On 24th April 2023 the Human Rights Centre at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the Human Rights Implementation Centre (HRIC) held a hybrid seminar to discuss an interdisciplinary approach to the implementation and impact of human rights decisions. 

Funded by the Leverhulme Trust, Prof. Frans Viljoen, the Director of the Pretoria Centre, and Prof. Rachel Murray, the Director of the HRIC, were joined by colleagues from the Universities of Pretoria and Bristol from a range of disciplines including politics, psychology, education, arts, music, mediation, clinical sciences and law. Using the CEDAW Concluding Observations for South Africa as a hook, the seminar aimed to identify fresh perspectives on the manner in which multi and interdisciplinary work can help the implementation and impact of human rights decisions and findings from the UN and regional bodies.

Extremely fruitful discussions centred around the understandings of implementation and impact, how they could be measured and used as tools for improvement. The two Centres will take forward ideas generated by the seminar for further funding and collaborative activities including funding to bring together colleagues across disciplines and academic and practitioner publications.

For further information, please contact Prof. Rachel Murray at: rachel.murray@bristol.ac.uk