Source: (Hoffman and Bentes 2008)(Hoffman and Bentes 2008)Hoffman, Florian, and Fernando R. N. M. Bentes. 2008. "Accountability for Social and Economic Rights in Brazil." In _Courting Social Justice: Judicial Enforcement of Social and Economic Rights in the Developing World_ , ed. Varun Gauri and Daniel M. Brinks. New York: Cambridge University Press.

# **V. The demand side**

In general, low levels of literacy and political/social marginalization mean that many individuals, including ethnic minorities, will not take advantage of redress procedures even where they are well designed.<sup>75</sup> It is important to stimulate demand. Measures to stimulate demand can include explicit financial support (or just a supportive legal environment) for NGOs/CSOs, granting access to independent media, and publicizing extant redress procedures.

# **_NGOs/CSOs_**

A basic problem with redress is that many people do not feel entitled to the services they receive. Basic service delivery is, in these circumstances, understood to be a favor of the patrón, a dispensation from a Big Man, or charity from the upper classes, rather than an entitlement. In other words, there has not occurred that transformation of outlook in which, as Hannah Pitkin puts it, ―I want‖ has become ―I am entitled to.‖<sup>76</sup> This transformation occurs more often, of course, after a certain threshold of human development and democratic freedom are achieved; still, many individuals in high- and middle-income countries do not access redress procedures even when they are available. Often, civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations can raise rights consciousness, sponsor and initiate access to a redress procedure, or make a claim for collective redress that brings together resigned, fatalistic clients with those who are more motivated and entitled.

A variety of NGOs and CSOs have played this role. Some have had international links whereas others have been domestic. Some have focused on direct legal strategies themselves, such as the Legal Resources Centre in South Africa, mentioned above, while others have focused on consciousness raising and building a sense of entitlement, such as Samata and Nijera Kori in Bangladesh. Some are state-sponsored entities, such as the conselhos da saúde and other ―instâncias de controle social‖ in Brazil, while others have little connection to governments. It is difficult to generalize about the role of NGOs and CSOs in stimulating and organizing demand for redress. The main policy to support this form of demand stimulation would be to establish a facilitative legal, financial, and political environment for organizations that can play such roles.<sup>77</sup> One of the crucial roles that NGOs can play, with respect to demand for redress procedures, is the direct provision of legal and quasi-legal support to marginalized individuals and groups. As the World Development Report 2000 noted:

> 75 ―Rights, Responsibilities and Social Protection. The Dynamics of Supply and Demand: An Issues Paper,‖ Julie Gaunt and Naila Kabeer, 1.

> 76 Hannah Pitkin. 1981. Justice: On Relating Public and Private. _Political Theory_ 9:327-352.

> 77 For information on tax policies, registration, funding, and other policies that are supportive of NGOs/CSOs, see issues of the _International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law_ : http://www.icnl.org/knowledge/ijnl/index.htm

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