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Address by Minister Dlamini Zuma to
the 58th Session of the Human Rights Commission, Geneva,
20th March 2002
Distinguished Chairperson
My delegation joins the previous speakers in congratulating
you on your deserved election to the position of Chairman
of this session of the Commission on Human Rights. We
also extend our warm congratulations to all Members
of your Bureau. We all look forward to your inspiring
leadership to guide us through the times ahead. Our
delegation will co-operate with you to ensure the success
of this session.
I take this opportunity to pay special tribute to the
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson
for a sterling leadership demonstrated in the build
up and the eventual success of the Durban Conference
Against Racism. Of particular significance were the
High Commissioner’s tireless efforts to place the
plight of the Victims of Racism at the heart of the
outcome of the Conference. Your invaluable contribution
and leadership you provided to the Commission will be
missed Madam.
Chairperson
As it maybe recalled it was this month almost four decades
ago in 1961, March 21 that those who had imposed their
rule over us through a barrel of the gun mowed down
69 unarmed Africans and maimed scores of people on that
fateful day of peaceful protest. This act of barbarity
and savagery was condemned world-wide. Subsequently,
the Sharpville massacre became a rallying cry against
the flagrant and gross abrogation of human rights in
South Africa and the declaration of the system of apartheid:
a crime against humanity by the United Nations General
Assembly.
Directly responding to this situation almost a quarter
of century later Nelson Mandela our first democratically
President had this to say about the new South Africa
" Never, never and never again shall it be that
this beautiful land will again experience the oppression
of one by another and suffer the indignity of being
the skunk of the world".
In pursuance of the activities that entrench a human
rights culture, the month of March 2002 has been declared
a human rights month in our country. This initiative
coincide with the call of our President Thabo Mbeki
for the "letsema" meaning to volunteer to
take action to help improve the lives of our people.
During the human rights month volunteers will mobilise
the skills and resources of every community member to
transform the justice system so that our courts become
user-friendly and accessible to the communities that
they serve. This will also entail regular visits to
courts and teaching people about their human rights.
Through the "letsema" programme for this month,
we are also dealing with the question of gender equality
informed by an understanding that Women’s Rights
are Human Rights. For a long time the question of empowerment
of women has been relegated to the periphery. Countries
must move from words to action with respect to gender
mainstreaming in policies they adopt. While South Africa
has made commendable progress with regard to opening
of opportunities for women in all spheres of life, we
must remain vigilant on the gains achieved thus far.
Equally important is the pressing need for all countries
to expunge from their statutory books any anachronistic
laws that hinder the advancement of women. The question
of gender equality should not be dealt with as an irritant
but it must be pursued systematically, decisively and
resolutely.
Distinguished Chairperson
In the short time since our young democracy in 1994,
a lot has been accomplished in the context of promotion
and protection of human rights in South Africa. The
democratically elected Government as a first measure
enshrined the Bill of Rights in our Constitution. We
have signed and ratified all but one International Human
Rights Instruments. We have adopted a National Human
Rights Action Plan and established a National Human
Rights Commission that is fully functional and undertaking
a national human rights education as well as monitoring
the Government’s performance in the promotion and
protection of human rights and prevention of their
violation.
Chairperson
As we gather this year in yet another session of the
Commission of Human Rights it is appropriate to respond
honestly and frankly to the question, whether we are
making any progress in addressing crucial areas such
as human liberty, human dignity and human
development which will ultimately impact on the lives
of every single human being on earth. If we all agree,
as we surely must, that we in fact constitute the world
human rights parliament, we must respond to the above
without equivocation.
Last year in Durban South Africa, we had the honour
to host the historic World Conference Against Racism,
Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
At this epoch-making Conference, we agreed on the Political
Declaration and the Programme of Action to push back
the frontiers of racism, poverty and underdevelopment.
The Conference Against Racism had to contend with complex
and difficult issues. At each turn, we had to mount
extraordinary efforts to find solutions to the most
controversial issues. We did not fail in Durban because
we believed that as defenders and
advocates of human rights it was important that the
scourge of racism is dealt with holistically, coherently
and comprehensively.
It is therefore regrettable that we have not move forward
decisively on the question of the implementation of
the Durban Commitments and its consequent review by
each and every one of us at the national level.
As the custodian and executor of the decisions we adopted
in Durban, this Commission must work assiduously for
the implementation of the WACR Programme of Action which
we believe is action oriented and forward looking. In
this regard, we must ensure that the requisite financial
resources are made available to successfully put the
necessary follow-up mechanisms in place. The millions
who were so inspired by the gigantic steps we made despite
heavy odds in Durban look up to us and expect nothing
less.
