Access to Justice
The South African Human Rights Commission as a national human rights institution is mandated to promote respect for, protection, development and attainment of; and monitor and assess the observance of human rights, has adopted various strategic priority focus areas assigned to each Commissioner. These focus areas are informed by South Africa’s human rights obligations at the international, regional and domestic level. Commissioner Adv. Mohamed Shafie Ameermia has been assigned two focus areas, namely, the right of access to justice and the right of access to adequate housing.
In championing these two respective strategic focus areas, Commissioner Ameermia is assisted by expert advisory committees which are created in terms of section 11 of the South African Human Rights Commission Act, No 40 of 2013.
In championing these two respective strategic focus areas, Commissioner Ameermia is assisted by expert advisory committees which are created in terms of section 11 of the South African Human Rights Commission Act, No 40 of 2013.
Further, the South African Human Rights Commission has taken a strategic decision to adopt “Business and Human Rights” as a thematic area for the coming years. Accordingly, this thematic area, business and human rights, has become a strategic focus area for the South African Human Rights Commission as a whole. Thus, each Commissioner has to integrate business and human rights into their respective projects.
The South African Human Rights Commission has a provincial office in each of the nine provinces in South Africa. Each Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission is assigned provincial responsibilities. Commissioner Ameermia has been assigned provincial oversight responsibilities over two provinces, namely, the provinces of the Free State and the North West.
The South African Human Rights Commission has a provincial office in each of the nine provinces in South Africa. Each Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission is assigned provincial responsibilities. Commissioner Ameermia has been assigned provincial oversight responsibilities over two provinces, namely, the provinces of the Free State and the North West.
Past Events
In terms of the Annual Performance Plan (APP), Commissioners are required to spend time within their allocated province(s). This activity is classified in the APP as a ‘provincial visit’ and is undertaken once within the financial year. This activity aims to enhance and deepen the understanding of human rights and entrench a human rights culture. This is with a view to expanding the visibility of the Commission and raising human rights in the country.
Commissioner Ameermia undertook a provincial visit to the Free State Province. The overall aim of this provincial visit was to promote the work of the Commission, particularly, the Commission’s work on access to justice and the right to adequate housing.
During this provincial visit, Commissioner Ameermia engaged with selected stakeholders in order to ensure continued collaboration towards the attainment of human rights in Free State province. He met with the Provincial Forum for Institutions Supporting Democracy (FISD) to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest with a view to fostering synergy and collaboration in the protection and promotion of human rights in the Free State province. Commissioner Ameermia met with various heads of government departments to discuss how best the challenges facing the Free State province can be addressed. He conducted a site visit to Sibuyile Park informal Settlement to observe the extent to which the recommendations made by the Commission regarding issues of water and sanitation had been implemented. He also be engaged with members of the judiciary and the academia for the purpose of forging stronger working alliances between them and the Commission.
Commissioner Ameermia undertook a provincial visit to the Free State Province. The overall aim of this provincial visit was to promote the work of the Commission, particularly, the Commission’s work on access to justice and the right to adequate housing.
During this provincial visit, Commissioner Ameermia engaged with selected stakeholders in order to ensure continued collaboration towards the attainment of human rights in Free State province. He met with the Provincial Forum for Institutions Supporting Democracy (FISD) to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest with a view to fostering synergy and collaboration in the protection and promotion of human rights in the Free State province. Commissioner Ameermia met with various heads of government departments to discuss how best the challenges facing the Free State province can be addressed. He conducted a site visit to Sibuyile Park informal Settlement to observe the extent to which the recommendations made by the Commission regarding issues of water and sanitation had been implemented. He also be engaged with members of the judiciary and the academia for the purpose of forging stronger working alliances between them and the Commission.
