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Mail & Guardian

Human Rights

latest news & developments

Why Palestine has always mattered to Africa

An examination of how African governments, liberation movements and civil society have responded to the Palestinian struggle, tracing solidarity from the 1940s to Israel's war on…

The killing of women is not a series of unconnected tragedies in South Africa

The viral confrontation in a Sandton restaurant powder room is not an isolated incident. Research reveals how deep-seated entitlement, misogyny, and systemic impunity underpin…

Global war on women through SA's eyes

With South Africa facing soaring femicide rates, the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York highlights the urgent need to address the global crisis and backlash against women's…

Sorry: The easiest word

An analysis of the viral Norwood confrontation, unpacking how anti-Muslim rhetoric and global impunity intersect to fuel uninhibited racism and ethno-supremacist bigotry in South…

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, but in this new era, we may be headed for the end of this global pact.

The Quiet Majority for Human Rights

UN High Commissioner Volker Türk highlights the Global Alliance for Human Rights, a united global movement connecting cities, youth, and civil society to champion dignity,…

Beyond Heritage Day: African Languages Must Carry Our Rights

Heritage Month should go beyond cultural celebration to address institutional language barriers that prevent citizens from fully understanding and accessing their constitutional…

Norwood racist tirade sparks accountability row

After being subjected to racist abuse and threats outside a Norwood synagogue, Abdur Rahmaan Aziz opened a police case and lodged an SAHRC complaint, sparking debate over…

Ekurhuleni killings: ‘The onus cannot shift to women to keep themselves safe’

Following the discovery of nine women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni, gender-based violence advocates demand structural state action and systemic justice rather than placing the burden…

Justice ministry stands by its opposition to constitutional challenge to Sexual Offences Act

When fear shrinks women’s world

The murder of runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo highlights how pervasive fear forces women to constantly calculate safety, shrinking their access to public spaces, exercise,…

Murdered: Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo was the glue that held her family together.

Nine lives snuffed as fears escalate

As police investigate the deaths of nine women across Ekurhuleni, grieving families and activists call for decisive state action and systemic changes to curb the ongoing femicide…

Second pandemic: Almost a year since GBVF was declared a national disaster, government has failed to implement relevant legislation and hold perpetrators accountable. Photo: ANCYL

Ekurhuleni murders expose GBVF gaps

The discovery of nine dead women in Ekurhuleni has exposed critical failures in South Africa's response to gender-based violence and femicide, with advocates warning that…

Editorial: Women in SA do not exist

A powerful reflection on the devastating surge of femicide and gender-based violence in South Africa, urging society to see victims as individuals rather than cold statistics.

Democracy: Zambia's recently concluded 2026 elections have raised fears of democratic backsliding, particularly following the arrest and subsequent treason charges against Brian Mundubile, the main challenger to President Hakainde Hichilema. Photo: Mutinta Hichilema

From hope to fear: A tale of Zambia's democracy in contrast with other States

An analysis of Zambia's democratic trajectory following the 2026 elections, contrasting its civic space and challenges with governance trends across Africa.

Climate change.

At least 124 environmental defenders killed globally in 2025

At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed across the globe in 2025, bringing the total documented deaths and disappearances to 2,375 since 2012.

Ubuntu must guide artificial intelligence before artificial intelligence guides us

As artificial intelligence reshapes South African society, the ethical philosophy of Ubuntu must serve as the moral compass to ensure technology advances human dignity rather…