scholarly journals The interaction between religious freedom, equality and human dignity

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Gerrit Pienaar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Religious Belief ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right

In balancing religious freedom with the right to equality and human dignity of persons affected by discriminatory measures, the provisions of sections 9, 10, 15(1), 31(1) and 36 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 and sections 7, 8 and 14 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 have to be considered.  Especially in the case of racial or gender discrimination, the burden rests on the respondent to prove that the distinction is based on acknowledged church dogma or religious belief, and is of such a nature that it passes the test of a nuanced and context-sensitive form of balancing of these freedoms and the right to human dignity and equality of persons affected by them.

scholarly journals The utilisation of the right of children to shelter to alleviate poverty in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
I Mc Murray ◽  
L Jansen Van Rensburg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
The State ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right ◽  
Right Of Access

Children being the most vulnerable members of society are the one's most affected by living in poverty. This unacceptable situation can inter alia be attributed to the disastrous effects of Apartheid. During this unfortunate period in our nation's history millions of people were unjustly evicted from their homes and forced to live in deplorable conditions. Moreover, many of these people were left homeless or without the necessary adequate shelter. Children who were born into these circumstances were denied basic resources such as proper shelter, food, water and health care services. These unfortunate circumstances existed at the adoption of South Africa 's democratic Constitution. The preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa , 1996 reaffirms government's commitment to heal the inequalities of the past and improve the quality of life of all citizens. The Constitution is based on certain fundamental values, most importantly, human dignity, freedom and equality. The fact that these values are denied to those people living without access to basic resources such as adequate housing/shelter, food, water or health care services cannot be dismissed. To facilitate South Africa 's development as a democratic state based on human dignity, freedom and equality, the problem of poverty must be addressed. The Constitutional Court , in Government of the Republic of South Africa and Others v Grootboom and Others 2000 11 BCLR 1169 (CC), has recently stated that the effective realisation of socio-economic rights is key to the advancement of a value based democratic South Africa . Section 26 of the Constitution grants everyone the right to have access to adequate housing and section 28 that grants every child the additional right to basic shelter among others. By virtue of section 28(1)(b) the primary responsibility to provide children with the necessary adequate housing/shelter is vested in their parents, unless the parents are unable to fulfil their duty or the children are removed from their care. This does not in the least mean that the state has no responsibilities to children living with their parents. The state must still provide the framework in which parents can facilitate the realisation of their children's rights. The state can fulfil this obligation by taking reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to realise everyone's right of access to adequate housing progressively.  Therefore, it is submitted that the measures taken to realise section 26 also indirectly ensures the realisation of children's right to basic shelter (section 28(1)(c)). It has been largely accepted by the courts and academics alike that all fundamental human rights are indivisible and interrelated. Clearly then, the state's obligations in terms of section 28(1)(c) cannot be properly interpreted without referring to the interpretation of those obligations conferred upon it by section 26(2) and the other socio-economic rights in the Constitution. Hence, section 28(1)(c) must be seen in the context of the Constitution as a whole. Put simply, the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to realise children's right to basic housing/shelter progressively. This article will focus on the utilisation of the right to shelter of the child to alleviate poverty. Essential to this discussion is an effective understanding of the right to basic shelter as entrenched by section 28 of the Constitution in conjunction with the right of access to adequate housing conferred on everyone by virtue of section 26. This will be achieved by studying the general working of such rights including their limitations and enforcement. 

scholarly journals Religious freedom as a universal value

2019 ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Natalia Kutuzova
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Personal Autonomy ◽  
Freedom Of Religion ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Freedom Of Thought ◽  
The Right

The article substantiates the universal value of religious freedom, based on the fundamental human right to freedom of religion and belief. Referring to the relevant international documents, the author reveals the content of the concept of "religious freedom" and concludes that there are two basic values at the heart of human rights: human dignity and equality. Only a systematic approach to freedom of religion in the human rights complex gives them universal value. There are two components to freedom of religion (belief): freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; the right to profess one's religion or belief. Religious freedom has both a universal and a private dimension. Being secular in nature, freedom of religion is especially evident in modern societies, which secularity and inclusivity empowers people to decide for themselves about their religiosity. The article deals with the restrictions that exist for religious freedom. Often the right to practice one's religion comes into conflict with different rights of other people. The protection of these rights must come from the principles of non-discrimination, neutrality and impartiality, respect for the right to religion, pluralism and tolerance, institutional and personal autonomy, lack of a hierarchy of human rights. The article argues that religious freedom is a universal value and right in the human rights complex.

