Sixty three years ago 69 unarmed protesters were killed by police in the small town of Sharpeville, south of Johannesburg.
On 21 March 1960, about 7 000 people gathered in Sharpeville to protest against pass laws as well as gross human rights violations when they were fired on, with many casualties.
Understandably, the Sharpeville massacre is commemorated as Human Rights Day, to underscore all the lives that were sacrificed in the fight for human rights. Also, to reflect on the progress made in ensuring basic human rights for all South Africans, as enshrined in the Constitution.
Internationally, Human Rights Day has been observed since the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The charter was drawn up to ensure the horrors of the Second World War were never repeated.
With all the fanfare of “human rights” only a small percentage of the world’s population lives in situations where their human rights are guaranteed.
South Africa is a nation that boasts laws that enshrine human rights. Yet the powers that be are comfortably ensconced and many countries are guilty of gross human rights violations. Should we not practise what we preach?
