Kader Asmal
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2008-02-12T19:59:24Z
Toussaint
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{{Infobox Politician
| name = Kader Asmal
| image = Replace this image male.svg
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| office = [[Ministry (government department)|Minister of Education]]|
| term_start = [[1999]]
| term_end = [[2004]]
| predecessor = [[Sibusiso Bengu]]
| successor = [[Naledi Pandor]]
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| office2 = [[Member of Parliament]]
| term_start2 = [[1994]]
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| office3 = Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry
| term_start3 = [[1994]]
| term_end3 = [[1999]]
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1934|10|8|mf=y}}
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| party = [[African National Congress]]
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'''Kader Asmal''' (born [[8 October]] [[1934 in South Africa|1934]]) is a [[South Africa]]n [[politician]]. He was a professor of human rights at the [[University of the Western Cape]], chairman of the council of the [[University of the North]] and vice-president of the [[African Association of International Law]]. He is married to Louise Parkinson and has two sons. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
==Early life==
Kader grew up in [[Stanger]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]] and while still a school-boy he met with Chief [[Albert Luthuli]] who inspired him towards human rights. In [[1959 in South Africa|1959]], Kader qualified as a [[teacher]], moved to [[London]] where he enrolled at the [[London School of Economics|London School of Economics and Political Science]].
==Legal career==
While in London he started the [[British Anti-Apartheid Movement]] and when he joined the [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College]], [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]] as a teacher of human rights, labour and international law, he started the [[Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement]]. Kader qualified as a [[barrister]], LLM(LSE) and MA(Dublin) in both the London and Dublin Bars. He was a law professor at Trinity College for 27 years, specializing in human rights, labor, and international law. In [[1983 in South Africa|1983]], he was awarded the Prix Unesco for his involvement in the international inquiries into human rights violations. Kader served on the [[African National Congress]]' constitutional committee from [[1986 in South Africa|1986]].
==Political career==
In [[1990 in South Africa|1990]], Asmal returned to South Africa and shortly afterwards was elected to the African National Congress' National Executive Committee. In 1993, he served as a member of the negotiating team of the African National Congress at the [[Negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa#Multiparty Negotiating Forum|Multiparty Negotiating Forum]]. In May 1994, he was elected to the National Assembly, and joined the [[Ministers of the South African Government|cabinet]] as Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry.
In 1996, the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]]-South Africa awarded Asmal their Gold Medal for his conservation work. During his tenure he supported the [[Global Water Partnership (GWP)]]. As Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry he spearheaded the recognition of the concept of "the environment as a prime water user."<ref name="WCD">[http://web.archive.org/web/20050208084216/dams.org/news_events/press282.htm (24 September 1997) "South African Water Minister to Head New World Commission on Dams"] World Commission on Dams</ref> While serving as Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, he also served as the chairman of the World Commission on Dams (1997-2001).
In [[1999]], after the [[South African general election, 1999|South African general elections]], he became [[Minister of Education]].<ref>[http://chronicle.com/weekly/v45/i44/44a04501.htm Vergnani, Linda (9 July 1999) "Education Minister in South Africa Seeks Better Training for Aspiring Teachers"] ''Chronicle of Higher Education'' 45(44) p. A45</ref> Among his initiatives as Minister of Education was the launching in 2001 of the [[South African History Project]] "to promote and enhance the conditions and status of the learning and teaching of history in the South African schooling system, with the goal of restoring its material position and intellectual purchase in the classroom".<ref>[http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2001/0108281145a1002.htm "Speech by the Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal, at the launch of the South African History Project"], Old Fort, Johannesburg, 27 August 2001</ref>
On [[5 October]], [[2007]], he severely criticised [[Robert Mugabe]] for the situation in [[Zimbabwe]], lamenting that he had not spoken previously, at the launch of a book ''Through the Darkness — A Life in Zimbabwe'', by [[Judith Todd]], daughter of former Southern Rhodesia prime minister [[Garfield Todd]], an opponent of white minority rule under [[Ian Smith]]. <ref>[http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A579833 Asmal breaks ANC ranks on Zimbabwe] Business Day</ref>
==References==
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[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South African politicians]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]