The upcoming Annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture, is announced by The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, which this year will be held on 23 November 2024 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). This significant event marks two major milestones: 30 years of South Africa’s democracy and the 40th anniversary of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Nobel Peace Prize.
This year’s theme, “Bearing Witness,” reflects on the essential role of journalism and international law in upholding truth, justice, and human rights. Speaking on the power of bearing witness, the Foundation’s CEO Janet Jobson shared, “One of the great legacies of Archbishop Desmond Tutu was his consistent speaking of truth to power, on every front of injustice. He used his voice wherever he could. And when his voice alone could not change the immediate outcome, he understood the power of bearing witness. As communities were forcibly removed during the 1960s, there he was refusing for these injustices to go unwitnessed and unchallenged.”
Through this theme, the event will celebrate South Africa’s achievements in democracy, while emphasising Archbishop Tutu’s lifelong commitment to social justice. The evening will engage attendees in critical conversations on the ongoing importance of bearing witness as a vital act of peacebuilding and advocacy.
The event will feature a distinguished panel of speakers, including Yousra Elbagir, a broadcast journalist and writer serving as Sky News’ Africa correspondent, Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Center for Civil Liberties, and Maria Ressa, co-founder and CEO of Rappler and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. See more information about the speakers below.
As part of the Foundation’s commitment to solidarity and African resilience, this year’s discussion will also highlight the importance of regional collaboration in global peacebuilding efforts. Alongside these notable voices, a lineup of performances by celebrated South African artists will add a creative and reflective dimension to the evening’s proceedings. This year’s Peace Lecture promises to be an inspiring moment of dialogue, music, and reflection.
About The Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation
The Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to advancing social justice, human rights, and peace in line with the values espoused by its founders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Leah Tutu. Established in 2010, the foundation seeks to build a more equitable society by promoting the principles of Ubuntu—a South African philosophy emphasizing the interconnectedness of all people and the importance of community.
WHAT: 2024 Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture
WHERE: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: 23 November 2024
TICKETS: More programmatic and ticket details will be released soon.
INFO: Truth to Power Exhibition, Desmond & Leah Tutu House, 11 Buitekant Street, Cape Town 8001 | T 021 552 7524 | Visit
TRUTH TO POWER EXHIBITION [17]
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About Yousra Elbagir
Yousra Elbagir is a broadcast journalist and writer serving as Sky News’ Africa correspondent. She covers significant events across the continent, from natural disasters to civil unrest, with notable reports from the frontline of Sudan’s war, highlighting the devastation of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Previously, she was a foreign news reporter for Channel 4 News and an international correspondent for Vice News Tonight on HBO.
About Oleksandra Matviichuk
Oleksandra Matviichuk is the head of the human rights NGO Center for Civil Liberties and coordinates the initiative group Euromaidan SOS. Her organization promotes human rights and democracy in Ukraine, focusing on legislative reforms, public oversight, and educational initiatives. Since 2014, she has documented political persecution and war crimes in Ukraine and co-founded the Tribunal for Putin initiative to address international crimes committed during the ongoing conflict.
About Maria Ressa
Maria Ressa is the co-founder and CEO of Rappler, a leading digital news site in the Philippines advocating for press freedom. Enduring significant political harassment under the Duterte administration, she has become a prominent figure in the fight for democracy, winning numerous accolades including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. Ressa is a professor at Columbia University, focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence and democracy, and is the author of several influential books, including How to Stand Up to a Dictator.
