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Human Rights Day
21 March
“Working together we can do more to protect human rights”
South Africans observe Human Rights Day on 21 March. In this way we recognise the struggles we have endured to achieve our democracy and reinforce our freedom. Through this day, we celebrate victory over the apartheid system and reinforce our commitment to human rights.
2010 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Sharpeville and Langa massacres as the most important events of the liberation struggle. The main celebrations will take place in Sharpeville and will include the acknowledgment of the progress the country was making to restore the dignity and rights of all South Africans.
Government invites all South Africans [PDF] to come and be part of this year’s national Human
Rights Day commemorations.
There will be a range of activities, including a prayer service, a wreath-laying ceremony and the
handing over of a Torch of Peace. Entertainment will be provided by various local artists.
Venue: Sharpeville cricket pitch
Time: 09h00
Enquiries: 012 441 3083/4 or 016 450 3963
The progress since 1994 includes:
- Housing units completed or in progress under subsidised housing progamme reached a cumulative total of 2.8 million as of March 2009. The government is pursuing a more comprehensive service delivery model within the context of sustainable human settlements.
- The percentage of household with access to water infrastructure for potable water above or equal to RDP standards increased from 61.7% in 1994 to 91.8% in March 2009.
- More than 10 million households (77%) had access to sanitation as of March 2009 as compared to five million (50%) in 1994.
- The estimated number of households with access to electricity has increased from 4.5 million (50.9%) in 1994 to 9.1 million (73%) in 2008.
The President proclaimed 2010 as the Year of Action
- The adoption of an outcomes approach ensures that the intended impact on the lives of the people is now being used to monitor and assess progress in implementing government’s priorities.
- Government plans to upgrade well-located informal settlements and provide proper service and land tenure to at least 500 000 households by 2014. There are plans to set aside 600 hectares of well-located public land for low-cost income and affordable housing.
- A key new initiative will be to accommodate people whose salaries are too high to get government subsidies, but who earn little to qualify for a normal mortgage. A guarantee fund of R1 billion will be set up to incentivize the private banking and housing sector, to develop new products to meet this housing demand.
Basic human rights for all are firmly entrenched in our Constitution
- The Bill of Rights is instrumental in realising the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom
- Our country’s Human Rights Commission was set up by our constitution to promote respect for human rights, to monitor and assess the observance of human rights in SA.
- Government is aware of the challenges that we still face to ensure that all have shelter and feel safe in their homes.
More information on Human Rights Day:
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Last modified: 30 March 2010 15:29:25. |
