Alex Boraine
Encyclopedia
Dr. Alex Boraine is a South Africa
n politician. He was born in Cape Town
.
Having been ordained as a Methodist minister in 1956, he studied at Rhodes University
in South Africa
, Oxford University in England
, and Drew University
in the USA.
In 1970 he was appointed youngest-ever President of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, a position he held until 1972.
He was elected to parliament as an MP for the Progressive Party
in 1974. He resigned in 1986 and, together with Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert, founded IDASA, which organized the 1987 meeting with ANC
leaders in Dakar, Senegal.
From 1986 to 1995, Dr. Boraine headed two South African nonprofit organizations concerned with ending apartheid and addressing the legacy it left behind.
Boraine was one of the main architects of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
. In 1995, he was appointed by President Nelson Mandela
to be its deputy chair serving under Chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu
from 1996 to 1998.
From 1998 through early 2001, he served as professor of law at New York University and as director of the New York University Law School's Justice in Transition program.
In 2001 Dr. Boraine co-founded the International Center for Transitional Justice
- an international human rights NGO. He served as ICTJ’s president for three years, and subsequently, the chairperson of ICTJ’s South Africa office.
Alex Boraine has travelled to many countries that are in transition from dictatorship to democracy, at the invitation of governments and NGOs, to share the South African experience.
Boraine is currently a member of Advisory Board of Directors and a Global Visiting Professor of Law at the NYU School of Law's Hauser Global Law School Program.
He has published two books. “A Country Unmasked,” was published by Oxford University Press
in November 2000. “A Life in Transition” was published by Struik Publishers in June 5, 2008.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician. He was born in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Having been ordained as a Methodist minister in 1956, he studied at Rhodes University
Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, established in 1904. It is the province’s oldest university, and is one of the four universities in the province...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Oxford University in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in the USA.
In 1970 he was appointed youngest-ever President of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, a position he held until 1972.
He was elected to parliament as an MP for the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (South Africa)
The Progressive Party was a liberal party in South Africa that opposed the ruling National Party's policies of apartheid, and championed the Rule of Law. For years its only member of parliament was Helen Suzman...
in 1974. He resigned in 1986 and, together with Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert, founded IDASA, which organized the 1987 meeting with ANC
ANC
ANC commonly refers to the African National Congress, a revolutionary movement which became the ruling political party in South Africa in the 1994 election.ANC may also refer to:-Organizations:...
leaders in Dakar, Senegal.
From 1986 to 1995, Dr. Boraine headed two South African nonprofit organizations concerned with ending apartheid and addressing the legacy it left behind.
Boraine was one of the main architects of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid. Witnesses who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations were invited to give statements about their experiences, and some were selected...
. In 1995, he was appointed by President Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
to be its deputy chair serving under Chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
from 1996 to 1998.
From 1998 through early 2001, he served as professor of law at New York University and as director of the New York University Law School's Justice in Transition program.
In 2001 Dr. Boraine co-founded the International Center for Transitional Justice
International Center for Transitional Justice
The International Center for Transitional Justice was founded in 2001 as a non-profit organization dedicated to pursuing accountability for mass atrocity and human rights abuse through transitional justice mechanisms.-Mission statement:...
- an international human rights NGO. He served as ICTJ’s president for three years, and subsequently, the chairperson of ICTJ’s South Africa office.
Alex Boraine has travelled to many countries that are in transition from dictatorship to democracy, at the invitation of governments and NGOs, to share the South African experience.
Boraine is currently a member of Advisory Board of Directors and a Global Visiting Professor of Law at the NYU School of Law's Hauser Global Law School Program.
He has published two books. “A Country Unmasked,” was published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in November 2000. “A Life in Transition” was published by Struik Publishers in June 5, 2008.