- The University of the Western Cape will officially confer the honorary Doctor Philosophiae on Adila Hassim.
- Hassim is a co-founder of SECTION27, where she led landmark public-interest and constitutional litigation.
- She gained international recognition when she led South Africa’s opening case at the International Court of Justice.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) will award an honorary Doctor Philosophiae to Advocate Adila Hassim SC for 2025. This honour acknowledges nearly 30 years of dedication to constitutional rights, access to healthcare and social justice.
Hassim is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most respected public-interest advocates. She has helped shape constitutional jurisprudence through her work in landmark litigation and human rights advocacy.
A career of public-interest leadership
She completed her BA and LLB at the former University of Natal and went on to earn an LLM from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1999. In 2006, she received a Doctor of Science of Law from Notre Dame Law School in the United States.
After joining the Johannesburg Society of Advocates in 2003, Hassim worked at the AIDS Law Project, where she advanced the rights of people living with HIV. She also served on the National Executive Committee of the Treatment Action Campaign.
In 2010, she co-founded SECTION27 and became its Director of Litigation, leading some of South Africa’s most significant constitutional and public-interest cases. In 2017, she represented SECTION27 and the families of victims as lead counsel during the Life Esidimeni Arbitration process.
International recognition
In 2024, Hassim attracted global attention as South Africa’s lead opening counsel before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. She presented the country’s case, which alleged violations of the Genocide Convention by Israel and called for provisional measures.
She is currently an evidence leader for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating allegations of corruption, criminality and political interference in South Africa’s criminal justice system.
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