Human rights the focus of upcoming Steve Biko lecture

Navi Pillay, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will be the guest speaker at the annual Steve Biko Memorial Lecture in Jameson Hall on 11 September at 18h00.

Speaking to the topic "Advancing Human Rights in South Africa and the World", Pillay will be drawing on her experience in the area of social justice, gained over three decades.

Hosted by UCT in partnership with the Steve Biko Foundation, the annual Steve Biko Memorial Lecture commemorates the life and death of one of the country's most influential leaders in the struggle against apartheid, and acknowledges his intellectual contribution towards the black consciousness movement.

A former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Pillay was recognized by UCT in 2010 for her significant and sustained contribution towards advancing human rights '“ receiving an honorary doctorate in law at a December graduation ceremony.

Pillay has had an illustrious career. She became the first woman to start a law practice in her home province of KwaZulu-Natal (then Natal) in 1967 and over the next few years, acted as a defense attorney for anti-apartheid activists, exposing torture and helping establish key rights for prisoners on Robben Island.

After lecturing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and later serving as vice-president of the University of Durban-Westville's Council, Pillay was appointed as acting judge on the South African High Court in 1995. In the same year she was elected by the United Nations General Assembly to be a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where she served for eight years '“ the last four as president.

In 2003, she was elected as a judge on the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where she worked until September 2008, when she assumed her duties as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Date: Thursday, 11 September 2014
Time: 18h00 (Doors open at 17h00)
Venue: Jameson Hall

Tickets be issued on a first-come, first-served basis and can be collected from Monday, 8 September to Wednesday, 10 September from the UCT Communication and Marketing Department at Welgelegen, Chapel Road Extension, Rosebank. The office will be open from 08h00-16h00 and enquiries can be directed to Sharifa Martin at 021 650 5816 or by email to Sharifa.Martin@uct.ac.za