The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Faculty of Law, the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional Law and the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL) will be hosting the eleventh World Congress of Constitutional Law, the first time it will take place in Africa.

The Congress will be held between December 5 and 9 at UJ, and will be themed ‘Constitutional Transformations’.

The Congress is held every four years and brings together constitutional law scholars from around the world to meet and share ideas.

IACL president Adrienne Stone said the congress would be a “truly global meeting of constitutionalists that will showcase the ideas and the work of African scholars and practitioners”.

UJ Professor of Constitutional and Fundamental Rights and SAIFAC director David Bilchitz said the World Congress comes to South Africa at a significant time as the country celebrates 26 years of the Constitution, particularly in Johannesburg, the seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. 

“South Africa’s Constitution is considered one of the most progressive in the world. The country, therefore, provides a rich backdrop against which to reflect on the shared challenges across the world relating to fundamental rights and governance,” he added.

The Congress will also focus on environmental sustainability and economic development in South Africa.