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Media Advisory: SAHRC Eastern Provincial Office to conduct a dialogue on social media and human rights
Attention: Editors and Reporters
19 October 2022
In the aftermath of the Enyobeni tragedy and various media reports on social ills affecting the youth, it has been identified that social media consumption and use influences social ills and human rights violations. Section 16 (1) of the Constitution of the republic of South Africa provides that everyone has the freedom of expression. This freedom is extended to individuals, but consumers and users bear the responsibility to not infringe other people’s rights. The youth has an increased access to social media and this has resulted in the risks of human rights violations.
19 October 2022
In the aftermath of the Enyobeni tragedy and various media reports on social ills affecting the youth, it has been identified that social media consumption and use influences social ills and human rights violations. Section 16 (1) of the Constitution of the republic of South Africa provides that everyone has the freedom of expression. This freedom is extended to individuals, but consumers and users bear the responsibility to not infringe other people’s rights. The youth has an increased access to social media and this has resulted in the risks of human rights violations.
It is against this background, the Eastern Cape Provincial Office (“ECPO”) will be conducting a dialogue in partnership with Media Monitoring Africa (“MMA”) under the theme of, Social Media and Human Rights: How does this affect you? A cohort of young people from across the country have filled out a survey with opinions on how social media affects social ills and will further participate in the session. This session aims to assist the South African Human Rights Commission (“Commission”) in identifying and providing solutions to social ills and to encourage child participation.
Further, the Commission has developed the Social Harmony National Effort (SHiNE) initiative intended to deal with social and economic challenges faced by the country, in particular children due to the high levels of inequality and disharmony in the country as a whole. The aim of SHiNE is 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.
The dialogue is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: 20 October 2022
Venue: Microsoft Teams
Time: 17:00 – 18:00
Ends
For further information, contact the SAHRC Provincial Manager, Dr Eileen Carter @ 043 722 7828/072 638 9016 or email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Zukiswa N Mqakanya @ 043 722 7828 or email on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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