Human rights are central to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) support to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other commitments as agreed by member states, including South Africa. The Agenda 2030 seeks \u201cto realise the human rights of all\u201d and envisions a world of \u201cuniversal respect for human rights and human dignity\u201d. It is firmly anchored in human rights principles and standards including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the right to development.<\/p>\n
The 10th of December is globally recognised as International Human Rights Day and, on this day, the Coega Development Corporation (Coega), along with the rest of the world, commemorates the United Nations\u2019 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.<\/p>\n
The Declaration, which was drafted by a diverse group of individuals from different walks of life, is a document that protects the basic rights of all human beings regardless of ethnicity, religion, or sexuality, and is one of the documents that has informed South Africa\u2019s Bill of Rights, to which Coega, along with the rest of the country, subscribes.<\/p>\n
Coega, in alignment with global practice, observes International Human Rights Day as a means of highlighting the significance of human rights in society. Coega acknowledges that human rights are essential for the wellbeing and prosperity of every person, and that it is a collective responsibility to ensure that these rights are respected and upheld. Moreover, Coega recognises that the protection of human rights and promotion of social inclusion are essential contributors to good corporate governance, as espoused in the King IV Code and several ISO standards to which the Corporation subscribes.<\/p>\n
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a milestone document that proclaims the basic rights and freedoms that every person is entitled to. The Declaration includes civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, and emphasises the inherent dignity and equal rights of all humanity. Therefore, International Human Rights Day serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding and protecting the rights and dignity of every individual, irrespective of their background, beliefs, or lifestyle.<\/p>\n
South Africa, as a nation, has been deeply influenced by the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The country’s transition to democracy and the drafting of the Constitution, which includes a comprehensive Bill of Rights, were shaped by the values and standards set forth in the Declaration. Coega, as a public entity, is bound by the same constitutional obligations and is committed to upholding and promoting human rights in all its activities. On International Human Rights Day, Coega takes the opportunity to reflect on its role in advancing human rights within its sphere of influence. This includes creating an inclusive and diverse work environment, fostering respect and understanding among employees, and supporting initiatives that promote human rights and social justice within communities. Coega is also dedicated to conducting its business operations in a manner that respects and upholds the rights of all individuals, including employees, stakeholders, and the broader society.<\/p>\n
Further, Coega recognises that the promotion of human rights is not only the responsibility of governments and institutions, but also of every individual. International Human Rights Day serves as a reminder for everyone to be vigilant and proactive in defending the rights of others and advocating for equality and justice. This may be achieved through education, advocacy, and standing in solidarity with marginalised and vulnerable groups.<\/p>\n
International Human Rights Day is a time for both reflection and action. It is a day to celebrate the progress made in the protection of human rights, while also acknowledging the ongoing challenges and injustices that persist. Coega remains committed to playing its part in promoting and protecting human rights and encourages others to join in the global effort to build a more just and equitable world for all.<\/p>\n
Coega remains dedicated to creating a safe and dignified workspace for its employees, within reasonable boundaries as it pertains to issues of good governance and legislative compliance as a public entity.<\/p>\n
All people have rights, and all employees have rights, and with this comes the responsibility to respect the rights of others as well as the regulatory and contractual boundaries within which we all operate. Finding this balance is especially important for the effective functioning of a public entity entrusted to advance public good.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Human rights are central to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) support to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other commitments as agreed by member states, including South Africa. The Agenda 2030 seeks \u201cto realise the human rights of all\u201d and envisions a world of \u201cuniversal respect for human rights […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[540],"tags":[546],"class_list":["post-5388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-business-news","tag-coega","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5388"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5389,"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388\/revisions\/5389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}