The Commission through its work has noted a growing number of systemic human rights challenges and violations including gender-based violence, substance dependencies, racism and xenophobia, among others. These challenges continue to negatively impact the gains of democracy and affect the marginalised and most vulnerable groups such as women, children.

In addition to addressing human rights challenges through normal processes of human rights awareness raising and investigations, the Commission has determined that our fellow countrymen and women are vital agents of change and as such should be partners in cultivating more social solidarity, respect and harmony in the country. The National Effort was constructed after an extensive consultation process, and is consequently a product of a broad range of South Africans, who gave freely of their advise and reflections.

The aim of the Social Harmony National Effort is no less than to commit every South African to reflecting on and acting in small but important ways to develop respect and harmony in our homes and among the diversities that exist in our midst. We hope to begin by encouraging the important practise of greeting in society.  In 2023, the year of the SHiNE, we hope to encourage the people of South Africa to dialogue on a range of topics of national import. This is aimed at developing a culture of dialoguing through our differences, which we hope becomes the norm and push back on the culture of violence in our homes and in society broadly.

The launch of Social Harmony National Effort will be as follows:

Date: 27 September 2022

Venue: Freedom Park Museum and Heritage Site, Cnr Koch and 7th avenue, Salvokop, Pretoria

Time: 10H00

Media Briefing

A media briefing to articulate January – December SHiNE plan of action will held at 14:00 at the same venue.

The launch will be live-streamed on the Commission’s website (www.sahrc.org.za), Facebook (South African Human Rights Commission) and YouTube (SAHRC1) pages.

YouTube Stream Link: https://youtu.be/sHHUhUVAI-U

ENDS

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Wisani Baloyi – Acting Communications Coordinator Tel: 081 016 8308 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Alucia Sekgathume – External Communications Tel: 082 689 2364 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.