News Archive

Renowned human rights lawyer, George Bizos SC, will deliver a free public lecture at The University of Western Australia tomorrow.

In the 20 ^th anniversary year of the release of Nelson Mandela and the symbolic end of apartheid in South Africa, Mr Bizos' lecture will discuss the state of human rights in South Africa, pre and post the apartheid era.

Counsel to Mr Mandela since the mid 1950s, Mr Bizos was part of the team that defended him, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and others in the Rivonia Trial in 1963-4.  He was counsel in numerous political trials including the Biko, Timol, Aggett inquests, the Totivo ja Toiva Trial of the Namibians, the Bram Fischer Trial and those charged with treason in the Delmas Trial.

Mr Bizos defended Winnie Mandela in numerous trials from the late 1950s to 1992.  He also defended Albertina Sisulu, Barbara Hogan and other women, particularly those who defied the carrying of passes from the mid 1950s.

He was appointed by President Mandela to South Africa's Judicial Services Commission to recommend candidates for judicial office and reform of the judicial system to erase its apartheid past.  More recently, Mr Bizos led the team that defended Morgan Tswangarai in Zimbabwe in 2003-4 on a charge of treason.

He continues to act as Counsel at the Legal Resources Centre, Constitutional Litigation Unit, which he has done since 1991.  He has received numerous prestigious South African and international awards for his work in promoting democracy and human rights.

Mr Bizos' visit to UWA is co-sponsored by the Institute of Advanced Studies and UWA's Faculty of Law.

WHAT: Lecture, Human Rights - Pre and Post Democracy in South Africa

WHEN: 6.00pm, Thursday, 4 March 2010

WHERE: University Club Theatre Auditorium (nearest car park P3 off Hackett Entrance 1)

The lecture is free and open to the public, no RSVP required.

Media references

Audrey Barton (IAS)  (+61 8)  6488 4797
Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488  7975  /  (+61 4) 20 790 098