The overall objectives of the action are to:

• empower two communities in Sinthumule-Kutama District, to know, understand, advocate for, and exercise their sexual, reproductive, gender, and related human rights, by choosing to use democratic processes instead of resorting to violence; and
• ensure local staff and representatives of the Departments of Health, Social Development, local Magistrates’ Court, National Prosecuting Authority, South African Police Service (SAPS) and teachers at local schools (collectively the "State Service Providers”) comply with their respective mandates and the South African Bill of Rights, to adequately provide the communities with the related services which are essential for the communities to be able to fully exercise their constitutionally protected sexual, reproductive and gender human rights.

The project implementation area is characterised by high levels of human rights violations, especially abuse of women and children’s sexual, reproductive and gender human rights. A recent study revealed that 77% of women in the Limpopo province have experienced Gender Based Violence.

To address this issue and achieve the project objectives, the methodology includes the establishment of Community Stakeholder Forums, Community Dialogues on the project themes above, empowering school learners through age appropriate materials, training and/or refresher training for State Service Providers, stakeholder dialogues between targeted community leaders and State Service Providers, and capacity building and mentoring of a local community based organisation that will help ensure sustainability of the project.

The project actions specifically target: women at risk of sexual and gender based violence and other human rights violation, farm labourers, migrant workers, youth, people lacking knowledge of their sexual, reproductive and gender rights and rights to related services.

Total Cost (EUR): 475 624

EU contracted amount (EUR): 449 624

Duration: February 2017 - January 2019

Implementing organisation: MARGARET PYKE TRUST WITH THE POPULATION AND SUSTAINABILITY NETWORK

Funding Instrument: European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

Benefitting zone: South Africa