Apartheid

Apartheid in Namibia: why human rights and women are celebrated on the same day

By Henning Melber, University of Pretoria, via the conversation 10 December is worldwide commemorated as Human Rights Day. It marks the anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on that day in 1948. Many countries and organisations acknowledge this as a significant marker. It created a lasting, normative framework defining fundamental human rights. UN Member States, while in constant violation, have all ratified the principles. They remain […]

8 December, 2023 22

South Africa

South Africa misses the Mandela ‘spirit’ 10 years after icon’s death

With murals of his smiling face still covering many buildings, South Africans on Tuesday marked 10 years since the death of Nelson Mandela with a mixture of longing for his integrity and disappointment over what has happened since. While no official ceremonies were planned to recall South Africa's first black president, many spared a thought for the leader who emerged from prison in 1991 to end apartheid. Fellow Nobel Peace […]

5 December, 2023 6

South Africa

Sharpeville: new research on 1960 South African massacre shows the number of dead and injured was massively undercounted

Nancy L Clark, Louisiana State University and William H. Worger, University of California, Los Angeles On 21 March 1960 at 1.40 in the afternoon, apartheid South Africa’s police opened fire on a peaceful crowd of about 4,000 residents of Sharpeville, who were protesting against carrying identity documents that restricted black people’s movement. The police minimised the number of victims by at least one third, and justified the shooting by claiming […]

1 December, 2023 16