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Human rights and the Constitution

Human rights and the Constitution: fundamental rights, dignity, child labour, tolerance and reconciliation. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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The Constitution

WordMeaning
Human dignityEvery person has worth and deserves respect
EqualityEveryone is treated equally before the law
EndorseTo give your approval to something
Children’s CharterA document setting out children’s rights
Free and fair electionEvery adult votes in secret, without force

Discrimination is unlawful on grounds of race, gender, religion, language and more. When rights are violated it can be reported to a court or commission. Human Rights Day is on 21 March. You cannot claim a right you don’t know.

  • President Nelson Mandela signed the Constitution in December 1996; it came into force in February 1997.
  • Section 28 of the Bill of Rights gives every child the right to a name and nationality, to family care or other proper care, to basic nutrition, shelter, health care and social services, and to protection from neglect and from work that harms them. A child’s best interests always come first.
The Constitution protects everyone’s dignity.
The Constitution protects everyone’s dignity.
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Living together

  • Tolerance: accepting difference without condemning it; you only understand once you have listened.
  • Mediation: a neutral person helps settle a dispute.
  • Reconciliation: people who were divided work at getting along again; it helps communities live together after conflict.
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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Human rights: rights every person has simply for being human; they are universal.
  • The rights in the Bill of Rights (Chapter 2) are fundamental rights; to entrench a right protects it against easy change.
  • Section 1’s values: human dignity, equality and freedom.
  • Child labour violates the rights to education, play and protection.
  • The Human Rights Commission looks into complaints; Childline is 116.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Entrenched = locked in a safe: an entrenched right cannot easily be changed.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

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