Mpophomeni Gender and Paralegal Office (MGPO)

About Us

The Mpophomeni Gender and Paralegal Office (MGPO) is a community-based organisation located in Mpophomeni Township, uMngeni local municipality. Established in 2005, MGPO provides comprehensive legal education on human rights and GBV through training, community dialogues, and awareness campaigns, while also offering support and follow-up services for GBV and human rights violation cases. The collaboration between MGPO and Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) has facilitated a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing the multipart challenges faced by women and girls in Mpophomeni areas, eventually contributing to a more just and impartial society.

The organisation’s mission is to promote gender equality, human rights, and social cohesion through advocacy, education, and support services. Our ultimate goal is to create a safe and just environment where everyone, especially women, children, and marginalised groups, can live free from fear of violence, victimization, and exploitation. 

Key Focus Area

The key focus areas of the Mpophomeni Gender and Paralegal Office (MGPO) are:

• To educate indigent people and their communities about GBV and human rights
• To advocate and lobby for integrated social intervention and response towards preventing violence against women, girls and the community at large.
• Strengthening a well-coordinated and integrated multi-sectoral response to GBV, including setting of referral network and collaboration with community.
• Providing the GBV activation stations from every part of Mpophomeni area.
• Providing basic legal advice and establishing of special counselling services. Legal and provide dedicated and responsive needs driven services to survivors of GBV.
• Strengthening of psychosocial support to help GBV victim and survivors to regain their self-esteem, overcome trauma and re-build their lives.
• To build the capacity within communities to develop non-formal responses to survivors of GBV aligned with the principle and processes of an integrated system.
• MGPO support rehabilitation of GBV perpetrator and re-integration in the community to reduce repeat offenses.

Mpophomeni Gender and Paralegal Office (MGPO) remains committed to promoting human rights, gender equality, and accessible justice. Through comprehensive services, advocacy, and community-driven initiatives, MGPO aims to uplift vulnerable communities, address root causes of violence, and foster sustainable change, envisioning a future with social cohesion, human dignity, and equitable access to justice.

Impact and Achievements 

Mpophomeni Gender and Paralegal Office has made significant strides in advancing human rights and addressing gender-based violence GBV since its inception in 2007. The organisation’s impact is evident through its comprehensive legal empowerment programmes that have empowered indigent individuals, particularly women, children, and marginalised groups, with knowledge of their legal rights and access to justice. MGPO has successfully conducted numerous training workshops, public education campaigns, and community dialogues, reaching thousands of individuals and raising awareness about GBV, human rights, and legal processes. By building referral networks and fostering multi-sectoral partnerships with local government and civil society organisations, MGPO has strengthened the support system for survivors, improved access to trauma counselling and psycho-social support, and advocated for legal reforms. 

Increased reporting of GBV cases, greater community engagement in prevention strategies, and a visible reduction in victim-blaming attitudes are among the key achievements. MGPO’s advocacy has also contributed to enhanced cooperation among stakeholders, promoting a holistic, rights-based approach to combatting GBV and fostering a culture of respect, equality, and justice.