ABOUT HRDI

Strategic Objectives


HRDI’s overall goal is to contribute to the protection, promotion and respect for the rule of law and human rights in Africa through increasing access to regional and international human rights forums to the poor and vulnerable groups in society.

During Phase II (2010 - 2015) HRDI's specific objectives are to:

  • Build a cadre of 30 social justice lawyers from the 15 target countries;
  • Develop a network of 15 accountable law clinics that provide legal services to poor and vulnerable groups in the 15 target countries;
  • Develop three sub-regional centres within African university based law clinics that will contribute toward discourse within the domestic, regional and international human rights institutions, one for Southern Africa, one for the Great Lakes Region and one for East Africa. These sub-regional centres will act as a base for learning and a hub for the network of organisations in the region;
  • Contribute to the development of human rights jurisprudence and conduct community based strategic litigation within domestic, regional and international human rights forums for example, SADC Tribunal, East African Court of Justice, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights;
  • Respond to key HIV related issues and influence debates that arise from regional economic communities and the African regional system to the extent that it impacts on grassroots organisations and vulnerable groups in the 15 target countries.

During Phase I (which came to an end in March 2010) HRDI's specific objectives were to:

  • Contribute to the development of a regional human rights jurisprudence within the African Commission African Court of Human Peoples’ Rights, and other vital institutions;
  • Contribute to the development of centres of excellence within African university based law clinics that will contribute toward discourse within the regional and international human rights institutions; and
  • Proactively address key socio-legal and ethical issues within the region.