SayProCMR Human Rights Day SpeechBy Patricia Chueni, Chief Research Officer, SayPro

Delivered on Human Rights Day

Good morning, colleagues, partners, and fellow champions of change,

It is a privilege to speak to you today, on a day that not only marks a turning point in our nation’s history but also reminds us of our shared responsibility to uphold, protect, and promote the rights of every human being.

As Chief Research Officer at SayPro, my work is rooted in one guiding principle: Truth empowers transformation. On this Human Rights Day, that principle rings louder than ever.

Human rights are not just spoken — they are measured, tracked, and fought for through data, research, and evidence. It is through research that we uncover injustice hidden in plain sight. It is through evidence that we push for stronger laws, better policies, and real accountability. And it is through understanding the lived experiences of communities that we design programmes that matter — that heal, that uplift, that empower.

At SayPro, we do not just ask “What is the problem?”
We ask, “What is the cause? Who is being left behind? And how do we change it — permanently?”

This is why our research is people-centered. Our data has a heartbeat. Behind every statistic is a story — of resilience, of injustice, of hope.

Whether it’s a rural girl denied access to sanitary products, a young graduate locked out of the labour market, or a family facing systemic discrimination — our mission is to listen, document, and drive action.

Human Rights Day, especially in South Africa, holds deep historical pain. The Sharpeville Massacre was not just a tragic event — it was a loud cry for recognition, dignity, and equality. And still today, we must ask: have we truly responded to that cry?

• Are our systems inclusive?
• Are our policies informed by the realities on the ground?
• Are we holding institutions accountable — not just with passion, but with proof?

As SayPro’s Chief Research Officer, I say this with conviction: If we cannot measure the problem, we cannot fix it.
If we are serious about human rights, then we must be serious about evidence, equity, and ethical research.

Our work is not about numbers on a page — it is about narratives that demand justice.

Today, I invite all of us — researchers, policymakers, community leaders — to remember that every child’s right to education, every woman’s right to safety, every citizen’s right to opportunity must be backed not only by laws but by real, responsive systems — systems that are informed by research that listens and leads.

SayPro will continue to be a light in that journey. Through our work, we will continue to shine a spotlight on inequality, to bring voice to the voiceless, and to equip leaders with the truth needed to make lasting change.

To those who feel unseen: we see you.
To those whose rights are routinely violated: we are documenting your reality.
And to those in power: we are watching — and we are holding you accountable.

Let this Human Rights Day be a call to rise above rhetoric, and to embrace evidence-based justice.

Because without research, we are guessing.
With research, we are building a future that is fair, free, and fearless.

Thank you. And let us never stop seeking truth in service of justice.

Would you like this turned into a report preface, visualized as a presentation deck, or adapted for youth or academic audiences?

4o