Current Projects

Five leading international universities have joined forces to create 5-CHARI – the Five Centre HIV/AIDS Research Initiative.

This work involves linking with researchers and institutions, largely but not exclusively, in Southern Africa. The Beyond Borders work explores leadership among students at the Universities of Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana; the OSISA project is researching HIV and AIDS, the law and human rights in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Malawi; the Parliamentarians for Women's Health project is promoting access to treatment in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia; and the Tswelopele project, through Physicians for Human Rights, is building links with Swaziland, Botswana and Uganda. The CSA also has various links with Mozambique and Zambia.

The AIDS and Human Rights Research Unit (AHRRU) is a collaboration between the CSA and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.

The annual AIDS Reviews of the CSA take a seemingly intractable issue and try to develop a critical and robust engagement with it.

The VCT service for students runs in partnership with the Campus Clinic, the Foundation for Professional Development and the Department of Health.

The CSA is committed to developing innovative understandings of how communities operate and how community work can link to the development and implementation of theory.

The Future Leaders @ Work programme was established in 1999. Over 5000 students have engaged with the programme. Its successes have generated regional and international interest. The programme operates from the premise that students must become active agents of change, through academic knowledge of the epidemic, stimulating debate surrounding the issues and acquiring the skills to deal productively and effectively with HIV and AIDS in their future careers and as responsible members of society. Future Leaders @ Work supports students in their training and in their wider experiences in the context of HIV and AIDS.

The Magistrates project trains magistrates and other court officials on HIV and AIDS - this covers social context considerations, basic facts, stigma and attitudes, the impact of HIV and AIDS in courts, and selected aspects of HIV and AIDS and the law. The project works in South and Southern Africa and is overseen by the AHRRU.

The post-doctoral and doctoral fellowship programme at the CSA is led by a professor in Anthropology, working with researchers based in southern African universities and community-based researchers in various African countries.

The media of the CSA receives international recognition for innovation, creativity and uniqueness.

This work investigates ways in which communities can effectively manage care, prevention and support for orphans and other valuable and vulnerable children.

The Positive Futures Project is a regional project aimed at creating strong support for students and staff living with HIV and AIDS on university campuses.

In addition to the AIDS Review series and project-related research, the CSA has successfully completed several research and evaluation contracts and has forged numerous research partnerships with local, regional and international research organisations.

The Siyam'kela project, in partnership with the Health Policy Initiative, explores HIV and AIDS-related stigma to understand how such stigma and discrimination can be reduced through analysis and replicable interventions.

The CSA conducts customised training for a range of public and private sector organisations.

The Tswelopele project researched HIV-related stigma and knowledge of human rights in Hammanskraal. It runs training on stigma and human rights and is researching rights issues relating to testing and treatment.

The Centre for the Study of AIDS (CSA), at the University of Pretoria was established in 1999. Its work is primarily with the staff and students at the University, as well as the communities from which they are drawn.

The Youth Skills Development Project works to produce a cadre of young people who can become social role models for young people and act as advocates for issues relating to human rights, stigma, gender, sexuality and HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention.