PROFILE

The Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Educational Trust traces its origins to a workshop that was held in 1988 in Nyanga Zimbabwe which brought scholars and activists from six countries of the Southern African Sub-Continent to discuss the legal situation of women in those countries. The countries were Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.


The question posed at the gathering was why were women experiencing problems in the areas in which the laws in these countries provide redress? Was it due to ignorance of the law, or attitudes of the people, or did the answer lie elsewhere?

This set the stage for action oriented research approach to the first two topics which were agreed to at the first meeting. These were Maintenance and Inheritance.


WLSA has evolved from a project to an organization over the years. It has grown from one core programme of action research to an organization with six programmes which include:-

• Action Research

• Information Dissemination and Documentation

• Legal Advice and Services

• Lobbying and Advocacy for Policy, Legal Reform and Change

• Networking

• Training and Education on Women’s Rights as Human Rights

 

CONSULTANCY

WLSA provides consultancy services at national and regional level in the following areas:-

WLSA has a pool Full-Time and Part-Time staff with qualifications and expertise in Law, Social Sciences and Education.