CALS

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In his later years, Prof Haysom was involved in numerous peace talks and joined the United Nations in various roles in the Middle East and Africa. He will be remembered as a tireless champion of peace and human rights.

He would go on to become our deputy director and found the law firm Cheadle, Thomson and Haysom, which took on many human rights cases during apartheid. At the advent of democracy, he was appointed as a chief legal and constitutional advisor to the new government.

CALS mourns the loss of human rights lawyer Nicholas Haysom. We send our deepest condolences to all his loved ones at this difficult time. Prof Haysom joined CALS as a research officer in 1981, working in the areas of labour law and human rights violations in the “homelands”

A giant of the South Africa legal community has passed on. A giant tree has fallen. Hamba Kahle Prof Fink!

Nelson Mandela Foundation mourns the passing of human rights lawyer Nicholas “Fink” Haysom. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues around the world. Statement attached below 👇🏾 #FinkHaysom #NelsonMandelaFoundation

Our Director @ChristopherGvrs is set to speak on a panel hosted by @FHRRights on “The Heritage of Justice: Bridging the Gap from the TRC to a New South Africa” 📅 24 March 2026 🕘 12:30 – 16:45 📍 @apartheidmuseum, Johannesburg

[Update] On 20 February 2026, the Equality Collective joined leading public interest law organisations at the Free State Centre for Human Rights Litigating Municipal Failure Conference hosted by the University of the Free State and the Free State Centre for Human Rights.

Reminder: Next Friday is the launch of the “Handbook on Business, Human Rights, and the Environment in Africa” 🔗 Register here: bit.ly/40tnF0k

We ended the session with a powerful call for respectful maternity care and continued advocacy and commitment – not only from activists, but key role players including the National Department of Health and organisations representing nurses, midwives and doulas

The day also featured an art installation by the Intuthuko Art Collective where the artists have embroidered scenes representing what #ObstetricViolence means to them theconversation.com/the-power-of-n…

CALS was proud to host our partners at @EmbraceZA yesterday for the launch of their birth survey report on the nature and prevalence of #ObstetricViolence in Gauteng and KZN You can find the full report here: embrace.org.za/birth/

Join us next week as we host Embrace, the Movement for Mothers for the launch of their birth study exposing the nature and prevalence of #ObstetricViolence in Gauteng and KZN 📅 11 March 2026 🕘 9:00 - 12:00 📍 Chalsty Centre 🔗 m.youtube.com/channel/UC5LXM…

Join us for the online launch of the “Handbook on Business, Human Rights, and the Environment in Africa” featuring editor Jean-Claude N. Ashukem and moderated by Charmika Samaradiwakera Wijesundara 📅 20 March 2026 🕚 11:00 📍 MS Teams 🔗 Register here: bit.ly/40tnF0k

Today WLC returns to the High Court to challenge a law that silences survivors of sexual violence. In SA it’s illegal to name an accused rapist before they plea. Survivors who do can face charges or jail. Yet people accused of murder can be named. 👉 nxmehim.com

Wishing everyone writing exams this week the very best of luck!

Our director @ChristopherGvrs on the limits of self-defence under international law: “The requirement is not that a state has dangerous capabilities. It is that an armed attack is imminent. [This does not] include long-term or speculative threats.”

Our director @ChristopherGvrs discusses the conflict in the Middle East, weighing in on the legality of the strikes under international law