Deadline: 31 July 2015
The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) are currently inviting applications for a litigation workshop on the right to freedom of expression for lawyers working in Botswana, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The workshop, to be held in Johannesburg on 16, 17 and 18 September 2015, is designed to assist lawyers who are currently working on issues involving infringements and limitations of expression, or who have potential cases in this area.
SALC is a regional legal organisation which provides technical and financial support to lawyers working in human rights law in southern Africa. SALC aims to support cases in its programmatic areas (which include freedom of expression, amongst others), but also to build the capacity of the lawyers with whom it works.
Objectives of the Workshop
- To identify cases on the right to freedom of expression that could be pursued before domestic courts in southern Africa and/or African fora;
- To equip lawyers with the necessary skills and knowledge regarding the right to freedom of expression, litigation strategies, and the available African human rights mechanisms.
Benefits
- 5 participants will be selected for the workshop.
- MLDI and SALC will cover airfare, accommodation, and other related costs.
- MLDI and SALC’s lead lawyers will provide ongoing legal support when requested by the local lawyer. The assistance provided depends on the assistance required by the local lawyer.
Eligibility Criteria
- The application process is open to lawyers from Botswana, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe;
- The candidate must demonstrate an interest in, and knowledge of, freedom of expression issues and international and regional human rights law;
- The candidate must be involved in, or considering, litigating a case/s that addresses violations of the right to freedom of expression (such as criminal defamation, insult laws and other infringements of expression) and must submit at least one case study of the case/s in which they are working to be discussed during the workshop;
- Preference will be given to lawyers already working in freedom of expression, but exceptional candidates who have experience in other areas of human rights law who intend to litigate on the right to freedom of expression will be considered.
How to Apply
All interested applicants must complete the application form (and submit all relevant information set out in the form) before deadline. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by 8 August 2015, and must avail themselves for telephonic interviews if necessary on 11 August 2015.
For more information, please visit SALC Call for Applications.
