26 – 29 MARCH 2026
Daily Programme
WE THE PEOPLE, WALK
#HumanRightsFestival
#StandUp4HumanRights
#InclusiveSA
REMEMBERING THE PAST. ENGAGING THE PRESENT. SHAPING A JUST FUTURE.
From 26 to 29 March 2026, the 8th Human Rights Festival brings together a multi-day programme of workshops, dialogues, debates, performances, activations, and public events at Constitution Hill. Across four days, the festival invites the public to engage questions of human rights, constitutional values, active citizenship, solidarity, and social justice through learning, reflection, culture, and collective participation.
More to explore:
???? Workshops & Panels – Learn from activists and community leaders tackling the biggest human rights challenges of our time.
???? Live Dialogues & Debates – Engage with experts on urgent topics like gender justice, climate change, workers’ rights, and more.
???? Networking & Collaboration Hubs – Connect with organizations and individuals who are making a real difference.
???? Interactive Social Justice Exhibits – Explore powerful storytelling through art, photography, and digital activism.
Thursday, 26 March 2026
Rights in practice: learning, dialogue, and civic participation
The festival opens with a full day of NGO capacity-building sessions, learners’ programmes, and public dialogue sessions. It sets the tone for the 2026 Human Rights Festival by focusing on knowledge-sharing, public engagement, and practical tools that strengthen active citizenship and human rights awareness.
Friday, 27 March 2026
Workshops, family experiences, and creative public culture
Friday expands the programme with interactive workshops and dialogues, alongside family activities in the Children’s Village, the Book Fair, the Film Festival, poetry and theatre performances, and the Gauteng Curated Makers Market. It is a fuller public festival day, combining social justice dialogue with books, film, performance, and community experiences.
Saturday, 28 March 2026
Solidarity, culture, and a full festival day
Saturday begins with 1000 Drums for Solidarity, followed by a packed programme of workshops, debates, and dialogues, plus the Children’s Village, Book Fair, Film Festival, poetry and theatre performances, and the curated makers market. The day also includes the Friends of Blanco – Day Chillers Session Festival, adding a strong music and youth-support component to the broader festival experience.
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Public action, movement, and community
The festival closes with the WeThePeople Walk and Fit City Run, offering a 5km Walk, 5km Run, and 8km Run through Johannesburg. The day starts from 7:30am and continues with wellness offerings, recovery activations, music and entertainment, and the Gauteng Curated Makers Market, creating a family-friendly closing day centred on movement, solidarity, and shared public participation.
All
82
Featured
15
Activism Row
7
Music
2
Exhibitions
3
Film
14
Book Fair
9
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops
48
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Capture, Corruption and Commissions
A panel discussion on whether Public Commissions and Hearings can address systemic corruption in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Family House Disputes
A panel on family house disputes, apartheid-era township housing, and the ongoing legal and social impact on communities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
There Is No Mental Wellness Without Human Rights
A panel on the relationship between mental wellness, dignity, and the protection of human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
Nothing About Us Without Us
A youth-centred dialogue on participation, voice, safety, and involving learners in decisions that affect them.
Debate, Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured
To What Extent Does Artificial Intelligence Threaten Human Rights?
A youth debate on artificial intelligence, employment, dignity, and whether AI threatens or reshapes human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Navigating dispossession and resistance uMhlaba Talks
A panel on land, dispossession, accountability, and resistance grounded in lived community experience.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Workshop
Caring for the Carer
A wellness-focused session on self-care, resilience, and sustainable support for activists and NGOs.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Panel Discussion
Liberating the Arts: Amplifying Marginalized Voices and Promoting Inclusion
A panel on the arts, inclusion, representation, and amplifying marginalised voices through creative practice.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Panel Discussion
Heritage as a Sustainable Catalyst for Durable Human Rights, Reconciliation, Equity, Redress and Constitutionalism in South Africa
A panel on heritage, reconciliation, redress, and how memory can strengthen constitutionalism and human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Workshop
What Would South Africa Be Without the SABC?
