Workshop unpacks access to justice for community members

The presenters at this workshop were Prof Ebenezer Durojaye who presented on the theoretical aspects of access to justice. He also facilitated some group activities during the workshop. Shean Rippenaar, an expert from the Legal Aid Clinic, University of the Western Cape, touched on estate planning and legal aspects of will and trusts. Jodie Lee Fredericks from the Women’s Legal Centre did a presentation on relationship rights and maintenance, focusing on Muslim marriages. The other presenter was Damaris Keiwits from University of the Western Cape’s Community Engagement Unit who discussed the role of community in holding government accountable.

According the Socio-Economic Project, the aim of the workshop is to empower community leaders by equipping them with knowledge to provide pivotal human rights support services to the community, given the important roles they play in facilitating or realising access to justice for vulnerable and marginalised groups in society. The workshop is part of a series of workshops, which will continue in the latter part of the year.

The workshops also offered a platform for various community leaders and community activists with different backgrounds to discuss, network and share their knowledge on human rights and social justice in South Africa.  The Community leaders were drawn from three communities, namely, Blikkiesdorp in Delft, Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, and Overcome Height in SeaWind Muizenberg. Through this program, the institute hopes to empower community members to assert their rights as well as facilitate access to justice for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

This program is made possible through the generous funding from the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA).

Please follow this link to view pictures from this workshop.