Access Chapter 2

Access Chapter 2 (AC2) is a South African human rights organisation whose name is drawn from Chapter 2 of the South African Constitution — the Bill of Rights. It was first registered as a Section 21 Non-Profit Company (NPC) under the Companies Act 2008, and later as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO). The organisation was initiated to promote the human rights and empowerment of women and girls and LGBTI+ people in all their diversities, to facilitate the participation of civil society organisations at local, national, regional and international levels, and to build solidarity across civil society and other sectors. AC2's work is organised around four strategic approaches: Direct Services, Advocacy, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), and Research. Through Direct Services it provides safe, equitable and integrated support services that uphold and empower dignity and rights. Through Advocacy it drives systems change via strategic litigation, policy reform and public engagement. Its MEL work tracks impact, adapts programming and ensures accountability to communities and partners, while its Research generates evidence and knowledge to challenge stigma, inform policy and strengthen advocacy. A central part of AC2's service delivery is the We Belong Centre, which ensures access to safe, equitable and integrated legal, health and psychosocial support services for LGBTQIA+ people, women and girls. The organisation describes its mission as advocating for access to justice, equitable public services, legal protection and the administrative recognition of all people, especially those who have been historically excluded, and it frames its work as challenging systemic barriers to dignity, fairness and inclusion. AC2 envisions a society where all people, especially women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, have equal access to human rights, protection and essential social services. It believes every person deserves to live in a community where dignity, safety and opportunity are guaranteed regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or social background, and it pursues this through collaboration with civil society organisations, policymakers and community partners. The organisation is led by Executive Director Ms Keneilwe Zulu.

Access Chapter 2 (AC2) takes its name from Chapter 2 of the South African Constitution, the Bill of Rights, reflecting its founding focus on constitutional rights and access to justice. The organisation was first registered as a Section 21 Non-Profit Company (NPC) under the Companies Act 2008, and later registered as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO). AC2 was initiated to promote the human rights and empowerment of women and girls and LGBTI+ people in all their diversities. From the outset it sought to facilitate the participation of civil society organisations at local, national, regional and international levels by creating space and coordinating platforms for engagement on governance, policy and accountability processes. It also aimed to develop innovative and active empowerment for transformation knowledge for community systems strengthening, and to build solidarity within civil society and other sectors. Over time AC2 developed a strategic approach organised around four pillars: Direct Services, Advocacy, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), and Research. Its Direct Services pillar provides safe, equitable and integrated support services that uphold and empower dignity and rights. Its Advocacy pillar drives systems change through strategic litigation, policy reform and public engagement. Its MEL pillar tracks impact, adapts the organisation's work and ensures accountability to communities and partners, while its Research pillar generates evidence and knowledge to challenge stigma, inform policy and strengthen advocacy. A significant development in AC2's service delivery was the establishment of the We Belong Centre, which ensures access to safe, equitable and integrated legal, health and psychosocial support services that uphold and empower the dignity and human rights of LGBTQIA+ people, women and girls. The organisation describes its work as challenging systemic barriers to ensure dignity, fairness and inclusion, and as advocating for access to justice, equitable public services, legal protection and the administrative recognition of all people, especially those who have been historically excluded. AC2 is led by Executive Director Ms Keneilwe Zulu, who is described as heading a South African organisation dedicated to the protection and advancement of the human rights of its target communities. The organisation continues to work in collaboration with civil society organisations, policymakers and community partners toward a future of equality in which all people, especially women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, have equal access to human rights, protection and essential social services.

• Registered as a Section 21 Non-Profit Company (NPC) under the Companies Act 2008

• Later registered as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO)

• Established the We Belong Centre for integrated legal, health and psychosocial support services

A South African human rights organisation advocating for access to justice, equitable public services, legal protection and administrative recognition for LGBTQIA+ people, women and girls.

• We Belong Centre

  Ensures access to safe, equitable and integrated legal, health and psychosocial support services that uphold and empower the dignity and human rights of LGBTQIA+ people, women and girls.

• Direct Services

  Safe, equitable and integrated support services that uphold and empower dignity and rights.

• Advocacy

  Drives systems change through strategic litigation, policy reform and public engagement.

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

  Tracks impact, adapts work and ensures accountability to communities and partners.

• Research

  Generates evidence and knowledge to challenge stigma, inform policy and strengthen advocacy.

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