Through the effective exercise of its promotional mandate, the Commission is able to capacitate South Africans to have agency in protecting and ensuring that their own human rights and those of others are respected. Among others, its promotional mandate educates and informs South Africans about their rights.

The Commission has, for the 2018/19 financial year made the National Schools Moot Court Competition (NSMCC) its major implementing project for its promotional programme.

The NSMCC is a collaboration between the National Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) and the SAHRC. The current NSMCC began earlier this year with all grade eleven learners writing an essay on a pre-determined human rights issue. Top performers reached a provincial round which consisted of argumentation around a human rights issue, in a simulated court setting. The top performers from this round will in turn participate in the National Finals which commence on Thursday the 26^th September 2019 and consist of teams arguing the human rights issue against one another. The grand finale will be held on Sunday, 29 September 2019, at the Constitutional Court, Constitutional Hill, Braamfontein. The finalists will get the opportunity to argue before real Constitutional and Hugh Court Judges where they will demonstrate their thinking and oratory skills as well as their understanding of the Bill of Rights and human rights generally.

The NSMCC is the perfect platform for raising human rights awareness among learners and their friends and relatives, as it introduces all grade eleven learners to the Constitution and human rights, particularly since these concepts are not part of the formal school curriculum in South Africa.

The SAHRC and its partners are excited to be part of this innovative competition considering its national reach and scale.

Members of the media are invited to cover this important competition.

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Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission

Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or Alucia Sekgathume Tel: 082 689 2364 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.