The Communities and Justice Programme (CJP) is an initiative of the SSAF in collaboration with other partners in the South African criminal justice system. The participating partners include:
•    The Gauteng Department of Education
•    The South African Police Service
•    Various Traffic Police Authorities
•    Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
•    Magistrates and other Judicial Officers of various Magistrates Courts
•    The National Prosecuting Authority
•    Correctional Services
The CJP is intended to assist learners to acquire basic information on the functioning of the South African Criminal Justice System. SSAF believes that such basic information will help them to have an understanding of the legal framework and policies which regulate the various law enforcement practitioners in the execution of their duties. This in turn helps them understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals as they interact with the law enforcement agents.
The Commission supports this initiative as it bolsters its Constitutional mandate - as set out in Section 184 of the Constitution - by harnessing the efforts of civil society, government, schools and communities for purposes of promoting human rights awareness which in turn results in the protection of human rights whilst ensuring the monitoring of the attainment of these rights within communities.
The first and most direct interaction with the State, for many ordinary people within South Africa, is often through law enforcement agents. Crime also infringes on rights such as dignity, equality, freedom and security of the person and many other rights contained within   the Bill of Rights.   

ENDS
Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission

Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.