The Government of SA votes on the proposed US Amendment on the Resolution on Extra Judicial, Summary and Arbitrary executions.

The Government of the Republic of South Africa has, on Wednesday, 22 December 2010, voted in favour of the proposed amendment on the resolution on Extra Judicial, summary and arbitrary executions at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The South African Constitution guarantees the Right to life and this Amendment seeks to provide a very significant protection to a category of people who are killed because of their sexual orientation.

In this regard, The South African Democratic Society is founded on the basic principle of Equality and non-discrimination. The Right to Equality and non-discrimination is entrenched in our Constitution and our laws and policies prohibit any form of discrimination. The principle of Equality and non-discrimination permeates all spheres of life in our society. Sexual orientation is expressly mentioned in our Constitution as one of the grounds upon which discrimination is prohibited along other grounds like, sex, gender, religion, race and nationality or ethnicity.

For further information contact Mr Clayson Monyela Spokesperson of DIRCO on 082 884-5974

Issued by the department of international relations and cooperation

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Pretoria

23 December 2010