Chairperson
On 11 September 2001, the Government of the United States
of America and its people as well as citizens of other
countries witnessed the most catastrophic and deplorable
acts of terror against them. We once more re-affirm
our solidarity and sympathies to the families of the
people who perished as the result of these acts of madness.
Those who stooped beyond the depth of hate and perpetrated
these untold acts of terror have to be pursued and when
caught must face the full might of the law.
In pursuing those who were engaged in these barbaric
and inhuman acts of terror, every effort should made
to uphold the sacrosanct and sanctified principles of
international human rights law. Let us avoid the temptation
to act inconsistent and at variance with the
basic tenets of international law and all its provisions.
An equally important challenge facing the international
community in its battle against terrorism is the need
to deal with conflicts everywhere. In this regard, we
are deeply saddened by the ongoing bloodshed in the
Middle East. Any use of disproportionate and
excessive force as well as collective punishment and
re-occupation only act to exacerbate conflict in the
region. The use of force unabatedly only begets more
violence leading to the ever-spiraling wanton violence.
The children of Palestine must be given hope of a
better tomorrow with no more humiliation that can only
drive them to the extreme. Let the children of both
Israel and Palestine be brought up in conditions of
security and safety with all the joys and innocence
of being young.
This long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict must
find an immediate, inclusive and comprehensive as well
as durable solution. The recent US sponsored Security
Council resolution on the Independent State of Palestine
co-existing alongside Israel with secure borders is
the step in the right direction. Let us all work for
peace in the Middle East and no more killing that only
hardens attitudes.
Let us also act expeditiously to rectify all Human Rights
Instruments that will make ours a better world. Of importance
is the need for this Commission to concretize and operationalise
the Right to Development. Time for sterile debates,
polemics and filibustering about the operationalization
of the Right Development is over, now
is time for action.
Addressing the question of the Right to Development
which is the inalienable right of people would help
us to deal with poverty which is the breeding ground
for conflict. Hopefully, the international community
will deal with this important issue systematically in
the now held Conference on Financing for Development
as well as the forthcoming World Summit for Sustainable
Development to be held in Johannesburg.
Distinguished Chairperson
Coming from the continent of Africa that has and continues
to experience conflicts with its attendant ills such
as displacement, refugee’s crisis and poverty,
our leadership is acutely aware of the challenges it
faces especially in relation to the promotion and
protection of human rights.
Concomitant with resolving conflicts, far-reaching decisions
have been made in pursuit of the full realization and
enjoyment of human rights. An important decision has
been taken to transform the Organization of African
Unity into the African Union, which will hold its inaugural
session in South Africa in July this year. The African
Union will deal comprehensively with political and economic
integration of the continent. In this exercise, the
question of respect for human rights will enjoy the
pride of place.
Another milestone for the continent is the adoption
of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development
that was adopted last year at the OAU Summit in Lusaka.
NEPAD has identified conflict resolution, the practice
of good economic and political governance as well as
respect for human rights as its linchpin. Through NEPAD
Africans, themselves have taken the destiny of their
continent into their own hands.
The African leadership accepts that development and
the restoration of dignity of the African people will
only be achieved if conditions such as respect for human
rights, poverty eradication and conflict resolution
are upheld. Africans are hard at work to change the
negative perception of continent. As we were so eloquently
reminded by President Thabo Mbeki, recently when he
said, " (As Africans we must) recognize the fact
that the dignity of the individual is both an objective
which society must pursue, and is a goal which cannot
be separated from the material well being of that individual".
NEPAD will succeed because it responds creatively and
realistically to Africa’s unique development challenges.
The international community must act in partnership
with Africa to help the continent pull itself out underdevelopment
and backwardness. As we look towards the road we have
thus far traversed as the Commission let us do a Spring
Cleaning as proposed by Ben Okri in his poem Mental
Flight where he says:
"Everyone love spring cleaning
Let’ s have a humanity cleaning
Open up history’s chambers of horrors
And clear out the skeletons behind the mirrors……..
A cleaning of pogroms and fears
Of genocide and tears
Of torture and slavery
Hatred and Brutality
Let us turn around and face them…….
I hope the Commission will take the challenge of Ben
Okri and act as the conscience of humanity and defenders
and advocates of respect for HUMAN RIGHTS.
Finally, I hope that this Commission will rise to the
challenges presented by recent events such as the fight
against terrorism, abuse of children in conflict situations,
the ever-increasing number of displaced persons both
internally and externally in addition to its normal
programme.
I thank you
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