Human Rights Day is a public holiday that holds great historical significance and serves as a reminder of South Africa’s painful history. It’s a day that serves as a national moment of reflection and remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960. On 21 March in 1960, black people participated in a peaceful protest against the Apartheid pass laws.  The protest turned into one of the most catastrophic human massacres when the police force killed 69 people and injured over 180 people. This day marked a key turning point in South African history as it led to a strengthened armed struggle against the brutality and ruthlessness of the Apartheid regime.

In 2023, Human Rights Day serves as an important reminder of how far we have come and how far we still have to go in safeguarding and protecting Human Rights and justice for all. The South African constitution states that everyone has the right to human dignity, equality and freedom. Yet in reality, it is those who live along the lines of power and privilege who are ensured these basic human rights and freedoms. This Day serves as an important reminder that the road to true freedom and justice is far from over.

Human Rights Day & Racism

This year, Human Rights Day formed part of the annual Anti-Racism Week (March 14-21). South Africa faces a number of serious challenges that persist and are linked to our violent history of racial injustice and oppression. The legacies of Apartheid, colonialism and slavery persevere and are best understood through the lived experiences of black and coloured working-class and rural communities. Systemic and structural exclusion, racialised poverty, inequality, economic disenfranchisement and intergenerational trauma are some of the historical legacies that remain intact. For black people, racism remains a defining reality that dominates almost every aspect of life. Human Rights Day and anti-racism week serves as a critical reminder that we need to address the root causes of racism in South Africa and deliberately address the legacies of our past for the purpose of healing and for the purpose of furthering justice and equity.

Human Rights Day & Afrophobia

As we recommit ourselves to the global fight against racism this anti-racism week, may we remember the urgent fight against Afrophobia. May we hold our leaders accountable and reject their blatant support of Afrophobia. We must reject any rhetoric and policies that seek to strip fellow Africans of their human dignity and right to belong. Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers face life-threatening consequences, and it is our collective responsibility to root out Afrophobia which undermines our prospects for a just and equitable African continent.

Human Rights Day & Workers’ rights

We remember the miners of Marikana who lost their lives in the fight for a better life. We remember the miners and their families who have yet to see justice. We stand in solidarity with all workers in South Africa who remain confined to low wages, poor working conditions and who continue to be exploited and dehumanised under neoliberal capitalism.

Human Rights Day & the Youth Crisis

We must confront the crisis facing young people in South Africa who remain disproportionately affected by the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. The lived reality of many South African youth is that of minimal opportunities, be it educational, economic, political or social. All this in the face of deepening inequality, worsening climate change, a mental health emergency and a dire economic state of affairs. Human Rights Day serves as a necessary reminder that we need to address the deep and systemic inequities that are preventing young people from building sustainable livelihoods and futures in South Africa.

Human Rights Day & Gender injustice

May we be reminded of the struggle for gender justice, the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. Women and queer people face structural oppression, compounded human rights violations and life-threatening consequences under patriarchy. Let this Day serve as an urgent reminder that we need to deliberately and boldly address the root causes of gender-based violence, gender injustice and toxic masculinities in South Africa. May human rights Day inspire us to be fierce in our efforts to dismantle patriarchal oppression.

My hope is that this Human Rights Day will inspire us to be unflinching and unwavering in our efforts for positive social change. May we continue to pursue justice boldly and bravely.

Written by Jodi Williams,
Project Leader: Anti-Racism, Social Cohesion & Inclusion Project