Annual Report - University of Namibia

HUMAN RIGHTS AND DOCUMENTATION CENTREDirector: Dr Oliver RuppelHUMAN RIGHTS AND DOCUMENTATION CENTREApart from the activitiesconcluded in collaborationwith the Law Facultyincluding human rightscourses for students and governmentofficials, the HRDC concentrated oncapacity building and research. In2009 the HRDC attracted for its newprojects funds from various partneringorganizations and donor agencies suchas the Finnish Embassy, the KonradAdenauer Foundation, and the NamibiaInstitute for Democracy and theAmerican Cultural Centre.Centre ActivitiesThe 18 th Africa Human Rights MootCourt (‘the Moot Court’) took placefrom 10-15 August 2009, at the Universityof Lagos, in Lagos Nigeria. It is anannual flagship event for Universitieson the continent, currently under thementorship of the University of Pretoriaas the main and sponsoring host ofthe event. The University of Namibia(UNAM) has participated 14 times inthis prestigious continental event. Thestudents’ interest lies primarily in thefact that they get exposure to argueand familiarise themselves with theInternational and African Human Rightsprotection system.The selection process of the team thatrepresented the University of the Namibiastarted in April 2009. In the end, Mr WillardMugadza and Mr Chifunda Silungwewere unanimously selected to representUNAM at the 18 th African Moot Court inLagos, Nigeria. Ms Yvonne Dausab, a staffmember who joined the Faculty of Law asa fulltime lecturer in 2009, accompaniedthe team. The Embassy of the UnitedStates of America funded the team’s tripto Nigeria.In line with the Affi rmative Action Actand respective UNAM regulations, twounderstudies (Mr. John Nakuta and MsIvone Tjilale) have been designated toHRDC staff members (Dr Oliver C. Ruppeland Ms Chiku Mchombu).Furthermore, several student assistantswere offered the opportunity to work forthe HRDC so that they could deepentheir knowledge, conduct research andpublish their work. The students had theopportunity to do research and writeacademic articles under supervisionwhich were published in scholarly booksand journals.In July 2009, Ms Mchombu and Ms Tjilalevisited the University of Stellenbosch libraryunder the staff exchange programme.Annual Report 2009 -75-