The Forum promotes awareness of the rights and responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution and advocates for the protection and promotion of human rights through social policies.

Although the formal Human Rights Advocacy programme is a relatively new one within The Forum, the organisation has been active in the defence of human rights since its inception. In 1999, The Forum made a submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission regarding the role played by welfare organisations, academic institutions and professional associations in the development, maintenance and implementation of the apartheid welfare system. To read more about The Forum’s involvement in the Truth and Reconciliation process, click here.

Even today, human rights in relation to social welfare policy is a complex issue in South Africa given that a large part of the population is functionally illiterate, vast distances separate people in many provinces and poor access to information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure is the reality for the vast majority of the population.

In 2008, The Forum will be launching an innovative programme aimed at ensuring that welfare, social service and development policies and programmes meet the needs of poor and marginalised people in South Africa.

Activities in 2005-2007                                
The major activities that were conducted in this programme in the period 2005-2007 include a 2-day workshop on the Children’s Act and Amendment Bill held in October 2006 in the Eastern Cape. Seventy participants attended, representing amongst others, FAMSA, The Red Cross, SANCA, East London Child Welfare, Port Elizabeth Mental Health & the Grahamstown office of the Department of Social Development.

A further 50 people representing various NPOs and CBOs were trained in constitutional human rights, basics of administrative law, and laws relating to access to information, social security and social assistance in both the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal during 2005 and 2006. The KZN programme was run in conjunction with the Human Rights Commission.

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