New York—The Open Society Foundations announced today the formation of a new $330,000 fund to support human rights defenders in South Africa, who in recent years have faced a steady increase in harassment, intimidation, and violence. Over three years, the fund—known as The South African Human Rights Defenders Fund—will support advocates working on land, housing, and environmental rights, with a special emphasis on aiding women advocates who face threats and violence.

Over three days, we were joined by over 200 grantees, donors, the Open Society Foundation network, staff and board members including the Soros family.

Following the March 2019 workshop on People Power: Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment hosted by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA), we invite proposals and innovative project ideas from organisations that would like to develop, and lead national and international advocacy efforts designed to promote the statutory recognition, regulation and the provision of public funding for community justice services in South Africa.