A workshop on the SABC, public interest media, democracy, and why public broadcasting still matters in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Traditional Levies and Human Rights -Traditional Levies and Human Rights
A panel on traditional levies, land rights, dignity, and accountability in rural communities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
The Right to Read
A literacy-focused dialogue making the case for reading, early learning, and educational justice as human rights priorities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
Living Together: Migration, Belonging and Human Rights
A dialogue on migration, belonging, dignity, and human rights in contemporary South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
30 Years of the Constitution: A Reflection and Commitment to Its Promise
A reflection on 30 years of the Constitution, its promises, its limits, and the work still required to defend it.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
The Right of Access to Justice: A Cornerstone of the Constitution at a Crossroads
A panel on access to justice, legal transformation, and the constitutional importance of meaningful legal support.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Quo Vadis the Just Transition? – Africa, Minerals, and the Human Cost for Green Growth
A panel on critical minerals, green growth, and the human cost of extractive economies in Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
Identity Crisis in Chaos
A reflective dialogue on instability, identity, social cohesion, and reimagining community in times of uncertainty.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Is there adequate and fair LGBTIQA+ representation in South African TV and Film?
A Human Rights Festival 2026 panel by House of Ditsie exploring LGBTIQA+ representation in South African TV and film, and the challenges facing queer practitioners in mainstream media.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Enforcing the Human Rights of Live-In Domestic Workers
A panel on dignity, labour rights, and access to justice for live-in domestic workers in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue, Featured
Why land redistribution Matters
A public dialogue on memory, justice, and the continuing responsibilities of constitutional democracy.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Civic Education to Combat Gender-Based Violence
A dialogue on civic education, accountability, and using rights-based knowledge to combat gender-based violence.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Workshop
The South African Constitution Explained
A train-the-trainer workshop unpacking the South African Constitution, its values, and its relevance in everyday life.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
People’s Forum: Mobilising for the right to sufficient food – everyone’s battle! And one we can win!
A people’s forum on the right to sufficient food, unpacking lessons from the SAHRC hearings and how collective action can push food justice beyond policy and into practice.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue, Featured
Nationality vs. Necessity: Who Gets Treated?
A dialogue on health xenophobia, constitutional rights, and who gets access to healthcare in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
From 1956 to 2026: Women’s Role in Activism
A dialogue reflecting on women’s activism across generations, from historic struggle to present-day organising.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
From Constitutional Promises to Lived Reality
Living Our Rights: International Accountability and Local Realities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Workshop
Democratising Submissions
Learn how to prepare stronger public submissions to government and rights bodies in this practical access-to-justice workshop.
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Debate, Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured
To What Extent Does Artificial Intelligence Threaten Human Rights?
A youth debate on artificial intelligence, employment, dignity, and whether AI threatens or reshapes human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue, Featured
Nationality vs. Necessity: Who Gets Treated?
A dialogue on health xenophobia, constitutional rights, and who gets access to healthcare in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue, Featured
Why land redistribution Matters
A public dialogue on memory, justice, and the continuing responsibilities of constitutional democracy.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Panel Discussion
Heritage as a Sustainable Catalyst for Durable Human Rights, Reconciliation, Equity, Redress and Constitutionalism in South Africa
A panel on heritage, reconciliation, redress, and how memory can strengthen constitutionalism and human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Workshop
The South African Constitution Explained
A train-the-trainer workshop unpacking the South African Constitution, its values, and its relevance in everyday life.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Panel Discussion
Liberating the Arts: Amplifying Marginalized Voices and Promoting Inclusion
A panel on the arts, inclusion, representation, and amplifying marginalised voices through creative practice.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
30 Years of the Constitution: A Reflection and Commitment to Its Promise
A reflection on 30 years of the Constitution, its promises, its limits, and the work still required to defend it.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
From Constitutional Promises to Lived Reality
Living Our Rights: International Accountability and Local Realities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
Living Together: Migration, Belonging and Human Rights
A dialogue on migration, belonging, dignity, and human rights in contemporary South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
Nothing About Us Without Us
A youth-centred dialogue on participation, voice, safety, and involving learners in decisions that affect them.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Enforcing the Human Rights of Live-In Domestic Workers
A panel on dignity, labour rights, and access to justice for live-in domestic workers in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Workshop
Caring for the Carer
A wellness-focused session on self-care, resilience, and sustainable support for activists and NGOs.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
There Is No Mental Wellness Without Human Rights
A panel on the relationship between mental wellness, dignity, and the protection of human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
Identity Crisis in Chaos
A reflective dialogue on instability, identity, social cohesion, and reimagining community in times of uncertainty.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
People’s Forum: Mobilising for the right to sufficient food – everyone’s battle! And one we can win!
