Denmark / Kongeriget Danmark
The earliest anti-apartheid activities were taken by the Nordic trade unions involved in a boycott action against South Africa in 1960. The Danish government took a very active stand against apartheid and established the ‘Apartheid Appropriation’ in 1963, a humanitarian budget that channelled all official Danish support to Southern Africa through NGOs. In 1986 the Danish parliament passed unilateral trade sanctions against South Africa, the first country in the world to do so.
Anti-Apartheid Organisations/People
Country Committee for South Africa Action / Landskomiteen Sydafrika-Aktion (LSA)
The Country Committee for South Africa Action (LSA) was formed in 1978 by several organisations and political parties. It was one of the first organisations to co-ordinate campaigns at the local level. It organised several information campaigns involving speaking tours of ANC members as well as cultural events.
The Labour Movement Library and Archive holds the complete archive of the organisation.
South Africa Committee Copenhagen / Sydafrikakomiteen i København (SAKK)
The SAKK was one of the many local committees affiliated with the Country Committee. It operated from approximately 1984 till 1993. It was very active in the Boycott Shell Campaign.
The Labour Movement Library and Archive holds the complete archive of the organisation and it covers the period 1984-1991.
South Africa Contact / Sydafrika Kontakt (SK)
South Africa Contact was founded in 1978 by several political parties, trade unions and other organisations to work against colonialism and oppression in Southern Africa. After the liberation of Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe it concentrated its activities towards establishing an economic and cultural boycott of South Africa.
The Labour Movement Library and Archive holds some of their archive covering the period 1979 – 1998.
Other Organisations/People
Danish Church Aid / DanChurchAid (DCA)
The Danish Church Aid (DCA) was established in 1966 as a church-based relief and development organisation. In the 1970s it became more involved in activities against colonialism and racism in South Africa, inspired by the Programme to Combat Racism of the World Council of Churches.
The National Archives of Denmark holds a substantial collection, covering the period 1966 – 1979 and contains publications, board records and minutes.
World University Service - Denmark / Solidaritet og Bistand (SOB)
The World University Service Denmark (WUS-D) started in 1966 as part of WUS International. It became independent in 1970. It started its solidarity activities in 1966 and became a member of the Anti-Apartheid Committee. It supported the liberation movements in Southern Africa. It distributed funds to the South African Committee for Higher Education (SACHED) and other bursary programmes. WUS continues its activities now as IBIS.
IBIS hold the archives from 1970 onwards and they contain materials on projects, news clippings, minutes, applications for funds from the ‘Anti-Apartheid Appropriation’ as well as WUS participation in and materials of the Anti-Apartheid Committee.
Resources
The Nordic Documentation on the Liberation Struggle in Southern Africa Project
This site provides archival lists of primary source materials that can be found at Nordic archival institutions, NGOs and archives of individuals who have been involved in the liberation struggles of Southern Africa. The website includes interviews, photographs, publications, posters and newspaper cuttings from 1960-1996. It also provides some archival materials in PDF format.
This site provides archival lists of primary source materials that can be found at Nordic archival institutions, NGOs and archives of individuals who have been involved in the liberation struggles of Southern Africa. The website includes interviews, photographs, publications, posters and newspaper cuttings from 1960-1996. It also provides some archival materials in PDF format.
http://www.liberationafrica.se
