Who We Are

History of R2P                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Protest as a civil and political right is central to the South African political space. However despite recognising the importance of protest in South Africa, there was no system in place to support protesters in realising their right. This was especially alarming as there is a growing intolerance of protest and dissent in the country. This is evident from the excessive, aggressive and disproportionate use of force by police officials in managing protests and the criminalisation of protesters. Protesters often turned to civil society for practical advice and legal support. In 2015 the #FeesMustFall movement presented an overwhelming need for pro bono legal assistance and an informal referral service was set up to assist students during this period. The #FeesMustFall movement revealed the pressing and urgent need for such a service, a central project was formed to focus on the right to protest. A dedicated hotline was created to provide protesters with advice on their right to protest and legal support through a referral network of attorneys country wide.

Where are Now ? 

The project is currently housed at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (‘CALS’), University of the Witwatersrand. The project operates nationally and is staffed by a project co-ordinator and an attorney who assists . The project has a dedicated toll free hotline that protesters can use to enquire about their right to protest and obtain legal advice as well as to request legal assistance. The project also provides communities around the country with workshops informing them of their right to protest and legal procedures that need to be followed in exercising their right to protest. The project has also expanded into regional solidarity building, through its research, advocacy campaigns, development of toolkits and anti-repression projects. 

Steering Committee –  Community Advice Offices South Africa, Lawyers for Human Rights, Centre for Applied Legal Studies and the Right2Know Campaign.