UP students share their thoughts on Human Rights Day
With the celebration of Human Rights Day around the corner, Rekord asked students at UP’s Hatfield campus to share their perspectives of the day.
Human Rights Day celebrates a huge milestone in the history of South African democracy.
The holiday is celebrated annually on March 21.
It commemorates the struggles made for human rights and the efforts by South African liberal icons, including the likes of Nelson Mandela and many others to achieve freedom, dignity and equality for all.
Students have shared their thoughts on what the day means to them and whether it is still as valued as in the past.
Siphosihle Ngxeketho (18): “I think the meaning behind Human Rights Day is a crucial one because it is a day that we celebrate for being treated equal.”
Remofile Moroane (19): “To me, it means that every citizen has the right to basic needs, being water, housing and electricity, although we are not all privileged enough to have that, but we should be grateful.”
Amira Mandossi (19): “I feel like we can uphold our human rights together as South Africans, because we are humans at the end of the day and as humans, we don’t see colour and that shouldn’t segregate us.”
Lesolomzi Soqaka (19): “I think we can protect human rights; it all starts with empathy because that’s where everything starts. If you can connect with someone on a deeper and emotional level, you can thus consider their human rights. I think it is a thing of community building and connecting in order to acknowledge other people’s rights.”
Rebaone Ncube (19): “I don’t think Human Rights Day still retains its meaning because a lot of young people today do not know what the day is all about as they now see it as a normal day.”
Karabo Makgalemele (19): “I do believe that the day has depreciated in value because people don’t necessarily consider it anymore. They no longer see the value that it holds and to revive its true meaning, it should be involved as part of [the] curriculum so that the younger generation can learn about it at schools.”
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