Human rights are highly necessary in attaining an injustice-free society today. Without it, people would not behave according to what is moral and just. Hence, a society which is chaotic and tyrannical might come into existence if people do not have and acknowledge what people today refer to as ‘human rights’.
Despite the fact that African human rights have already been established and revised long ago, it cannot be overlooked how there are still many human rights violations that occur in South Africa up to this point in time. South Africa director, Tiseke Kasambala, once made a powerful statement by saying, “South Africa’s constitution provides strong protection for human rights and yet people are being attacked because of their sexual orientation or perceived refugee or migrant status. To make matters worse, the government is supporting legislation that would curb the rights to freedom of information and expression.” (Human Rights Watch, 2014). While it is true that South Africa has played a massive role in enhancing the LGBT community’s human rights over the years, it cannot be denied how the said country had still failed to manage and resolve the widespread abuse and violence being experienced by lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders in the country. In addition, South Africa had also not been able to address the grave violations to African people abroad. It can be recalled that back in 2011, a South African protester named Andries Tatane was killed by the police during a service delivery protest. All Andries did was practice his constitutional right to free expression, and yet he suffered from police violence and died because of police brutality. According to Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson, the issues currently prevailing in Africa involving police violence reveal the true need of the African community for a just enforcement of laws in the continent so as to observe each African’s human rights. Melissa Fleming, UNHCR’s spokesperson, also revealed that the rate of human rights violations in the Central African Republic is constantly increasing due to the looting, extortion, and physical assaults done by armed men in the area.
Evidently, countries in Africa are still having a rough time with the outcome of the post revolution. Many still lack organization and harmony among its citizens and government leaders. Most likely, the best way to address the human rights violations constantly occurring in South Africa and the Central African Republic is to map out an effective and appropriate governmental plan which would take into account not only the government’s sentiments and agendas but also that of the people, including African activists who would like their sentiments to be heard. On a wider scale, in order for Africa to make democratic advances for the welfare and overall betterment of the continent, stakeholders must make stronger commitments to the issues that involve African human rights. This can be done by a strict monitoring and efficient follow-up process initiated by the African commission in the different countries in the continent. In line with this, United Nations also aims to implement a set of human rights initiatives for Africans in the next years in order to improve the status of equality and justice in African countries.
SOURCES
Human Rights Watch. (2014). South Africa: Mixed Year for Human Rights | Human
Rights Watch. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/21/south-africa-mixed-year-human-rights
Salira. M. (2014). African Human Rights Need More Commitment. Retrieved December
6, 2014, from http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/38574-african-human-rights-need-more-commitment
UN to promote human rights for African people. (2014). Retrieved December 9, 2014,
from http://gulftoday.ae/portal/09b5708c-416e-4b2f-a1f1-1f9ca38456e2.aspx