bibliography, is required. The mini-dissertation must be submitted within eighteen months of registration. The mini-dissertation must deal with the subject content of one of the modules registered for by the student for his/her LLM. Any request for an extension of the period for the submission of the mini-dissertation may only be granted by the Dean on recommendation of the Postgraduate Committee.

Co-ordinators:

• Prof F Viljoen
  Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 3228
  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Ms Asha Ramgobin
  Executive Director: Human Rights Development Initiative (HRDI)
  Extraordinary Lecturer, Centre for Human Rights
  Tel: +27 (0) 12 342 2370
  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About this course

The Centre for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Human Rights Development Initiative, launched the world's first LLM programme focusing on HIV and international law.

Eighteen students from Southern, East Africa and the Great Lakes Region, are registered for this programme. The students, who are all from law clinics at Universities in the region, will spend six months at UP, after which they return to their home universities where they will do practical work and write their dissertations.

HIV and international human rights law is already a focal area of research in the Centre, as exemplified by the existence and activities of the AIDS and Human Rights Research Unit, a collaboration with the Centre for the Study of AIDS. The involvement of postgraduate students of the proposed programme in existing activities of the Unit will enhance the existing research capacity in this field.

Course structure

MODULE NAME	MODULE CODE	CREDITS
Research methodology for human rights	NRM 801	5
Research proposal	RHP 803	5
Mini-dissertation [prerequisites: NRM 801 and RHP 801]	MND 800	100
Theory and practice of international, regional and domestic human rights law	ICH 811	30
International, regional and domestic human rights law pertaining to people living with HIV and those at risk in Africa	ICH 812	30
Strategic human rights lawyering for the protection of the rights of people living with HIV and those at risk in Africa	ICH 813	30

Curriculum content

MODULE CODE	MODULE NAME	CONTENT
ICH 811	Theory and practice of international, regional and domestic human rights law	The topics covered include: (a) Historical, philosophical and political aspects of human rights in Africa, in general, and with specific reference to HIV. (b) Basic concepts in international human rights law, in general, and with specific reference to HIV (c) The standards and institutions of the human rights system under the United Nations; Council of Europe, Organisation of American States, African Union, Southern African Development Community; East African Community and selected national law systems are analysed with specific reference to HIV.
ICH 812	International, regional and domestic human rights law pertaining to people living with HIV and those at risk in Africa	In this module a multidisciplinary approach is adopted and the topics include the following: (a) Global perspectives on HIV/Aids, including the current medical and socio-psychological perspective (b) Rights-based approaches to HIV in Africa are analysed (c) HIV/AIDS in the workplace, including an analysis of ILO standards and practice (d) Women’s rights, including the reproductive rights of women and HIV (c) Children’s rights and HIV (d) Customary law, traditional practices and values and HIV (e) Refugee rights and HIV (f) The rights of migrants and HIV (g) Prisons, penal reform and HIV (h) Politics, governance and HIV (i) HIV and the right to health (j) HIV and the right to food, shelter, water and education (k) The rights of specific groups at risk such as men having sex with men, sex workers and intravenous drug users (m) Witchcraft and HIV (n) Climate change and HIV
ICH 813	Strategic human rights lawyering for the protection of the rights of people living with HIV and those at risk in Africa	In this module, specific aspects of the practice of international, regional and domestic human rights law pertaining to people living with HIV and those at risk are discussed. Specifics topics include: (a) An analysis of the development of grassroots based public interest litigation strategies that address root causes of issues (b) Analysing root causes (c) Defining the impact sought and the possibilities of social transformation through law and litigation (d) Developing strategic partnerships (e) Deciding on the appropriate strategy including negotiation, mediation, litigation, media advocacy (f) Selecting the appropriate forum (g) Conducting interviews (h) Investigating facts and gathering evidence (i) Advanced legal reasoning and legal writing (j) Working with social movements