\u00a0\u201cThe 21st<\/sup> Century is hallmarked by repeated and serious violations of human rights, especially by the guardians of the so-called free spirit of democracy. This erosion of basic human rights is witnessed in freedom of speech and religious association.\u00a0 In these unfolding tragedies, South Africa stands proud by innovating the Human Rights Day as a public holiday and sustains it in protecting and ensuring that human rights are always respected.\u201d [1]<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Nelson Mandela statue, on the Union Buildings grounds, Pretoria, Gauteng, of former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, stands 9 meters tall. The statue was unveiled on the Day of Reconciliation, 16 December 2013, bringing the official mourning period of ten days to a close, after Mandela died on 5 December. The Origins and Rationale for the Human Rights Day.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Human Rights Day is a South African public holiday commemorated annually on the 21st<\/sup> March. It serves as a poignant reminder to South Africans and indeed the rest of the world, about the sacrifices made during the struggle for democracy in the country. In the 1960s, systematic defiance and protest against apartheid and racism were widespread. On 21st<\/sup> March 1960, the community of Sharpeville and Langa townships embarked on a protest march against pass laws. Tragically, the apartheid police shot and killed 69 protesters at Sharpeville, many of whom were shot while fleeing. This event, known as the Sharpeville Massacre[11]<\/a>, exposed the apartheid government’s deliberate violation of human rights to the world. In honour of those who fought for liberation and the rights we enjoy today, the democratic government declared 21st<\/sup> March as the Human Rights Day. The author has published extensively on the martyrs[12]<\/a>,[13]<\/a>,[14]<\/a>,[15]<\/a>,[16]<\/a>,[17]<\/a>,[18]<\/a>,[19]<\/a>,[20]<\/a>,[21]<\/a>,[22]<\/a>,[23]<\/a> of apartheid,[24]<\/a> previously to highlight the greatest sacrifice made in the liberation struggle and white domination.\u00a0 These brave men and women of the anti-apartheid struggle, paid dearly with their lives, which were terminated by the agents of the apartheid government, in extrajudicial killings,[25]<\/a>,[26]<\/a>,[27]<\/a> as it is presently happening in Palestine, with ongoing genocidal atrocities committed by Israel, with impunity and absolutely no accountability. South Africans commemorate this day to reinforce their commitment to the Bill of Rights, enshrined in South African Constitution[28]<\/a>, which includes principles such as equality, human dignity, freedom of movement, language, culture, and the right to life.<\/p>\n Human Rights Day<\/strong>\u00a0in South Africa holds a significant place in the local history. It is relevant to review its origins and rationale:<\/p>\n Sharpeville Massacre<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Proclamation of Human Rights Day<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Legacy of Nelson Mandela<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Importance of Human Rights Day<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Promoting Equality and Justice<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Commemorating Sacrifice and Struggle<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Advocating Change<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion<\/strong>:<\/p>\n In summary, Human Rights Day serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to uphold and protect the rights of every individual.<\/p>\n Human Rights Day<\/strong>, while specifically associated with South Africa, has counterparts and similar observances in other parts of the world. These events highlight the importance of human rights, justice, and equality. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n International Human Rights Day<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Anti-Racism Day<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Freedom Day<\/strong>\u00a0(South Africa):[32]<\/a><\/p>\n Other National Observances<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Remember that the fight for human rights is universal, and these observances serve as reminders to uphold the dignity and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Civil Rights Movement<\/strong>\u00a0in the United States [33]<\/a>was a pivotal struggle for social justice that spanned mainly from the\u00a01950s to the 1960s<\/strong>. Its primary goal was to secure equal rights for\u00a0Black Americans<\/strong>\u00a0under the law. Let\u2019s explore its origins, key events, and significance:<\/p>\n Roots of the Civil Rights Movement<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Jim Crow Laws and Segregation<\/strong>[35]<\/a>:<\/p>\n World War II and Executive Order 8802<\/strong>:[36]<\/a><\/p>\n Civil Rights Movement Milestones<\/strong>:[38]<\/a><\/p>\n Legacy and Ongoing Struggle<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Civil Rights Movement Day<\/strong>\u00a0is not an official holiday, but\u00a0Martin Luther King Jr. Day<\/strong>\u00a0[45]<\/a>(observed on the third Monday of January) honours Dr. King\u2019s contributions to the movement. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and equality<\/p>\n Martin Luther King Jr. zdrav\u00ed \u00fa\u010dastn\u00edky pochodu na Washington. South Africa<\/strong>\u00a0holds the distinction of being one of the\u00a0first countries<\/strong>\u00a0to officially observe\u00a0Human Rights Day<\/strong>\u00a0as a\u00a0public holiday<\/strong>. This significant day commemorates the struggle against apartheid, the sacrifices made by activists, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality for all. South Africa has certainly changed since the end of apartheid and has undergone significant transformations across various aspects of society. Here are\u00a0ten key changes<\/strong>\u00a0that have occurred:<\/p>\n New Constitution and Flag<\/strong>:[46]<\/a><\/p>\n Land Ownership Reform<\/strong>[47]<\/a>:<\/p>\n Freedom of Movement<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Democracy and Elections<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Reconciliation and Truth Commission<\/strong>[48]<\/a>:<\/p>\n Education and Equality<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Economic Empowerment<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Cultural Diversity and Identity<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Healthcare and Social Services<\/strong>:<\/p>\n International Recognition and Unity<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Despite progress, challenges remain.\u00a0Some apartheid victims seek justice, and ongoing efforts are needed to address inequality and historical legacies. South Africa continues its journey toward a more just and equitable society.