24 March 2021 

Online seminar In order to manage the spread of COVID-19 and protect the healthcare sector, South Africa has been in various levels of lockdown for a whole year. This has impacted on many aspects of life in the country including, amongst others, human rights, economy, education and lifestyle.  While the real impact of the lockdown will become evident in time, the Human Sciences Research Council and the University of Johannesburg have conducted various surveys over the past year looking at public sentiment towards various issues. As South Africa commemorated Human Rights Day 2021, the HSRC and UJ shared findings of how South Africans feel about human rights and the limitation of freedoms during the pandemic. The findings have critical policy and social implications that need to be considered and built into an effective strategic and regulatory response, that minimises risk, promotes recovery, all the while considering public needs and preferences.

 PANELISTS: Adv Tseliso Thipanyane, CEO of the South African Human Rights Commission Mark Heywood, Human Rights and Social Justice Activist CHAIR:  Dr Rachel Adams, Chief Research Specialist, HSRC