IRD Files Leave to Appeal to the Constitutional Court of South Africa Against Defamation by the Global Fund

Aug 12, 2024, Singapore — IRD Global (IRD) announced that it has filed a leave to appeal in the Constitutional Court (CC) of South Africa – the highest court in the country – against a defamatory report published by the Global Fund in 2021. This move comes in response to a judgment in July 2024 by the Supreme Court of Appeal, South Africa in which the decision focused on the procedural issue of jurisdiction, and did not rule on the merits of the matter.

“We have taken the decision to bring the appeal to the Constitutional Court as we believe that the court will consider our appeal on jurisdiction favorably, given legal precedents and implications for international organizations working in South Africa. We are unwaveringly committed to standing for what is right and remain hopeful that IRD will be vindicated,” said Dr Aamir Khan, Executive Director, IRD.

The Global Fund had published a report on its global website compiling findings from an investigation into its tuberculosis grant in Pakistan to the Indus Hospital (Indus). IRD had been contracted by Indus as a technical assistance provider to implement various tuberculosis-related health projects under the grant. The report contains numerous allegations that IRD considers defamatory and damaging to its reputation as a global public health and research organization.

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About IRD

IRD is an international not-for-profit organization headquartered in Singapore, operating with affiliates registered in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. Founded in 2004, we are propelled by our vision of a world where millions of vulnerable lives are meaningfully healthier. Our aspiration is to create a world where the most underserved, at-risk, and in-need populations experience improved physical, mental, and social well-being. Our approach centers on piloting and evaluating innovative solutions, delivering interventions, providing technical assistance, and catalyzing policy development and advocacy, driven by our mission to enhance the lives of millions of vulnerable individuals through scalable health solutions rooted in evidence. As an international non-profit organization, originated and anchored in the Global South, we nurture generations of local leaders committed to driving our mission. IRD collaborates with a range of stakeholders, including communities, private providers, universities, governments, and non-governmental organizations. As of 2023, the IRD network is implementing USD 100 million in active global health grants. To learn more about IRD, visit our website.

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