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Human Right and SA Foreign Policy NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR
ORAL REPLY QUESTION NO: 25 PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO
3 OF 20 FEBRUARY 2007 Mr D H M Gibson (DA) to ask the Minister of Foreign
Affairs:
(1) Whether she will give a similar undertaking as that given by former
President Nelson Mandela in 1994 that human rights will be the light that guides
our foreign affairs; if not, why not; if so, how is that undertaking reconciled
with the Government's approach to the situation in Zimbabwe;
(2) Whether our
participation in forums such as the African Union (AU) and the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) has stifled or suppressed our commitment to human
rights; if not, how does she explain the failure of both the AU and SADC to turn
the situation in Zimbabwe around; if so, how does she propose putting the protection
and promotion of human rights at the forefront of the AU and SADC's agenda? N230E
REPLY: 1.
There has been no change in the fundamental underpinnings of our foreign policy
since the advent of our democracy in 1994. 2. Our stand of human rights
is still the same. 3. We believe in multilaterism. Whatever limitations
it may have it still is far better than unilaterism. Acting within the AU and
SADC is better than acting alone on this issue.
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