The Eastern Cape is the birth place of many prominent South Africans who dedicated their lives to fighting for human rights, such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.

The 65 community advice offices (CAOs) in the province continue in their footsteps, making sure that people in marginalised communities have access to justice.

The Eastern Cape Advice Office Forum supports and promotes the work of these CAOs to maximise their developmental impact. They try to ensure the sustainability of these CAOs. In this way, the Forum aims to contribute to the transformation of the Eastern Cape Province.

The Eastern Cape faces extreme poverty in the former Transkei and Ciskei areas. The people in these areas have the greatest need to know their rights, but are not able to afford lawyers. CAOs offer legal help to them free of charge. They offer capacity building and information sharing activities.

The economy of the Eastern Cape depends largely on farming. The CAOs deal with many labour cases, relating to, for example, dismissals, employment equity, basic conditions of employment, etc. In addition, people often want advice on cases relating to consumer rights, HIV/AIDS, maintenance, social grants, abuse and domestic violence.

There are three universities in the Eastern Cape and CAOs partner with law clinics, such as the Rhodes University Law Clinic (RULAC), for case referrals, training, support and guidance. The Forum aims to develop standards, quality controls and procedures that ensure a uniform, high quality service to all CAO clients and communities.