UN in Solidarity and Action at the 2025 Human Rights Festival and 'We the People Walk'

OHCHR ROSA took part in the annual Human Rights Festival at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa, from March 20 to 23, 2025. A living museum of South Africa's democratic transition is Constitution Hill. The site is a former prison and military fort. Today it is home to the country’s Constitutional Court. There is perhaps no other site of incarceration in South Africa that imprisoned the sheer number of world-renowned men and women as those held within the walls of the Old Fort, the Women's Jail and Number Four. Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Joe Slovo, Albertina Sisulu, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Fatima Meer all served time at the prison. Now in its seventh edition, the Human Rights Festival honours the sacrifices made by countless individuals during South Africa’s struggle for democracy, particularly those who lost their lives in the Sharpeville Massacre of 21 March 1960. 

The Human Rights Festival, now in its seventh year, honours the sacrifices made by innumerable people during South Africa's democratic struggle, especially those who perished in the Sharpeville Massacre on March 21, 1960. This popular public festival, which was organised by Constitution Hill in partnership with civil society organisations, once again united community organisations, activists, and non-governmental organisations to celebrate, advance, and raise awareness of human rights. 

The festival's theme this year, "A Just and Inclusive South Africa," created a vibrant environment for candid discussion and advocacy. The OHCHR UN Human Rights booth was a major attraction and a main attraction in Activism Row, one of the festival's busiest sections. The carefully planned area offered a chance to interact with the public, highlight OHCHR ROSA's work, and establish connections with organisations that share similar values. OHCHR ROSA staff were on hand to facilitate conversations at the OHCHR stall, which was a centre of activity with interactive experiences aimed at educating and motivating participants of all ages in discussions on important human rights issues. The booth also included innovative and engaging activities like a human rights quiz, a puzzle-building challenge, a photo booth with customised human rights messaging, and a graffiti blackboard where guests could write their own personal commitments to human rights advocacy. 

On Sunday, March 23, the festival came to a close with the renowned "We the People Walk." The 8-kilometer walk through the heart of Johannesburg, which passes by important sites like the Constitutional Court and historic museums, paid homage to constitutionalism and those who lost their lives defending South Africa's democracy. Mr. Nelson Muffuh, the UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, joined OHCHR ROSA's Regional Representative this year. He led the UN family in the walk, reaffirming the global commitment to human rights and promoting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 16 on justice, peace, and strong institutions. The presence of OHCHR reaffirmed how important cooperation and public participation are to the advancement of human rights.