Building a Sustainable Human Rights Culture in South Africa is a must. Here’s why

By: Lizzy Ofusori

Human rights are the basic rights of each human being, irrespective of gender, religion, race, social status, political opinion, or any other characteristic. Many international documents deal with human rights, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which have been signed by many countries with different political, economic and social systems. With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, several regions of the world in Europe, the Americas and Africa have established their own systems for protecting human rights, which exist alongside that of the United Nation (UN). For example, in South Africa, the Bill of Rights is regarded as the cornerstone of their democracy because it enshrines the rights of the citizens and uphold the democratic values of human dignity, freedom and equality. The Bill of Rights binds the judiciary, the executive, the legislature and all organs of state. People are entitled to these rights, but they also have a duty to uphold them. A human rights culture means people in a society understand what their rights are and understand that they have a duty to respect and tolerate other people using their rights. According to the South African Bill of Rights, no person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds in terms of subsection (3). Furthermore, everyone has the right to have any dispute that can be resolved by the application of law decided in a fair public hearing before a court or, where appropriate, another independent and impartial tribunal or forum. However, to build a sustainable human rights culture requires a comprehensive approach that involves the government, civil society, communities and individuals. Furthermore, it also depends on the individuals’ attitudes, and the respect and tolerance they show towards others. Thus, how and why must a sustainable human rights culture be built in South Africa.

How can we build a sustainable human rights culture in SA?

1. Education: Education is essential for building a human rights culture. Education about human rights, individual rights and duties, and how to respect the rights of others must be given top priority in South Africa. This education should be included in public awareness campaigns, community outreach programs, and the school curriculum.
2. Dialogue and engagement: Open and constructive conversation is essential to building a sustainable human rights culture. To address human rights challenges and find common solutions, South Africa should promote dialogues and engagement between various groups of people, including community leaders, civil society and government officials.
3. Strengthening legal and institutional frameworks: South Africa has a robust legal framework that protects human right, but there is room for The government should strengthen the institutional and legal frameworks that uphold human rights, such as the Human Rights Commissions, the Bill of Rights, and the constitution.
4. Combating discrimination: A major human rights issue in South Africa is discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and other factors. To curb this issue of discrimination, the government should implement and enforce anti-discrimination laws, train and educate public servants and law enforcement agencies, and raise public awareness.
5. Addressing socio-economic rights: Socio-economic rights, such as the right to housing, health care, and education, are essential for building a sustainable human rights culture. In order to ensure that everyone has access to basic services and opportunities, the government should seek to address socio-economic disparities.
6. Empowering civil society: To promote and protect human rights, civil society plays a critical role. Hence, it is essential that the South Africa government should work to empower civil society organizations such as non-governmental organization (NGOs), human right defenders and community-based organization to advocate for human rights and hold the government accountable.
7. Accountability and Justice: In ensuring a sustainable human rights culture, accountability and justice are a major factor. The government should ensure that those who violate human rights are held accountable and the victims of human rights abuses have access to justice and redress.

By taking the above aforementioned steps, South Africa can build a sustainable human rights culture that respects and protects the dignity and rights of all its citizens. However, it is also important to know why it is a must to build a sustainable human rights culture in South Africa. Hence, the following section highlights the reasons of building a sustainable human rights culture in South Africa.

1. It addresses historical injustices. South Africa has a painful history of human rights violations, including apartheid, which institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination and has left deep scars. Building a sustainable human rights culture can help in addressing historical injustices and ensuring that they are not repeated in the future.
2. It promotes social cohesion by fostering a sense of community and shared values. People are more likely to participate in civic life and contribute to the well-being of their communities when they feel their rights are being respected and protected.
3. It encourages economic development. People are more likely to be productive and contribute to economic growth, when they are able to participate fully in society.
4. It upholds human dignity. A culture that protects and respects human rights ensures that everyone are treated with respect and dignity irrespective of their religion, race, gender or other factors. A sustainable human rights culture creates a more inclusive and equitable society.
5. It strengthens democracy by ensuring that everyone has a voice and is able to participate in decision making processes. According to the United Nations, human rights are fundamental to democracy.
6. It promotes constitutional commitment. The South African constitution contains strong commitments to human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. However, implementation of these rights has been uneven, and building a sustainable human rights culture can help in ensuring the implementation of these commitments.

In summary, building a sustainable human rights culture is crucial for South Africa’s economic, social and political development and can help to ensure that the country moves towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

Dr. Lizzy Oluwatoyin Ofusori is a postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Management, IT and Governance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. She writes in her capacity.