How we handle the personal information you share with Her Rights Initiative, and the rights you have over it.
Last updated: 2026. This policy explains what personal information Her Rights Initiative (HRI) collects, why, and how we look after it. We are committed to protecting the privacy and dignity of everyone who contacts us, in line with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
We only collect information you choose to give us, mainly when you email us or write to us: your name, email address, and anything you include in your message. We do not require you to disclose your HIV status, and you never have to, to reach us or our support pathway.
We use your information solely to respond to you: to answer enquiries, arrange support, process donations, coordinate volunteering or partnerships, and follow up where you have asked us to. We do not use it for anything you have not contacted us about.
We do not sell or rent your information. We share it only when you ask us to (for example, a referral you have requested), or where the law requires it. Anyone who handles your information on our behalf is bound to keep it confidential.
Enquiries to our support pathway are treated in confidence. We hold any sensitive information with particular care and limit access to the people who need it to help you.
We keep your information only as long as we need it for the purpose you contacted us about, or as the law requires, and then we delete it.
You can ask us what information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. To do any of these, or if you have a concern about how we have handled your information, email info@hri.org.za.
Questions about this policy can be sent to info@hri.org.za. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Information Regulator of South Africa.