March/April 2020

Human Rights Day is a national day that is commemorated annually on 21 March to remind
South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of
democracy in South Africa.
SOUTH AFRICANS CALLED TO PUT
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS FIRST
SAnews.gov.za
The rights of the most vulnerable in society
will take centre stage as South Africa observes
Human Rights Month this March.
Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta
Bogopane-Zulu says children’s rights
must be placed above all else.
“Child protection remains a key area and
that’s why we say every child must have access
to Early Childhood Development (ECD),
and every child must be in school.
“… [We must create] an environment where
we protect children. However today, not even
school is safe, not even the ECD centre is safe,
and not even the home is safe,” the Deputy
Minister said at the start of Human Rights
Month.
Bogopane-Zulu said while South Africa has
without reservation ratified all the global
instruments -- including those from the
African Union and United Nations - that are
aimed at protecting children, children are
being let down.
“We need to ask ourselves what kind of a
nation we are. Are we worthy of celebrating
March as Human Rights Month, when we
are not even close to respecting the inherent
human rights of children?” the Minister said,
adding that children are under siege from
their own parents.
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
March is commemorated as Human Rights
Month in South Africa, which marks Human
Rights Day on 21 March. The day is in
memory of the Sharpeville massacre, which
occurred on 21 March 1960.
South Africa commemorates Human Rights
Day to reinforce its commitment to the Bill
of Rights, as enshrined in the Constitution.
These rights include:
Equality – everyone is equal before the law
and has the right to equal protection and
benefit of the law;
Human dignity – everyone has inherent
dignity and to have their dignity respected
and protected;
Freedom of movement and residence – everyone
has a right to freedom of movement
and to reside anywhere in the country;
Language and culture – everyone has the
right to use any language and to participate
in the cultural life of their choice;
Life - everyone has the right to life.
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