POLOKWANE – Today is not just a day off from work or school, but rather, a day to reflect on the history of a democratic South Africa.

Every year on 21 March, South Africans celebrate Human Rights Day and the one question most people will as is: “What are human rights?”

According to the United Nations, Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.

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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.

Human Rights Day in South Africa is historically linked with 21 March 1960, and the events of Sharpeville.

On that day, 69 people died and 180 were wounded when police fired on a peaceful crowd that had gathered in protest against the Pass laws. This day marked an affirmation by ordinary people, rising in unison to proclaim their rights.

It is because of this that South Africa has included human rights in our own Bill of Rights, Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

The Bill of Rights, preserved in our Constitution, is the cornerstone of our constitutional and representative democracy.

The Bill of Rights also comprehensively addresses South Africa’s history of oppression, colonialism, slavery, racism and sexism and other forms of human violations and embeds the rights of all people in our country in an enduring affirmation of the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.

Human Rights Day has became an iconic date in our country’s history as a reminder of our rights and the cost paid for our treasured human rights.

raeesak@nmgroup.co.za