The book begins with general sections on the background to the book, the genesis of the
Street Law and other public legal education programmes in the United States and South
Africa and their influence on other countries, as well as interactive teaching methods,
before the contributions by individual countries are included. The country contributions
usually begin with a brief introduction to the country and the context within which the
Street Law, community outreach or legal literacy program was or will be introduced,
during which presenters (a) identify the problems the program was aiming to solve; (b)
the objectives of the program; (c) the target audience of the program; (d) the methodology
used; (e) the challenges faced or to be faced in implementing the program; and (f) the
results of the program in terms of its impact or how it will be evaluated if it is not yet
operative. Thereafter, an example of a best practice lesson or lessons from the country is
given.
It is hoped, as stated in the 'Foreword' by South African Human Rights Commissioner,
Mohamed Shafie Ameermia, that:
The book can play an important role in promoting human rights across the
world... [T]his Street law public legal education international best practices
compendium has the potential to become a cornerstone for global human rights
education programs to complement existing works on the topic. It can make a
major contribution towards ensuring that the ethos and values of hard-fought
fundamental rights and freedoms, internationally and nationally, are forever
cherished, advanced and respected.
