Project to empower San with legal tools

A project aimed at strengthening the rights and legal capacities of San communities across Namibia has officially been activated following a two-day workshop held in Windhoek last week.The EU-funded project &#039;Empowering the San: Legal Capacity Building for Human Rights&#039; is implemented by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) over a period of three years.The workshop was attended by a group of chiefs, San community members from across Namibia, San traditional and community leaders, government officials, civil society organisations and dedicated rights activists.The event served as an important platform for fostering collaboration, sharing insights, outlining project objectives and collective effort required to address the challenges faced by the San people.The LAC said that the focus of the project will be on empowering the San communities by providing them with the necessary legal tools and knowledge to assert their rights and engage more effectively with legal and governmental institutions.“The European Union has generously allocated approximately N$6.5 million towards this noble cause, highlighting their dedication to human rights and social justice.”LAC director Toni Hancox emphasised the critical importance of the project in addressing long-standing challenges faced by San communities in accessing justice and safeguarding their human rights.She underscored the commitment of the LAC to working closely with all stakeholders to achieve tangible outcomes that empower and protect San communities.“This project will focus on providing the tools to claim and access the rights to which the San are entitled. In doing so, it promotes sustainability. It is not for us to give, but rather that we should provide the tools for the San to claim their rights,” said Hancox.Improve conditionsEU programme manager Silke Hofs emphasised the EU’s resolute support for initiatives that promote human rights and equality in Namibia.“The European Union is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of marginalised people, inclusive development, cultural preservation and combating discrimination. We believe that through partnerships and collaborative efforts, we can improve the conditions of marginalised people in Namibia – and elsewhere – in the medium to long term.”Deputy minister of marginalised communities, Royal /Ui/o/oo emphasised the fundamental role that civil society organisations and indigenous groups play in the realisation of development strategies for marginalised groups.He underscored that civil society is ideally positioned to be independent, critical, transparent and radical in driving sustainable change with the involvement of multiple stakeholders.Key outcomes of the workshop included commitment towards the establishment of a framework for ongoing collaboration among stakeholders, sharpening the identified priority areas for intervention and providing further input and guidance on the project approaches to guide project implementation over the coming months and years.Additionally, the workshop provided and discussed a number of recommendations to be implemented in the short to medium term, while recognising that some actions are to be implemented over the long term.

Project to empower San with legal tools

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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Project to empower San with legal tools

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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