The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation undertakes a working visit to Geneva to attend the High-Level Segment of the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, 27-28 February 2011

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will undertake a working visit to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the High-Level Segment of the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to be held on 28 February 2011.

The United Nations Human Rights Council was established through the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 60/251 of March 2006 as the principal UN Organ responsible for the promotion and protection of all the universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms globally, as well as to take concrete interventions in mitigation of the violations.  Since our return to the community of nations in 1995, South Africa has been a key and leading player in the international human rights and humanitarian discourse, particularly in the development of international human rights law, norms and standards. In this context, our Government has always outlined its vision on how the protracted and highly politicized international human rights agenda should be engaged.

South Africa participates in the programmes of the Human Rights Council in the context of having earned its place in history as a defender and promoter of human rights and human dignity. Our political history of the past 350 years has been one of constant strife for human equality and human dignity. Our Constitutional order unequivocally places human rights and fundamental freedoms, the supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law, democracy and universal adult suffrage at the heart of our discourse

The South African Government will continue to constructively and meaningfully engage the ongoing processes of the Review of the Human Rights Council with the view to ensuring that the international protection regime focuses on (a) maximum protection of victims, (b) provision of adequate remedies to victims in all the cases of violations and (c) zero tolerance on impunity for grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms globally.

For further information please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
Private Bag X152
Pretoria

26 February 2011