About Us
mission
The Detention Justice Forum (DJF) is a civil-society membership organisation. Our mission is to ensure that the rights and well-being of those who are detained are respected and upheld, as enshrined under the South African Constitution, laws, and international human rights norms and standards.
our issues
We are non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, lawyers, academics, and individuals, with a shared interest in ensuring that the rights of detainees are upheld. Our membership includes organisations with varied individual focuses and degrees of engagement in the penal and broader detention and human-rights sectors. For example, member organisations’ foci span from direct service provision and (former and current) detainee support and empowerment, to advocacy and policy development. Our diversity brings complementary insights and experiences to the table.
our approach
While the Detention Justice Forum seeks to preserve a civil society space, we regularly seek government engagement and collaboration in furthering our shared goals around detainees’ rights, this includes the engagement of independent oversight bodies established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution and statutory watchdog bodies. We also seek to involve and foreground former and current detainee organisations and individuals, in our work and in developing our strategies.
In order to facilitate the sharing of confidential information, members organisations have the option of their membership being stated in the Forum’s explanatory and publicly-available information, or alternatively to participate anonymously.
JOIN US
To become a DJF member please fill in our membership form below.