Archive 2018
Same rights as freehold land apply
In a landmark ruling, the Namibian Supreme Court has granted a woman in Zambezi legal ownership of her land under customary
laws.
New Era
Allafrica
NamibianSun
Full Judgment
2nd LAND CONFERENCE – 28 September 2018
The Legal Assistance Centre is aware of reports that a number of civil society organisations and other movements have opted to boycott the above Land Conference. We respect and understand their positions.
After lengthy discussion we have opted to take part in the Conference. We hasten to say that we have serious concerns about the composition of delegates invited to the Conference which we believe is particularly weighted in favour of government. However, this is also an opportunity for dialogue and for us to argue a perspective based on the law and on evidence we have collected from the grassroots communities we deal with on a daily basis. This perspective may not come to light to the delegates in any other manner.
We place on the record that the LAC’s attendance should not be used to legitimize the process but should be seen as an opportunity for us to raise reasoned legal and constitutional issues as well as factual information gleaned from our extensive engagement with concerns of access to land.
As the spokesperson from Right to Know (R2K) said at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Action Coalition and the Namibia Media Trust this morning:
“There is a space for civil society outside the room and a space for civil society inside the room.”
We aim to be both.
Press release:
The Legal Assistance Centre held a training workshop on WILDLIFE CRIME for 16 local/regional prosecutors, magistrates, MET park wardens and investigators from Nampol. The training was held in Divundu, Kavango East Region, facilitated by the LAC, Advocate Daniel Small, two project officers from TRAFFIC Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network and a private investigator.
In the media: AZ, Nampa, Lela
On 22 August 2018, German Ambassador Christian Schlaga and Toni Hancox, Director of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), signed a funding agreement on LAC’s project “Sharing information on Women’s and Children’s Rights”. The German Government supports this human rights project with 683.000,00 Namibian Dollar.
LAC Press release and Photo
New Era “Star of the Week“
Same rights as freehold land apply
In a landmark ruling, the Namibian Supreme Court has granted a woman in Zambezi legal ownership of her land under customary
laws.
New Era
Allafrica
NamibianSun
Full Judgment
We were celebrating our 30th anniversary during the first week of July 2018. Human rights is our business and we encourage debate and education. Several debates took place at two symposiums while we also had an OPEN OFFICE DAY together with distribution of educational material about human rights issues.
See also the article in the Namibian Sun
Our celebratory BUSINESS BREAKFAST was held on Monday morning at Roof of Africa to introduce the business comunity to the work that we do. For that purpose an Anniversary Film was produced by Dudley Viall.
Civil society deeply concerned about attack on HR defender in Mozambique
It is with sadness that the undersigned civil society organisations express deep concern about the attack on Mozambique human rights defender, Ericino de Salema, which took place in Maputo on 27th March 2018. Read more
Himba chief loses official status
VETERAN Ovahimba traditional leader Hikuminue Kapika has lost his official designation as chief of his community in the Epupa area of the Kunene region. (by Werner Menges of the Namibian) or here.
Mutaambanda Kapika versus Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and others (case law)
25 years of service to women, children
27 February 2018: This month the Gender Research and Advocacy Project (GR&AP) of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) celebrated 25 years of groundbreaking work that has touched the lives of many Namibian women and children.
Fathers to pay interest on child support
23 February 2018: NAMIBIAN men who default on paying maintenance for their children could be forced to pay interest on the arrears,
according to a proposal by attorney general Albert Kawana.
Press release: The LSSA will this week from 5-7 February 2018, take to court its challenge of the constitutionality of President Jacob Zuma’s part in sponsoring the demise of the SADC Tribunal in its original form.
The court challenge by LSSA is part of a region wide effort by law societies of the SADC Region in terms of a resolution by the SADC-LA Council to challenge and engage governments for allowing the removal of the SADC Tribunal’s jurisdiction over individual and institutional rights cases.
Comments in this regard are welcomed on our Facebook page.
