Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is an independent, non-profit organization established in 1979 by a group of activist lawyers in South Africa. With a commitment to using the law as a positive instrument for change, LHR provides free legal services to vulnerable, marginalized, and indigent individuals and communities, both South African and non-national, who have experienced unlawful infringements of their constitutional rights. The organization operates through law clinics and advice offices located in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Musina, and Durban, enabling it to identify and address strategic human rights issues across the country.
LHR's expertise spans six specialized programs: Refugee and Migrant Rights, Strategic Litigation, Penal Reform, Land and Housing, Environmental Rights, and Gender Equality. Each program is staffed by specialist legal practitioners and activists dedicated to promoting and enforcing human rights. The organization's holistic approach includes strategic litigation, advocacy, law reform, human rights education, and community mobilization, ensuring comprehensive support for the communities it serves.
Renowned for its impactful work, LHR has a 45-year track record of human rights activism and public interest litigation in South Africa. The organization measures its success not only by the number of court cases won but also by the tangible impact of those victories on the lives of those it serves. Through community-based outreach, advocacy, and rights education, LHR amplifies the effects of critical legal outcomes, fostering a culture of human rights and social justice throughout the nation.
