Challenges of Human Rights Literacy in Developing Countries: Lessons from South Africa and Bangladesh on Conducting Street Law for the School Students

Abstract

This article provides a comparative analysis of the experience, challenges and future prospects of Street Law programmes as conducted in two developing countries: South Africa and Bangladesh. The Street Law programmes in South Africa were initiated as a means towards developing democracy and an empowered society, while in Bangladesh, Protidiner Ain started as a law clinic aimed at introducing law students to social justice issues. Despite proving to be successful, the human rights literacy programmes in developing countries have faced tremendous challenges: starting from the basic question of finding to surviving under authoritarian government regimes. This article takes South Africa and Bangladesh as test cases and shows how the socio-political reality and economic problems in developing countries affect such programmes both positively and negatively. It also discusses the various stages Street Law went through before being established and recognized as a tool for social justice. The challenges faced by the two countries have also helped create some of the best practices for each other to be followed and further developed.