Watch presentations on various aspects of the law made during these workshops:

1. Presentation on torture (SiSwati)

2. Presentation on private prosecution (SiSwati)

3. Presentation on presumption of innocence (SiSwati)

4. JusticeMakers work in Swaziland (English)

5. JusticeMakers Work2 (English)

Workshops conducted under the Justice in Customary Courts Project

To date, there have been more than 10 workshops under our JusticeMakers Project, theme 'Justice in Customary Courts'. Although the project is still ongoing (up to December 2009), the JusticeMakers team has so far made the following observations:

      Community police are generally untrained. As such they lack proper comprehension of what their role in fighting crime is.

      There is a general feeling that torture is the only solution to obtaining a confession from a suspect.

      Torture is amongst a majority of community police viewed as a form of deterrence.

      There is a general understanding that the use of torture is illegal and therefore unacceptable. Hence during workshops, discussions around torture were the hardest to handle.

      There is a general misunderstanding of the role of community police vis-a-vis other law enforcement agents.

Below are highlights from our training sessions with community police:

Above: Dube stressing a point on torture at Ngelane, south of Swaziland.

Above: CHR Intern, Sibusiso Nhlabatsi assisting a group of community police at Matsanjeni, south of Swaziland during a break-away session.

Above: A portion of attendees at a publicity-cum-experience sharing dinner. From left: Knowledge Manana, Ndumiso Mthethwa (both local attorneys), Andile Mpanza, Buhle Dube, Clement Dlamini (attorney), Ishmael Ndwandwe, and the CHR interns. This was after an event attended by CHR personnel, law students, local attorneys and other individuals interested in human rights to raise awareness about the project, Justice in Customary Courts.

Above: Community police leader Mr Magagula (centre) with his team after the Ngwenya workshop.

Above: Getting refreshments after a training session at Somntongo (Lavumisa).

Above: Advocates International's Bayo Akinlade (Esq) receiving a token of appreciation from CHR Director after a two-day weekend away full of workshops. Mr Akinlade assisted with transportation during the outreach.

Above: Attendees at the conclusion of a workshop at Makhonza, near Nhlangano.