- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Increasing Access to Justice
- Grant Amount $150,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2004–December 31, 2005
- Location Cape Town, South Africa
- Geographic Focus South Africa
About this grant
The Black Sash Trust promotes human rights and access to justice in South Africa through seven advice offices in four provinces. The advice offices provide paralegal services and information regarding constitutional rights; conduct research; monitor legislation; provide training; and disseminate information. The trust works to influence national policy and policy development for greater government recognition and support of the paralegal sector.Multiyear funding will enable Black Sash to continue providing support to its seven advice offices and make it possible for the organization to broaden its support to other paralegal organizations and extend its presence to seven provinces by the end of 2005.Accomplishments during the past two years included providing information and legal assistance to poor people on child support, maintenance and social security grants; assisting people in obtaining identity documents to enable them to access social security grants and be able to vote in the upcoming elections; offering advice on labor matters; educating refugees on their rights; and addressing issues of unfair contracts and debt counseling.