15 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Annually, South Africa commemorates national Human Rights Day on 21 March and March as human rights month. The day commemorates the sacrifice of the 69 people who lost their lives, whilst protesting repressive, apartheid pass laws on the day in 1960 at Sharpeville, but also celebrates the Constitution as the key framework for the achievement of a rights-based society as well as the advancement of human rights.
15 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
On 14 March 2023, the SAHRC released its report following an investigation of allegations that, during the March 2021 welcoming period at certain Stellenbosch University residences, students were compelled to not speak any language other than English.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
13 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is pleased to announce that a settlement has been reached with Mr Steve Hofmeyr in a matter pertaining to comments he made on social media relating to the LGBTIQ+ community. The settlement agreement has been made order of court.
13 March 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The SAHRC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office will conduct human rights month commemorative events, in the Zululand and Amajuba Districts from the 13th – 22nd of March 2023.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
8 March 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) KZN provincial office will be hosting a roundtable discussion on “Balancing the right to basic education and the best interest of the child in Independent Schools”.
Date: 27 February 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
The South African Human Rights Commission (Commission) is a Constitutional body, established to support constitutional democracy in terms of Section 181 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Constitution). Section 184(1) (b) of the Constitution obliges the Commission to promote the protection of human rights and monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic of South Africa.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
27 February 2023
The SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial office will be embarking on various monitoring activities in Ingquza Hill Local Municipality and O R Tambo District Municipalities. Section 184 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that the Commission must monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
Attention: Editors and Reporters
23 February 2023
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Mpumalanga Provincial Office is conducting a workshop to popularise and raise awareness about the Constitutional Court judgement which declared Section 10 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 invalid and inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (“the Constitution”) the extent that it prohibits an unmarried father from giving notice of the birth of his child under his surname, the absence of the child’s mother or without consent.
22 February 2023
Attention: Editors and Reporters
Government must respect, protect, and promote human rights. It must play a vital role in determining how to allocate and spend fiscus. If government has to deliver specific services, then this must clearly be reflected in the budget. The work on human rights budgeting also allows us to ask who participates in budgeting and how different social groups are affected. This means that priority must be given to critical areas such as education, social security, access to healthcare, housing, and employment. It also means focusing not only on who has access to goods and services, but also on continually improving the quality, availability, and affordability of those goods and services.
Understanding PAIA
The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
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