Know your rights.
Accept your responsibilities.
The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy through the promotion and protection of human rights.
What are human rights?
Human rights are the rights that everyone has, simply because they are human beings. They are the rights we all have from the moment we are born. We do not have to earn them and they cannot easily be taken away from us.
The list of human rights protected in South Africa is the Bill of Rights, which is Chapter 2 of the Constitution. The Constitution is the highest law of South Africa. Everyone in South Africa, including the government, must follow it.
The rules set out in a Constitution are very hard to change, and so the rights in the Bill of Rights are also very hard to change. This means that it is difficult for anyone to change your rights or to try and take them away from you. Read more
Calendar
21 March, Human Rights Day
27 April, Freedom day
1 May, Workers day
16 June, Youth Day
Read more about Human Rights Day
Provincial Commissions
Each province has its own Human Rights Commission office. Our head offices are based in Johannesburg.
Operations and Corporate Services
The Human Rights Commissions' focal areas are captured within its designated programmes.