Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Services
Our practice offers a range of free legal services to individuals, non-profit organisations and other entities engaged in human rights or public interest work. These services include:
- Advice and litigation services for vulnerable individuals.
- Public interest litigation.
- Education on the South African legal system.
- Constitutional law.
- Refugee law.
For any pro bono enquiries email us on CDHProBonoEnquiries@cdhlegal.com
One of the ways CDH demonstrates our commitment to the transformation of our society is through our dedicated Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice. We provide pro bono representation of the highest standard to deserving individuals, communities, NGOs, and other organisations that promote human rights or the public interest.
This video highlights some of the cases and initiatives we have chosen to focus on in our newsletter which reflects some of the best of our year’s work. We hope you enjoy reflecting on our 2023 journey as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Click here to read more in our newsletter.
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Brochures
Pro Bono & Humans Rights Newsletter
Services
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Services
Our practice offers a range of free legal services to individuals, non-profit organisations and other entities engaged in human rights or public interest work. These services include:
- Advice and litigation services for vulnerable individuals.
- Public interest litigation.
- Education on the South African legal system.
- Constitutional law.
- Refugee law.
For any pro bono enquiries email us on CDHProBonoEnquiries@cdhlegal.com
Video
One of the ways CDH demonstrates our commitment to the transformation of our society is through our dedicated Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice. We provide pro bono representation of the highest standard to deserving individuals, communities, NGOs, and other organisations that promote human rights or the public interest.
This video highlights some of the cases and initiatives we have chosen to focus on in our newsletter which reflects some of the best of our year’s work. We hope you enjoy reflecting on our 2023 journey as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Click here to read more in our newsletter.
Brochures
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Brochures
Guidelines
Newsletters
Pro Bono & Humans Rights Newsletter
Pro Bono & Human Rights Lawyers
Our team has specialist expertise in the fields of constitutional and public law, migrant rights, access to information and a growing specialty in women’s rights.
Our Pro Bono & Human Rights LawyersPRACTICE HEAD
Pro Bono & Human Rights News
More newsThe National Register for Sex Offenders: Nowhere left to hide
On 18 November 2024 the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) released and handed over to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) a groundbreaking national study on gender-based violence (GBV), which revealed the extent of the crisis that continues to devastate individuals and communities across our country. It showed, among other things, that 33,1% of women in South Africa aged 18 years and older had experienced physical violence in their lifetime – which translates to an estimated 7,310,389 women – and that 9,9% of women had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, which translates to 2,150,342 women across thecountry.
Justice and Public Interest on the Mic - Pro Bono Matters in the CDH Kenya office
Since 2013, CDH's Pro Bono & Human Rights practice (Pro Bono practice) has been at the heart of our firm's commitment to making a real difference. Over the past decade, our Pro Bono practice has passionately championed the cause of public interest, providing pro bono legal support to clients in need. The decision to establish a dedicated practice was motivated by our belief in giving back to the communities in which we operate and in the power of the legal profession to spark positive change.
Unlocking citizenship: Overcoming irregular birth certificates
Nearly a decade after the coming into effect of various amendments to the South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 (Citizenship Act), which included a new ground of citizenship through the insertion of section 4(3) the Department of Home Affairs (Department) continues to impose arbitrary requirements that create unnecessary barriers to deserving applicants seeking to enforce their right to citizenship under section 4(3) of the act. This pattern of deprivation not only violates the clear provisions set forth in the Citizenship Act, but also effectively undermines the rule of law by denying individuals their legitimate rights entrenched in our Constitution, 1996. It raises serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the implementation of the legal framework governing citizenship.
Market recognition
Our Pro Bono & Human Rights team is externally praised for its depth of resources, capabilities and experience.
- Chambers Global 2021–2024 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 3.
- In 2020 and 2021 the Practice won Best Large Firm Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards.
- In 2017, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice won the Refugee Law Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards. The Practice also received a certificate in recognition of its contribution to the production of a Judicial Review Guide for Refugees as part of ProBono.Org’s launch of its Practitioners Guides to Refugee Law Project.
- In 2017, CDH won a Law Society Award for its outstanding pro bono contribution.
- In 2015, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice was shortlisted for the award for the most impactful case at the 2015 ProBono.Org awards for its contribution to the SAHA/R2K National Key Points matter.
- In 2012, CDH was awarded the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Cheetah Award in recognition of its special contribution to achieving the vision of EWT.
Market recognition
Our Pro Bono & Human Rights team is externally praised for its depth of resources, capabilities and experience.
- Chambers Global 2021–2024 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 3.
- In 2020 and 2021 the Practice won Best Large Firm Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards.
- In 2017, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice won the Refugee Law Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards. The Practice also received a certificate in recognition of its contribution to the production of a Judicial Review Guide for Refugees as part of ProBono.Org’s launch of its Practitioners Guides to Refugee Law Project.
- In 2017, CDH won a Law Society Award for its outstanding pro bono contribution.
- In 2015, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice was shortlisted for the award for the most impactful case at the 2015 ProBono.Org awards for its contribution to the SAHA/R2K National Key Points matter.
- In 2012, CDH was awarded the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Cheetah Award in recognition of its special contribution to achieving the vision of EWT.