Human Rights in South Africa
The Bill of Rights which is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom will be highlighted during the campaign. In summary the campaign will educate learners and the public that:
• Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
• Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
• Everyone has the right to life.
• Everyone has the right to freedom and security.
• Everyone has the right to bodily and psychological integrity.
• Everyone has the right to privacy.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of expression.
• Everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of association.
• Every citizen is free to make political choices.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of movement.
• Every citizen has the right to choose their trade, occupation or profession freely.
• Everyone has the right to fair labour practices.
• Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.
• Everyone has the right to have access to healthcare services.
• Everyone has the right to a basic education, including adult basic education and to further education.
• Everyone has the right to use the language and to participate in the cultural life of their choice.
Every child has the right.
• to a name and a nationality from birth;
• to family care or parental care, or to appropriate alternative care when removed from
the family environment;
• to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services;
• to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation;
• to be protected from exploitative labour practices;
not to be required or permitted to perform work or provide services that
• are inappropriate for a person of that child’s age; or
• place at risk the child’s well-being, education, physical or mental health
• or spiritual, moral or social development;
not to be detained except as a measure of last resort, in which case, in addition to the rights a child enjoys under sections 12 and 35, the child may
• be detained only for the shortest appropriate period of time, and has the,right to be
• kept separately from detained persons over the age of 18 years; and
• treated in a manner, and kept in conditions, that take account of the child’s age;
• to have a legal practitioner assigned to the child by the state, and at state expense, in civil proceedings affecting the child, if substantial injustice would otherwise result; and not to be used directly in armed conflict, and to be protected in times of armed conflict.
