The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (‘hereafter the Commission’), University of South Africa- Department of Religious Studies & Arabic (UNISA) and Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA) plans to commemorate and celebrate Africa Human Rights Day 2012 in the Gauteng province, in Tshwane at UNISA, Main Campus, Kgorong, Function Hall, 8h30 until 14h00 on the 29th of October 2012. This commemoration acknowledges the birth of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights in 1986.
The chosen topic for this year is: “Promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and minority communities in South Africa”
The objectives of this year's commemoration are:
- to offer stakeholders and participants the opportunity to dialogue on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and minority communities;
- assess socio- economic, cultural, religious and linguistic rights violations’
- review the report of the United Nations special Rapporteur on Human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples during his visit to South Africa in 2005;
- to popularise the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007; and
- to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.
This year’s commemoration and celebration will include a key note address and responses by prominent political leaders, academics, human rights practitioners, representatives from various intergovernmental departments, human rights organisations, Chapter nine institutions and effective participation of the indigenous and minority communities.
Twenty six years ago, on the 21st of October 1986, the African continent witnessed the coming into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (the African Charter) which had been adopted earlier by member states of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) on the 27th of June 1981.The adoption of the African Charter and the establishment of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) in 1987 signalled a new era in the promotion and protection of human and people’s rights on the African continent.
Africa Human Rights Day 2012 offers an opportunity to governments in Africa, and in particular South Africa to reflect on the commitments they have made to their own peoples, to different ethnic groups, and individuals to address the human rights challenges we face on the continent. Africa takes its rightful place in the community of nations as a region dedicated to the observance and protection of human and peoples rights, it is incumbent on us as Africans to ensure not only the protection but also the advancement of the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples of the continent.
For pre and post media interviews contact:
Adv Sipho Mantula
Cell: 083 233 1538
Tel: 011 537 7628
Email: sipho@crlcommission.org.za
Denzil Chetty
Cell: 074 182 5099
Tel: 012 429 4055
Email: chettd@unisa.ac.za
