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| SA lawyer is UN rights expert on women
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New York, US (PANA) -
South African lawyer Rashida Manjoo, who has also worked a
s an academic in the human rights field
and a campaigner against domestic violence, has taken over as the new UN indepen
dent expert to tackle violence
against women.
A UN statement obtained by PANA in New York Thursday said that Manjoo succeeded
Yakin Erturk as the UN Special
Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
It said the South African had been initially appointed by the UN Human Rights Co
uncil until June 2012.
``Manjoo has both taught and conducted research at several universities, includi
ng Webster University and Harvard Law School,
both in the United States, as well as the University of Cape Town,'' the stateme
nt noted.
In her native South Africa, Manjoo was also a former parliamentary commissioner
of the Commission on Gender Equality, and conducted
training programmes for judges and lawyers on law, race and gender issues.
She also set up a domestic violence assistance programme at the Durban Magistrat
es Court, the first such project in a court in her
country.
``Like other rapporteurs who report to the UN Human Rights Council, Manjoo will
serve in an unpaid and independent capacity,'' it added.
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| New York - 28/08/2009 |
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