Mapping for Justice - customary rights battle within South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site

The film ‘Mapping for Justice’ shows how the Hub together with its partners in South Africa has been supporting the people of Kosi Bay to claim recognition of their customary rights in the context of the iSimangaliso UNESCO World Heritage Site. Research co-produced by the Hub and the local community highlights poor participation, and lack of recognition of Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural heritage related to coastal land as human rights issues arise from the exclusionary nature of conservation and ocean governance processes and practices at local, national and international levels.

“The film highlights how the community calls for the recognition of customary rights in ocean and conservation governance, and appeals to decision-makers at local, national and international levels to address the exclusion of local and indigenous knowledge and rights in ocean and conservation governance”, Hub Deputy Director Philile Mbatha says.

Warm thanks to the Kosi Bay community for helping to make this film.

Director, Cinematographer, Drone & Edit: Nessim Stevenson
Cinematography: Fanny Lindström
Executive Producer: Laura Meriläinen
Produced by: Kogia & What Took You So Long?