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20 - 23 MARCH 2025

FREE FOR ALL

Press Release

This 7th edition of the Constitution Hill Human Rights festival takes place at a time when our country works towards resolving challenging issues and crisis’s. Our Constitutional vision of social justice and human rights is being stretched to new lengths. In addition the global human rights crises in multiple countries sounds a call for solidarity in the fight to stand up for Human Rights. For this reason, the theme of the festival is A Just and Inclusive South Africa.

Conceptualised to commemorate South Africa’s Human Rights Day and celebrate the memory of those liberation heroes who took a stand for human rights in the Sharpeville 1960 massacre. The festival aims to build greater awareness and knowledge around human rights and to promote the importance of an active citizenry. The event strives to build solidarity, social cohesion and tolerance of difference and heal divisions in our communities. Moreover, the festival serves as both a global inspiration and display of the strength of South Africa’s ubuntu culture in working towards A just and inclusive society.

The three-day festival program is FREE to all and gates open at 10h00 on the 20th, 21st, 22nd. Of March. Sunday, the 23rd of March invites the public to take a stand and join together for Human Rights in the 8KM WeThePeopleWalk Walk.

The four-day event includes The four-day event includes a book fair; children’s village; film festival and multiple dialogue sessions. The final programs day – the 22nd of March’s program will culminate in The Sounds of Freedom Music Festival. This is an open air concert that will share powerful messages of inclusion and action from our communities and civil society organizations to help build momentum and civic activism where it might not exist. The concert will be headlined by renowned jazz artist Mandisi Dyantyis, local DJs such as KEDINEO, Buhle Mbongwa and Simmy will also grace the concert stage, the show will kick off at 18:00, at the Constitution Square. Attendees are required to redeem complimentary daily tickets on Quicket for public and entertainment programs between 20 and 22 March 2025 and on the 23 Mach 2025 – bookings for the WeThe People Walk are available on Webtickets.

2025 is the second year of the festival’s 1000 Drums activity as part of the official festival opening. Constitution Hill’s historical significance as a site of injustice, coupled with its present-day role as a center for social justice and reconciliation, uniquely positions it to facilitate solidarity programs. Drumming serves as a powerful tool to amplify marginalized voices and foster solidarity within community groups. During the Human Rights Festival, drumming promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion, while also encouraging open dialogue and debate.

20th March:

The public is invited to join a day of sessions focused NGO Capacity Building; Learners Programs & Public dialogue sessions, the day ends with an NGO and Film Makers networking session.

21 March:

Official opening ceremony – 1000 Drums for solidarity followed by multiple interactive sessions including workshops; children’s village; dialogues; book readings; film screenings and entertainment segments

22 March:

Continuation of public programs: multiple interactive sessions including workshops; dialogues; children’s village; book readings; film screenings and entertainment segments in poetry; theatre and music. The day closes with the Human Rights Sounds of Freedom live show from 17h00 – 21h00, headlined by none other than Mandisi.

23 March:

The iconic WeThePeople Walk is an 8km walk through the streets of Johannesburg that urges organisations; government offices and all members of the public to join in this walk for Human Rights and their own supported causes. The walk tickets are available for free at webtickets. Constitution Hill has free, safe undercover parking.

Civil society organisations have worked with Constitution Hill to shape a unique programme. Hosted on the apron of the Constitutional Court and using venues in the Old Fort and Women’s Jail, the Festival will bring together a public audience; community-based organisations; social movements; government & non-governmental organisations, and international organisations.

“The GBVF Response Fund is honoured to partner with Constitution Hill for the upcoming Human Rights Festival. This collaboration is vital, especially in light of the South African Medical Research Council’s 2024 report revealing that three women are killed daily by intimate partners in our country. Gender-based violence and femicide are profound human rights violations that demand immediate and collective action. As a committed ally in combating these atrocities, we view the festival as an essential platform to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and drive societal change towards a culture rooted in dignity, respect, and equality. Our involvement reaffirms our unwavering dedication to upholding human rights and eradicating violence against women and children” Festival sponsor and GBVF Response Fund Interim CEO, Zanele Ngwepe.

“In this safe and special space, people will be able to discuss challenges facing our country and the world, and how best we, the people of South Africa, can coordinate our efforts to bring about lasting and consequential change based on social justice and human rights,” said Acting CEO Siyabonga Hlongwane.

