SayPro Human Rights Day Speech

Delivered by the SayPro Chief Development Officer-Regaugetswe Netshiozwe

Good morning, friends, colleagues, partners, and fellow human rights champions,

Today, on Human Rights Day, we gather to honour not just a moment in history, but a movement—one that continues to grow, to inspire, and to challenge each of us to do more, to be better, and to act boldly.

As the Chief Development Officer of SayPro, my role is focused on growth—not just in funding or reach, but in impact, equity, and the empowerment of people. Development is not progress unless it is inclusive, just, and grounded in the fundamental rights of every human being.

The theme of this year’s Human Rights Day reminds us that rights are not gifts—they are guarantees. They belong to everyone, everywhere. But across our work and research, we see clearly: too many are still denied access to opportunity, to education, to safety, and to dignity.

That is why development must be more than charity. It must be a commitment to justice.

At SayPro, we believe that sustainable development only happens when we uphold the rights of the most vulnerable. Every project we support, every partnership we build, and every community we serve is guided by one question:
Does this uplift human dignity?

We are not just raising funds—we are raising voices. We are not just supporting programmes—we are supporting people: women demanding equal pay, youth demanding education, families demanding access to healthcare, and communities demanding to be seen and heard.

Today, I call on all our development partners—donors, funders, governments, institutions: let your resources reflect your values. Invest not only in structures, but in systems that protect rights, nurture freedom, and expand access for all.

And to our incredible team at SayPro—thank you. You remind us every day that development is not just what we build, but how we build it—with fairness, with transparency, and with humanity at the center.

Let this Human Rights Day serve as a reminder that development without rights is exploitation, and rights without development is an empty promise. Together, we must deliver both.

Let’s continue to shape a future where no one is left behind—not because we had the resources, but because we had the resolve.

Thank you, and Happy Human Rights Day.