The second edition of Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival took place from Thursday March 21 to Sunday March 24 and it was brought to you by Constitution Hill and leading human rights organisations, with this year’s theme being StandUp4HumanRights.
“It is time now, to use our voices, louder and more effectively than ever before, to speak out for human rights, but more importantly, it is time to act to protect and promote human rights”, says Constitution Hill CEO, Ms. Dawn Robertson.
“In this the second year of the Human Rights Festival, we call for active citizenship. The Constitution and the rights enshrined therein can only be animated by active citizenry whose very agency is protected by the Constitution.”
Kicking off on Human Rights Day, on Thursday March 21, the four-day event included: interactive activist booths hosted by social justice organisations, interactive workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, poetry readings, art exhibitions and theatre and dance performances.
The festival highlighted the work of social justice organisations and the importance of civic activism, with tours of Constitution Hill, paying homage to all those who fought for their freedoms, particularly those who participated and lost their lives at Sharpeville on March 21 1960.
Making this year special was the addition of an LGBTIQ+ Village on Friday March 22 and Saturday March 23. LGBTIQ+ organisations were given the chance to setup stands to display their work and to interact with the public. The event was coordinated by the Thami Dish Foundation which is also responsible for pulling together the annual Feather Awards.
“By joining resources we can create a space which will be informative, interactive, exciting and entertaining,” said the foundation’s Jay Judah Matlou.
The Annual Constitution Hill “We the people Walk” took place on Sunday March 24. Participants were encouraged to walk for the causes they support and to defend these causes under the banner of #StandUp4HumanRights.
Trees to celebrate Arbor Month