scholarly journals La protección de la esfera individual del derecho de libertad religiosa: desafíos actuales en el derecho chileno y comparado

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-180
Author(s):  
Miguel Sánchez-Lasheras
Keyword(s):  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Comparative Law ◽  
Individual Rights ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right ◽  
Individual Dimension

Resumen: Con frecuencia se recalca la importancia de proteger el derecho de libertad religiosa, pero, sin embargo, se desconoce el contenido específico de este importante derecho fundamental. En el presente artículo se exponen, de manera sintética, los derechos y libertades que conforman la dimensión individual de la libertad religiosa. Los principales ejemplos de normas positivas se refieren a la República de Chile, si bien se traen a colación algunos temas de actualidad en el contexto internacional y comparado.Palabras clave: Libertad religiosa. Derechos individuales. Derecho chileno. Derecho comparado. Abstract: The importance of protecting the right to religious freedom is often stressed, but nonetheless, the content of this important fundamental right is sometimes unknown. This article tries to expose, in a synthetic way, the rights and freedoms that shape the individual dimension of religious freedom. The main examples of positive laws refer to the Republic of Chile, although some current issues in the international and comparative context are also mentioned.Keywords: Religious freedom. Individual rights. Chilean law. Comparative law.

scholarly journals Raamwerkwetgewing ter Verwesenliking van die Reg op Toegang tot Voldoende Voedsel

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Anél Terblanche ◽  
Gerrit Pienaar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Food Security ◽  
South African ◽  
The South ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right ◽  
Human Rights Based Approach ◽  
Right Of Access ◽  
Sufficient Food

Various South African government reports list food security as a development priority. Despite this prioritisation and despite the fact that South Africa is currently food self-sufficient, ongoing food shortages remain a daily reality for approximately 35 percent of the South African population. The government's commitment to food security to date of writing this contribution manifests in related policies, strategies, programmes and sectoral legislation with the focus on food production, distribution, safety and assistance. A paradigm shift in the international food security debate was encouraged during 2009, namely to base food security initiatives on the right to sufficient food. During a 2011 visit to South Africa, the Special Rapporteur for the Right to Food of the United Nations, accordingly confirmed that a human rights-based approach to food security is necessary in the South African legal and policy framework in order to address the huge disparities in terms of food security (especially concerning geography, gender and race). A human rights-based approach to food security will add dimensions of dignity, transparency, accountability, participation and empowerment to food security initiatives. The achievement of food security is further seen as the realisation of existing rights, notably the right of access to sufficient food. The right of access to sufficient food, as entrenched in section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 will accordingly play a central role within a human rights-based approach to food security. Section 27(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 qualifies section 27(1)(b) by requiring the state to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of the section 27(1) rights. The South African government's commitment to food security, as already mentioned, currently manifests in related policies, strategies and programmes, which initiatives will qualify as other measures as referred to in section 27(2) mentioned above. This contribution, however, aims to elucidate the constitutional duty to take reasonable legislative measures as required by section 27(2) within the wider context of food security. This contribution is more specifically confined to the ways in which a human rights-based approach to food security can be accommodated in a proposed framework law as a national legislative measures. Several underlying and foundational themes are addressed in this contribution, amongst others: (a) the relationship between food security and the right of access to sufficient food; (b) food security as a developmental goal; and (c) the increasing trend to apply a human rights-based approach to development initiatives in general, but also to food security.

scholarly journals The Powers of the Court in terms of Section 7(2) of the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998: KS v AM 2018 (1) SACR 240 (GJ)

Obiter ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moffat Maitele Ndou
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Legal Remedy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Right

