The EU-funded project promotes and protects the rights of the San communities.

The European Union allocated approximately N$6.5 million towards the EU-funded project “Empowering the San: Legal Capacity Building for Human Rights” to strengthen San communities’ rights and legal capacities across Namibia.

The project held a two-day inception workshop from 19 – 20 June 2024 in Windhoek to strengthen the rights and legal capacities of San communities across Namibia.

The workshop was attended by San people from across Namibia, San traditional and community leaders, government officials, civil society organisations, and dedicated rights activists. The event served as a fundamental platform for fostering collaboration, sharing insights, outlining project objectives and the collective effort required to address the challenges faced by the San people.

The three (3) year project implemented by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) will empower the San communities by providing them with the necessary legal tools and knowledge to assert their rights and engage more effectively with legal and governmental institutions.

Director of the Legal Assistance Centre, Toni Hancox, emphasised the importance of the project in addressing longstanding challenges San communities face in accessing justice and safeguarding their human rights. She underscored the commitment of the LAC to working closely with all stakeholders to achieve tangible outcomes that empower and protect San communities.

“This project will focus on providing the tools to claim and access the rights to which the San are entitled. In so doing, it promotes sustainability. It is not for us to ‘give’ rights, but rather that we should provide the tools for the San to ‘claim’ their rights,” Hancox said.

EU Programme Manager Silke Hofs emphasised the EU’s unwavering support for initiatives that promote human rights and equality in Namibia. She said, “The European Union is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of marginalised people, inclusive development, cultural preservation, and combating discrimination. We believe that through partnerships and collaborative efforts, we can improve the conditions of marginalised people in Namibia and elsewhere in the medium to long term,” Hofs added.

This three-year project, implemented by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), will empower the San communities by providing them with the necessary legal tools and knowledge to assert their rights and engage more effectively with legal and governmental institutions. The European Union has generously allocated approximately N$6.5 million towards this noble cause, highlighting their dedication to human rights and social justice.

Deputy Minister of Marginalised Communities, Royal Kao /Ui/o/oo, noted the critical role of the Division of Marginalised Communities in advancing Namibia’s vision of inclusivity and leaving no one behind, as championed by the late President.

Kao /Ui/o/oo emphasised the fundamental role of civil society organisations and Indigenous groups in realising development strategies for Indigenous Peoples. He underscored that civil society is ideally positioned to be independent, critical, transparent, and radical in driving sustainable change with the involvement of multiple stakeholders.

Key outcomes of the workshop included commitment towards establishing a framework for ongoing collaboration among stakeholders, sharpening the identified priority areas for intervention, and providing further inputs and guidance on the project approaches to guide project implementation over the coming months and years.

Additionally, the workshop provided and discussed several recommendations to be implemented in the short to medium term while recognising that some actions will be implemented over the long term.