Know Your Human Rights 2021
The Constitution is the highest law in the country and it was adopted to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. These rights are listed in the Bill of Rights, in Chapter 2 of the Constitution.
What are human rights?
Human rights are rights that everyone should have simply because they are human. In 1948, the United Nations defined 30 articles of human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It established universal human rights on the basis of humanity, freedom, justice, and peace.
South Africa has included indivisible human rights in our own Bill of Rights, Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. The articles of our Constitution can only be changed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which means it is difficult for anyone to take away the basic rights of a citizen.
The Bill of Rights preserved in our Constitution is the cornerstone of our constitutional and representative democracy. The Constitution as our supreme law means that no laws may be passed that goes against it. The Bill of Rights also comprehensively addresses South Africa’s history of oppression, colonialism, slavery, racism and sexism and other forms of human violations. The Bill of Rights embeds the rights of all people in our country in an enduring affirmation of the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom.
Some of the most basic Human Rights are as follows
Equality
Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons, or categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination may be taken.
Human dignity
Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
Life
Everyone has the right to life.
Privacy
Everyone has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have
their person or home searched
their property searched
their possessions seized or
the privacy of their communications infringed.
Freedom of expression
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes
freedom of the press and other media
freedom to receive or impart information or ideas
freedom of artistic creativity and
academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.
Citizenship
No citizen may be deprived of citizenship.
Health care, food, water and social security
Everyone has the right to have access to
health care services, including reproductive healthcare
sufficient food and water and
social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.
