Legal empowerment as a tool for engendering access to justice in South Africa
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Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sage
Abstract
This article examines the concept of access to justice and the challenges vulnerable and
marginalised groups encounter in accessing justice. The article further discusses the
recognition of access to justice as human rights imperative under international and
regional human rights instrument. It then discusses barriers to access to justice for
women. It argues that while access to justice remains a challenge for many vulnerable and
marginalised groups, women particularly encounter serious barriers to access to justice
in society. Furthermore, it discusses the notion of legal empowerment and the
significance of this for the realisation of access to justice for vulnerable groups, especially
women in disadvantaged communities. This is followed by the discussion on the experience of the Dullah Omar Institute in providing legal empowerment training for women
in informal settlements in Cape Town and some of the, important lessons from this
process. It concludes by making useful recommendations in ensuring access to justice for
vulnerable women in informal settlements.
Description
Keywords
Access to justice, Legal empowerment, Informal settlements, South Africa, Women
Citation
Durojaye, E., Mirugi-Mukundi, G., & Adeniyi, O. (2020). Legal empowerment as a tool for engendering access to justice in South Africa. International Journal of Discrimination and the Law, 20(4), 224–244. https://doi.org/10.1177/1358229120969602