A people’s forum on the right to sufficient food, unpacking lessons from the SAHRC hearings and how collective action can push food justice beyond policy and into practice.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Quo Vadis the Just Transition? – Africa, Minerals, and the Human Cost for Green Growth
A panel on critical minerals, green growth, and the human cost of extractive economies in Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue, Featured
Nationality vs. Necessity: Who Gets Treated?
A dialogue on health xenophobia, constitutional rights, and who gets access to healthcare in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Family House Disputes
A panel on family house disputes, apartheid-era township housing, and the ongoing legal and social impact on communities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
The Right to Read
A literacy-focused dialogue making the case for reading, early learning, and educational justice as human rights priorities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Workshop
Democratising Submissions
Learn how to prepare stronger public submissions to government and rights bodies in this practical access-to-justice workshop.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue
From 1956 to 2026: Women’s Role in Activism
A dialogue reflecting on women’s activism across generations, from historic struggle to present-day organising.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Dialogue, Featured
Why land redistribution Matters
A public dialogue on memory, justice, and the continuing responsibilities of constitutional democracy.
Debate, Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured
To What Extent Does Artificial Intelligence Threaten Human Rights?
A youth debate on artificial intelligence, employment, dignity, and whether AI threatens or reshapes human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Civic Education to Combat Gender-Based Violence
A dialogue on civic education, accountability, and using rights-based knowledge to combat gender-based violence.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
The Right of Access to Justice: A Cornerstone of the Constitution at a Crossroads
A panel on access to justice, legal transformation, and the constitutional importance of meaningful legal support.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Panel Discussion
Liberating the Arts: Amplifying Marginalized Voices and Promoting Inclusion
A panel on the arts, inclusion, representation, and amplifying marginalised voices through creative practice.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Capture, Corruption and Commissions
A panel discussion on whether Public Commissions and Hearings can address systemic corruption in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Workshop
The South African Constitution Explained
A train-the-trainer workshop unpacking the South African Constitution, its values, and its relevance in everyday life.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Featured, Panel Discussion
Heritage as a Sustainable Catalyst for Durable Human Rights, Reconciliation, Equity, Redress and Constitutionalism in South Africa
A panel on heritage, reconciliation, redress, and how memory can strengthen constitutionalism and human rights.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Traditional Levies and Human Rights -Traditional Levies and Human Rights
A panel on traditional levies, land rights, dignity, and accountability in rural communities.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Workshop
What Would South Africa Be Without the SABC?
A workshop on the SABC, public interest media, democracy, and why public broadcasting still matters in South Africa.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Navigating dispossession and resistance uMhlaba Talks
A panel on land, dispossession, accountability, and resistance grounded in lived community experience.
Debates, Dialogues & Workshops, Panel Discussion
Is there adequate and fair LGBTIQA+ representation in South African TV and Film?
A Human Rights Festival 2026 panel by House of Ditsie exploring LGBTIQA+ representation in South African TV and film, and the challenges facing queer practitioners in mainstream media.
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PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
The SOCIAL FORUM PROGRAMME
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Democracy
10h00
Workshop
Access Is a Human Right: Free Digital Tools for Safety, Support & Justice
Interactive festival experience
GRIT – Gender Rights in Tech
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Justice
10h00
Dialogue
Access to Education Justice 101: Understanding Your Rights in School and How You Should Be Protected
Knowing your rights in education
Equal Education Law Centre
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Freedom
10h00
Dialogue
Economic Justice and Democracy: Unpacking the Systems That Strain Human Rights
Film, democracy, and economic justice
Winners Without Gambling International
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Dignity
10h00
Workshop
Immersive Launch of the Stilfontein Human Rights Impact Assessment
A multimedia look at rights, mining, and state action
Lawyers for Human Rights
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Equality
10h00
Workshop
The South African Constitution Explained
Train-the-trainer programme
We The People South Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Democracy
12h00
Workshop
Trauma-Informed Facilitation for Social Justice
Practical tools for safer community conversations
Siyakha Social Solutions
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Justice
12h00
Dialogue
Bleeding With Dignity: Menstruation, Stigma, and Human Rights
Periods are political
QRATE
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Freedom
12h00
Workshop
What Would South Africa Be Without the SABC?