The preamble of the Domestic Violence Act (116 of 1998) (DVA) recognises that domestic violence is a serious social evil and that there are high incidences of domestic violence in South Africa. The preamble further recognises that:a) victims of domestic violence are among the most vulnerable members of society;b) domestic violence takes many forms and may be committed in a wide range of domestic relationships; andc) the remedies previously available to victims of domestic violence have proved to be ineffective.The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution) provides various rights that are also applicable to victims of domestic violence. The Constitution guarantees the right to dignity and to freedom and security of the person (see ss 10 and 12 of the Constitution respectively). Domestic violence against any person is a violation of these rights. The DVA further recognises that South Africa has international commitments to end violence against women and children in terms of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A right not to be subjected to domestic violence may not be specifically mentioned in international human rights law instruments, but freedom from all kinds of violence and the right to equality and human dignity is generally emphasised.The purpose of the DVA is to provide a legal remedy in the form of an interdict that prohibits a person from violating the rights of the complainant. In order to give effect to this purpose, section 7(1) of the DVA provides that the court may grant a protection order to protect the rights of the complainant. Section 7(2) of the DVA further grants the court the power to impose any additional conditions that it deems reasonably necessary to protect and provide for the safety, health or well-being of the complainant.In KS v AM (2018 (1) SACR 240 (GJ)), the court found that section 7(2) of the DVA empowered the court to order the seizure of the respondent’s digital equipment to remove any photograph, video, audio and/or records relating to the complainant. This case note examines the decision in KS v AM (supra) and determines whether the decision is justifiable in law. The definition of domestic violence is discussed first and thereafter the remedies available in terms of the DVA are examined. A discussion of the judgment in KS v AM (supra) follows.

scholarly journals Rhodes University v Student Representative Council of Rhodes University: The constitutionality of interdicting non-violent disruptive protest

2017 ◽  
pp. 93-102
Author(s):  
Safura Abdool Karim ◽  
Catherine Kruyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Student Protests ◽  
High Court ◽  
Chilling Effect ◽  
Constitutional Right ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right

Section 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 enshrines the right to assemble, peacefully and unarmed, and the Regulation of Gatherings Act 205 of 1993 enables the exercise of this right peacefully and with due regard to the rights of others. The recent student protests across South Africa have occasioned litigation seeking to interdict protest action, which the universities claim is unlawful. Overly broad interdicts, which interdict lawful protest action, violate the constitutional right to assembly and have a chilling effect on protests. In a decision of the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, Grahamstown, a final interdict was granted interdicting two individuals from, among other things, disrupting lectures and tutorials at Rhodes University and from inciting such disruption. In this note, the constitutionality of interdicting non-violent disruptive protest is discussed and analysed, using Rhodes University v Student Representative Council of Rhodes University and Others (1937/2016) [2016] ZAECGHC 141.

scholarly journals Gesondheidsorg vir Kinders: Voldoen Suid-Afrikaanse Wetgewing Aan die Land se Verpligtinge Ingevolge die Konvensie Oor die Regte van die Kind en die Grondwet?

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Mariana Büchner-Eveleigh ◽  
Annelize Nienaber
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Children’S Health ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right ◽  
National Health Act ◽  
Health Rights

Included in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 (UN Children's Convention) is the right of children to the highest attainable standard of health. In terms of article 4 of the UN Children's Convention, in implementing the UN Children's Convention state parties must "undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognised in the present Convention". South Africa showed its commitment to protecting and promoting children's health when it ratified the UN Children's Convention and subsequently adopted the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which includes provisions guaranteeing the health rights of children. South Africa also showed commitment to giving legislative effect to the protection and promotion of children's health by promulgating the National Health Act 61 of 2003, the Children's Act 38 of 2005 and the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002. The article evaluates existing policy and legislation affecting child health in order to assess how well South African legislation addresses the issue of children's healthcare rights and whether or not it complies with its international law and constitutional obligations in this regard. The article concludes that although much legislation exists, none provides comprehensively for children's healthcare rights, and there are many gaps in existing legislation. Most importantly, there is no reference to the core minimum requirements for the state in providing for the health of children, particularly in the way of healthcare services and nutrition. Further, there is a complete lack of legislation which protects the health needs of children with disabilities. In order to ensure that the health rights of children are protected and promoted, we propose more comprehensive legislative protection.