Key sponsors for this year’s festival are The Gender Based Violence Fund; The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency – with more partners to be announced.

More about The We, The People Walk:

Constitution Hill is set to host the annual iconic We, The People Walk on March 23rd, 2025. The walk takes its naming after the preamble of the South African constitution, the ‘We, The People Walk’ will once again wind its way through the streets of Johannesburg, symbolizing homage to those instrumental in this site’s establishment and acknowledging the contributions of those who fought for South Africa’s Constitutional Democracy.
There will be a drumming activation which will symbolically honour those who sacrificed for our freedom and amplify the voices of those who suffer and social injustices!
Preceding the 8km walk around the city is the Thand’uMzansi campaign activation, which encourages active citizenship by engaging citizens in activities such as reading the constitution’s preamble, raising the flag, and singing the national anthem. Representatives from various sectors will accompany participants along the route, facilitating discussions, and showcasing still art and placards to enable walkers to express their views artistically. Walkers are encouraged to take up a “Right” as enshrined in the Bill of Rights and Amplify it through art posters walk and talk.

The Human Rights Film Festival:

The 2025 Human Rights Film Festival is proud to present a powerful lineup of human rights-themed films, panel discussions, and interactive workshops. This year’s festival will showcase inspiring impact films by local and international filmmakers, as well as screenings of films produced by NGOs and advocacy organisations.

“In a special focus on children’s rights, the festival will dedicate a full day to exploring this critical issue through the power of cinema. Additionally, a 2-day intensive workshop will delve into the world of social justice filmmaking, examining historical film movement manifestos, Third Cinema, and the art of designing impactful campaigns around socially driven films. This workshop is open to not only filmmakers but anyone passionate about harnessing storytelling for social change. In closed sessions, film and television industry organisations will come together to debate the policies of their organisations in relation to their roles in national discourse; advocacy and human rights activism. The 2025 Human Rights Film Festival promises to be a thought-provoking and inspiring event, and we look forward to sharing it with audiences.” Mmabatho Montsho – Film Festival Curator

ARTivism:

The programme includes film, music, poetry, bookfair, and exhibitions to create intersectional stories and content addressing issues of migration, climate crisis, gender and racial justice and to further engage each other on issues of Human Rights.

Children’s programme:

Play Africa, the first interactive children’s museum in Southern Africa leads this programme, offering children ages 10 and under equitable learning experiences that bridge divides and help build our nation. The children’s book programme promises to be a magical one with inspiring books telling African stories. There is also a host of interactive workshops, theatre and music programmes and fun activities that children can participate in.

Activism Village:

Over 50 social justice organisations & movements have booked booths in the activism village, on Constitution Square! This is an opportunity to profile their whilst engaging and educating festival attendees on human rights issues.

DON’T MISS THE 7th EDITION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL!

Our Constitution enshrines the human rights of everyone, and everyone is welcome!

FILM | THEATRE | POETRY | MUSIC FESTIVAL | EXHIBITIONS | MARKET | BOOK FAIR | CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

SOUNDS OF FREEDOM MUSIC FESTIVAL

WE THE PEOPLE, WALK

#SEIZETHEPOWER

#STANDUP4HUMANRIGHTS

#WETHEPEOPLESA

Press Information

We look forward to support from the media in promoting this vital event.

Media Images & Video Content

Honouring The Legacy Of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Lecture & Exhibition Access

20 March 2025 Access

21 March 2025 Access

22 March 2025 Access

23 March WeThePeople Walk Access

Official Spokespersons:

Reuben Phasha: Head – Heritage; Education & Public Programs
Rethabile Maifadi – Marketing & Communications
Bandile Fakude – Event Operations

For interviews contact:

Maria McCloy McCloy PR
082 349 0262
mccloypr@gmail.com

ABOUT CONSTITUTION HILL

The festival takes place at Constitution Hill. Formerly a site of prisons, where many of our great leaders were incarcerated, today Constitution Hill has been transformed into a beacon of light for democracy and social justice. A living museum that executes multiple education, human rights and constitutional public programs throughout the year.

The site is significantly home to South Africa’s Constitutional Court, the guardian of our Constitution, a resident artist community, a world-class recording studio and conference Truth to power lounge, the site is not only a museum but a living and breathing site for social justice, dialogue, debate and contestation.