11 September 2025THIRD ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON ACTIVIST REPRESSIONNext week, civil society organisations host the third annual Activist Symposium under the theme “Navigating activism in an anti-human rights era”. From 16 – 17 September, this event brings together representatives from across Africa to deliberate on challenges affecting human rights defenders on the continent. This has led to the establishment of a transnational activist network, where human rights defenders can share best practices and action plans for addressing common challenges. This year’s Activist Symposium takes place on 16 and 17 September at Wits University under the theme “Navigating activism in an anti-human rights era”. Austerity and aid: This session will centre on analysing the intersection of economic policy and human rights.