Honorary degree for Aung San Suu Kyi

In December this year UCT will confer an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), on 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi.

As Suu Kyi is under house arrest in Burma, fellow Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, will receive the honorary degree on her behalf.

Suu Kyi is a powerful figure worldwide for her non-violent protest for democracy and human rights for the Burmese people. She is leader of Burma's main opposition, the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won 82% of the parliamentary seats in the 1990 national elections. The NLD was declined office by the military, which ignored the results.

She is also the only Nobel Peace Laureate without freedom, and has called for countries to "use their liberties to promote Burma's".

Archbishop Tutu has been a powerful voice for the liberation of the Burmese people, particularly the release of Suu Kyi, calling for political dialogue that will lead to peace, freeing political prisoners, and a halt on attacks on Myanmar's ethnic minorities.

"We acknowledge Suu Kyi as an extraordinary example of the sheer strength, for her wealth of knowledge, for her perseverance and as a symbol of determination of women all over the world," Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Njabulo S Ndebele, said in a media release.