Dear CFJ Supporter,
 

At Cause for Justice, we believe in the vision of a South Africa where every person's legitimate/constitutional rights and freedoms, values and interests are respected and protected. We all have a part to play in creating such a society.

Here at the start of 2022, we look back at the 2021 year, where we worked diligently to:

• Uphold family values and the best interests of your children;

• Defend the dignity of, and right to life, of all members of the human family;

• Ensure we can continue to freely and responsibly exercise our faith without fear, and express conscientious views, beliefs and opinions in the public interest; and

• Keep our children safe from the effects of harmful explicit content.

In challenging times such as these it is easy to grow despondent – yet, Cause for Justice remains resolute in our commitment to our vision of a South African society where constitutional/true justice triumphs. For 2022, we say ‘YES’ to the call to stand up and speak out in the cause for justice!

Near the end of 2021, Cause for Justice hosted a Values-based Sexuality Education Expo to make parents, teachers and child protection stakeholders aware of:

• The ideological prejudices implicit in the Department of Basic Education’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) scripted lesson plans.

• The availability of values-based sexuality education programmes that can be used as alternatives to the CSE in the classroom.

• How values-based sexuality education materials can be practically at individual school levels.

The Expo concluded with a presentation by Cause for Justice Executive Director and Legal Counsel, Ryan Smit, on -

• the ineffectiveness of CSE,
• why the state-sponsored CSE scripted lesson plans are not compulsory, and
• what strategies are available for those who do not want to make use of the CSE scripted lesson plans in the classroom.

Want to learn more about what you can do to ensure your child is protected from controversial and harmful ideological content? Read our Values-based Sexuality Education Expo blog.

16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children 

We focussed our 2021 ‘16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children’ campaign (running annually from 25 November to 10 December) on the importance of raising our children with values that say loud and clear: NO to all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation! Preventing and eradicating violence against women and children starts at home. Teaching our children healthy values about sex, relationships and the best interests of children, is the first line of defence against all forms of violence and abuse. To learn more, read our 16 Days of Activism blog.

Voice of the Unborn Baby - Court Case

In November 2021, Cause for Justice, participated in the Constitutional Court case of the Voice of the Unborn Baby v Minister of Home Affairs. We presented legal arguments and led evidence, emphasising that the value of human dignity entails that all human beings, including unborn human children, have inherent worth by virtue of their membership of the human family and ought to be treated with respect and dignity by society. Our legal counsel submitted that we are all demeaned if parents are denied the choice to bury their deceased baby, and if human children are disposed of as medical waste against their parents’ wishes. To learn more, read our Voice of the Unborn Baby press release.

South African Marriage Law Reform

During 2021, Cause for Justice participated in two major South African marriage law reform processes: the Department of Home Affairs’ Green Paper on Marriage and the South African Law Reform Commission Project 144: Single Marriage Statute. To ensure the accommodation and promotion of diversity, we contended for minimum state interference in marriage and recognition and protection of marriage based on sound public policy considerations. Importantly, this approach will also prevent religious persons from being forced to participate in practices that violate their sincerely held beliefs. To learn more, read the 'marriage law reform' section of our Fundamental Freedoms blog.

#ParentTalk: the Unspoken Epidemic of Pornography and Children

Due to Covid-19 lock down restrictions, children have been spending more and more time online, both for educational and recreational purposes. This has exacerbated another global, yet ‘unspoken’ epidemic: Children and Pornography. The reality is that children have never before faced a greater risk of being exposed to pornography and of  being affected by its severely harmful impact. 

That is why the Centre Against Sexual Exploitation, South Africa (CASE-SA) has launched the virtual #ParentTalk course: To educate and empower parents to raise children who are resilient to pornography. There is hope – we can protect and prepare our children appropriately in this digital age!

* CASE-SA is an initiative of Cause for Justice

Family – Parents and Children 

At Cause for Justice, we recognise that a stable family unit is the cornerstone of flourishing communities and of society at large. We also affirm the collective responsibility for the social welfare and security of all people, especially the most vulnerable in society. During 2021, we took action to protect and promote the constitutional rights, freedoms and best interests of families, parents and children.

In addition to successfully hosting the Values-based Sexuality Education Expo, we raised awareness about the ineffective and harmful impact of CSE, and how ending gender-based violence starts at home. We also participated in child protection law-and-policy reform, and equipped caregivers to protect their children from the destructive effects of pornography exposure.

Want to learn more about what Cause for Justice is doing to protect the family from destructive inside and outside forces? Read our latest Families blog.

Life and Human Dignity

One of our core focus areas is contending for the recognition of the inherent worth of all human beings – no matter age or disability, no matter before or after birth. In line with the South African Constitution, we believe that each human life is valuable, and worthy of being treated with equal dignity and respect by the law.

