Human Rights Day - Every day: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All

This is the International Human Rights theme for 2023. In South Africa, not only do we reflect on the injustices of the past but we are also reminded of South Africa's Constitution Chapter 2 Bill of Rights of 1996. We reflect on a few historic cases of human rights violations and acknowledge those who have tried to make a difference when human beings' rights to dignity and freedom have been violated. And finally, address the Oppressor’s Bullying tactics and offer some survival techniques.

When it comes to Equality – we are all equal before the law and have the right to equal protection and benefit from the law.

Recognizing a right to dignity is an acknowledgment of the intrinsic worth of human beings. Human beings are entitled to be treated as worthy of respect and concern. In South Africa, our Constitution is founded firstly on the values of human dignity.

Essentially it’s an attribute that makes us human, to have humanness, in other words, it makes us different from animals.

Human dignity originates from God and is of God because we are made in God's own image and likeness

(Gn 1:26-27). Human life is sacred because the human person is the most central and clearest reflection of God among us.

Another Human Right is Freedom of movement and residence – everyone has a right to freedom of movement and to reside anywhere in the country.

And no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

As a child growing up in apartheid South Africa, the first influence that transcended racial boundaries was a Classic movie that I watched when I was about 10 years of age. E'Lollipop by Andre Peiterse story of two inseparable friends, Jannie and Tsepo. At the end of the movie, there is a scene where Tsepo lies on top of his freezing friend who is concussed in the snow to keep him warm. His cries of "I keep you warm, I keep you warm..." still reverberate within my heart and make my eyes water after more than 40 years.

2023 Human Rights Day - Sharpeville Massacre 1960

In South Africa, Tuesday, 21st March is a public holiday to bring to mind the injustices of the past, including the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre. This is where a peaceful demonstration against Pass Laws turned violent, resulting in 69 deaths and 180 injuries, including children. According to reports, an officer panicked outside Sharpville police station when protestors threw stones at the authority and opened fire. Many people were shot in the back as they were trying to flee.

There have been violations of human rights throughout history, regardless of race, culture, or belief. In South Africa, atrocities during the second Boer War of 1899-1902 should also be acknowledged, lest we forget those who stood up to abuses that involved war crimes.

Boer Concentration Camps

During the Scorched Earth Policy women and children endured unspeakable crimes by the British soldiers. There were about 40 concentration camps erected throughout the country, holding 150 000 Boer refugees. A further 60 camps were erected to house the now-homeless Boer employees. Tents were inadequate for the South African climate, and poor rations of food affected everyone, but especially growing children, as there were no nutrients, raw vegetables, fruit, or dairy products.

Emily Hobhouse

A British welfare campaigner, Emily Hobhouse from Cornwall eventually exposed the atrocities taking place at the Boer Concentration camps with the shocking image of Elizabeth "Lizzie" van Zyl's emaciated body, she was only seven years old.

Emily was called The Beloved Traitor, as she circulated Lizzie's image throughout the media, illustrating the violation of human rights. The image of Lizzie and other children is hard to forget after being deprived of food and proper healthcare. Little Lizzie died at a hospital where she was treated inhumanely and separated from her mother. Her family was considered ‘undesirables’ as their father refused to surrender nor betray his people. Undesirables in these camps received fewer rations and were treated worse than the others.

Every country on the map has many cases of oppressors manipulating and controlling other humans for power, money, or simply hatred. As I type this word, “hate” I affectionately recall my mother, who told me from childhood to not include this word in my vocabulary.

Steve Biko

And who can forget him? A South African human rights and anti-apartheid activist during the 1960s and 1970s. Steve Biko founded the Black Consciousness Movement, aimed at restoring dignity and uniting black professionals, students, and academics.

Biko died, from a massive brain injury, while in prison and it was revealed that there were signs of torture. He was eventually taken to the hospital, which was 12 hours away in the back of a Land Rover, naked and unconscious. He died shortly afterward at the hospital, on 12 September 1977. I can remember watching "Cry Freedom" on the big screen. It had a profound impact on me as I grew up in Apartheid South Africa.

And here's Peter Gabriel's tribute to Biko.

And listening to "Cry Freedom" almost daily on a record that I owned in the 80s, must have driven my neighbors in Bellvue, Johannesburg nuts. I can also recall ducking down in the back of vehicles when visiting friends in Soweto. Listening to Salief Keita brings back such awesome memories of watching him live at Baragwanath Stadium, also many years ago. Here he performs with talented artist Cesaria Evora, I also loved listening to her music.

I'm not sure if we have learned anything. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon laments that there's nothing new under the sun. I found an old photo of myself from 21 years old, taken on a Contiki tour in Europe. 33 years later, I agree with him. Especially when treating one another with dignity and compassion.

photo taken while writing this article (54 years of age- I was born in 1969).

One of Steve Bantu Biko’s quotes:

The greatest weapon in the hands of the opressor is the minds of those whom they oppress.

It is the oppressors' agenda to make you appear insane. They will focus on your mind, your Beliefs, your Spirit, and your Emotions basically everything that makes you a human being is at stake. They have no good intentions for you. When other options fail, they want you to take your own life. It's their agenda, focus, and objective.

I have endured an extreme violation of my Constitutional Rights over the past eight years. I have spent most of my career producing TV inserts as a Freelance Producer and now I have to stand up for everything I have ever stood for. As a 54-year-old woman, I cannot comprehend the lack of respect and violations of dignity, freedom, love, and kindness. Where are the fundamentals of having compassion? Where is Ubuntu? Here's a timeline from 2015, up until 2020. This details the targeted abuse due to the fact that I produced television inserts for a South African television program for more than 15 years.

