Accomplished University of Cape Town Scholar Visits Queen's Law

Photo by:Elle Morris

Dr. Danwood Chirwa, International Visiting Scholar at Queen's Law.

Dr. Danwood Chirwa, an accomplished junior scholar at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, began a two week visit on January 15th 2007, teaching students and collaborating with faculty at Queen's Law. Selected to come to Queen's through the International Visiting Scholars Program for Major Institutional Partners, as part of his scholarly activities he is teaching an intensive one-credit seminar in International Comparative Rights. This course provides upper year law students a unique opportunity to study the protection of socio-economic rights in Canada and the world at large. In addition, on Monday, January 22nd, in Room 515 of MacDonald Hall, following a presentation of his research paper entitled "Privatization and Freedom from Poverty," faculty and students will be able to participate in an open discussion with Dr. Chirwa on his work in the area. "I hope to spark a debate on the subject matter of the paper," said Chirwa, "in particular with respect to those policies that impact poorer communities."

Dr. Chirwa is renowned for his work in the fields of public and constitutional law, as well as international law and human rights. Born in the southeastern African nation Malawi, he holds an LL.B. from the University of Malawi, an LL.M. from the University of Pretoria, and a PH.D. in Law from the University of the Western Cape. The majority of his research focuses on public law, where he studies African human rights and the protection of socio-economic rights. Much of Dr. Chirwa's work has been published in international journals, and he has recently been asked to present his research in Europe and Africa. Over the course of his career in academia, Dr. Chirwa has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, notably the Nelson Mandela Prize, awarded to him for being the best LL.M. student in the Human Rights and Democratisation Course offered by the University of Pretoria.

An open door policy and an invitation to debate are central aspects of Dr. Chirwa's teaching methods. He encourages all students with an interest in international and public law to discuss their thoughts and perspectives with him. For his seminar students, he aims to bring light to the issues of social and economic rights in Canada from an international and comparative constitutional perspective. "I want to try to influence the students and change their perception of these rights, so that they can make an effort to improve [them]", said Chirwa. "Economic and social rights are not adequately protected by Canadian courts. The courts should be interpreting the Charter in a way that offers greater protection of these rights."

The student reception for Dr. Chirwa's seminar has been overwhelmingly positive. "One of the attractive things [about international law] is that you can make a practical impact on people," said Chirwa. "Human rights...gives you the direct practical experience of working with other people... It leaves you in the end appreciating your own situation a lot better."

Over the course of his time in Kingston, Dr. Chirwa will be meeting with many faculty members of Queen's Law and the School of Policy Studies. The goal of this series of meetings is to explore and develop common areas of research. Dr. Chirwa is optimistic that many joint academic projects will commence following his visits with both departments. It is hoped that an ongoing exchange with faculty and students will be started between the law schools at Queen's University and the University of Cape Town.

Dr. Chirwa's visit is jointly funded by the Principal's Development Fund and the Queen's Law Dean's Excellence Fund, as a part of the University's International Visiting Scholars Program for Major Institutional Partners. This program aims to assist in providing funds to enrich the international dimensions of the University, both within the classroom and research environment, and develop our relationships with Queen's major institutional partner universities. The program funds are intended to assist Departments, Faculties and Schools in bringing to Queen's outstanding junior or senior scholars from Fudan University in Shanghai, China; the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia; Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand; and the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa.

For Dr. Chirwa, this is his third visit to Canada, and his first visit to Queen's Law. "I have been to Canada twice, in Montreal and Ottawa, but I have never been in Canada when it is this cold," Chirwa laughed, "So this is a real first-time experience for me. It is a small but very fine city, Kingston, very smart - a very warm city despite its winter".