WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF YOU SAW THIS SIGNAL IN A PUBLIC TOILET OF YOUR TOWN?PROBABLY YOUR FACES WOULD BE LIKE THESE...

IT SOUNDS HORRIBLE, BUT THIS WAS A REALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR 42 YEARS.IT WAS CALLED APARTHEID.

BUT WHAT IS APARTHEID?

APARTHEID was a racial segregation system which had been carried out in South Africa between 1948 and 1990.WHEN DID APARTHEID APPEAR IN SOUTH AFRICA?The racial segregation began during the colonialism, but we consider that the real apartheid was imposed after the general elections in 1948. The new government classified South Africans in racial groups (white, black and coloured people).

WHAT DID APARTHEID MEAN TO THE SOUTH AFRICA'S CITIZENS?

Black people only could live or work in places where they were allowed to. This places were often very poor.

At the cities, black and white people were separated in beaches,hospitals, schools, trains, cinemas and even cementeries.

Politicians only could be white people, the same as the political parties, and the people who could vote them. Black people never had the right of choosing someone who they wanted to represent them.

WHEN AND WHY DID APARTHEID END?

Nelson Mandela was a man which battled for people's rights. He became a lawyer and he took part of the ANC (Africa National Congress), to defend black people rights. The government of South Africa banned this platform so he had to establish a militar group to continue demanding justice. He was imprisoned for doing that, but he had a big international support during his 27 years in prison. His fight was admired around the world and this made that when he was free, people choosed him to be the first black president of South Africa.

NELSON MANDELA WON THE NOBEL PRIZE OF PEACE FOR HIS FIGHT AGAINST APARTHEID, AND DID THE FINAL NEGOCIATIONS TO BRING SOUTH AFRICA A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.

A few days ago,was celebrated the Human Rights Day. Apartheid was an example of violation of the Human Rights, because one of the most important points of the Declaration of Human Rights is that all the people has to have the same rights, without depending of their sex, age, colour or religion...

... BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY COUNTRIES WHERE HUMAN RIGHTS AREN'T RESPECTED.