Main Question: Identify the human right that was violated during the sharpeville massacre on 21 March 1960.

On 21 March 1960, the township of Sharpeville in South Africa bore witness to a harrowing event that would forever mark the pages of history. The Sharpeville Massacre, as it is known, was not just a tragedy; it was a blatant violation of a fundamental human right enshrined in international law: the right to life.

The Event: A Peaceful Protest Turns Deadly

The Sharpeville Massacre unfolded against the backdrop of apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government. The African National Congress initiated a peaceful protest against the pass laws, which required Black South Africans to carry pass books and severely restricted their movement. The demonstrators at Sharpeville, numbering in the thousands, gathered outside the local police station in a non-violent protest. The situation escalated when police forces, without warning, opened fire on the unarmed crowd.

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  • Key Points:
    • Over 69 people were killed, including women and children.
    • More than 180 individuals were wounded.

Violation of the Right to Life

The actions taken by the police at Sharpeville are a clear violation of the right to life, which is protected under various human rights instruments. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states in Article 3, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” Furthermore, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which elaborates on the rights in the UDHR, underscores in Article 6 that “Every human being has the inherent right to life.”

The Sharpeville Massacre serves as a distressing example of how state actions can egregiously infringe upon this right:

  • The use of lethal force against unarmed protesters.
  • The lack of accountability and justification for the excessive use of force.

The Aftermath: A Global Outcry and a Call for Justice

The international community responded to the Sharpeville Massacre with widespread condemnation, highlighting the severity of the apartheid regime’s human rights violations. The event became a pivotal moment in the anti-apartheid movement, galvanizing global support for the struggle against racial oppression in South Africa.

  • Global Reactions:
    • Imposition of international sanctions against South Africa.
    • Increased support for the anti-apartheid movement worldwide.

The Sharpeville Massacre remains a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting the right to life and the devastating impact when it is disregarded. It underscores the need for vigilance and commitment to human rights standards to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.

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