SXLN Curriculum:
Lawyer Modules

Module 1

• (X) Introduction to Strategic Litigation: This topic covers the principles of strategic litigation and how to develop a strategic litigation campaign, including teaching on knowledge and understanding of strategic litigation and discussing the conditions, strategies and tactics for defending and enforcing human rights. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Y) Right to Privacy: This topic covers the right to privacy and its relevance to SOGIE rights. It will build familiarity with international, regional and comparative African jurisprudence on the right to privacy in relation to SOGIE; establish an understanding of the principles guiding legal interpretation of the right to privacy; and develop an understanding of the right to privacy’s intersection with other fundamental rights, such as the rights to dignity, non-discrimination and equality. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Z) Practice Management: This session engages the SXLN theory of change. It will also look at the difference between running a strategic ligation case and what was/is taught in law school as well as the various actors who have to be managed in the case.

Module 2

• (X) Introduction to Human Rights litigation: This topic covers the fundamental principles of human rights litigation including: introducing participants to the practice and the procedures involved in litigating human rights issues; developing and refining the participants’ critical thinking in respect to specific court procedures in human rights litigation; and getting participants to identify best practices and procedural challenges to human rights litigation in their jurisdiction. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Y) Introduction to the Right to Health: This topic covers the right to health and its relevance to SOGIE rights, including access to healthcare for marginalized groups. The topic focuses on understanding how SOGIE based violations of the right to health manifest; familiarisation with international, regional and comparative jurisprudence on the right to health; and understanding of the principles guiding legal interpretation of the right to health. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Z) Trial Advocacy: This trial advocacy session will focus on the stages of legal drafting including how to structure a document, presenting facts, drafting legal arguments and using different sources of law, and useful sources and techniques for legal research.

Module 3

• (X) Introduction to Constitutional Litigation: This topic covers the principles of constitutional litigation and how to develop a constitutional litigation strategy in national contexts. It introduces participants to the practice and the procedures involved in litigating constitutional issues in their jurisdiction; discusses the history and development of their country’s constitutional history, doctrine, and principles; helps participants develop and refine their critical thinking in respect to specific aspects of constitutional law; and gets them to critically analyse remedies in constitutional litigation. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Y) Introduction to Harassment: This topic covers the concept of harassment and its relevance to SOGIE rights. It guides lawyers on understanding what constitutes SOGIE based harassment; expands their knowledge of the emerging jurisprudence protecting victims of SOGIE based harassment; and helps them to be able to identify when state harassment is a human rights violation and how to strategically challenge the practice. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Z) Trial Advocacy: This trial advocacy session will focus on principles and best practices in taking witness statements including: planning statement taking, options for taking large numbers of statements, working with interpreters, as well as practical safety, logistics and ethical considerations.

Module 1

• (X) Introduction to International Law: This topic covers the principles of international law and its relevance to SOGIE rights. It guides participants on the the basic principles and institutions of international law, including their origins and application in practice and guides them on researching and tracking the development of international law when litigating on issues of SOGIE issues. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Y) Anal Exams: This topic covers the issue of anal exams and how this constitutes a SOGIE violation. It covers the background and context of the act, the law on cruel, inhumane, degrading treatment, and it guides participants on challenging anal exams in court and via advocacy.
• (Z) Trial Advocacy: This trial advocacy session will focus on drafting heads of argument, developing oral arguments, and opening and closing statements.

Module 2

(X) Introduction to the African Human Rights System: This topic covers the African human rights system and its relevance to SOGIE rights. It discusses its history, treaties, regional and sub-regional treaty bodies, procedures and issues of admissibility and jurisdiction. It provides an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the African human rights system and builds familiarity with major precedents concerning substantial and procedural issues. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE

• SOGIESOGIESOGIE(Y) Criminal Defence: This topic covers the principles of criminal defence and how to develop a defence strategy in national contexts. Participants will able to: identify the criminal procedures that are most relevant to SOGIE based arrests in the jurisdiction in which they practise; have a renewed commitment to legal ethics; and understand the ways a seemingly straight forward criminal case may be turned strategic. DOWNLOAD TOPIC OUTLINE
• (Z) Trial advocacy: This trial advocacy session will stage a mock trial where participants will have an opportunity to demonstrate the skills and learnings derived from the curriculum.

Module 3

• Evaluation & Wrap Up

The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework surrounding SOGIE rights, and strategies to use the law to advance these rights. It is designed to provide lawyers with the knowledge and skills they need to engage in strategic litigation, and to help them navigate the legal system and advocate for the rights of marginalized groups. The curriculum is supported by ISLA over a three-year period, after which lawyers should be able to operate independently and sustain their work.