A participant at an outreach meeting on socio-economic rights in Binga: “I want to thank you for organising this meeting today. It has been an eye opener. I am certain I speak for everyone when I say all along our rights were being violated but we didn’t know it because we were not aware that we had these rights in the first place. Now that we know our rights we will start demanding them.” “I now know that I have the right to know why I am being arrested and I should not stay in holding cells for more than 48 hours.” A resident of Mbudzi village: “Now we know that we are allowed to question all decisions that are made by community leaders.” One-Day Community Leaders’ Workshops Community leaders have the crucial role of defending the rights of people and are also role models who can influence positive social change in their respective communities. Enhancing their legal knowledge capacitates them with the skills of protecting and promoting legal and human rights in their communities, discharg- Paralegal Bernard Kafesu (Kwekwe) discussing inheritance at Vulamachena Pry School ing their duties more efficiently and professionally. The community leaders were drawn from traditional leaders, councillors, business and church leaders, women groups’ leaders, village health workers, VIDCO chairpersons and school development committee members. Post-training evaluations demonstrated evidence of empowered communities, with vulnerable people showing increased confidence to seek legal assistance, challenge social injustices and hold leaders and duty bearers accountable for their actions, thereby contributing to social justice and community solidarity. Leaders have also increasingly referred people to the LRF for legal assistance. Workshops Rural Urban Female Male Female Male Bulawayo 62 663 406 886 532 Gweru 31 1,074 1,044 Harare 79 1,268 1,072 993 416 Masvingo 72 1,315 2,010 19 20 Mutare 43 706 545 203 165 Total 287 5,026 5,077 2,101 1,133 12 Legal Resources Foundation Annual Report 2015 Total 2,487 2,118 3,749 3,364 1,619 13,337