CHAPTER 7
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
Responsible citizenship means that you do your duty as a citizen – you fulfil your responsibilities and do what is right
or expected from you as a citizen
• Aware of or respect and promote human rights
• Are concerned about welfare of others
• Obey the law
EVALUATE YOUR POSITION ON DESCRIMINATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
BILL OF RIGHTS
- Is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa – enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms
the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom
- Basic human rights to all people – not only South African citizens
DISCRIMINATION
- You treat them unjustly, unfairly, and unequally because of who they are
- Discrimination is a violation of human rights
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
- Hurting and disrespecting or acting against someone’s rights
- Violating their rights to dignity
PARTICIPATING IN DISCUSSIONS, PROJECTS, CAMPAIGNS AND EVENTS WHICH ADDRESS DISCRIMINATION AND
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
DISCUSSIONS
Discussions are dialogues and conversations in which people share information and ideas
• Online discussions and forums – people write their opinions on a website and others respond and comment
• Social media such as twitter and Facebook
• Talks and workshops
PROJECTS
Projects that help people whose human rights have been violated usually run over a long time – they may be run by
non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) – they are always looking for volunteers
ORANGE FARM HUMAN RIGHTS ADVICE CENTRE
- The foundation for human rights took over this project – started by the Catholic Church in 1996 at Orange
Farm, South of Johannesburg
- Is one of the largest informal settlements – population of about 1 million people
- The project is an advice center that deals with evictions, domestic violence, abuse, refugees etc.
YOUTH RIGHTS PROJECT
- Human Rights institute of South Africa has a project that organizes human rights training workshops for
youth representatives
- The aim is to build values and develop responsibilities, expertise, and skills to understand the rights that give
youth opportunities
- Young people who take part in the workshops are expected to pass on what they know to their communities
and to start projects that seek to improve human rights situations
, CAMPAIGNS
Is a series of actions intended to change something – can be for or against something
PEERMONT SCHOOL SUPPORT PROGRAMME
- Started a human rights campaign in some high schools in the Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng areas
- The aim is to introduce conversations at the schools about human rights
- The campaign involves field trips for learners, guest speakers, workshops, and poster campaigns
DEMAND DIGNITY CAMPAIGN
- Amnesty International’s six-year Demand Dignity campaign focuses on areas of human rights violations in
which poor people are ignored, excluded from decision making and are kept poor and powerless
EVENTS
An event is a planned occasion or activity – it may be part of larger human rights campaign or project
May be organized for an anniversary of some sorts – like marches, festivals, and parades
YOUTH CELEBRATIONS
- Celebrations of South Africa’s youth are held by various organizations
- These events are about celebrating being young, having fun and learning more about what it means to take
responsibility for one’s future
- Talks a discussions focus on the challenges that young people face and how to overcome them
YOUTH FAMILY CONGRESS
- An event that took place in Tanzania – its aim was to give young people the opportunity to discuss issues
affecting them
- Amukelani Mayimele was one of the organizers and participants
- A development agency that tries to alleviate poverty and motivates and inspires African youth
EVALUATIONS OF OUTCOMES OF CAMPAIGNS AND EVENTS
Evaluation criteria:
1) Identify the aims of the campaign or event
2) Find out if these aims are achieved – can be done by observing, asking questions, and doing research and by
comparing the problem before the campaign to how the problem was solved or improved
THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY: ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA
ROLE OF MEDIA IN A DEMOCRACY
Electronic media – media that needs electricity or batteries such as the internet and emails/websites etc.
Print media – includes books, newspapers, magazines etc.
