Africa Rights Talk

About Africa Rights Talk

Conversations on human rights. A Centre for Human Rights podcast series. Hosted by Victoria Amaechi.

Publisher

africarightstalk

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Apr 2019

Latest episode

8 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

98 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2025

   S7 E12: Commemorating the 2025 International Day for Universal Access to Information

   Academic Perspectives on Environmental Information Access in Africa In recognition of the 2025 International Day for Universal Access to Information, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria,  presents a thought-provoking podcast episode exploring the theme ‘Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age.’ The episode is hosted by Belinda Matore and features insights from Lassané Ouedraogo and Marie Valerie Uppiah, distinguished academics engaged in the intersection of environmental governance, human rights, and sustainable development in Africa. The discussion examines barriers to and opportunities for enhancing access to environmental information across Africa. Lassané Ouedraogo, a PhD researcher and environmental law specialist, highlights that access to environmental information is not confined to ecological concerns alone. Rather, it is integrally connected to the protection and realisation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life. He highlights the significance of transparency and accuracy in the dissemination of environmental information to ensure that communities are adequately informed and empowered. Echoing this view, Marie Valerie Uppiah, an expert in international trade law, law of the sea, and ocean governance, emphasises the multifaceted nature of environmental information. She illustrates how its accessibility is intrinsically linked to a broad spectrum of rights, including the rights to health, water and sanitation, and socio-economic development. She references the landmark case SERAC v Nigeria, and illustrates how legal precedents have established the essential role that environmental information plays in holding states accountable and advancing environmental justice. Uppiah also discusses the role of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) as essential tools for informing communities about the ecological implications of infrastructure projects. She cites the innovative example of MoNatir (“My Nature”), a digital platform developed in Mauritius that provides real-time information on key environmental indicators such as air quality, beach conditions, and waste management. She describes the platform as a “revolutionary” tool in facilitating public engagement and environmental awareness. In concluding the discussion, Ouedraogo reiterates the role of communities as active agents in environmental governance. He calls for a culture of civic curiosity and public vigilance, urging communities to take initiative in seeking out information related to their environments and government-led development projects. Speaker Biographies Lassané Ouedraogo is the Acting Coordinator of the LLM in International Trade and Investment Law in Africa at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. Marie Valerie Uppiah is a Senior lecturer in International Trade Law and Law of the Sea & Ocean Governance at the University of Mauritius.

2. 

   20 Aug 2025

   S7 E9: Breaking the Silence: Women, Rights and Mental Health in Africa

   In conversation with Bianca Knight In honour of South Africa’s National Women’s Month, Africa Rights Talk presents “Breaking the Silence: Women, Rights, and Mental Health in Africa”, a powerful conversation exploring the overlooked but urgent intersection of gender justice and mental well-being. Across the continent, women face compounded challenges gender-based violence, poverty, systemic inequality, and cultural stigma  that profoundly affect their mental health, yet these realities remain largely absent from policy and rights-based discourse. Bianca Knight, Project Officer at the Centre for Human Rights’ Women’s Rights Unit, joins host Victoria Amaechi to unpack why mental health is not just a personal struggle but a fundamental human rights issue. Drawing from her advocacy work on the Maputo Protocol, Bianca sheds light on the cultural taboos, under-resourced systems, and generational patterns that perpetuate silence. Together, they imagine a feminist future where care, healing, and psychosocial well-being are at the heart of gender equality movements. This candid conversation blends personal vulnerability with policy insight, challenging us to destigmatise mental health, integrate it into Africa’s women’s rights agenda, and create spaces where women can thrive, not just survive. Bianca Knight completed her BA LLB and LLM in Multidisciplinary Human Rights at the University of Pretoria. In 2024, she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), and she is set to begin her MBA at Hult International Business School in Boston in September 2025. Bianca practiced as an attorney for three years before transitioning into academia and advocacy, driven by her passion for education and social justice. From 2021 to 2023, she lectured constitutional law and the law of succession at Varsity College in Pretoria. During her LLM studies, Bianca sharpened her focus on women's and children's rights, which led her to join the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria. Since 2022, she has served as a Project Officer in the Women’s Rights Unit (WRU), where she supports efforts to advance the implementation of the Maputo Protocol across Africa. Her work includes coordinating state and shadow report trainings, andcontributing to projects focused on child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), obstetric violence and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This conversation was recorded on 7 August 2025. Youtube: https://youtu.be/MpQFogU6lns Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Libraryhttps://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc Limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=45259238

3. 

   19 Aug 2025

   S7 E11: Guarding Democracy in the Digital Age: The Push for Data Justice in Africa

   In conversation with Guy Berger This episode of Africa Rights Talk is guest-hosted by Ivy Gikonyo from the Centre for Human Rights, who steps in for the regular host to guide an insightful conversation with Professor Guy Berger, a veteran in media freedom and digital governance, unpacks how the Africa Alliance for Access to Data was born out of election-related risks in South Africa and the urgent need to monitor online disinformation, attacks on journalists, and manipulation of public discourse. He traces the shift from access to information laws towards the demand for raw data as a public good, highlighting the dangers of opaque big tech practices, data exploitation, and Africa’s precarious position in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. The conversation situates data at the intersection of power, accountability, and rights making clear that without robust governance, Africa risks sliding further into digital dependency and vulnerability. But the discussion is not just about challenges; it is also about hope and action. Prof. Berger emphasizes the role of the Alliance in pushing landmark African Commission resolutions, supporting the drafting of concrete guidelines on data governance, and mobilizing a diverse ecosystem of civil society, media, academics, and regulators. With inspiring examples from Uber’s data-sharing in Lagos to resolutions mandating private sector accountability he shows how access to data can advance democracy, gender equality, consumer rights, and economic inclusion. Ultimately, the episode is a call to collective action: for Africans to reclaim agency over their data, challenge extractive global systems, and ensure that data becomes a tool for justice, empowerment, and sustainable development rather than exploitation. Prof. Guy Berger is a South African media scholar, journalist, and former editor at the Mail & Guardian, where he was a longstanding columnist shaping public debate on media freedom and democracy. He headed the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, where he mentored a generation of African journalists. From 2011 to 2022, he served as Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO, leading global work on internet governance, journalist safety, elections, and combating disinformation. Berger has been a Research Fellow with Research ICT Africa and continues to advise governments, civil society, and multilateral bodies on digital governance and access to information. He currently convenes the Africa Alliance for Access to Data, championing data as a public good and a foundation for democracy and human rights across the continent. This conversation was recorded on July 31 2025. Youtube: https://youtu.be/MpQFogU6lns Music and news extracts: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Libraryhttps://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc Limitless https://stock.adobe.com/za/search/audio?k=45259238

Who has been a guest on Africa Rights Talk

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Seán Coughlan
• Joyce Wamoyi
• Takudzwa Mharadze
• Phakamile Madonsela
• Dr Dennis Wamalwa

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

455

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

29

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

81

Contact Africa Rights Talk

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.