Academy of Achievement Logo
Home
Achiever Gallery
Keys to Success
Achievement Podcasts
About the Academy
For Teachers

Search the site

Academy Careers

 
The Hon. Albie Sachs 2009, Constitutional Court of South Africa

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Permalink: Email Video

The Hon. Albie Sachs 2009 Video

Constitutional Court of South Africa
Introduction

Albie Sachs began a lifetime of human rights activism as a 17-year-old law student at the University of Cape Town, when he first took part in a civil disobedience campaign against apartheid. As a young attorney, he defended others charged under racist statutes and repressive security laws. After two spells of solitary confinement without trial, he fled the country. He spent the next 22 years in exile in the United Kingdom and Mozambique. In 1988, a car bomb planted by South African agents cost him an arm and the sight in one eye. He devoted the next years to preparing a new democratic constitution for South Africa. After South Africa's democratic elections of 1994, President Nelson Mandela appointed Sachs to serve as a Justice on the newly established Constitutional Court. Justice Sachs wrote the court's unanimous opinion in the landmark 2005 decision legalizing same-sex marriage in South Africa. Between sessions, he travels the world, sharing the South African experience of healing a divided society.



View More Podcasts
Each of the symposium presentations are excerpts from the 48-year history of International Achievement Summits. The audience is comprised of hundreds of promising young people selected to attend by the Academy.
Filter by: Most Recent, By Name
Challenges for Modern Cities<br />2008 (Part 1), America's Mayors Survey the Scene

Challenges for Modern Cities
2008 (Part 1)

America's Mayors Survey the Scene
Dr. Francis Collins and<br />Dr. Anthony Fauci<br />2010 (Part 1), National Institutes of Health

Dr. Francis Collins and
Dr. Anthony Fauci
2010 (Part 1)

National Institutes of Health
Sheryl Crow & Robin Williams 2006, Singer-Songwriter performs with Actor-Comedian

Sheryl Crow & Robin Williams 2006

Singer-Songwriter performs with Actor-Comedian
Sally Field 2008, Two Oscars for Best Actress

Sally Field 2008

Two Oscars for Best Actress
Dr. Susan Hockfield 2008, President of MIT

Dr. Susan Hockfield 2008

President of MIT
Dereck and Beverly Joubert 2009, Award-winning Documentary Filmmakers

Dereck and Beverly Joubert 2009

Award-winning Documentary Filmmakers
Alexander McCall Smith 2009<br />(Part 1), Best-selling Author

Alexander McCall Smith 2009
(Part 1)

Best-selling Author
Frank McCourt 2008, Pulitzer Prize for Biography

Frank McCourt 2008

Pulitzer Prize for Biography
Michelle Rhee 2010 (Part 1), Former Chancellor, D.C. Schools

Michelle Rhee 2010 (Part 1)

Former Chancellor, D.C. Schools
Anthony Romero and <br />Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 1), Executive Director, ACLU with the <br />Host of

Anthony Romero and
Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 1)

Executive Director, ACLU with the
Host of "Hardball"
Anthony Romero and <br />Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 2), Executive Director, ACLU with the <br />Host of

Anthony Romero and
Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 2)

Executive Director, ACLU with the
Host of "Hardball"
Tim Russert 2005, Broadcast Journalist

Tim Russert 2005

Broadcast Journalist
The Hon. Albie Sachs 2009, Constitutional Court of South Africa

The Hon. Albie Sachs 2009

Constitutional Court of South Africa
Gore Vidal 2006, National Book Award

Gore Vidal 2006

National Book Award
Elie Wiesel 2007, Nobel Prize for Peace

Elie Wiesel 2007

Nobel Prize for Peace