Advocacy and Research Officer, Centre for Applied Legal Studies

Thuli Zulu is a human rights scholar and legal advocate committed to advancing sexual and reproductive justice, particularly for Black women and queer communities. As Advocacy and Research Officer at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Thuli leads community-based legal reform efforts that center access, dignity, and justice. With an LLB from the University of Pretoria and a master’s in multidisciplinary human rights, Thuli’s work spans GBV prevention in rural South Africa, housing rights, obstetric violence, and access to contraceptives. They have led rural legal literacy programs and mentored emerging social justice practitioners – all while challenging systems that marginalize and exclude.

Rise Up Cohort: South Africa, 2025