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DOIs Satement at the 46th ACERWC Session DOIs Satement at the 46th ACERWC Session

The Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights at the Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape, was proud to deliver a statement at the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)!

Celebrating the 5th African School on Decentralisation: A Journey of Learning, Leadership, and Lasting Connections Celebrating the 5th African School on Decentralisation: A Journey of Learning, Leadership, and Lasting Connections

The 5th Edition of the African School on Decentralisation (ASD), themed Decentralisation and Finances, hosted by the Dullah Omar Institute [South African Research Chair in Multilevel Government] at the University of the Western Cape and the Centre of Federalism and Governance Studies at Addis Ababa University, brought together 24 dynamic participants from 10 vibrant African countries for an unforgettable experience from 13–25 October 2025.

Applications are still open for the 2026 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law focusing on Local Government Applications are still open for the 2026 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law focusing on Local Government

How should municipalities in South Africa be governed, and how are they financed? What are their powers and what are their service delivery obligations? How do national and provincial governments relate to them? How do municipalities procure goods and services and what is the legal framework for managing land use? And how does South Africa’s local government system compare with systems elsewhere in Africa?

Should South Africa introduce a third ballot in local government elections?

Prof Jaap de Visser, South African Research Chair in Multilevel Government, Law and Development at the Dullah Omar Institute, the University of the Western Cape, unpacks a bold proposal for a participatory budget ballot – letting voters choose service priorities like water, clinics & roads. Could it deepen local democracy?

SAVE THE DATE: 15th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture SAVE THE DATE: 15th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture

The Dullah Omar Institute and the Faculty of Law at the University of the Western Cape, in collaboration with the Omar Family, are pleased to announce the 15th Dullah Omar Memorial Lecture, an event that celebrates the life and legacy of the late Dullah Omar, a champion of human rights and democracy in South Africa.

Webinar on Combating Obstetric Violence in Africa: Human Rights, Dignity and Accountability in Maternal Health Care

The Socio-Economic Rights Project at the Dullah Omar Institute hosted a webinar to raise awareness and foster dialogue on the pressing issue of obstetric violence (OV) in Africa. Drawing from extensive research and cross-country experiences, the event aimed to unpack the definitions, manifestations, and structural drivers of OV, situate it within applicable human rights frameworks, and reflect on the use of litigation as a strategy for accountability and change. The webinar also sought to generate recommendations for advancing respectful maternity care and strengthening legal and institutional responses across the continent.

Applications Now Open: African School on Decentralisation 2025 Applications Now Open: African School on Decentralisation 2025

The theme for the Fifth African School on Decentralisation (ASD) is ‘Decentralisation and Finances’. The 2025 ASD will focus on how decentralisation governance in Africa is financed, and on the systems and rules for the prudent use of public finances at decentralised level.

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