Johnathan Paoli
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJCD) says it is ready to launch the National Conference on the State of Human Rights Conference marking the 30th anniversary of constitutional democracy and human rights in South Africa.
The three-day conference starts on Monday until Wednesday and is being hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg under the theme “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”.
The DoJCD confirmed that the conference is premised on the core mandate of the department which is to uphold and administer the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, deepening constitutional democracy and promoting the values of human dignity, equality and the advancement of human rights and freedom.
“This year marks three decades since the major shift from government sanctioned oppression, colonialism, slavery, racism and sexism and other forms of human violations to a democratic State committed to build a culture of human rights and promotion of human rights in South Africa,” the department said.
The department said the event marks 30 years of Constitutional Democracy, which is premised on the mission of ensuring transformation that entails improved quality of life for all citizens and equal opportunities for all.
The objectives of the conference include an opportunity to unpack the legal administrative, operational and financial hurdles that have impacted the progress towards the realisation of human rights and to propose recommendations to address the identified gaps and challenges in efforts to advance human rights.
The Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi as well as Justice Minister Ronald Lamola will open the first day of the event, followed by a keynote address by President Cyril Ramaphosa and plenaries covering human rights progress assessment, the right to land ownership and the role of the judiciary in the promotion and protection of human rights.
Earlier this month, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa, launched the country’s Human Rights Month and said that the year 2024 coincided with several historic milestones in the nation’s fight for fundamental human rights and freedoms.
Kodwa outlined the programme for Human Rights Month, and confirmed that following the conference, the commemoration of the National Human Rights Day was planned for 21 March at the George Thabe Stadium, in Sharpeville.
“The hosting of the event in Sharpeville symbolizes the government’s commitment to honour sacrifices made by those who fought and died for our liberation in Sharpeville and other townships across the land. It makes sense that we take the commemoration of the day to the place where it originated,” the minister said.
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