Human Rights 2023

Human Rights Awareness

What are my rights and how does it affect me?

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more.  Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

The Bill of Rights is the cornerstone of South Africa’s democracy. It enshrines the rights of all people in South Africa and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.

While every person is entitled to these rights, they also have a responsibility to respect these rights. The Bill of Rights binds the legislature, the executive, judiciary and all organs of state.

As South Africans celebrate Human Rights Day on March 21, we look at 15 rights every citizen must know. The Bill of Rights protects the rights of every South African, and it’s important that all South Africans know the most basic rights afforded to them.

Below are some of the most crucial rights you should know.

15 Basic Human Rights we all should know

1.    The right to equality

This right is the most violated one in South Africa, according to a 2017 report by South African Human Rights Commission. The right states that everyone is equal and must be treated equally. No one has the right to discriminate against you based on your race, gender, sex, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language or birth among others.

2.    The right to Human Dignity

Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected.

3.    The right to live

Everyone has a right to life and nobody, not even the state, has the right to take a life.  This means that no person can be sentenced to death by the courts.

4.    The right to Freedom and security

This means that no one can be put in prison without good reason; be detained without trial; be tortured in any way or be treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way. It means that all humans have a right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources. Arrested, detained and accused persons. Any arrested person has a right to a lawyer and cannot be forced to speak or to make a confession. Prisoners must be kept in proper living conditions and may have visits from family members.

 

5.    The right to Personal privacy

No one, not even the government, has the right to search your house or property or even have your possessions seized without following the correct legal channels. The government cannot infringe on the privacy of your communication - this includes opening your mails or listening to your phone calls.

6.    The right to Freedom of Expression

South Africans have the freedom to say, write or print what they want, but this right must never violate anyone else’s right or break the law in any way.

7.    The right to Freedom of Association

Everyone has the right to associate with anyone they want to associate with. This means people have a right to associate with a trade union, a political party, or any other club or association, including religious denominations and organisations, fraternities, and sports clubs.

8.    The right to participate in Political activities

Every citizen has the right to form a political party; to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for a political party and to campaign for a political party or cause.

Every citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any legislative body established in terms of the Constitution and every adult citizen has the right ­to vote in elections for any political party, and to do so in secret. Every citizen can stand for public office and, if elected, to hold office.

 

9.    The right to Education

Everyone has the right ­to a basic education, including adult basic education, and to further education. Healthcare, food, water, and social services. Everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care; sufficient food and water; and social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance.

 

10. The right not to be held in slavery or servitude and forced labour

You have a right to choose who you want to work for and the kind of work you do, and you must be paid for your work. No-one can be forced to work for someone else.

11. The right to Citizenship

No-one’s South African citizenship can ever be taken away from them.

12. The right to Housing

Everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing. The government cannot take your house away from you or evict you from your home if you own it.

13. All children have the right to parental care, shelter, and food. Children may not be neglected or abused or forced to work.

 

What to do if you experience discrimination?

If you have been unfairly discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the basis of one or more of the prohibited grounds, or feel that you are the victim of hate speech or harassment, contact the nearest Equality Court for assistance.

 

What are the effects caused by discrimination?

Physical and emotional impacts

Exclusion or rejection directed to you by others for reasons that you often have no control over can cause extreme worry to an individual. It results in anxiety, sadness, depression, and a feeling of guilt and emptiness. These often translate into depression, loss of interest, eating disorders, and stress-related ailments.

Social, educational, and financial impacts

Discrimination, harassment, and victimization leave the individual confused and broken. They may take to alcohol or drugs or may form their own opinions on others, develop a hatred for others, or withdraw from people.

It can affect them financially, may lose their job, quit school, or do poorly at school.

Society and Businesses

Communities and businesses that fail to take action against discrimination tend to be lower in productivity. That is because people feel disgruntled and lose interest in working hard. There is a drop in morale, trust, and confidence on the part of the employees. People with talents and exceptional skills and abilities are not attracted to these places because they do not want to be discriminated against.

Politics

People who face racial discrimination may regroup with some vengeance in mind against other groups. That can fuel conflicts and social discords. Many conflicts and wars have started in this way.

What are the Rights of Children? 

Children and young people have the same general human rights as adults and also specific rights that recognize their special needs. Children are neither the property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are human beings and are the subject of their own rights.

1.     Children are individuals.

2.     Children start life as totally dependent beings.

3.     The actions, or inactions, of the government impact children more strongly than any other group in society

4.     Children's views should be heard and considered in the political process

5.     Transformation of the family structure, globalization, climate change, digitalization, mass migration, shifting employment patterns and a shrinking social welfare net in many countries all have strong impacts on children.

6.     The healthy development of children is crucial to the future well-being of any society.

7.     Social research findings show that children's earliest experiences significantly influence their future development. The course of their development determines their contribution, or cost, to society over the course of their lives.

How to combat discrimination against children

The way children understand the world evolves as they grow, but it’s never too late to talk to them about equality and discrimination. Here are some age-appropriate ways to start that conversation and explain that discrimination of any kind is wrong

Under 5 years

At this age, children may begin to notice and point out differences in the people they see around them. As a parent, you have the opportunity to gently lay the foundation of their worldview. Use language that’s age-appropriate and easy for them to understand.

1.     Recognize and celebrate differences

2.     Be open.

3.     Use fairness

6-11 years

Children this age are better at talking about their feelings and are eager for answers. They are also becoming more exposed to information they may find hard to process. Start by understanding what they know.

1.     Be curious

2.     Discuss the media together

3.     Talk openly

12+ years

Teenagers are able to understand abstract concepts more clearly and express their views. They may know more than you think they do and have strong emotions on the topic. Try to understand how they feel and what they know, and keep the conversation going.

1.     Know what they know

2.     Ask questions

3.     ­Encourage action

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