<\/p>\n The iconic and fateful picture that captures the oppression of the minority, White Apartheid brutality against the majority, indigenous Black People, during the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa, during the darkest period of the discriminatory regime.<\/p><\/div>\n The Ongoing Police Brutality in the United States against people of Colour in the 21st<\/sup> century[49]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The struggle against racial injustice and police brutality is not unique to South Africa; it has also deeply affected the United States. Here are some notable cases of brutality against Black people in the U.S.:<\/p>\n Eric Garner (July 2014)<\/strong>:[50]<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Brown (August 2014)<\/strong>:[51]<\/a><\/p>\n Tamir Rice (November 2014)<\/strong>:[52]<\/a><\/p>\n Walter Scott (April 2015)<\/strong>:[53]<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/MANDELA-STATUE-PRETORIA-3.jpg\")
<\/a>
The statue, at 9m high, is the tallest figurative statue of Nelson Mandela. It is made in bronze and weighs approximately 3.5 tons. From fingertip to fingertip, it measures 8 meters.\u00a0 The statue was cast in 147 pieces at four different foundries before being assembled in Cape Town, where the engineering work had been done by the Knight brothers at Sculpture Casting Services Foundry. The legs and arms were cast in Nottingham Road, KwaZulu-Natal. The statue was inaugurated by then President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, who in his speech said:
You will notice that in all the statues that have been made of Madiba, he is raising his fist and at times stretching it. That derives from the slogan of the ANC. This one is different from many. He is stretching out his hands. He is embracing the whole nation. You shouldn\u2019t say this is not Madiba because we know him with his one [raised] hand. The statue is located in front of the buildings on a spot that used to belong to the statue of\u00a0J.B.M. Hertzog\u00a0who was the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1924-1939. Hertzog’s statue was taken down on 22 November 2013 and moved to a different location in the grounds.\u00a0 In January 2014 it was discovered that there was a tiny rabbit in the statue’s right ear. According to the artists, Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren, they added the bunny in lieu of signing the sculpture, and in remembrance of how quickly they had to produce it. (The Afrikaans word “haas” means both rabbit and “quickly” in English.) After a furore, the artists apologised and the Department of Arts and Culture had the offending bunny removed.
Photo Credit: www.bing.com<\/p><\/div>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>This publication, Part 1 in a series on Human Rights, highlights the Human Rights Day[2]<\/a>, celebrated on Thursday, 21st<\/sup> March, annually, in South Africa, by the author, who is a third generation South African by birth, with his forefathers emigrating from the Haripura District of Surat[3]<\/a>, CBD in India.\u00a0 They arrived in Durban, as business entrepreneurs and settled in Ladysmith, in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, with regards to his paternal side. His maternal grandfather built a double storey building, at 180 Grey Street, in the Indian CBD, in Durban[4]<\/a>, incorporating his residence, where the author was born, and his maternal uncle was the second person of Indian origins to establish a full photographic studio in 1932, called Kamera Kraft Studio,[5]<\/a> for which he purchased a Leica Camera 111g in 1955[6]<\/a>, for the princely sum of 32 British pounds.\u00a0 The author was raised in the darkest days of apartheid in South Africa, with separate schools, universities, hospitals, entertainment, public transport, residential areas and even ambulances, under the apartheid legislature. He was admitted in the Medical School for Blacks at the University of Natal, established by government decree in 1951[7]<\/a>, specifically for the training of NON-WHITE medical students, separately.\u00a0 The author recalls being treated, by the Whites, literally as \u201cDIRT\u201d.\u00a0 He was witness to the atrocities committed, with the harshest brutality by the white security apparatus of the minority apartheid government, until liberation and a peaceful transformation to a democratically elected majority Black government on 27th<\/sup> April 1994.[8]<\/a>\u00a0 The first leader was President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela[9]<\/a>, who was incarcerated by the Nationalist apartheid government for 27 years, in the penal colony prison, on Robben Island, facing the shadow of the majestic Table Mountain.[10]<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/MLK-WASHINGTON-2.jpg\")
<\/a>
It was a speech that the world cannot forget. On August 28, 1963, an estimated 250,000 people marched to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington where they heard Martin Luther King Jr. give a speech destined to resonate through the ages.
In what became known as the \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speech, King gave impassioned voice to the demands of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement \u2014 equal rights for all citizens, regardless of the color of their skin.
Some historians maintain that King\u2019s speech, delivered at one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in U.S. history, was one of those rare moments that changed a nation \u2014 paving the way for a transformation of American law and life.
\u201cIt was a very peaceful day. A sea of white as well as black faces enveloped the Mall,\u201d the late Dorothy Height, president emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), wrote in 2005. Height, one of the march\u2019s organizers, sat behind King on the platform. \u201cI think it was a decisive moment not only in U.S. civil rights history, but also in American history. It resulted in a new determination to move toward equality, freedom and greater employment for people of color.\u201d
According to Height, \u201cThe real significance of the march, and the speech, was that it changed attitudes. Righteous indignation against racial discrimination became widespread after the march. It led to a time so full of promise and achievement. You could feel it.\u201d
Less than a year after the march, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which banned discrimination in public facilities, such as hotels and restaurants, and also prohibited employment discrimination. The following year, passage of the Voting Rights Act ensured African Americans could freely exercise their franchise.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/APARTHEID-MASSACRE-2.jpg\")
<\/a>\n
\n
\n
\n