This year, we were a voice for unborn babies in the Constitutional Court. We continue to oppose the drive to legalise euthanasia, defend the rights of persons with disabilities to enjoy equal benefit and protection of the law, and keep track of international developments in the movement to advance the sanctity of human life.

Want to learn more? Read our latest Life and Human Dignity blog.

Fundamental Freedoms 

The responsible exercise and enjoyment of constitutional freedoms – such as freedom of religion, freedom of expression and freedom of association – is one of our core values, and also a cornerstone of our constitutional democracy.

In 2021, Cause for Justice focused on -

• defending marriage from unwarranted state interference and regulation, 
• opposing unfounded and vexatious hate speech prosecution, 
• keeping South African law from becoming a vehicle for unfair discrimination, and
• defending our rights to freely and responsibly express and live according to our views about the nature of human existence and human flourishing.

We remain committed to being a voice of reason in the public square and ensuring we will not be forced into affirming controversial or ideological beliefs we do not agree with.

Want to learn more about what Cause for Justice is doing to defend your rights and freedoms from public and private infringement? Read our latest Fundamental Freedoms blog.

CASE-SA – Defending Human Dignity and Eradicating Sexual Exploitation

We at the Centre Against Sexual Exploitation, South Africa (CASE-SA) believe that we can create a society free of pornography and sexual exploitation, where everyone’s inherent dignity is respected and protected.

In 2021, we continued our quest to advance the movement to #EndSexploitation in South Africa, which included -

• launching our new virtual #ParentTalk course
• equipping parents and teachers to ‘porn-proof’ homes and schools and
• raising awareness about standing up against gender-based violence.

Do you want to see the end of all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and violence? Please consider supporting CASE-SA. Together we can #EndSexploitation in South Africa!

Want to learn more about how the Centre Against Sexual Exploitation, South Africa is educating and empowering South Africans to eradicate sexual exploitation? Read our latest CASE-SA Newsletter.

#ParentTalk: The Unspoken Epidemic of Children and Pornography

We have two exciting #ParentTalk engagements coming up early in 2022:

• In January, we will be giving a presentation on the virtual #ParentTalk course to the steering committee of the Drakenstein Child Protection Forum. 

• In February, #ParentTalk will be presented as part of an eight-week ‘grow group’ course in collaboration with a local faith community.  

Euthanasia (Court Case) – High Court

The Euthanasia court case will take place in the Johannesburg High Court from 3 May 2022, and is expected to last for four to six weeks in total. The Court is being asked to decide whether physician-assisted suicide and physician assisted euthanasia should be legalised in South Africa.

The Voice of the Unborn Baby (Court Case) – Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court heard the Voice of the Unborn Baby case - which, in essence, concerns the value of unborn human life - on 4 November 2021. We expect the Court to deliver its judgment sometime during the first quarter of 2022. 
 

Never miss out on important news and events!

• 4 Nov: Smile FM talks to Cause for Justice about the Voice of the Unborn Baby court case on The Honest Truth (radio interview)

• 4 Nov: ConCourt considers dignity of unborn human life (Gateway News article)

• 3 Nov: Radio Helderberg talks to Cause for Justice about the Voice of the Unborn Baby court case (radio interview)

• 1 Nov: Radio Kaapse Kansel gesels met Cause for Justice oor die Voice of the Unborn Baby hofsaak op Lééf! (radio interview – Afrikaans)

• 29 Oct: Kingfisher FM talks to Cause for Justice about the Voice of the Unborn Baby court case (Part 2) (radio interview)

• 22 Oct: Kingfisher FM talks to Cause for Justice about the Voice of the Unborn Baby court case (Part 1) (radio interview)

• 18 Oct: Radio Pulpit talks to Cause for Justice about the Voice of the Unborn Baby court case on Good News Time (radio interview)

• 16 Oct: Grondwethof hoor gou saak oor reg om die babas te begrawe (Maroela Media article - Afrikaans)

• 16 Oct: Saak oor regte rondom fetus eersdaags in Grondwethof (Netwerk24 article - Afrikaans)

• 15 Oct: Constitutional Court asked to acknowledge the humanity of unborn babies (Gateway News article)

• 8 Oct: Kingfisher FM speaks to Cause for Justice about the Department of Basic Education’s controversial Comprehensive Sexuality Education in schools (radio interview)

• 4 Oct: The need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education ‘greater than ever’, but detractors remain concerned (Parent24 article)

At Cause for Justice, we are committed – and work diligently – to protect and advance the rights, freedoms and interests that matter most to you and your loved ones. The reality is, in these challenging times, we need your support more than ever!

Every financial contribution (monthly or once-off), no matter how big or small the amount, matters and makes a huge difference to enable us to keep working in the cause for justice!

A sincere thank you to every person and entity who already support our vision and mission.


Yours in Justice,

Ryan and the CFJ Team

HOW YOU CAN HELP

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