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South Africa will work harder, sparing neither strength nor courage, to fulfil the basic human rights of her people

South Africa will work harder, sparing neither strength nor courage, to fulfil the basic human rights of her people

THE adoption of our Constitution with its Bill of Rights by the Constitutional Assembly on the 8th of May 1996 was a great moment in our struggle to achieve a free and equal society.  As I said at the time, it marked the day our country and our people came of age. I referred to our constitution as the birth certificate of our nation. On that occasion, we proclaimed to the world that we are a society committed to democracy, to the rule of law and to the protection of human rights.  The Constitution came to be as a result…
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Why human rights should guide responses to the global pandemic

Why human rights should guide responses to the global pandemic

SANDRA LIEBENBERG, Distinguished Professor and H F Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law, Stellenbosch University THE coronavirus pandemic has killed over a million people globally and disrupted healthcare and political systems, economies, social bonds and religious practices. What can South Africa’s Bill of Rights and international human rights treaties contribute to coronavirus responses and recovery strategies in the country and globally? My central argument is that human rights provide tools to help states build fairer societies and economies. Such societies will be more resilient to future shocks. A human rights-based approach to the pandemic is based on values. It prioritises…
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