Human rights activist Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo delivered a message of optimism about South Africa's progress since apartheid ended in 1994 to an audience of about 75 last night in the HUB Auditorium.

"I think we are in a year in Africa in which we can only rise," she said.

Her lecture was the second installment of the Nelson Mandela Lecture Series, which began last year.

Professor Beverly Vandiver, who helped organize the event, said she hopes to have one speaker each spring.

"We want to raise people's awareness of African issues at Penn State," she said.

McClain-Nhlapo, whom Mandela appointed twice to the South African Human Rights Commission, offered insight into the changes and developments in post-apartheid South Africa over the past decade.

"[The transition to democracy] was not a miracle, it was a hard won battle," she said.

She praised reforms put into place by the new constitution, including a clause that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race gender or sexual orientation.

The current government is considering adding the condition of HIV/AIDS to the list.

"One of the most interesting things was the discussion of AIDS discrimination," said Sam Mattise (junior-communications). "I would like to see how that plays out."

McClain-Nhlapo said South Africa has made great gains in free press, women's participation and developing mobile health care clinics but still needs to address unemployment, crime and racism.

"Our democracy still remains very fragile," she said. "Democracies can only flourish if rooted in fertile soil."