the san hodia project

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Over the last few years, Protimos has established a project partnership with the South African lawyer Roger Chennells (who has been representing the San for over fifteen years), and a number of the NGOs which represent the San peoples. We have also carried out introductory workshops with these representatives, ensuring the communities are aware of legal issues and processes.

We are creating a legal team which will work with our project partners, and negotiate and litigate on behalf of the Hoodia Trust. This team will ensure the complete implementation of the Hoodia agreements, and the prosecution of those who sell Hoodia unlawfully. Money awarded to the San will enable them to create their own schemes for poverty reduction, and provide sufficient security for the creation of long-term plans for the protection and growth of their communities.

The legal team will lead workshops with San representatives surrounding their IP, ensuring that they develop the capacity to use the law for themselves to protect other aspects of their IP, currently exploited by a range of individuals and companies who do not acknowledge San IP ownership either appropriately or at all.