Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 6 - Chapter 1 Page 13

The Bill of Rights would guarantee language and cultural rights; it would acknowledge the importance of religion in our country; it would respect the diversity of faith and give guarantees of freedom of religion. The Bill of Rights would protect the rights of children, disabled persons, women, the right of workers to set up independent trade unions, their right to engage in collective bargaining and their right to strike. The ANC declared itself against capital punishment, and would seek it outlawed in the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights would protect the right to have a home and family and property rights. It would affirm the rights of all persons to have access to basic educational, health and welfare services. There was strong support in the country for the idea of affirmative action, which meant special measures to enable persons discriminated against on grounds of colour, gender and disability to break into fields from which they have been excluded by past discrimination.