With Human Rights Day approaching on 21 March, the City of Johannesburg is presenting a range of human rights programmes this month. Through the different programmes, which target pupils, the City hopes to inform them about their rights and develop an awareness of human rights.

Human Rights Month is commemorated annually in March to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in the country. More than six decades ago, on 21 March 1960, the Sharpeville Massacre occurred when police opened fire on a crowd peacefully protesting oppressive laws.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg Cllr Lubabalo Magwentshu says human rights advancement should be an ongoing project.

“To refer to Human Rights Day solely as a commemoration of this country’s tragic history, in which 69 people were killed and 180 were injured by apartheid police, would be unfortunate because it altered the country’s trajectory in such a significant way. The 21st of March is a significant reminder that human rights advancement should be an ongoing project.

“In a country where the majority of people still live in squalor, our daily priorities as the City of Johannesburg and the Department of Community Development are to bring human dignity by providing good recreational and sports facilities, theatres for the advancement of the arts that are free of degrading circumstances.

“We need to make sure that communities are free of social ills such as drug abuse and gender-based violence. These are the everyday battles that still degrade our communities,” Cllr Magwentshu adds.

Here are a few Human Rights Month activations:

• On Wednesday, 15 March, a Human Rights Day programme will be presented at the Ivory Park Lord Khanyile Library for children from Bokamoso Preschool. They will learn more about their rights and responsibilities.
• On Thursday, 16 March, staff from Witpoortjie Library will visit a nursery school for storytelling and Human Rights Day education.
• On 20 March, pupils will be educated about children’s rights at Klipspruit Children’s Library. On the same day, a lesson about Human Rights Day celebrations will be presented at Pimville Library, and grade 7 pupils from three primary schools will be invited to debate Human Rights Day at Poortjie Library.
• On Monday, 20 March, and Wednesday, 22 March, in the afternoon between 14:30 and 15:30 learners can learn more about their rights and responsibilities at Rosettenville Library.
• On Tuesday, 28 March, library staff from Ivory Park North Library will organise children from Ivory Park North and conduct a human rights awareness talk. Participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions and express their views about Human Rights Day.
• On Wednesday morning, 29 March, pupils will be taught about human rights and their influence on and impact on their lives at the Orlando East, Soweto, Library.

Those excluded from the programmes are encouraged to visit the City’s libraries to acquaint themselves with the history of Human Rights Day by using the resources offered at the library. An additional option is to visit sites like Constitutional Hill that tell the story of the country’s journey to democracy.