Year of entry into force: 1997
Region: Africa
Human rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to a clean environment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to education, Right to food, Right to health, Right to housing, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to life, Right to privacy, Right to social security, Right to the benefits of culture, Right to water and sanitation, Right to work
Excerpts
9. Equality
Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons, or categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination may be taken.
The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.
11. Life
Everyone has the right to life.
12. Freedom and security of the person
Everyone has the right to freedom and security of the person, which includes the right not to be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or without just cause; not to be detained without trial; to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources; not to be tortured in any way; and not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way.
Everyone has the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the right to make decisions concerning reproduction; to security in and control over their body; and not to be subjected to medical or scientific experiments without their informed consent.
14. Privacy Everyone has the right to privacy
23. Labour relations
- Everyone has the right to fair labour practices.
24. Environment
Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being;
26. Housing
- Everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing.
27. Health care, food, water and social security
Everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care;
sufficient food and water; and social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.
The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights.
No one may be refused emergency medical treatment.
28. Children
Every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services; not to be required or permitted to perform work or provide services that are inappropriate for a person of that child’s age; or place at risk the child’s well-being, education, physical or mental health or spiritual, moral or social development;
29. Education
- Everyone has the right-
- to a basic education, including adult basic education; and
- to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.
30. Language and culture
Everyone has the right to use the language and to participate in the cultural life of their choice, but no one exercising these rights may do so in a manner inconsistent with any provision of the Bill of Rights.