Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
DRAFT CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 10TH DECEMBER 1998: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN (NAP)
The National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (NAP) is a plan which has been drafted where South Africa gives meaning to its human rights commitments. The NAP process was launched by President Mandela on the 10th December 1997 and we have now come full circle in the completion of the plan which will be lodged with the United Nations in New York on the 10th December 1998.
The NAP will also be launched in South Africa through numerous events and activities. The theme for the day will be "All Human Rights For All" with a focus on combatting racism. Other themes to be addressed include children and youth, women, elderly and people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees and HIV/AIDS.
The soccer game - 4 December, Orlando Stadium
The French are particularly committed to hosting celebrations around the world in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declarations as it was in Paris in 1948 that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
As part of the French celebrations, on the 4th December, Sports for Peace are hosting a soccer game between the French Black Stars and the South African Legends. The Black stars are a veteran soccer team who engage in various social programmes. The Legends are a team of veterans who were unable to compete internationally during apartheid. This historic game will be played on the evening of the 4th December at Orlando stadium.
The Human Rights Carnival
The NAP celebrations on the 10th December include a human rights carnival. Floats depicting the various themes of the celebrations will be designed and constructed in the weeks up to the 10th December. The construction of the floats will involve participants from diverse communities who will learn about their human rights in a fun and creative way through the making of costumes and building of floats.
Carnival is a highly sophisticated art form which provides the means for multi-cultural expression, education, integration and communication. It is through this art form that the NAP will give expression to the human rights priorities facing South Africa today, in particular, the rights of vulnerable groups.
The NAP carnival will take to the streets of Johannesburg on the 10th December 1998 at 9am from the Afrika Cultural Centre in Newtown. The human rights carnival will weave a colourful spectacle through the streets of Johannesburg.
The carnival will change the landscape of the city centre activities into a day of celebration. It is promising to be the highlight of the year in street activities and will hold the city centre to a standstill for the duration of the event. Not to be missed!
A series of carnival workshops will be held at the Afrika Cultural Centre and various other venues until the 10th December. Any person interested in making floats, costumes, banners and puppets are welcome to participate. For more details please contact Kamal El Alaoul at (011) 484-8300 or 082-253-6681 or Benjy Francis at the Afrika Cultural Centre (011) 838-4541.
At the Fort
The Old Fort in Braamfontein will, in the near future, be transformed into the Constitutional Court and human rights museum. At this historic site, the large part of the celebrations will take place. The Fort will be transformed for the day into an art and awareness market of exhibits, stalls, interactive stages, speeches, poets, musicians, food and a lot of fun.
Stalls
A festive atmosphere will be created through the numerous stall that will be set up by organisations and government departments working in the field of human rights. This will give organisations/departments the opportunity of publicising their human rights activities and informing people on how to access their rights.
Activities for the day (see enclosed proposed programme of events). The day of the 10th will be divided to observe numerous themes of relevance to the South African human rights context. The overarching theme will be that of combatting racism and addressing this painful legacy of our history. The day will address the various themes through speakers, poets, music, drama and other educational and entertaining activities.
The programme will finish at about 7pm with entertainment and performances by well known South African artists.
For more details contact Jenny Parsley at (011) 484-8300 or Russell Ally at 082-457-2229