Human Rights Day, which occurs on 21 March, is one of the 14 South African public holidays, and third on the list for 2017.
The South African government said the purpose of Human Rights Day is “… to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa. The commemoration provides the country with an opportunity to reflect on progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights”.
On 21 March 1960, the communities of two townships, Sharpeville and Langa, like many others across the country, embarked on a protest march against the then pass laws.
According to the government, a total of 69 demonstrators were gunned down by the then apartheid police. It’s also said many other people were killed in other parts of the country. The tragedy soon came to be known as the Sharpeville Massacre and was said to have exposed the apartheid government’s violation of human rights to the world. As a result, the democratic (post-1994) government declared 21 March to be ‘Human Rights Day’ to commemorate and honour those who fought for liberation and the rights many enjoy today.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) was launched on 21 March 1996, 35 years after the fateful events of 21 March 1960. The Commission’s aim is to promote respect for human rights, promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights, and to monitor and assess the observance of human rights in SA.
The government continues to say the Constitution is the ultimate protector of every citizen’s human rights, which were previously denied to the majority of people under apartheid. Go here to see your rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
Government will host various activities throughout Human Rights Month, to remind all South Africans to continue working together to uphold the culture of human rights. Human rights come with responsibilities, including that of building a society that respects the rule of law.
President Jacob Zuma will address this year’s Human Rights Day celebrations at the Sharpeville Cricket Grounds in Gauteng.
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