Human Rights Day in South Africa was created to honor the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre (1960) and to celebrate the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the 1996 Constitution. It is a national holiday reminding all citizens of the sacrifices made for freedom, equality and human dignity.

When is Human Rights Day?

Human Rights Day in South Africa is celebrated every year on March 21.

The following is the list of Human Rights Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Human Rights Day?

On March 21, 1960, thousands of black South Africans gathered in Sharpeville, near Johannesburg, to protest against the pass laws of apartheid. These laws required black citizens to carry passbooks to justify their presence in areas reserved for whites.

The demonstration was peaceful, but heavily armed police opened fire on the unarmed crowd. 69 people were killed and more than 180 were injured, many shot in the back while fleeing. The Sharpeville Massacre shocked the world and became a turning point in the fight against apartheid.

Following the massacre, protests spread across South Africa. The apartheid government declared a state of emergency, banning political organizations like the African National Congress (ANC) and Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

The tragedy drew global condemnation and intensified both domestic and international resistance against apartheid.

With the end of apartheid and the arrival of democracy in 1994, South Africa's new government under Nelson Mandela declared March 21 as Human Rights Day.

The holiday was meant to commemorate those who lost their lives in Sharpeville and other struggles for freedom, celebrate the rights guaranteed in South Africa's new Constitution (1996), especially the Bill of Rights, and educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities in a democratic society.