Economic Development and Human Rights in Contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa (Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice 122)

This book explores the connections between economic development and the protection of human rights. Drawing on experiences from Sub-Saharan African countries, the book demonstrates how various economic activities impact the protection of human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa. The book explores the core concepts and principles, theory and practice, accountability mechanisms, and key challenges to the protection of human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa in the era of global economic development. It also shows the ways in which human rights law and development can be used to obtain relief for the victims of environmental degradation or adverse effects of climate change in Africa. In addition, it places emphasis on development and economic policies to highlight the pros and cons of using human rights-based approaches and its significance in the context of economic development and human rights in Africa.

The book is divided into three parts: Part I focuses on the conceptual and theoretical foundations of human rights and economic developments in Africa and covers essential concepts, historical perspectives, the African human rights framework, human rights litigation, and comparative approaches. Part II addresses the intersection of economic development and human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, including human rights and individual liberties in the context of economic empowerment of citizens; human rights and the development of regional economic integration; human rights and economic independence; human rights and the economic empowerment of vulnerable groups; and human rights and cultures. The third and final part focuses on challenges and prospects of human rights and the economy in Sub-Saharan Africa by taking a closer look at human rights and globalization, cultural relativism, science and technology, state sovereignty, and governance structures and systems.

The book is intended for researchers, policymakers, university students, and practitioners in international human rights law, environmental law, natural resources law and development.

Dr. Ines Kajiru holds an LLB; LLM and a PhD in law. She has vast experience in the fields of human rights and disability matters. Ines is a Senior Lecturer in the said field and the Acting Dean of the School of Law at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. She is also an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania, Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths.

Professor John Cantius Mubangizi holds Bachelor of Law (Makerere), Masters in Public Law (Cape Town) and Doctorate in Law (Kwazulu-Natal). He is currently a Professor of Law at the Free State Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He has published widely on human rights issues.

Dr. Elia Mwanga has LL.B, LL.M and PhD in Law both obtained from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is also an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania, Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths. He is currently a Senior Lecturer of Law at the University of Dodoma, where he teaches mining law and natural resources law (oil and gas) and environmental law.

Mr. Leonard Chimanda Joseph has a LL.B (Hons) and LL.M in Migration and Refugee Law both from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom and an assistant lecturer of law at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. Leonard is also a Learned Advocate in Tanzania. He has an interest in human rights law, immigration law and international humanitarian law.