Be an upstander, not a bystander – here are three ways in which every person at UP can play a role in advancing human rights at the University.

As we commemorate Human Rights Day and reflect on the events of 21 March 1960, when the apartheid police opened fire and killed 69 protestors in Sharpeville, we not only honour those who fought for liberation and the rights we enjoy today, but we assert our stand against any kind of human rights violation that takes away from an individual’s right to be treated with respect, dignity and kindness.

UP has made much progress on its transformation journey over the past two decades; yet there is much work to be done to realise the vision of a diverse, equal and inclusive university community, free from harassment, victimisation and discrimination. While the Transformation Office is responsible for driving the transformation agenda, it is within the grasp, and responsibility, of every individual at UP to drive transformation within their own capacity.

An upstander is defined as a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person who is being attacked or bullied. This is in stark contrast to a bystander, who is present at an event or incident, but does not take part. Here are three ways in which every person can play their unique role in advancing human rights at UP.

1. Participate in transformation workshops and programmes on offer: To achieve its goal to raise awareness, educate and handle all forms of discrimination and social injustice, UP’s Transformation Office works to facilitate the socialisation of the embedded policies and protocols that support a thoroughly inclusive environment. As a result, all faculties have a variety of #SpeakOutUP activities aimed at bringing about social cohesion. The call is for each and every individual to actively participate within the space they occupy.

The Transformation Office also runs several in-person and online campus-wide programmes and workshops, which you can enrol in via the office’s website. An example is the online programme for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), which has been launched in conjunction with UP’s Centre for Sexuality, AIDS and Gender, and aims to ensure that information on SGBV is accessible and shared to everyone.

2. Live out the values of transformation personally: Instilling and nurturing a culture of inclusiveness, where diversity is valued and celebrated, requires the personal commitment of all members of the UP community. While capable leaders set the organisational tone and culture, every employee and student should take it upon themselves to reflect on internal biases and do the mental work involved in overcoming any barriers to trust that might exist.

A thriving, transformed university space is built through honest, non-threatening conversations, where issues which were identified in the institutional Cultural Survey (language, barriers to robust debate, freedom to speak, a submissive culture) can be comprehensively addressed, with co-created, collective solutions that take the University forward and leave no one behind.

3. Be an active reporter on transformation issues:  
   Reporting instances of discrimination or SGBV is an essential component of owning the work transformation personally. UP needs to develop a culture of reporting, to ensure that the principle of accountability is well entrenched.

To report a case of discrimination or SGBV, students and staff members can log a case online on the UP portal interface, through the anti-discrimination reporting system. Alternatively, individuals can go directly to the Transformation Office or to the Security Services Investigations Unit. All reported cases are investigated between the two entities.

Upholding human rights is THE UP WAY – it’s the way to bring about the atmosphere of respect, kindness, growth, perseverance, creativity, diversity, innovation and excellence that we all desire. This Human Rights Day, take a moment to celebrate that achieving change is in our hands – and take the next right step towards being a transformation upstander.