Reflecting on public broadcasting and democracy
SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Dignity
12h00
Workshop
Decent Work Is a Human Right: Youth Employment, Equality and the Future of Democracy
Youth agency, equality, and meaningful work
YMCA South Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Equality
12h00
Workshop
Caring for the Carer
Self-care tools for activists and NGOs
Cosmic Haven
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Democracy
14h00
Workshop
Launch of the Partnership on Information Integrity in South African Elections (PIIE)
Strengthening coordination for information integrity
Moxii Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Justice
14h00
Panel Discussion
There Is No Mental Wellness Without Human Rights
Mental wellness and rights are inseparable
Citizens Commission on Human Rights Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
26 Mar
Freedom
14h00
Workshop
Youth-Led Advocacy & Community Organising: Practical Tools for NGOs and Student Activists
Turning human rights principles into effective action
UNISA
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Democracy
10h00
Panel Discussion
Advancing Rural Democracy: How Do Rural Communities Use the Law to Harness Their Power and Own the Constitution?
Law, land, and community power
Alliance for Rural Democracy
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Justice
10h00
Panel Discussion
In the Shadow of Impunity: Findings of the People’s Hearing on Violence Against Human Rights Defenders in South Africa
Environmental justice and defender safety
GroundWork
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Freedom
10h00
Panel Discussion
Living Together: Migration, Belonging and Human Rights
Migration, dignity, and belonging
Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX)
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Dignity
10h00
Panel Discussion
Capture, Corruption and Commissions
Can public commissions and hearings deliver real accountability for corruption in South Africa?
Legal Resources Centre; Lawyers for Human Rights
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Democracy
12h00
Dialogue
Motherhood Is the Measure: Justice, Equality and the Politics of Care in South Africa
Care as a measure of human rights
Embrace
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Justice
12h00
Panel Discussion
Liberating the Arts: Amplifying Marginalized Voices and Promoting Inclusion
Arts as a tool for social change
AfroPride Art’s
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Freedom
12h00
Dialogue
Civic Education to Combat Gender-Based Violence
Knowledge, rights, and active citizenship
Activate Change Drivers
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Dignity
12h00
Workshop
Democratising Submissions
Making public submissions more accessible
Equal Education Law Centre
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Equality
12h00
Dialogue
Nothing About Us Without Us
Youth voices in decisions that affect their lives
Cart Agency – The Junior Advocacy Project
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Human Rights Conference Room
12h00
Dialogue
The Right to Read
Early-grade literacy as a human rights issue
Right to Read Campaign
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Democracy
14h00
Dialogue
Identity Crisis in Chaos
Reflection, conflict, and reimagining identity
TimiaAfrica
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Justice
14h00
Dialogue
Rojava and the Women’s Democratic Confederalist and Communitarian Internationalist Perspective
Learning from liberatory movements
Academy of Democratic Modernity
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Freedom
14h00
Panel Discussion
Enforcing the Human Rights of Live-In Domestic Workers
Rights, labour, and dignity in domestic work
Izwi Domestic Workers Alliance
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Dignity
14h00
Debate
To What Extent Does Artificial Intelligence Threaten Human Rights?
AI, dignity, work, and economic security
Universal Rights Association; Star College Pretoria; Nizamiye Primary and High School
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Human Rights Conference Room
14h00
Workshop
Civil Society Meeting on Collaboration
Strengthening coordination against election disinformation ahead of future polls
Moxii Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
27 Mar
Human Rights Conference Room
14h00
Panel Discussion
Navigating Dispossession and Resistance: uMhlaba Talks
Land, dispossession, and resistance
Land and Accountability Research Centre
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Festival-wide / TBC
09h00–11h00
TBC
1000 Drums for Solidarity
A solidarity programme of drumming, speakers, poetry, and cultural items in support of struggles across Palestine, the DRC, Sudan, Western Sahara, Swaziland, and beyond.
