Human Rights - South Africa
Women's rights
In South Africa, promoting women’s rights is the number one priority of our human rights policy. We aim to achieve gender equality along two mutually reinforcing tracks: eliminating violence against women and promoting economic empowerment.
When women get the opportunity to become financially independent, they become socially independent too and therefore less prone to domestic violence. This is the core vision of organizations like Rhiza Babuyile, that provides women entrepreneurs in several townships with coaching and a start-up capital. In Cape Town Mhani Gingi has set up a soap factory in a shelter for abused women, where the women can find work and receive entrepreneurship training.
LGBTI rights
To those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, let me say, you are not alone. Your struggle for an end to violence and discrimination is a shared struggle. Any attack on you, is an attack on the universal values the United Nations and I have sworn to defend and uphold.’
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
The Netherlands was the first country in the world to introduce same-sex marriage (2001). In 2006, South Africa was the first African country and the fourth country in the world to follow.
The Netherlands works together with South African organisations in promoting equal rights for and eliminating violence against LGBTI people in Africa. Our main partner in this regard is the Centre for Human Rights (CHR).
The Netherlands has supported the establishment of the LGBTI-unit at the Centre for Human Rights, where CHR provides training for LGBTI organisations and civil servants from Africa. The programme also allocates scholarships to LGBTI activists from Africa. It has a strong multilateral component: it is actively involved in lobby work at both the UN and the AU; and assists other African LGBTI organisations to access these institutions.
Peace and Justice
‘Let this, however, be clear: there is no place in a democracy for any community to impose its will at the expense of the fundamental rights of any other citizen.’
Nelson Mandela, first democratic president of South Africa
Without the promotion of human rights, there can be no true democracy or a just rule of law. Therefore, we support projects that sustain South Africa as a just and peaceful society in various ways, including the promotion of socio-economic rights.
A good example of this is YouthZones, a project that creates safe spaces for the youth in low-income communities, where youth and children can play freely, learn IT-skills and get assistance in developing their businesses.
Human Rights Tulip
The Dutch government also organizes The Human Rights Tulip, an annual prize for people that advance human rights. For more information, see: https://www.government.nl/topics/human-rights/human-rights-tulip.
To get more information on the overall Dutch human rights policy, visit the website: https://www.government.nl/topics/human-rights or see the document attached below ‘Justice and Respect for All’.
Applications
Please contact the embassy if you would like to apply for funding or discuss collaboration. Space for new partnerships is unfortunately very limited.
Documents
Guideline Proposals Human Rights Fund
PDF document | 3 pages | 178 kB
22-03-2017