UCT Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 - Magazine - Page 35
SDG 16
PEACE,
JUSTICE AND
STRONG
INSTITUTIONS
actively engages staff and students through events such as
webinars and round-table dialogues on academic freedom
and institutional autonomy.
This commitment to scienti昀椀c freedom extends beyond
UCT’s internal governance. In 2024, the former interim
vice-chancellor, Professor Daya Reddy, led proposals
to strengthen scienti昀椀c freedom across the continent,
contributing to a scienti昀椀c report by UNESCO titled,
“African Perspectives on Scienti昀椀c Freedom: Insights
from Policy and Practice in Six Countries.” His concluding
chapter to the report identi昀椀ed common trends, challenges
and opportunities in the pilot countries, and set out
recommendations for strengthening science, technology
and innovation (STI) systems, along with scienti昀椀c freedom.
Strong, transparent and accountable institutions are
A vibrant student voice is also central to institutional
vital for Africa’s progress. In South Africa – where a long
resilience, with UCT’s Student Representative Council (SRC)
struggle for democracy reshaped systems of power –
offering a democratic platform for learner-led governance
maintaining peace, justice and institutional integrity
and accountability. UCT’s SRC is democratically elected
remains both a legacy and a living responsibility.
and represents all students at UCT, and their overall interest
and social well-being, in university committees. It is highly
Institutional initiatives
Upholding academic freedom
At UCT, the principles of justice, peace and strong institutions
involved in policy-making and co-operative decision-making
on campus.
Community engagement
are foundational to its role as a leader in African higher
education. According the United Nations Educational,
Access to justice
Scienti昀椀c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), science
Even in a democratic country with a strong rule of law,
The central mission of the UCT Law Clinic is to provide
practising attorneys who litigate in the district, regional and
“can only 昀氀ourish in an open and safe science ecosystem”
sometimes access to resources can be the de昀椀ning factor in
students with an excellent clinical legal education whilst
high courts on behalf of indigent people who would otherwise
that permits freedom of association and expression. UCT
whose rights are protected and can ensure a life ruled by justice
promoting access to justice for those who would otherwise
not have access to the law.
is committed to ensuring exactly such an environment in its
and fairness. As part of an attempt to right this imbalance, UCT’s
not have the means.
own community through, among other things, the work of the
Law Department runs the UCT Law Clinic which assists those
The law clinic offers on-site and off-site legal advice and
was started by law students in the early 1970s, and was the
dedicated Academic Freedom Committee (AFC). The AFC
who are unable to afford the services of a law 昀椀rm.
support. It is run by a professional staff of experienced
昀椀rst university law clinic to be established in South Africa.
70 - Sustainability and the SDGs 2024
A busy, vibrant, registered legal service, the UCT Law Clinic
Sustainability and the SDGs 2024 – 71
