CSVR Announces New Executive Director
- Posted on
- In Articles, Media, Our News and Events
- by CSVR
The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) is pleased to announce that Ms Teresa Yates will assume the role of Executive Director, effective 1 August 2026.
Ms Yates' extensive legal career spans strategic litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and policy reform. She has led key structural design frameworks for the South African Department of Land Affairs, advocating for marginalised communities, women's land rights, and disability integration. She has served as gender justice coordinator with Oxfam in Tanzania, the South African government, and Nkuzi Development Association, a South African land organisation focusing specifically on farm workers, land rights, and land reform.
Ms Yates steps into the role at a pivotal moment for CSVR, as the organisation implements its 2025–2029 five-year strategy. Marking 37 years since its founding, CSVR has set out an ambitious agenda built around five strategic objectives: deepening the integration of transitional justice and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS); advancing African thought leadership so that solutions developed on the continent help shape global discourse; expanding access to reparations and healing for victims and survivors of human rights violations; strengthening accountability through active citizenry and responsive institutions; and building a more effective, efficient and sustainable organisation.
The strategy responds to a global context marked by democratic backsliding, rising authoritarianism, gender-based violence and femicide, climate-linked conflict, shrinking civic space and growing distrust fuelled by misinformation. Against this backdrop, CSVR intends to strengthen its strategic objectives, grow partnerships across the continent and globally, and continue building the organisation's long-term sustainability through diversified funding, institutional memory and investment in staff wellbeing. Ms Yates will play a central role in steering this agenda.
Ms Yates noted upon her appointment that "I am looking forward to taking on this exciting new challenge, working with the staff and Board of CSVR to ensure that the organisation continues to deliver the highest quality research, evidence-based policy inputs, community engagement, and transitional justice leadership in areas where violence has left legacies of stagnation and instability."
The CSVR Board of Directors looks forward to Ms Yates' leadership as the organisation continues to advance violence prevention and reconciliation in Africa and beyond.
Sincerely,
Tefo Raditapole
Chair of the Board
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
