International Human Rights Day - 10 December 2013

Fighting for equality
Human rights is something that we, especially as South Africans, should never take for granted. An important part of our country's history is the fight for equality of all people, regardless of race, gender, class or religious affiliation. But South Africa is not the only country which has had to stand up for the rights of its people. This International Human Rights Day GEMS encourages its members to become informed about their human rights and about the violations that are happening daily around the world and to share this knowledge with others.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Catholic. Then they came for me ... and by that time, there was no-one to speak up for anyone."  - Martin Niemoeller (Pastor, Lutheran Church)

10 December marks the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration was to become the general standard for promoting human rights across the globe. It stated that its purpose was to recognise that the "inherent dignity" and the "equal and inalienable rights" of all people is "the foundation of freedom, justice and peace". The declaration was in response to the atrocities of World War II (1939-1945), which had seen horrific human rights violations from both sides, such as the German concentration camps and the dropping of the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. People across the world realised that they could no longer ignore human rights violations in their own and neighbouring countries.

The 30 articles of the declaration include the following:

1. All individuals are born free and equal.
2. Everyone is entitled to rights and freedoms, regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion or nationality.
3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
4. No-one may be made a slave.
5. No-one may be subjected to torture or degrading punishment.
6. Every person is entitled to a fair and public hearing.
7. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
8. Each individual has the right to freedom of thought and religion.
9. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression and opinion.
10. Each person has the right to education.

Human Rights in South Africa
"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity."
                                                                                          Nelson Mandela

In South Africa, human rights are entrenched in the Bill of Rights in Chapter 2 of our Constitution, which is the highest law in our country. The Constitution aims to establish a democratic society based on the principals of justice and equality. In 1995, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) was established to support constitutional democracy by promoting, protecting, developing and monitoring human rights in our country.

In November of this year South Africa was elected for a three-year term as one of 14 new members to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Other new members included Namibia, Britain, France, China, Cuba and Morocco. Significantly, this appointment comes in the same year as the SAHRC was asked to head up the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC), marking the first year that a country from Africa has led the ICC. These two new appointments signify the global recognition of South Africa's transition to democracy and its continued endeavours to protect and promote human rights. It will give us the opportunity to highlight our human rights successes and to share solutions to our challenges.

References
An Introduction to the Human Rights Movement www.hrweb.org
South African Human Rights Commission www.sahrc.org.za
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
Youth for Human Rights www.youthforhumanrights.org