• The role of media is to inform society about daily events that are newsworthy
• Telephones keep people in touch with each other and allow them to send and receive messages immediately
The medias role is important in a democracy to:
• Expose violations of human rights report on unlawful activities, the court and court cases
• Expose corruption and mismanagement
• Communicate, inform, and educate
• Give political information that can inform voters
Freedom of expression = comes with the responsibility to use this freedom with care and to take note of the
limitations of this freedom – the media reflect the influence public opinion and are powerful policy drivers
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
Responsible citizenship means that you do your duty as a citizen – you fulfil your responsibilities and do what is right
or expected from you as a citizen
• Aware of or respect and promote human rights
• Are concerned about welfare of others
• Obey the law
EVALUATE YOUR POSITION ON DESCRIMINATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
BILL OF RIGHTS
- Is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa – enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms
the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom
- Basic human rights to all people – not only South African citizens
DISCRIMINATION
- You treat them unjustly, unfairly, and unequally because of who they are
- Discrimination is a violation of human rights
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
- Hurting and disrespecting or acting against someone’s rights
- Violating their rights to dignity
PARTICIPATING IN DISCUSSIONS, PROJECTS, CAMPAIGNS AND EVENTS WHICH ADDRESS DISCRIMINATION AND
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
DISCUSSIONS
Discussions are dialogues and conversations in which people share information and ideas
• Online discussions and forums – people write their opinions on a website and others respond and comment
• Social media such as twitter and Facebook
• Talks and workshops
PROJECTS
Projects that help people whose human rights have been violated usually run over a long time – they may be run by
non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) – they are always looking for volunteers
ORANGE FARM HUMAN RIGHTS ADVICE CENTRE
- The foundation for human rights took over this project – started by the Catholic Church in 1996 at Orange
Farm, South of Johannesburg
- Is one of the largest informal settlements – population of about 1 million people
- The project is an advice center that deals with evictions, domestic violence, abuse, refugees etc.
YOUTH RIGHTS PROJECT
- Human Rights institute of South Africa has a project that organizes human rights training workshops for
youth representatives
- The aim is to build values and develop responsibilities, expertise, and skills to understand the rights that give
youth opportunities
- Young people who take part in the workshops are expected to pass on what they know to their communities
and to start projects that seek to improve human rights situations
, CAMPAIGNS
Is a series of actions intended to change something – can be for or against something
PEERMONT SCHOOL SUPPORT PROGRAMME
- Started a human rights campaign in some high schools in the Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng areas
- The aim is to introduce conversations at the schools about human rights
- The campaign involves field trips for learners, guest speakers, workshops, and poster campaigns
DEMAND DIGNITY CAMPAIGN
- Amnesty International’s six-year Demand Dignity campaign focuses on areas of human rights violations in
which poor people are ignored, excluded from decision making and are kept poor and powerless
EVENTS
An event is a planned occasion or activity – it may be part of larger human rights campaign or project
May be organized for an anniversary of some sorts – like marches, festivals, and parades
YOUTH CELEBRATIONS
- Celebrations of South Africa’s youth are held by various organizations
- These events are about celebrating being young, having fun and learning more about what it means to take
responsibility for one’s future
- Talks a discussions focus on the challenges that young people face and how to overcome them
YOUTH FAMILY CONGRESS
- An event that took place in Tanzania – its aim was to give young people the opportunity to discuss issues
affecting them
- Amukelani Mayimele was one of the organizers and participants
- A development agency that tries to alleviate poverty and motivates and inspires African youth
EVALUATIONS OF OUTCOMES OF CAMPAIGNS AND EVENTS
Evaluation criteria:
1) Identify the aims of the campaign or event
2) Find out if these aims are achieved – can be done by observing, asking questions, and doing research and by
comparing the problem before the campaign to how the problem was solved or improved
THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY: ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA
ROLE OF MEDIA IN A DEMOCRACY
Electronic media – media that needs electricity or batteries such as the internet and emails/websites etc.
Print media – includes books, newspapers, magazines etc.
• The role of media is to inform society about daily events that are newsworthy
• Telephones keep people in touch with each other and allow them to send and receive messages immediately
The medias role is important in a democracy to:
• Expose violations of human rights report on unlawful activities, the court and court cases
• Expose corruption and mismanagement
• Communicate, inform, and educate
• Give political information that can inform voters
Freedom of expression = comes with the responsibility to use this freedom with care and to take note of the
limitations of this freedom – the media reflect the influence public opinion and are powerful policy drivers
