Call for proposals for the Public Interest Law Gathering
- Lee-Anne Gaertner
This year's Gathering explores the theme "Defending the Promise of the Constitution"
The Public Interest Law Gathering (PILG) will take place at the Chalsty Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg on 26 and 27 October 2026. This year’s PILG will explore the theme “Defending the Promise of the Constitution”.
PILG is an important forum that brings together people from across South Africa and beyond who are concerned about cutting-edge developments in human rights and social justice. PILG provides a space for attendees to discuss, debate, reflect and exchange skills, knowledge, ideas, and strategies on approaches and interventions in public interest advocacy and litigation.
South Africa’s constitutional democracy faces increasing challenges. Civil society organisations, community activists, social movements, public interest lawyers and human rights defenders continue to play an important role in holding power to account and advancing constitutional rights. Yet, we see a rise in attacks on civil society as well as threats and intimidation against activists and human rights defenders. Against this backdrop, PILG 2026 will examine the role of civil society in defending and advancing the promise of the Constitution.
PILG promotes collaboration and networking within the public interest law, social justice and human rights communities with the goal of improving and enhancing access to justice and the quality of services and interventions provided to marginalised, vulnerable individuals and communities.
Participants include public interest legal practitioners, advice office workers and paralegals, community organisers and social movement activists, law students, legal academics, lawyers from the private sector and civil servants.
PILG 2026 seeks to create a space for open learning, honest reflection and constructive dialogue across the public interest law, social justice and human rights sectors. In engaging with the theme, Defending the Promise of the Constitution, we encourage proposals that not only share successes and lessons from practice, but also critically examine challenges, emerging threats, and opportunities for collective action. We welcome sessions that foster participation, exchange experiences, and contribute to strengthening the sector's capacity to defend and advance constitutional rights.
Interactive and participatory session formats, including workshops, round tables, case-study discussions, skills-sharing sessions and reflections on practice, are particularly encouraged.
The organisers of #PILG2026 invite proposals for presentations, whether as stand-alone presentations or entire panels. A proposal should include:
- The name, organisation / affiliation and contact details for the proposed presenter;
- A short description of the proposed presentation or panel and why it is important;
- The names of any other proposed panelists, and whether they have already agreed to participate.
- If there is a proposed facilitator/moderator for the panel, and whether they have already agreed to participate.
Proposals will be assessed based on their relevance to the theme, contribution to public interest law and social justice practice, diversity of perspectives, and potential to stimulate discussion and learning.
Please submit your proposals by email to pilgathering@gmail.com by Monday, 28 September 2026 addressed to the PILG Planning Committee.
Register to attend
The organisers further invite anyone wishing to attend the PILG 2026 to register by 16 October 2026 in the link below.