The Raoul Wallenberg Institute-Harare Office, in collaboration with its academic partners recently facilitated a Winter School on Human Rights. The Winter School took place 1-12 July 2024 at the Midlands State University in Gweru (first week) and at Africa University in Mutare (second week). A total of 20 law students drawn from the five academic partner institutions, (Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University, University of Zimbabwe, Africa University, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University) participated in the Winter School.
The Winter School kicked off with a key note lecture on “Climate change, human rights, and a just transition in an unequal world” presented by Professor Tumai Murombo, from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Lecturers from partner universities delivered sessions on different thematic human rights topics, including on international, regional and national human rights law and monitoring systems, environmental rights and human rights, artificial intelligence, digital environment and human rights, minority rights and gender equality and human rights to mention a few. Other stakeholders consisting of Commissioner Katsande from Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Mr Jeremiah Chinodya from UNICEF and members from civil society organizations in Zimbabwe also delivered presentations on the practical application of human rights law throughout the course of the Winter School.
The Winter School ended with a debate competition on refugee law and human rights followed by a closing ceremony, where academics from the host institutions, Mr Wonder Jekemu from the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe and other stakeholders graced the event.The overall aim of this activity is to further develop the human rights research capacities of university students, focusing on strengthening their abilities to understand how human rights standards, principles and values are implemented in practice, in concrete cases. The Winter School falls under the Zimbabwe Human Rights Capacity Development Programme 2024-2026, with funding from the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe.