Constitution Hill cancels rights festival

Johannesburg – On Friday Constitution Hill cancelled the annual Human Rights Festival, which was set for March 27, as a result of the Covid-19 fears.

  In a statementConstitutional Hill saidthe festival, which was to carry the theme Highlighting the role of young people in social movements, their commitment to global human rights and their determination to bring change in the world has been cancelled indefinitely.

  “It is with regret that we have decided to postpone this year’s festival. After much consideration we felt that protecting our community is a priority. We must apply universal and aggressive public measures to slow the spread,” the Constitutional Hill statement said.

  The event, which attracts hundreds of local and global guests every year, would showcase the work of social justice organisations, and explored human rights issues through exhibitions, poetry, performing arts, film, music dialogues and debates.

 The statement added:  “We must unite against the virus threat like we united after 1994. The next few months are going to be harder than anything we have faced in our lifetimes. This virus threatens to kill more people every day.”

  The festival organisers said they would find new ways to create public awareness and advocate for change that do not involve large crowds.