An Economic Analysis of the Social Grant Policy in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 362
Author(s):  
Rufaro GARIDZIRAI ◽  
Rufaro Emily CHIKURUWO
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Critical Question ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Grants ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Social Grant ◽  
The Right

South Africa`s economy is largely influenced by socio-economic challenges that need attention. These challenges include poverty, stagnant economic growth, unemployment and crime. In a bid to address these challenges, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa established the social grant system as one of the solutions to the above entrenched challenges. Section 27 (1) (c) of the Constitution affords everyone the right to social security, including, appropriate social support for themselves and those that depend on them. The critical question is whether the social grant system can solve all the above-mentioned challenges? This question remains as one of the unanswered questions in South Africa’s policy space. Extensive examination of this conundrum is therefore necessary. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate whether the social grants are economically sustainable in South Africa. The study utilized a combination of the doctrinal research methodology and literature review approach in achieving the objective of the study. The results of the study suggest that the social grant system is a short-term policy that presents long-run challenges, especially if the economic outlook of the country is not favorable. Therefore, although the social grant system is legally supported by the Constitution, it is nonetheless economically unsustainable considering the economic metrics of South Africa. Based on the results of the study, the paper proposes that the government introduces a new system of social grants that promotes small businesses for citizens so that they do not rely on the government for survival.  

Liberal Democracy and the Right to Religious Freedom

2009 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-635
Author(s):  
Michael J. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Human Dignity ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Prima Facie ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Dignitatis Humanae ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Church

AbstractThe Roman Catholic Church was famously late to embrace the right to religious freedom. Some have plausibly maintained that when, in 1965, the cardinals and bishops at the Second Vatican Council overwhelmingly adopted the Declaration on Religious Freedom—known by the first two words of its official Latin version: Dignitatis Humanae—the church betrayed one of its most traditional and established theological teachings. The right to religious freedom, according to international law, rests in part on respect for human dignity. Thus there is a prima facie link between the liberal democratic justification and the church's 1965 justification. But, as I will argue, the appeal to human dignity is not a preserve of modern liberal democracy. Indeed, we can imagine a government that limits religious freedom because it wishes to save souls, and this precisely out of a respect for human dignity. A similar view was held by the pre-Vatican II church. Thus the appeal to human dignity is not evidence of a fundamental shift by the church. What then does account for the church's undeniable change of direction? Human dignity by itself cannot provide the fundamental justification for the right to religious freedom. Another ingredient is needed: distrust, born of long historical experience, of government authority to adjudicate questions of religious truth. The church in Dignitatis Humanae accepted this lesson of history, a lesson available to believers of a variety of stripes as well as nonbelievers.

scholarly journals The Right to Just Administrative Action in the Context of Suspending the Payment of Disputed Tax

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Silke De Lange ◽  
Danielle Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
South African ◽  
Tax Administration ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Administrative Action ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right ◽  
Relevant Factors ◽  
Discretionary Powers

Section 164(3) of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 (hereafter TAA) provides a senior South African Revenue Service official (hereafter, respectively, SARS and senior SARS official) with discretionary powers to suspend the payment of disputed tax or a portion thereof, having regard to relevant factors, if the taxpayer intends to dispute the liability to pay such tax. Exercising a discretion in terms of section 164(3) of the TAA constitutes administrative action. Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereafter Constitution) grants everyone the right to just administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair and the Promotion of Administrative Action Act 3 of 2000 (hereafter PAJA) was promulgated to give effect to this right. The objective of this article is to apply the right to just administrative action to the manner in which the discretion in terms of section 164(3) of the TAA is exercised. This is achieved by adopting an explanatory research approach and performing a literature review of the discretion process in terms of section 164(3) of the TAA and the constitutional obligations in terms of section 33 of the Constitution as given effect to in PAJA. As the discretion exercised by the senior SARS official is influenced directly by the right to just administrative action, it should be exercised in a lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair manner to ensure compliance with the Constitution and the PAJA. For the discretion to be exercised in a lawful manner, the senior SARS official must at least be authorised to exercise the discretion in terms of the TAA and comply with the procedures and conditions stated in section 164(3) of the TAA. For the decision to be considered reasonable, the decision must be, at the minimum, rational and proportional, and to ensure that the discretion is exercised in a procedurally fair manner, SARS should comply with at least the relevant compulsory elements in terms of section 3(2)(b) of PAJA. A decision in terms of section 164(3) of the TAA which fails to meet the requirements of lawfulness, reasonableness and/or procedural fairness will be subject to review on several grounds listed in section 6(2) of PAJA.     

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