‘Within society, each and every one of its members is responsible for having an opinion, for questioning, approving or rejecting the decisions taken by those who govern.’

Civil Society partners the Democracy Development Project, Art for Humanity, South African Human Rights Commission and the Durban University of Technology, with the support of Oxfam will be holding an Art and Human Rights seminar to increase awareness about Human Rights and the role of responsible citizenship at the on 21 March 2013.

These celebrations will include an Art and Human Rights workshop facilitated by AFH, a concert including a performance by popular music group Espresso, poetry presentations followed by an exhibition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by international artists and a seminar on the theme of ‘Human Rights, Culture, Education and Transformation’ and accompanied by acclaimed guitarist Madala Kunene.

Seminar speakers includes; Prof Steve Pete – UKZN School of Law (Ancient Rituals and their place in the Modern World: Culture, Masculinity and the Killing of Bulls), Ms. Devina Perumal - UKZN School of Law (Culture from a Feminist perspective) and Prof Sibusiso Moyo – Director: Centre for Research Management and Development DUT, chaired by Prof Brian Pearce, Associate Professor, Department of Drama Studies, DUT

The purpose of these celebrations and events are to cultivate awareness about human rights and responsible citizenship in all South Africans, particularly in the youth.

The events will be hosted by DATE: 21 March 2013

VENUE: Steve Biko Campus, Durban University of Technology

TIME: Afternoon Program- 14:00pm to 16:30pm

          Exhibition- 18:00pm to 18:45pm

          Evening Program-18:45pm to 20:45pm

ALL MEDIA WELCOME

For more information about the event partners, please visit their relevant websites:

The Democracy Development Project http://www.ddp.org.za ,

Art for Humanity www.afh.org.za

The Durban University of Technology www.dut.ac.za,

The South African Human Rights Commission http://www.sahrc.org.za

Oxfam https://www.oxfam.org.au

For further information please contact Nomfundo Mgabadeli at: afh@dut.ac.za

The South African Human Rights Commission in conjunction with The Bat Centre, Art for Humanity and the Democracy Development Programme held an International Human Rights Day Celebration. This year marked the 64th International Human Rights Day since its inception on the 10th December 1948. The day honours the United Nations General Assembly “adoption and proclamation” of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global declaration of human  rights.

The celebration was held on the 10th of December at The Bat Centre and it started at 12h00 and ran up until 15h00. The day kicked off with a brief screening and a discussion on what are Human Rights and the responsibilities attached. We then proceeded to the Menzi Mchunu Gallery where Art for Humanity exhibited their Dialogue Among Civilisation portfolio; the exhibition will run from the 10th December 2012 to the 31st January 2013. Lunch was provided after the exhibition and soon after the main part of the day commenced with various talented poets regaling the crowd with their talents. The celebration was closed off with votes of thanks from the South African Human Rights Commission and the Democracy Development Programme; the student band officially closed the celebration. Next year’s event promises to be bigger and better.

The 1st of December is not just a day on the calendar that commences yet another month. This day signifiessomething more important, World Aids Day. World Aids Day is an opportunity for people across the globe to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS as well as to remember the millions that lost their battles to this disease. Now why is this day so important, according to the World Aids Day organisation around 34 million people are living with HIV and more than 25 million people between 1981and 2007 have died from the virus, making it the most destructive pandemic in history.

To get clued up on all things HIV/AIDS, Art for Humanity attended an HIV/AIDS workshop hosted by the Durban University of Technology at the Hotel School on the 21st November. On arrival we received “goody bags” containing a key ring where you can put your medication in, a pack of condoms, pen and notepad. Professor Gawe, AFH board member and esteemed university personnel, welcomed all and opened the proceedings for the first speaker, Dr Sandy Pillay from the University of KwaZulu‐Natal’s Enhancing Care Initiative programme.

Dr Pillay gave an insightful and interesting talk on the HIV virus and how it progresses into AIDS. He touched on how his programme at the university helps research on AIDS, works on a possible cure and reducing the Anti‐Retro Viral drugs to just one tablet a day. He also demonstrated how easily the virus can be passed around.

