The Universal Declaration on Human Rights was first adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.
These human rights are divided into three categories – first, second and third-generation rights.
These rights belong to all people regardless of where they come from or live in the world, their culture, religion, race, sex, language, age, background or class. Human rights go hand in hand with responsibilities, as we all have a duty to respect others while enjoying our own human rights.
In July 2022, the United Nations welcomed the recognition by the General Assembly that a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a human right, and this relates back to the Third Generation Rights, which are newly developed and referred to as Green Rights and deal with self-determination, living in a clean environment, and protection from devastation, cultural, political and economic development.
According to Section 24 of our constitution, everyone has the right (a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; (b) to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that (i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation; (ii) promote conservation; and (iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
While legal rights are written laws passed by Parliament or the legislature and can be found in statutory books, moral rights are those developed by people of different cultures or religious backgrounds.
And, although South Africans express a wide range of cultural and religious ideas, the vast majority of belief systems support safety, the sanctity of life and a responsibility to care for others.
We expect those in charge of our country to engage with all of the above to ensure that we have the possibility of a bright and joyous future. If political leaders do not respect our rights, they definitely do not deserve our support.
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