Across Africa, judges and decision makers play a vital role in upholding the rights and dignity of people forced to flee their homes. Understanding refugee law is not only a legal necessity, it is a humanitarian imperative.
Developed by the Africa Chapter of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ Africa) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), in partnership with the Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA) at the University of Cape Town, this certified short course equips judicial officers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to apply international refugee law fairly and consistently in their courts.
The Introduction to International Refugee Law for Judicial Officers is a three-month online course designed to strengthen the capacity of African judiciaries in protecting the rights of refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons.
Participants will explore the international, regional, and domestic legal frameworks governing refugee protection, with a strong focus on African jurisprudence and comparative insights from around the world. The course emphasises practical application, ensuring judicial officers can interpret and apply refugee law principles with clarity, fairness, and compassion.
The course combines self-paced online learning with live, interactive webinars led by experts in international refugee law. Each month, participants complete online modules and short quizzes, followed by a live webinar that connects theory with real-world judicial practice.
On completion, participants receive a University of Cape Town certificate, a recognised mark of excellence in judicial education across Africa.
Foundations of international, regional, and domestic refugee law
The principle of non-refoulement and protection obligations
Refugee status determination and definitional challenges
Comparative jurisprudence and regional variations in interpretation
The role of judicial officers in ensuring fairness, due process, and human rights
Justice is often the first line of protection for those forced to flee. Judicial officers are on the frontline of refugee protection, interpreting laws that can determine a person’s safety, dignity, and future. This course offers judges across Africa access to high-quality, context-specific training grounded in both international standards and African realities.
This course is designed for judicial officers and first-instance decision makers across Africa, those responsible for interpreting and applying refugee law in their daily work.
First intake: 2 February 2026
Second intake: 3 August 2026
Duration: Three months (online, part-time)
Certified by the University of Cape Town
Enquiries: jifa@uct.ac.za
When knowledge strengthens justice, lives are protected.
Join the Introduction to International Refugee Law for Judicial Officers course and be part of a growing network of judges across Africa committed to fairness, compassion, and the rule of law.