Foreign Policy based on the guiding principle of a belief in universal human rights
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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO: 4 (CO9E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 1-2015 OF 26 FEBRUARY 2015
MR F ESSACK (MP), DA-MPUMALANGA TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
(1) Whether our foreign policy is still based on the guiding principle of a belief in universal human rights as propagated by a certain person (name furnished) in 1993; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? CO9E
REPLY:
(1) Yes, Human rights remain the guiding light of South Africa’s foreign policy. Human rights have always been at the core and served as the centre-piece of our foreign policy engagements as encapsulated in the Annual Reports of DIRCO that have been presented to Parliament in the last two decades. For details, I refer Honourable Member to DIRCO’s Strategic Plan for the period 2013-2018, as approved by Parliament.
Additionally, South Africa continues to advocate for the equal treatment of all the universally recognised human rights, including in particular, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the right to development in the International Human Rights System. South Africa also continues its leadership role in the anti-racism agenda, as well as issues of non-discrimination in general.
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