South Africa : South Africans must be taught about their rights

By Proffesor Ndawonde

Orange Farm - Given the low level of literacy in the country it is critical to educate South Africans about their rights and the Constitution, says Deputy President Baleka Mbete.

Speaking at the launch of Access to Justice and Promotion of Constitutional Rights Programme in Orange Farm in the Vaal on Wednesday, Ms Mbete said many people in the country were poor, uneducated and living in rural areas were vulnerable to gross violations of their rights on a daily basis.

"Access to human rights enhances the achievement of equality and human dignity. It gives a voice to the poor and marginalised and creates a society that not only knows its rights but knows how to access and protect them."

The Deputy President said government must endeavour to ensure South Africans were educated about their Constitutional rights and responsibilities which were meant to inform and protect them.

She explained to the hundreds of Orange Farm residents gathered at the event that by making people aware of their rights, they would be giving meaning to the Constitution.

Ms Mbete described the country's Constitution as the "birth certificate of the South African nation" and one of the most advanced in the world because it makes provision for an independent and impartial judicial system including a powerful Constitutional Court and it is devoted to the establishment of state institutions designed to support a constitutional democracy.

"Our government recognises that the realisation of the goals of the Constitution find concrete expression in the actual improvement of the quality of life of people," the Deputy President said.

Ms Mbete added that the interface between government, civil society and communities was the cornerstone of building the culture of human rights.

With access to information, South African people will be capacitated to make informed decisions.

The Access to Justice and Promotion of Constitutional Rights Programme has been developed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and European Union.

It aims to contribute to the strengthening of democracy by improving access to justice and promoting constitutional rights for the most vulnerable in partnership with civil organisation.

On Wednesday the world marked International Human Rights Day as well as the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which at the time represented the first step in establishing a comprehensive international framework for the protection of human rights. - BuaNews

Leia este artigo em Português
Lire cet article en Français