Human Rights Festival / partner organisations
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Democracy
11h00
Panel Discussion
Family House Disputes
Apartheid-era township housing and a continuing legal crisis
Lawyers for Human Rights
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Justice
11h00
Panel Discussion
Quo Vadis the Just Transition? - Africa, Minerals, and the Human Cost for “Green Growth”
Critical minerals, power, and environmental justice
Greenpeace Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Freedom
11h00
Panel Discussion
Heritage as a Sustainable Catalyst for Durable Human Rights, Reconciliation, Equity, Redress and Constitutionalism in South Africa
Heritage as a foundation for justice and nation-building
National Heritage Council
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Dignity
11h00
Panel Discussion
30 Years of the Constitution: A Reflection and Commitment to Its Promise
Taking stock of the Constitution’s promise
We The People South Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Equality
11h00
Dialogue
Why Land Redistribution Matters
Public reflection on memory and democratic responsibility
Nelson Mandela Foundation
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Human Rights Conference Room
11h00
Dialogue
The Right to Housing in a Climate Crisis
A dialogue on housing justice, climate risk and the fight for a healthy environment.
Centre for Environmental Rights
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Human Rights Conference Room
12h00
Dialogue
From Constitutional Promises to Lived Reality
Living Our Rights: International Accountability and Local Realities
Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW)
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Democracy
13h00
Workshop
Open Calls, Artists and Creative Memory in African Digital Archives
Artists’ rights and agency in digital ecosystems
NUMXN
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Justice
13h00
Panel Discussion
Reframing Justice for Gender-Based Violence: Insights from Participatory Research with Survivors and Families
What meaningful justice looks like
Foundation for Human Rights
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Freedom
13h00
Dialogue
From 1956 to 2026: Women’s Role in Activism
Women’s organising across generations
Pan-African Parliament & African Women Against Corruption Network
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Dignity
13h00
Dialogue
People’s Forum: Mobilising for the Right to Sufficient Food
Turning the right to food from principle into practical action.
Union Against Hunger
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Equality
13h00
Panel Discussion
The Right of Access to Justice: A Cornerstone of the Constitution at a Crossroads
Access to justice and the legal profession
Johannesburg Society of Advocates
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Human Rights Conference Room
13h00
Dialogue
In Participation Without Power – Are Young People Truly Represented?
Young people, opportunity, and public life
Youth Capital and Engage South Africa
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Democracy
15h00
Dialogue
Nationality vs. Necessity: Who Gets Treated?
Health xenophobia and the right to healthcare
SECTION27
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Justice
15h00
Panel Discussion
Traditional Levies and Human Rights
Land, equality, dignity, and accountability
LAMOSA
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Freedom
15h00
Dialogue
Polarisation as a Societal Fracture: Analysis of 32 Years into South Africa’s Democracy
Division, democracy, and social cohesion
Democracy Works Foundation and Pan-African Parliament Civil Society Liaison Office
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Dignity
15h00
Workshop
Technology, Power, and Democracy in South Africa: Reclaiming the Digital Commons
Digital systems, inequality, and democratic control
Tekano
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Equality
15h00
Panel Discussion
Is There Adequate and Fair LGBTIQA+ Representation in South African TV and Film?
A panel on visibility, representation, and queer narratives in mainstream media
House of Ditsie
Date
Venue
Time
Format
Topic
Description
Presented By
28 Mar
Human Rights Conference Room
15h00
Dialogue
Issues and Challenges of Transitional Justice in Nepal and Lessons Learned
A dialogue on Nepal’s transitional justice journey, its challenges and the lessons it offers.
Embassy of Nepal
FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
27-28 March 2026
The Human Rights Film Festival returns on 27 to 28 March 2026, presenting two inspiring days of film that explore the power and importance of constitutionalism.
We are really excited to collaborate with constitution hill once again in this unique festival that brings activist filmmakers under one roof with the larger advocacy sector.’ Mmabatho and Refilwe, Film Festival Co Producers
Through a selection of South African and international films, the festival examines the benefits of constitutional democracy as well as the growing challenges it faces.
The festival promises two informative and engaging days, using powerful storytelling to spark reflection on the value of human rights and the ongoing work of protecting them.’
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
12:00 - 13:41
Engelsis Pedal - Limitless Pedal
Cihan Emre Zengin
Limitless Pedal follows visually impaired young athletes forming a quiet yet powerful partnership on a tandem bike. Road, wind, and rhythm become their language. Alongside physical barriers, they seek recognition.
0:17:41
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
12:00 - 13:41
Actually, I didn’t want to stay long
Andreas Grützner
How has the treatment of people in psychiatric institutions changed from the 1970s to the present day? Who are the people who live in such an institution and what is the experience of a young man who starts working there in the 1970s? Confronted with a traumatic discovery in his family biography, a reflection begins.
0:22:23
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
13:50 - 14:30
Salt Mission
Mikateko Livingstone Pule
On the vast, punishing salt pans of Botswana, a weary operative completes his final mission. His task is simple: deliver a small flash drive.
0:07:00
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
13:50 - 14:30
Mamelodi - A Timeline of Heroes
Lebo Magolelo
Aubrey Mogase is an esteemed author and founder of an organization dedicated to researching and documenting the history of Mamelodi. With his extensive knowledge of the township, Mogase highlights significant local heroes and pivotal moments in Mamelodi’s development.
0:28:34
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
14:40 - 16:00
Chasing Losses
Stacey Thembekile Masemola
Student Film. Chasing Losses explores the growing epidemic of online gambling addiction among South African youth, exposing its impact on mental health, financial stability, and personal relationships.
0:11:26
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
14:40 - 16:00
Hearts Remember
Paul Modjadji
An intimate look at families navigating dementia in contemporary South African contexts. Featuring five families, including the untold story of iconic South African soccer coach Clive Barker and his journey with the diagnosis, the film sheds light on one of our country’s least discussed health conditions.
1:03:00
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
16:15 - 17:15
Washed Cleansed Buried
Sive Mbamatye
Student Film. African cultural practices have many rules when it comes to the rituals that surround death. But what if the death is not what it seems?
0:06:45
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
16:15 - 17:15
Bones
Nomandla Vilakazi
Student Film. The retelling of Sara ‘Saartjie’ Baartman’s repatriation in 2002 and the legendary poet whose words would encapsulate the cries of the South African people - I’ve Come To Take You Home. Starring writer, poet, and activist, Diana Ferrus.
0:48:55
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
12:00 - 14:00
Nana’s Farm
Basetsana Ntamu
A marginalized community suffers from severe neglect of basic sanitation infrastructure, disproportionately affecting women’s health and well-being. As preventable diseases spread and opportunities dwindle, the community’s resilience is tested.
0:04:39
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
12:00 - 14:00
Mother City
Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert
2 × South African Film & Television Awards 2026 nominee. A deeply human, often heart-breaking and at times humorous look at the global politics of urbanism. Filmed in Cape Town over 6 years, our story starts in 2016 when the government decides to sell a school, earmarked for affordable housing, to a private developer.
1:43:00
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
14:15 - 15:30
Timosha
Elena Malenkina
In the happy and peaceful world of the hedgehog Timosha, trouble suddenly comes. This story is about those who have been forced to leave their homes and start a new life.
0:11:20
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
14:15 - 15:30
Children of War: A loss of Innocence
Nhlanhla Makhosonke Mthethwa
A deeply personal and investigative documentary tracing the long shadow cast by apartheid-era political violence on a generation of children who were forced to pick up arms in war zones of South Africa’s transition to democracy.
0:50:06
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
15:45 - 17:00
African Renaissance Podcast
World Premier. Special Episode: A reflection on 30 years of the South African Constitution.
1:15:00
VENUE
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
The Old Fort Ramparts
Date
Time
Title
Director
Synopsis
Duration
27 Mar
17:00 - 19:00
The Deadline
David Jammy
Commissioned by the Constitutional Assembly. Filmed during the closing stages of South Africa’s Constitutional Assembly, The Deadline is an inside look at the realpolitik negotiations.
0:52:00
BOOK FAIR PROGRAMME
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
27 Mar
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Voices of Resistance & Resilience
From Survival to Sovereignty: Reclaiming Safety, Purpose & Human Dignity in Our Homes, Workplaces and Communities. In a world where psychological, physical, environmental and social vulnerabilities are increasingly intersecting, understanding how to cultivate safety, resilience and purpose is a human rights imperative. This session explores how the misuse of concentrated power can create environments of fear, silence and psychological harm — and how institutions and individuals can intervene, correct, and restore dignity. Practical take-homes that support everyday safety, sustainability and community well-being.
Millicent Magoro; Thoko Lydia Mphuti; Nthabiseng Montsho; Stan Maja
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
27 Mar
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Healing Through Storytelling
Exploring how storytelling — through books, art, digital media, and lived experience — serves as a powerful tool for healing, self-expression, and community building. Panelists share how creative practice and narrative help individuals and communities process trauma, reclaim identity, and foster connection.
Lesego Shika (Supernova); LitraPlay Consulting; Thato Belang; Sipho Ngobeni
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
27 Mar
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
The Future of Human Rights Literature
A forward-looking dialogue on the role of literature in advancing human rights. Panelists discuss how publishing, authorship, and storytelling can serve as tools for education, healing, social change, and giving voice to the silenced.
Alutta Publications; Bhekinkosi Ngwenya (ACOR Publishers); Stan Maja; Open Slot
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
27 Mar
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Children's Rights & Creative Expression
A panel exploring how creative expression — through books, art, storytelling, and interactive activities — can champion children's rights, foster imagination, and empower young voices.
Sedibeng Book Club; Janap Biemba; Onthatile Present; Kunjuzwa Jezile
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
28 Mar
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Women's Narratives & Empowerment
Centring women's voices in literature and art. Panelists explore how poetry, speculative fiction, and personal narrative challenge patriarchy, celebrate identity, and create spaces for empowerment and healing. Featuring perspectives on feminism, land, healing, and representation through creative work.
Nokwanda Sihlali; Shockwing Project (Salem Valuala / Brandon McDonald); Bene Lu; Open Slot
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
28 Mar
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Love, Identity & Social Change
Exploring how literature engages with themes of love, identity, belonging, and social transformation. Panelists share how poetry, storytelling, and publishing can interrogate power, celebrate difference, and inspire change.
David Rantjie; MT Magabe; Zintsomi Publishing
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
28 Mar
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Authenticity & Human Dignity
Reclaiming voice in a noisy world. This panel explores how authenticity and self-expression are fundamental human rights — and how literature, leadership, and lived experience can help people reconnect with their true selves, restore dignity, and build environments of trust and safety.
Thato Belang; Millicent Magoro; Bene Lu; Open Slot
VENUE
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC
Date
Time
Panel Title
Description
Speakers
28 Mar
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Closing Reflections: Literature as Legacy
A closing session reflecting on the power of literature to build legacy, preserve truth, and inspire future generations. Panelists discuss how storytelling, publishing, and creative expression leave lasting impacts on communities and the human rights landscape.
Alutta Publications; Nokwanda Sihlali; Janap Biemba; Open Slot
WE THE PEOPLE, WALK Programme
Time
Item
Details
06:00 – 07:00
Gates Open / Event venue opens
Music (basic playlist) begins on main field; vendors and activation stands open; participants arrive and gather.
Time
Item
Details
07:00 – 07:10
Opening Remarks
By Board Chairperson (TBC).
Time
Item
Details
07:10 – 07:20
JTC Speaker
Speaker slot.
Time
Item
Details
07:20 – 07:30
National Anthem and Wave Your Flag Song
Anthem and song segment.
Time
Item
Details
07:30 – 09:00
Call to Start Line — 8 km Runners (Black Tags)
Participants move to start area; MC announcements; race briefing; the Redbull truck by the starting line countdown to race.
Time
Item
Details
07:45
Call to Start Line — 5 km Runners (Red Tags)
Participants assemble at the start line.
Time
Item
Details
08:00 – 09:00
5 km Run Starts
Run begins.
Time
Item
Details
08:15 – 10:00
Walk Starts — 5 km Walk (Yellow Tags)
Walk begins.
Time
Item
Details
08:00 —
Recovery & Festival Zone Opens
As runners return to the venue: medals distribution; food vendors operating; brand activations; kids activity area; recovery and hydration zones.
Time
Item
Details
10:00 – 11:00
Sunday Shuffle (Run Club) Cooldown & DJ
Group stretch and recovery session for runners and walkers.
Time
Item
Details
11:00 – 17:00
DJs
Live DJ entertainment.
Time
Item
Details
12:00 – 13:00
Bliss Yoga
Yoga session facilitated by Dez Jason.
Activism Row
Meet the Social Justice Organisations and NGOs at the 2026 Human Rights Festival
Discover organisations, movements, and NGOs working across justice, equality, dignity, and human rights. Engage with their work, learn about their services and campaigns, and find meaningful ways to support, participate, or take action.
The fight for human rights isn’t just about words—it’s about action. That’s exactly what Activism Row is all about.
This is where social justice organizations, grassroots movements, and NGOs take center stage, turning ideas into impact. It’s a space designed for networking, collaboration, and mobilization, where festival-goers can meet the organizations leading the charge for change.
Throughout the festival, Activism Row will be a dynamic and interactive experience.
From local grassroots groups to international human rights organizations, Activism Row is a space where festival-goers can do more than just listen—they can get involved, take action, and stand in solidarity with movements shaping the future of South Africa and beyond.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your passion for justice into action, this is your chance. Show up, speak out, and stand up for change.
THE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
The Children’s Festival forms part of the 2026 Human Rights Festival at Constitution Hill, bringing together young audiences, families, schools, and community organisations for two days of creative, rights-focused programming.
Running from 10:00 to 15:00 on Friday, 27 March 2026 and Saturday, 28 March 2026, the programme includes dance, drumming, theatre, music, interactive activities, and workshop-led experiences across the site.
Set within the wider Human Rights Festival, the Children’s Festival creates space for play, expression, solidarity, dignity, and participation through live public culture. Interactive activities may run throughout the day, while performances are primarily scheduled across the late morning and afternoon.
What to Expect:
Visitors can look forward to a lively programme featuring:
- Dance and drumming performances
- Children’s theatre and expressive movement
- Interactive play-based activities
- Music and youth performance items
- Rights-centred storytelling and creative expression
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
27 Mar
10:00–10:45
Dance Performance
Afrika Tikkun
Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
27 Mar
10:45–11:30
Drumming
Afrika Tikkun
Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
27 Mar
11:30–12:15
Mango Groove and Sarafina Dance / Moving Into Dance Gumboot Dance and Traditional Dance
NTA and MID
Main Stage
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
27 Mar
12:15–13:00
Musical Item by Westrand Young Guitarist (20 piece band) / MM Media Hip Hop Item by Rushay
WYRG and MM
Main Stage
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
27 Mar
13:00–13:45
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
27 Mar
13:45–14:30
What’s in the Air? (The Epidemic Returns) / Performance
Struggles Theatre Production
Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
27 Mar
14:30–15:00
Mango Groove Dance / Amapiano / Dance Performance
Lefika La Phodiso
Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
28 Mar
10:00–10:45
Play Date / Activity
Sistaboss Academy and Company
Outdoor – Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
28 Mar
10:45–11:30
Play Date / Activity
Sistaboss Academy and Company
Outdoor – Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
28 Mar
11:30–12:15
Expression, My Right to Be! / Theatre & Dance; Play Date / Activity
Sir Alba Tutoring & Arts Academy / Sistaboss Academy and Company
Outdoor – Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
28 Mar
12:15–13:00
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
28 Mar
13:00–13:45
Performance
Gcebile Dlamini Foundation
Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
28 Mar
13:45–14:30
Performance
Young Minds Art Project
Women’s Jail
Time
Activity
Organisation
Venue
28 Mar
14:30–15:00
Interactive Theatre Performance and Workshop
Sibikwa Arts Academy
Women’s Jail
