Friday 21 March is South Africa’s Human Rights day. It commemorates the Sharpeville massacre on 21 March 1960, when 69 people died and 180 were wounded after the police fired on a peaceful crowd that had gathered to protest against the restrictive pass laws imposed on non-white citizens.
The protest was a stand by ordinary people, rising in unison to demand their rights. It is recognised as one of the most significant dates in South Africa’s modern history. As we celebrate South Africa’s twentieth year of democracy, it is particularly important to reflect on what this day actually means.
Human Rights Day reminds us of the suffering and loss of life that accompanied the struggle for freedom in South Africa, and the bravery of those who fought so long, and gave up so much, to create the vibrant non-racial democracy that South Africa is today.
The new South Africa, born from this struggle, deliberately ensured that the human rights of its citizens would, in future, be comprehensively protected within its new Constitution.
The British government shares South Africa’s progressive views on human rights. Both our governments were elected recently to the UN Human Rights Council. This is a great opportunity for us to work more closely together to promote human rights internationally. To try to extend the rights that we enjoy to people still engaged in their own ‘struggle’ – whether that struggle is for the right to vote, to have a fair trial, practise a religion of choice, or express a sexual identity.
Later this month the UK will be taking over the Chairmanship of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights in the Extractives Sector. We hope that this can continue to offer solutions and a forum for the promotion of human rights in this sector in South Africa. There are great examples which South Africa can share with others, such as the recently opened shaft at Venetia mine in Limpopo.
In June, the British Foreign Secretary and the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie, will be hosting a Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London, open to Governments, academics and non governmental organisations. As the Foreign Secretary said recently the aim of the Summit is to “change the whole global attitude to these crimes, as well changing bureaucracies. We don’t just want to move the pens of Ministers; we are going to try to move the hearts of people”.
South Africa and the UK are also working together on a range of other important human rights issues this year as part of 20/20 Vision initiative, a partnership to celebrate 20 joint partnerships in the 20thyear of South Africa’s democracy. This includes joint work to promote health through our support for the National Health Insurance initiative and working with the government’s National Council on Gender Based Violence to help promote its prevention.
These are critical issues that we will engage with throughout the year. But 21 March is an important opportunity to reflect on, and be inspired by, the brave individuals and terrible events which have helped make today’s South Africa such a strong advocate for human rights worldwide.