Human Rights Day is a national day celebrated annually on March 21. The commemoration of Human Rights Day provides South Africans with an opportunity to reflect on the headway that has been made in the fight to protect and promote human rights.

This day is both a celebration of the rights of all citizens and a tribute of remembrance for the lives that were lost in the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and in the struggle against apartheid.

ALSO READ: Weekend Read: South Africa’s history … the tumultuous journey

The democratic government declared March 21 Human Rights Day to commemorate and honour those who fought for our liberation and the rights we enjoy today.

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 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 the language and to participate in the cultural life of their choice.

• Life – everyone has the right to life.  

ALSO READ: Today is International Down Syndrome Day

Adding a positive spin to the day, Berea Mail asked a few local primary school learners to choose a human right to add to South Africa’s Bill of Rights. Coming from their active imaginations, the answers were interesting!

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409. You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.