North West Legislature to hold human rights celebrations, 19 to 20
Mar

13 March 2007

On Tuesday 20 March 2007, the North West Provincial Legislature will be
holding its second Annual Human Rights Celebrations. This year’s Human Rights
Celebrations will include a one-day workshop on 19 March. Here stakeholders
from civil society, non-governmental organisations, congressional budget
offices, faith-based organisations, small, medium and micro enterprises,
political parties and the media will be discussing areas of concern with regard
to human rights violations. The thematic areas under discussion will take place
under the umbrella theme of the "Legislative sector ensuring human rights".
These are "Rights of refugees and immigrants", "Domestic violence (against
men)", "People on farms" and "The role of the media in promoting human
rights".

The workshop which takes place on the 19 March at the North West Provincial
Legislature will be facilitated by speakers from organisations such as the
Black Sash, Lawyers for Human Rights, Commission on Gender Equality, Childline,
Open Democracy Foundation, South African National Editor's Forum and the Cable
News Network in line with the thematic areas under discussion.

Members of the media are invited to take part in these workshops and
especially contribute under the thematic area of "The role of the media in
promoting human rights".

The programme for the day is as follows (please note that these are draft
programmes and subject to change):

Human Rights Celebrations Workshop 19 March 2007 – Draft programme

12h30–14h00: Registration and lunch
14h00: Opening and welcome
14h05: Presentations
* What is the Legislature?
* Black Sash
* Lawyers for Human Rights
* Commission on Gender Equality
* Childline
* Open Democracy Foundation
* South African National Editor's Forum
* Cable News Network
16h00: Break into commissions
19h00: Dinner
20h00 onwards: Prepare report back (for presenters only)

Human Rights Celebrations 20 March 2007 - Draft programme
07h00–09h30: Registration and breakfast
10h00: Welcome and introduction
Presentations:
* Constitutional Court–The role of the Constitutional Court in the protection
of human rights
* South African Human Rights Commission – significance of human rights in the
democratic South African landscape

Report back:
* "Rights of refugees and immigrants"
* "Domestic violence (against men)"
* "People on farms"
* "The role of the media in promoting human rights"

Feedback:
* Questions and answers
* Responses from MECs and MPLs
Closing remarks
Closure
Lunch

If you are interested in attending and would like to take part in either the
workshop or the proceedings of the day please RSVP to Winston on winston@nwpl.org.za or call him on 082 338
9485 by Friday 16 March 2007 at 12h30.

Look forward to your fruitful participation.

Further to this, accommodation and transportation will be provided to those
from outside Mafikeng or the Central District Municipality. Please ensure that
you communicate this need to Winston when RSVPing. Thank you

Enquiries:
Roberta Makhambeni
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 779 4641
E-mail: roberta@nwpl.org.za

Issued by: North West Provincial Government
13 March 2007