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This year, 2021, the 10th December marks an auspicious day at is the 25th anniversary of the signing of the South African Constitution on International Human Rights Day. 

For the South African Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC or the Commission) this historically significant day is seminal. International Human Rights Day is observed on the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). For the first time in human history the UDHR proclaimed the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as human beings - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Today, 73 years later, the UDHR is available in more than 500 languages and it is the most translated document in the world.

The UDHR, in turn informed the various legal systems and constitutions across the world which recognise human rights. This milestone document provided the foundation for our very own Constitution within South Africa, a Constitution which provides the SAHRC with its mandate to protect, promote and monitor the attainment and observance of the human rights enshrined within Chapter Two of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. 

Recent history has cast the wide reach of human rights into the spotlight. The COVID-19 pandemic still remains a global issue of concern, having highlighted numerous human rights concerns relating to public health, freedom and security of the person, socio-economic inequalities and a plethora of other concerns. 

Recently, the SAHRC held its National Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 Unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provinces, from the 15th November to 3rd December 2021. The unrest which occurred from the 8th July to the 19th July 2021 in the two aforementioned provinces has highlighted numerous human rights shortcomings. The Commission has heard allegations of violations of the right to equality, freedom of movement and failure to protect the right of freedom and security of the person. The socio-economic inequalities within South Africa as well as a failure to provide basic service delivery for the realisation of these socio-economic rights was in turn alleged to have created the conditions for the large scale unrest which led to a massive loss of life, economic loss and exacerbated an already dire situation. 

This year’s International Human Rights Day theme relates to 'Equality' and Article 1 of the UDHR – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The theme for 2021 is, “EQUALITY - Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights.”

This International Human Rights Day, coinciding with the commemoration of the 25th year of the signing of the Constitution, gives us all an opportunity to reflect on human rights and the ongoing journey for its realisation both here in South Africa and within the rest of the world.

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission