Human Rights & Reconciliation Delivering on Democracy

With Rights and Protections For All

South Africa | 1994 - 2015

Following the end of South Africa’s oppressive apartheid policies, Atlantic helped the nation make a transition to democracy. It focused on:

Supporting activists working to ensure the country lived up to the rights and protections promised in the country’s new Constitution. Adopted in 1996, the Constitution was hailed as the most progressive of any democracy in the world.
Helping the country preserve and tell the history of the struggles to end apartheid. Collecting, sharing and openly discussing painful events from the past can contribute significantly to achieving long‐lasting reconciliation.

Watch: South Africa's Journey to Democracy: Reflections by Albie Sachs

Creating a Future Filled With Freedom and Possibilities

Here are some of the ways Atlantic grantees focused on creating a new society based on democratic values.

Winning the Right to Say “I Do”

Litigation initiated by the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project led to a Constitutional Court ruling in favor of gay marriage.

Preserving the Record

To preserve the findings of the largest survey of human rights violations in history, Atlantic funded Traces of Truth, a non-commercial digital archive of the materials from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Pressing Their Case

The South African National Editors Forum and the Right2Know Campaign pressured the government to abandon plan for a Media Appeals Tribunal, which would have compromised the independence of the press.