KAROO NEWS - Human Rights Day is commemorated in honour of the residents of Sharpeville for fighting against unjust pass laws in 1960.
Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work, the right to education and many more.
Human Rights Day always falls in the time of Lent, which is a very important and historical time in the lives of Christians.
This year it fell on a Thursday, and Thursday is known for Women's Prayer Day, but women saw it as an opportunity to create an event that included women and young ladies from different churches for a revival service.
The service aimed to remind them of the importance of God's presence in prayer, the political independence and freedom of the country. Women played an important role through faith in God and the movement of Christ.
"Women are leaders and prayer pillars, be it at home, at work or in society. They are created with great purpose," said one of the organisers of the event, Agnes Nontsikelelo Pietersen of the Holy Pentecost Apostolic Church in Zion.
The women arrived in their different vintage clothing styles, hats and heels in fashion, some with floral designs.
The magnetic charm of vintage clothing weaves its timeless tapestry, rooted in history and constantly reinventing itself for modern times. Derived from the French term 'vintage' meaning 'past its time,' this concept began to take shape in the 1920s when it described items from bygone eras.
"Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination," said Pietersen. "South Africa marks the 30th anniversary of its democracy, a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made to achieve freedom. As we commemorate 21 March this year, it is important to pause, reflect, and assess the trajectory of human rights since the transition to democracy."
The organisers thanked Mark from die Huis Vrou Shop for the fruit they sponsored for the ladies.
The rights set out in the constitution include the following:
Right to education
Everyone has the right to basic education, according to Section 29 of the South African Constitution. However, the public education system continues to be characterised by dilapidated school infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms and relatively poor educational outcomes.
While progress has been made in improving access to education, various assessments and analyses indicate that, at some schools, very little has changed in terms of the quality of education provided.
This underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to address systemic issues and ensure all students have access to safe and adequate learning environments.
Right to life and security
South Africa's crime statistics for the third quarter of last year show that people continue to face a serious problem of violent crime, especially murder and attempted murder. While the government is exploring different strategies to curb this, the "one-size-fits-all" approaches to addressing murder are unlikely to be effective.
Responses should be adapted to respond to the drivers of murder.
Right to adequate housing
The Constitution, in Section 26, provides that "everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing".
Furthermore, the constitution makes it obligatory for the state to take reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of this right.
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