The SAHRC and its partners in this initiative, recognise the importance of the use of digital technology as being part of the solution in the realisation and assertion of rights. With an estimated 22 million South Africans having access to smartphones in South Africa, ZIRRA uses technology for ordinary people to interact and educate themselves about their rights whilst providing a mechanism to assert these rights.

The latest Annual Trends Analysis Report of the SAHRC, for the 2016/2017 financial year, once again highlighted that infringements on the right to Equality remains the most reported category of human rights violations, reported to the Commission, at 705 reports during this period.

The Equality clause, as set out in section 9 of the Bill of Rights, Chapter Two of the Constitution, specifically protects the right to Equality on seventeen (17) grounds, including race as amongst others such sex, gender and disability; to highlight a few. However, complaints received on the infringement to the right of Equality, on the basis of race as a sub-category, the Commission received 486 complaints - 69% of the total number of complaints on the basis of Equality.

The SAHRC views this as an indication that we all need to familiarize ourselves with our own rights as well as the rights of others. Under the theme of “Know Your Constitution” the ZIRRA ensures that users of the App are made aware of what constitutes racism in all its forms and in turn provides an avenue to report incidents of racism. ZIRRA will in turn ensure that these complaints are referred to competent bodies such as the Commission or enable complainants to take the matter forward themselves through bodies such as the Equality Courts. ZIRRA facilitates the realization of rights and in turn ensures their practical assertion.

The launch of ZIRRA will take place on the 19th March 2019 at Constitution Hill, Human Rights Precinct (Human Rights Room), Address: 11 Kotze Street, Johannesburg, 2017, at 10h30 AM.

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Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission

Gail Smith – Spokesperson Tel: 060 988 3792 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.