South Africa's Commitment to the Protection of Human Rights

FOR ORAL REPLY

QUESTION NO.: 699.N914E

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 14 OF 20 MAY 2005

MR DHM GIBSON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

"Whether, with reference to the Government's decision at the United Nations Rights Commission to vote against resolutions condemning human rights abuses in North Korea and Cuba, and its decision to abstain on a similar resolution on Belarus, South Africa's stated commitment to the protection of human rights made under the Mandela Presidency is now less important than the expression of solidarity with other third world nations; if not, how do the decisions to vote against or abstain on the above resolutions give effect to South Africa's commitment to the protection of human rights; if so, on what basis and by whom was such a policy decision taken?"
N914E

REPLY:

South Africa believes that the Human Rights Commission should promote human rights across the Globe. We think when there is selectivity and politicization of this matter it defeats the purpose that is why we tend to avoid voting for country specific resolutions. Other than that we are very active in the promotion of human rights.