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Stellenbosch University launches Unit for Human Rights Mainstreaming and Capacity Building
The Unit for Human Rights Mainstreaming and Capacity Building, a partnership between Stellenbosch University (SU) and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape’s Directorate: Social Dialogue and Human Rights in the Department of the Premier, was launched officially on Friday 19 March.
Certificates of Competence to the first ten students, who have completed the Unit’s Human Rights Mainstreaming Course, were handed over at the event that was held at the Wallenberg Research Centre at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) in Stellenbosch.
According to Prof Amanda Gouws, Professor in Political Science and Head of the Unit, the broad aim of the Unit, located in the University’s Department of Political Science within the Centre for International and Comparative Politics, is to enhance the capacity of government, private and civil society institutions through training and capacity building, applied research, organisational best practice support and advocacy to mainstream a human rights based approach in its day-to-day practice.
“Human rights mainstreaming refers to processes that ensure the inclusion of the concerns of vulnerable, marginalised and socially excluded groups in society – for example women, people with disabilities, children, youth and people with HIV/AIDS – in legislation and policy development, budgets, programmes and projects, employment and service provisions.”
Ms Pethu Serote, a former director of the Gender Education and Training Network (GETNET) was the main speaker at the event, while Ms Hannelie Van Niekerk, Director: The Western Cape Provincial Training Academy, Stellenbosch, delivered a message on behalf of the Department of the Premier in the Provincial Government of the Western Cape.
The Unit offers three programmes. The programme in Human Rights Mainstreaming Techniques, the Unit’s flagship programme, was launched in 2008 and focuses on building the hands-on technical expertise required for using mainstreaming as a technique. The Leadership – Governance Programme for Rights-Based Service Delivery focuses on building the capacity of senior management and leadership to understand human rights mainstreaming within a service delivery context while the third programme is an introduction to Human Rights Mainstreaming.
For more information contact Prof Amanda Gouws at tel. 021 808 2116 or via e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
