On 16 July 2010, Justice Albie Sachs received an honorary degree from the University of York. Justice Sachs was an architect of the post-apartheid South African constitution and a judge in the Constitutional Court of South Africa until 2009. His legal career began at the Cape Bar, defending people charged under racist statutes and security laws. He was himself subjected to prolonged periods of detention without trial before going into exile in 1966. He studied and taught law in Southampton, before moving to Mozambique where he was blown up in a bomb attack in 1988, losing an arm and the sight in one eye. From 1990, he took part in the negotiations which led to South Africa becoming a constitutional democracy. President Nelson Mandela appointed him to serve on the newly established Constitutional Court in 1994.

 

 

While in York, Justice Sachs visited CAHR, where he met staff and a visiting human rights defender. He also toured the new buildings that will house CAHR and the York Law School on the University's campus expansion at Heslington East.

The full transcript of Professor Gready’s presentation at the degree ceremony can be found at Albie Sachs.