Bertha Foundation
 Bertha Foundation(Foundation, Philanthropy)    | |
|---|---|
| Founder | •  Tony Tabatznik |
The Bertha Foundation is a South African grantmaking organisation that funds activism, legal services, and documentary films.[1] It was co-founded in late 2009 by Tony Tabatznik, a South African billionaire, filmmaker, and former CEO of the pharmaceutical manufacturer Arrow Generics.
Earlier in 2009, Tabatznik sold Arrow Generics to US firm Watson Pharmaceuticals for $1.75 billion.[2]
Contents
Activities
Bertha Challenge
The Bertha Foundation runs the “Bertha Challenge,” a fellowship that sponsors the projects of activists and investigative journalists. Events for the “Bertha Challenge” are hosted at the “Bertha retreat” in Franschhoek Valley, South Africa, and the “Bertha house” in Cape Town.[3]
Watershed Center
The Bertha Foundation is partnered with the Watershed Center, a group that began after the decline of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The Watershed Center holds events in partnership with the Bertha Foundation that host left-0f-center groups and activists. These events have included notable groups and people such as Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans, LeftRoots, Make the Road New York, The Working World, and UndocuBlack Network.[4]
Justice Initiative
The group runs the Bertha Justice Initiative, which focuses on advancing accountability for governments and corporations around the world.
Fellows Program
The initiative sponsors aspiring lawyers through the Bertha Justice Fellows Program.
Justice Partners
Included in this initiative is the Bertha Justice Partners, a coalition of law centers scattered around over 20 countries including:
- Bureau De Avocats International;
- Center for Constitutional Rights;
- Centre for Applied Legal Studies;
- Centro De Estudios Legales y Sociales;
- Colectivo de Abogados Jose Alvear Restrepo;
- Earthrights International;
- Equal Educational Law Centre;
- European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights;
- Foundation for Fundamental Rights
- Hungarian Civil Liberties Union;
- Institute for Justice and Democracy In Haiti;
- Legal Resources Centre;
- Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat;
- Michael Sfard Law Office;
- Palestinian Centre for Human Rights;
- Proyecto De Derechos Economicos, Sociales, y Culturales A.C.;
- Reprieve;
- Socio Economic Rights Institute of South Africa; and
- Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association.[5]
