10 Interesting Facts About Human Rights Day

10 Interesting Facts About Human Rights Day. To many people, this is just a holiday to relax, visit friends or push household chores. In actual fact, Human Rights Day is bigger than that. Learn more about this national day from the facts below;

1. Human Rights Day reminds South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa.

2. The democratic government declared March 21 Human Rights Day to commemorate and honour those who fought for our liberation and rights.

3. It also commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, where peaceful protestors marching against discriminatory pass laws were fatally shot by the apartheid police and others were wounded.

4. It became an iconic date in our country’s history that today we commemorate as Human Rights Day as a reminder of our rights and the cost paid for our treasured human rights

5. The day is normally marked both by high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues.

6. The commemoration provides the country with an opportunity to reflect on progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights.

7. It also gives everyone a responsibility to ensure that our human rights record and history are preserved and strengthened for future generations.

8. Whether we are at the work place, within communities, at schools, or with our loved ones, we all need to demonstrate the kind of responsibility that we would like to see in our country’s future.

9. This year, the national event coincides with the 30th anniversary of freedom and democracy. It is held under the theme, ‘Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights’.

10. The national commemoration of Human Rights Day is held today in Sharpeville, Sedibeng District Municipality.