Zebaldt Ngaruka
The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) will train selected members of the San community to become paralegals so that they may provide support, advice and guidance to fellow community members.
The project themed “Empowering the San: Legal Capacity-Building for Human Rights”, is aimed at empowering the San community with the necessary tools to navigate the complex legal landscape and protect their rights.
The project was launched by the LAC on Wednesday.
Speaking at the launch, Ana-Beatriz Martins, who is a European Union (EU) Delegate in Namibia, said San people face multi-faceted challenges which include land dispossession, discrimination, socio-economic marginalisation, loss of cultural heritage, lack of political representation, limited access to education, and health disparities.
“Despite the efforts that have been made to address some of these challenges, more work is needed to improve the human rights situation for the San population in Namibia, and ensure that their rights and dignity are upheld,” she said.
Martins added that the EU is eager to strengthen indigenous people’s rights worldwide, which includes several key elements like promoting indigenous rights, inclusive development, participation and consultation, cultural preservation, and combating discrimination.
“Our support to indigenous rights reflects our commitment to upholding international human rights standards, and promoting the well-being and empowerment of indigenous communities within and beyond our borders,” she noted.
She added that there is more work to be done to contribute to equal opportunities for San people in Namibia.
“The EU will be looking forward to contributing to Namibia’s path in alleviating the inequalities between different populations,” said Martins.
Hopefully, the project will thus ultimately contribute towards equality in Namibia.
The coordinator for the land, environment and development project Corinna van Wyk said the LAC is committed to working with stakeholders and civil society organisations to amplify the San communities’ voices, and advocate for their rights. Van Wyk, who is also the project initiator, observed that the LAC believes that this project is not just about legal capacity-building, but a testament to its commitment to social justice, equality and respect for human rights. The project will be funded by the EU, and also introduce a mobile clinic to provide legal services to San communities in remote areas.
The LAC will today hold a legal clinic in the Otjomuise settlement at the Woermann Brock supermarket parking area in Delhi Street from 09h00 to 13h00.