The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC)

Article 8

If we have not been treated fairly, we can ask for the law to help us. 

Article 9

No one has the right to imprison us without good reason, detain us or ask us to leave our own country.

Article 10

If you have been accused of breaking the law, you still have a right to a fair trial. 

Article 11

Even if you are charged with committing a crime, you still have the right not to be blamed for the crime until it has been proven that you did it. You are innocent until proven guilty and have every right to ask for a lawyer to represent you in a court of law. No one has the right to punish you for something you didn’t do. No one has the right to punish you for doing something which was not against the law when you did it.

Article 12

No one has the right to invade your privacy; harass you or our family; or come to your home without being invited and open your letters and e-mails without good reason. No one has the right to dishonour you or try to damage your good character or reputation. 

Article 13

You have the right to go wherever you want and live in wherever you want in your own country. You also have the right to travel abroad and return back to your country. 

Article 14

You have the right to go to another country and ask for protection if you feel that you are being mistreated in your own country because of your political views, tribe, religion, sex, etc. Provided you have not broken any International Law yourself for example killing people because of their tribe or religion, you have the right to be protected. 

Article 15

You have the right to belong to a country. No one has the right to stop you from belonging to 

a country.

Article 16

If you are an adult, you have the right to get married and have a family. Both men and women are entitled to the same rights when they get married, during the marriage and when they choose to divorce. No one has the right to force you to get married. You should enter into a marriage freely and willingly but you should not be forced.

Article 17

You have the right to own your own property for example money, piece of land, house, etc. You also have the right to share these things. No one has the right to take them away from you without good reason.

Article 18

You have the right to believe in whatever you want. You have the right to have a religion and change it if you wish. You also have the right to teach your religion, practice it and worship whom or whatever you want.

Article 19

You have the right to think what you like and say what you think. 

Article 20

You have the right to come together with other people and demonstrate peacefully. You have the right to join any peaceful group or organisation. No one has the right to force you to belong to a group or organisation.

Article 21

You have the right to take part in the government of your country. If you have reached voting age within your country, you have the right to a secret vote in order to elect your own government or leader in general elections. If you are unable to vote, you can ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf. You also have the right to use public services for example schools and hospitals.

Article 22

You have the right to be safe and secure; a home, enough money to live on and medical help if you are ill. 

Article 23

You have the right to a job, to get paid fairly and to join a trade union if you wish. No one has the right to force you to work for them for free or to work for them at a small wage. 

Article 24

You have the right to rest and relax. You have the right to take holidays from your work and you should be paid for these holidays. No one has the right to force you to work extremely long hours. 

Article 25

You and your family have the right to have enough food, clothing, housing and medical care. If you are unemployed, sick, disabled, a widow or widower, or too old, you still have these rights and the government should step in to help you live a happy and fulfilled life. Mothers and children have the right to special help. They should not be left to suffer. 

Article 26

Everyone has the right to an education. Education should be free at least in primary school. If you are a parent, you have the right to choose what your children should or should not be taught. For example if your child is being forced into a religious class to learn a particular religion at the expense of your family’s religion, and you are not happy about that, you can ask the school to remove your child from that class if you wish. No one has the right to force a child to attend another religion at the expense of their family religion. If the school cannot cater for the child’s religious needs, then the child should be excused.

Article 27

You have the right to participate in Seereer culture or any other culture. You have the right to enjoy Seereer art or any art and to benefit from science. If you are an author, scientists, artist for example musician or painter, you also have the right for your materials to be protected and should benefit from your work.

Article 28

Everyone has the right to peace and order. 

Article 29

Everyone has a duty to protect the rights and freedoms of other people. .

Article 30

No one has the right to take away these rights and freedoms from you, no matter who they are, no matter what position they occupy or where in the world they are.