They didn't care that I had breast cancer and was vulnerable and alone at the time. I had a lumpectomy in 2017, a sponsorship was arranged to have the operation at a private clinic by the criminals involved in order to try and keep it off the record. The lumpectomy was delayed for nine months due to harassment and psychological abuse. All made possible through the illegal invasion of privacy. I was unable to receive radiation treatment due to being made aware that my privacy was being violated, even in the hospital.

In 2018, I asked a Dr at Groete Schuur Hospital's Breast Clinic if my rights to privacy were being respected, while at a check-up at the Breast Clinic. He then wrote a note that I was anxious and paranoid. He infringed on my right to Freedom of Speech to clarify whether my right to privacy was being respected. They illegally admitted me to the hospital in 2021. After wanting a mammogram. The hospital staff committed gross misconduct and violated my rights.

My laptop and mobile were confiscated at the hospital and I was denied the right to a hearing with the Medical Board. The individuals involved were hoping that cancer had spread to my brain. The scan revealed that my brain was fine. I am constantly alerted to the fact that my privacy is being invaded, which constitutes an intrusion into privacy. This has been ongoing day and night for more than 8 years. The individuals involved, alert me when I wake up and when I go to sleep at night, which is a form of psychological abuse and harassment. They have no one else to harass because no one else knows that their privacy has been violated

The biggest role model, I have is my Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus who was tortured, beaten, whipped, spat upon, and stripped of His clothes, and His Dignity. He was humiliated, laughed at, and finally hang on a Cross with Nails pierced through His hands and feet. A crown of thorns was pushed into his head as a joke. But His Death and Resurrection are one of Victory for all mankind.

Right to Privacy - Declaration of Human Rights

Today, in 2023 the Oppressor's biggest weapon is our privacy. Once your privacy has been violated, the oppressors can manipulate and control many individuals' lives and believe that they have the right to ownership of their lives and play God.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home orcorrespondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

The Meaning of Oppression/ or bullying

It is the prolonged, unjust treatment of or exercise of authority.

Oppression consists of a least one of these characteristics.

1. Exploitation (an action or fact, that treats someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work)

2. Marginalization (treatment of a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral)

3. Powerlessness (lack of influence, lack of ability, or power) possibly due to poverty

4. Cultural imperialism (domination of a foreign culture is imposed upon a native culture)

5. Violence

Negative Impact of Oppression or Bullying orchestrated by harmful people

1. If allowed Oppression can impact a person’s self-esteem

2. The opressor/s tries to prevent someone from living their Full Life

3. The oppressor/s try to make you believe a lie that you can’t stand up to their injustices.

4. If you give the oppressors, the individuals who are acting unlawfully, authority, it can lead to mental illness and self-destructive behavior.

Standing up against the Oppressors or Bullies

1. Do not isolate yourself, it’s one of their biggest agendas to get you alone and vulnerable. Stay connected to friends and people who you trust.

2. Find groups and others who have experienced the same and find support groups.

3. Do not keep silent. Speak up.

4. The Bully wants you to react to their harassment. They want you to get angry, or cry, or they will get others to try to provoke you in every situation that they are able to instruct others to act on their behalf.

5. The Bullies or Oppressors want your attention, they will do anything to get your attention, so know that they are actually giving you a compliment by having you take up so much of their time and thoughts. They are actually losing out on life, not you, and remember that eventually, they are the ones that become slaves and are their own prisoners.

6. Start praying for them, imagine being like them. It’s a very sad picture, that they live to make someone else unhappy.

7. Remember who you are no matter what, you were created to be loved, and respected and to have a life full of laughter, joy, and peace. You were created to love others. And they have chosen the complete opposite. So celebrate who you are.

8. The hardest thing you most probably will go through is the disbelief that there are people in the world with so much animosity or meanness. This point has been my hardest to deal with. I had no idea that people could be so mean and cruel to another person that they don’t even know. This has hurt my heart the most.

9. Here again, celebrate that you have been created differently, celebrate the fact that you would never be able to intentionally harm another human being like your oppressors or bullies. Feel Blessed about this because this is what they are most probably jealous of, what else would hold their attention for so long?

10. The reason why you are being bullied or oppressed is that you are incredibly special, you are so unique that you have managed to attract the attention of others who are wasting their lives on negativity.

11. My biggest help has been my relationship with my Lord and Saviour, Lord Jesus. He has been Faithful and True to His Word. And I speak to Him all the time. I know how much He loves me and He fills my heart with love, peace, and joy through the Holy Spirit.

12. Always remember that He sees and knows everything that you are going through. He knows the bully’s plans and secret evil plots, He knows their thoughts and so does He know yours. This has really kept me sane. If I didn’t have a relationship with Lord Jesus, I really don’t know what I would have done. If you aren’t a Believer, then find a counselor, a professional who can help you.

13. Start empowering yourself by doing research about your Constitutional Rights If you have the funds, get a lawyer, and seek counseling.

14. But don’t ever give up. Your life is worth living for, if you feel depressed, know that in the morning things will feel better. It might take a few mornings but every day if you focus on uplifting music, reading encouraging material, or praying, worshiping, and praising. Meditating you will definitely feel better.

15. Start helping and uplifting others. There isn’t anything more rewarding than making someone else feel good about themselves. Absolutely nothing else, seeing their joy when you have highlighted how precious they are, boomerangs back to you.

16. Take the focus off yourself and focus on loving others.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:1

By Nikki Otto: Writer, Blogger, Photographer