Mission Statement

The Community Law Centre, forming part of the Law Faculty at the University of the Western Cape (‘the Centre’), was established in 1990 and works to realise the democratic values and human rights enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution. It is founded on the belief that our constitutional order must promote good governance, socio-economic development and the protection of the rights of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Given the need for regional integration to encourage development in Africa, the Centre also seeks to advance human rights and democracy in this broader context. Based on high quality research, the Centre engages in policy development, advocacy and educational initiatives, focusing on areas critical to the realisation of human rights and democracy in South Africa and Africa in general.

Early history

The Community Law Centre was opened in 1990, inspired and guided by its founder and director, the late Dullah Omar. The primary goal of the Centre was to establish a just legal order based on a culture of human rights and democracy. During its early years, the Centre played a key supporting role in realising the new constitutional order.

Constitutional negotiations

Established primarily as a research institute, the Centre was influential in the multi-party negotiations, which led to the interim Constitution. The content of this Constitution was influenced by the Centre, especially the Bill of Rights, the structures of government, the powers of the regions, the Constitutional Court, the electoral system and the re-incorporation of the homelands.

The Centre continued to play a key role in the drafting of the final Constitution. Its new focus was on the Bill of Rights, in particular the proper protection of women's-, children's- and socio-economic rights, as well as the model for intergovernmental relations.

Current projects

With the final Constitution enacted in 1996, the Centre shifted its energies to consolidating the new democratic constitutional order. The Centre now has five main focus areas:
 

• The Children's Rights Project
• Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative
• Gender Project
• Local Government Project
• The Socio-Economic Rights Project

For a complete review of the current work done by these projects, kindly download our latest Annual Report.

Into Africa

The Centre continues to find guidance in the vision of Dullah Omar. In the last year, all Projects have expanded their work outside the borders of South Africa into the continent beyond. The Centre sees its expertise in South Africa as a valuable export to other African states seeking to establish just and equitable government. The Centre also enjoys observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights since 2005 (Final Communique in French).

Please visit the Projects’ pages for more information on their specific activities.