At a media briefing on 9 February 2024, ahead of the upcoming hearing against Switzerland at the European Court of Human Rights on 15 May 2024, ProBono.Org joined the Commission for Gender Equality and Norton Rose Fulbright SA Inc, who have been Caster Semenya’s pro bono lawyers for the past decade. Patrick Bracher of Norton Rose Fulbright said that while the lawyers have not charged for their services over the years, there have been many other costs such as expert witnesses and the like which has brought the expenses to around R30 million to date. It will cost a further USD 180,000 for this next hearing in the Grand Chamber (roughly R3.8 million). Caster Semenya is asking global citizens for help to assist her.
She thanked all those who have supported her on her long journey and said she is now an advocate for human rights. While the outcome of her case may be too late for her athletics career, her fight is now for the future of all the African and Asian women athletes facing the same discrimination as herself.
Advocate Nthabiseng Sepanya Mogale, Chair of the S A Commission for Gender Equality, noted that South Africa is a signatory to CEDAW (The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly), often described as an international bill of rights for women. “Her issue goes to the heart of human dignity”, she said.
Shafie Ameermia of ProBono.Org stressed that access to justice is a basic human right and the case against Caster Semenya is a gross violation of her human rights. He commended her resilience and said that ProBono.Org is proud to be part of the organisations supporting her in her quest for justice.
Anyone wishing to assist Caster with funding can use the following bank account:
Ahmed Gani Trust Account Standard Bank
Account No: 200 297 740
Branch: Killarney Branch Code: 007205 Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ
Reference: Caster
