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• Diversity in South Africa


  After the 1994 democratic elections, South Africa changed. Instead of there being four provinces and a few homelands, there are nine provinces. New national symbols were created an anthem, a flag and a coat of arms. In 1996 our new constitution was colaboratively written to repair the divisions of the past and to create a culture of democracy justice and human rights. The constitution is the highest law of South Africa Our country aims to celebrate diverse cultures, races and religions and prevent discrimination and violations of human rights.
• Human rights


  The basic rights that every human being has. Chapter two of The South African Constitution contains a list of human rights. This famous list is called the Bill of Rights. If your rights are ignored or abused, this is would be called a violation of rights.
• Xenophobia


  Fear or intolerance of foreigners
• Xenophobia can lead to discrimination and the violation of human rights of people who are of a different nationality
• Celebrating diversity and accepting difference are key values and that is why xenophobia and discrimination are not tolerated
• Our Constitution and Bill of Rights were written in the hopes that human rights violations would come to an end
• The Bill of Rights


  • Equality
  • Human Dignity
  • Life
  • Freedom and security of the person
  • Slavery, servitude and forced labour
  • Privacy
  • Freedom of religion, belief and opinion
  • Freedom of expression
  • Assembly, demonstration, picket and petition
  • Freedom of association
  • Political rights
  • Citizenship
  • Freedom of movement and residence
  • Freedom of trade, occupation and profession
  • Labour relations
  • Environment
  • Property
  • Housing
  • Health care, food, water and social security
  • Children
  • Education
  • Language and culture
  • Cultural, religious and linguistic communities
  • Access to information
  • Just administrative action
  • Access to courts
  • Arrested, detained and accused persons
• All these rights can be limited if it would be fair to do so
• South African organisations to protect rights


  • The South African Human Rights Commission
  • The Commission for Gender Equity
  • The Public Protector
  • The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities
• Other agencies such as the police and the judicial system are also responsible for the protection of the rights of the citizens
• International documents


  International Human Rights Conventions and Instruments. These are laws and contracts protecting human rights.
• The Children's Charter


  The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (also called the ACRWC or Children's Charter) was adopted by the Organisation of African Unity (AU). Like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Children's Charter sets out rights and defines universal principles and norms for the status of children.
• Factors affecting African children


  • sexual exploitation
  • gender discrimination in education
  • limited access to health
  • involvement in armed conflict
  • economic exploitation
  • migration
  • early marriage
  • differences between urban and rural areas
  • child-headed households
  • street children
  • poverty
• The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child was created to emphasise the need to include African cultural values and experiences when dealing with the rights of the child
• The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child challenges traditional African views which often conflict with children's rights such as child marriage, parental rights and obligations towards their children, and children born out of wedlock
• The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child expressly says that it is higher than any custom, tradition, cultural or religious practice
• The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child prohibits the recruitment of children (ie, under 18 years old) in armed conflict and deals with conscription of children into the armed forces
• The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child prohibits marriages or betrothals involving children and the use of children as beggars
• The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child grants girls the right to return to school after pregnancy
• Declarations vs Conventions


  Declarations are not legally binding but Conventions are legal under international law. Conventions make sure that the laws are put into practice.
• Two examples of Conventions are the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
• Exploitation


  Making use of people in order to make money
• Migration


  Moving from one place to another, especially from one country to another
• There are 80 million children or 4 out of every 10 children under 14 years old working in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is the highest child labour rate in the world.
• Millennium Development Goals


  One of the United Nations' (UN) Millennium Development Goals is that of gender equality.
• CEDAW


  The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an international document to guide all UN-affiliated states on how women and girls should be treated. It asked states to report on progress once every four years.
• The Masimanyane Women's Support Centre is working to form a national alliance of women's rights establishments in all nine provinces and to report on the progress of gender equality
• Local activists have been taught about CEDAW policies and how the document could be used as an instrument
• It is an international principle that holds governments accountable. Government is duty-bound to make
• One of the United Nations' (UN) Millennium Development Goals is that of gender equality.
• The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) is an international document to guide all UN-affiliated states on how women and girls should be treated.
• Cedaw asked states to report on progress once every four years.
• The Masimanyane Women's Support Centre is working to form a national alliance of women's rights establishments in all nine provinces and to report on the progress of gender equality.
• Local activists have been taught about Cedaw policies and how the document could be used as an instrument.
• Cedaw is an international principle that holds governments accountable.
• Government is duty-bound to make sure women are safe.
• South Africa has not reported to Cedaw since 1998.
• People say that gender equality does not exist because of the high levels of poverty, violence against women, maternal and infant mortality.
• The Masimanyane Women's Support Centre is working towards gender equality in South Africa.
• George Orwell: '"All animals are equal but some are more equal than others."'