CCHR Africa was invited by the President of the student section of the Black Lawyers Association as a guest at the provincial celebration of National Youth Day in South Africa, marking the anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
This public holiday honours the brave students who protested against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, and who sacrificed their lives while fighting for equal education and liberation during apartheid.
Our Executive Director, Marco Licciardello explained to the audience the fundamental role that psychiatry played in the creation of apartheid and how this led to the deaths of at least 22,000 Black South Africans and the maiming of even more, profoundly and indelibly scarred entire generations, and left a legacy of injustice and inequality that still pervades South African society today.
The event brought together around 120 people, including students and lawyers. Comprising of students and legal professionals and led to strong engagement and follow-up requests from national legal bodies.
We also hosted a table with materials and a petition, where we distributed pamphlets and collected signatures. Feedback was very positive. Following the event, members of the provincial and national boards (outside the student section) requested a follow-up meeting to brief the full board. A similar request was received from the South African Women Lawyers Association (SAWLA).
