Sun Jan 22 2023 10:33:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) - QikTruck Media
Human Rights Day is an important reminder of equality and freedom for all. South Africa is no stranger to the fight for human rights. The struggle for true equality and justice began with the abolition of apartheid in 1994. Since then, South Africa has undertaken numerous initiatives to ensure the protection of essential human rights throughout the country. Here we take a look at some of the measures taken to promote uniformity and to stand up for those who feel oppressed.
Unfortunately gender remains to be a defining factor in terms of achieving equality in South Africa. Women constitute 51% of the population, but they make up only 13.2% of executive leading positions of the 400 largest companies. In a bid to combat this gender inequality, South Africa passed the Employment Equity Act in 1998. This act guarantees the promotion of gender-equal employment in South Africa. An example of gender equality in practice today is the "Women in the Mining Industry" program. It focuses on increasing the number of women employed in the South African mining industry, through such measures as quotas and training, to improve workplace gender equality.
In South Africa, education is integral in ensuring human rights and in understanding the value of fair access to opportunity. Consequently, the South African government has implemented measures to make education more accessible, with the aim of providing an education that is available and important to all. These initiatives include the No Fee Schools policy and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Under these policies, access to primary and secondary education is provided on a no-fee basis. In addition, NSFAS provides bursaries to students with financial difficulties. These government initiatives have allowed greater numbers of young South Africans to receive a quality education regardless of their background.
In 1997, South Africa passed a groundbreaking law making it the first country to recognize the equal rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. This legislation, known as the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, recognises same-sex relationships and makes provisions for the registration and dissolution of such unions in South Africa. The enabling of this law has been instrumental in this fight for greater freedoms and rights for all citizens, regardless of sexuality. This has also provided a platform for more progressive changes in laws and policies. One such policy is the Civil Union Act, which legalised same-sex marriage in 2006 and paved the way for equal treatment of this community in the country.
The historical and years-long marginalisation of the untouchables who, historically have been considered to be ‘untouchable’, has in the recent past been a barrier to the South African fight for human rights. This has been met with the adoption of policies and initiatives in attempt to find a solution. Highlighting this issue is the ‘Bhagwanti’ project. The Bhagwant Law Committee (BLC) was formed in 2009 to work towards the implementation of a national law that ensures the protection of untouchables in South Africa. The Bhagwanti project aims to provide educational opportunities for these individuals, thereby empowering them and engaging them more fully in society.
At QikTruck we appreciate the power of appropriate transportation to bridge the gaps of inequality. We acknowledge the inherent worth of every person and are proud to be a part of the fight for human rights and greater freedoms. On Human Rights day, we encourage each and every one of us to use our influence to advocate for better rights and proper regulations to equip the downtrodden and oppressed. QikTruck is committed to offering our truck and driver hire services to all South Africans regardless of race, gender or socio-economic standing. We are proud of our country and its fight for freedom, and will continue doing our part in this struggle.
The fight for human rights in South Africa is one that has reached a long way, yet still has a way to go. On this Human Rights Day, let us remember the struggle and thank those who have worked and are still working so hard to make sure that no person’s dignity is deprived of due to unforgivable discrimination. QikTruck values this fight for equality and continuously strives to play our part in ensuring a bright and equal future for the people of South Africa.
For more about QikTruck, please visit our website.