JULY 28 PRESS CONFERENCE with U S
ATTORNEYS on ADVANCES in the SOUTH AFRICA APARTHEID LITIGATION: 6th
Floor South African Human Rights Commission, 14h30, July 28, 2009
U S attorneys, Steig Olson and Ingrid Gubbay, partners in the Hausfeld
law firm that focuses on “Justice for Historical Crimes”,
and representatives of the “Khulumani” plaintiffs in the
South Africa Apartheid Litigation, will hold a press conference at the
offices of the South African Human Rights Commission in Johannesburg
tomorrow afternoon (July 28) at 14h30 following a public seminar on
Justice for Apartheid Crimes and the role of the “Khulumani
lawsuit” in advancing international human rights law.
The lawsuit has seen recent significant breakthroughs following the
decision of the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in October 2007 to send
the case back to the District Court for plaintiffs to be given the
chance to prove their case in court. The demonstration that such cases
are viable has been the most significant advance in international human
rights law to date.
A further signal of the turning of the tide was the groundbreaking
opinion issued by Judge Shira Scheindlin on April 8, 2009 that
corporations can be found responsible for aiding and abetting human
rights abuses that violate customary international law through their
relationships with rogue governments. She also asserted that the
litigation importantly would contribute to the ongoing processes of
truth recovery about apartheid, its causes and effects and who might be
found to bear responsibility.
Scheindlin’s opinion has put corporations around the world on
notice that they “can be held accountable for contributing to
human rights abuses around the globe."
Further information is available from:
Marjorie Jobson, Director, Khulumani Support Group: 082 268 0223
Tshepo Madlingozi, National Advocacy Coordinator: 082 496 9914
Charles Abrahams, Attorney for Khulumani plaintiffs: 082 560 7152
KHULUMANI SUPPORT GROUP
Non Profit Organisation: NPO 008-135
National Contact Centre: 2nd Floor
Khotso House, 66 Marshall Street, Marshalltown
P.O. Box 31958, Braamfontein, 2017 South Africa
Tel: +27-11-833 2044 Fax: +27 11 833 2048
info@khulumani.net | www.khulumani.net
Cooperators
World Coalition Against Torturers (WCAT)
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
Project Management
Bianca Schmolze
Bianca Schmolze
has a Master of Business Administration and works for the Medical Care
Service for Refugees since 2002. After serving as a fundraiser, she
became responsible coordinator of the "Justice heals" campaign in 2004.
Furthermore, she has a mandate in the city council of Bochum.
Tel.: +49-(0)234-9041380
Fax: +49-(0)234-9041381
(Tuesday and Thursday, 10.00–18.00)
Supported by
Manfred
Nowak,
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture