The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR) has endorsed the University of Namibia’s Human Rights and Documentation Centre, at Main Campus, to serve as a library depository. Although only officially inaugurated late last year, the repository is in full swing with regular legal and academic users.

Ms Aleksandra Pleško, Associate Human Rights Officer, OHCHR Regional Office for Southern Africa, remarked that “The depository library has been set up with an initial donation of over 350 copies of OHCHR publications, covering a wide range of human rights issues – from the right to clean water to protecting human rights defenders, from prevention of torture to the rights of minorities and indigenous people”.

The publications are accessible, free of charge, with the hope that that they will help increase awareness of human rights issues in Namibia, which can in turn empower Namibian men, women and children to claim their rights more successfully.Dr Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu, UNAM Coordinator of the Human Rights and Documentation Centre, was very delighted by the vote of confidence demonstrated by OHCHR – choosing UNAM as the human rights guardian in the country. “The centre is glad to be a custodian of human rights documents, and will thus ensure that public access is excellent”, remarked a joyous Dr Chiku Mnumbi-Mchombu. More information is available here