Deputy President Baleka Mbete launched an initiative aimed at giving rural communities access to legal services in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

"The majority of our people are poor, live in rural areas, and are most vulnerable to gross violations of their rights on a daily basis," said Mbete.

"To give meaning to our constitution, we must endeavour to see South Africans being educated about their constitutional rights and responsibilities which are meant to inform and protect them".

The joint initiative between the justice ministry and the European Union was launched on International Human Rights Day at Orange Farm.

It is called the "Access to Justice and Promotion of Constitutional Rights programme".

EU ambassador Amb Lodewijk Briet said a number of goals were contained in the programme and needed to be achieved by 2011.

These included "that the poorest communities will have easy access to legal advice" and "that equality courts competent to address unfair discriminations will have been set up in all provinces.

"The European Union is hoping to support the South African government in its efforts to reach out to the most vulnerable and ultimately to help promote a better society in which all people can fully enjoy their rights," he said.