“HIV/AIDS is an illness driven by human behaviour, by sexual behaviour. The problem we have with HIV today, we mystify it, making it a mystery making it difficult for others to understand. I feel if you understand something you have a better insight, motivation to want to change.” He continued to say.

The next speaker, Joanne Phillips a practicing attorney spoke about the legal side of HIV/AIDS in the workplace and the various rights each employee and employer has. She said HIV/AIDS should be treated like any other disease. An employer can only dismiss an employee based on the three major grounds: misconduct, poor work performance and incapacity arising from ill health or injury.

The workshop was concluded by Arley’s Workshop, an arts and culture non‐profit organisation that promotes HIV/AIDS awareness through hand held puppets, with their catchy phrases such as “Amagama amathathu, it’s a three letter word, its HIV” and “We talking about AIDS, let’s face it”. After the puppet show we broke into groups and held discussions about the way forward in HIV/AIDS awareness and education within DUT.

Even though World Aids Day falls on one day in the year, it is imperative to “remember the importance of raising awareness all year round”. Governments and our various societies across the globe need to educate their fellow man that HIV has not gone away and we need to “increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education”.

She describes herself as a “Gemini” through and through. Sabelo Zama Guliwe was born in Ladysmith on June 3rd 1987.Being recently accepted into the Bachelor of Technology for Fine Art, she talks about her experiences as an art intern at Art For Humanity, an international human rights organisation in Durban and her recent exhibition that took place at the Durban University of Technology ,City Campus.

Interview with Sabelo Zama Guliwe-3rd Year Fine Art Student

1 Tell me of your activities in the morning before your exhibition?
I had excitement that exceeded boundaries that morning. All my thoughts were on perfecting my appearance before the big hour approached.

2 Describe your art?
I was dealing with geometric shapes and line, by use of simplicity in colour and concept.

3 Where do you see yourself in a few years?
I see myself as a gallery collector of art

4 Who inspired you to do art?

My mother inspired me to do fine art as my first choice was fashion and she was worried I wouldn't get a job.

5 What’s your favourite colour?
My favourite colours are blue as we are surrounded by “Blue skies” and the colour black as it symbolises power.

6 Describe you artistic journey?

My inspiration comes from home and I am fascinated by the way houses are made, cities are just tall buildings. Everything 

Art for Humanity director Jan Jordaan attended the 3rd annual Art and Social Justice Conference which took place in Spain this year. The conference fell over a 3 day period in early October at the Gernika Peace Museum in Gernika-Lumo.  It was organised by the Gernika Peace Museum, Gernika Gogoratuz Peace Research Centre and the Culture House of Gernika.  In collaboration with Art for Humanity, Durban University of Technology and University of Nicosia where the previous conferences were hosted in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

The theme for this year’s conference was Arts, Crisis and Social Transformation, the choice of Gernika as a host was symbolic as this year signals the 75th anniversary of the bombing of “Guernica” as well as the “creation of Picasso’s masterpiece” of the same name.  According to the Gernika Gogoratuz Peace Research Centre, the theme was brought about by the current crisis in western societies, where largely a result of the greed of the banking system and different forms of political corruption and mismanagement.  These issues are not only central to Human Rights as contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but recurring themes central to the arts in general.

“The conference was attended by 30 delegates from Europe, USA, Africa and Eastern Europe. The conference as the previous conference underscores the importance of the art in promoting social transformation and the arts being a primary form of cultural expression proves through the many examples presented at the conference to be an effective medium in promoting social transformation.” Jan Jordaan said.

 The delegates engaged in presentations of specific papers, workshops by arts practitioner, circle discussions at the end of each day and performances and displays of artistic work. Although there was no time for sightseeing as their day would run up to 9pm, delegates got a chance between shuttle drives from Gernika and Bilbao to see the beautiful landscape.  “I didn’t get to see a lot of Spain but the conference one does get to network; it was brilliant in terms of meeting cultural activists, academics and artists sharing a common interest and common concern.” Jan continued to say.

Although the initiatives concerning art and social justice are “uncoordinated and often not recognised by governments across the globe, it has proved to be a sustainable and effective medium of social activism”, which was a clear outcome at the conference. Artists have and always will continue to “play a key role in transforming people, societies, and cultures simply by reflecting on what is going on around them”.