The Commission, in pursuit of policing that both protects and enhances human rights, the SAHRC signed its first MOU with the SAPS on the 18th May 2015. The latest iteration of the MOU between the Commission and the SAPS enhances the previous work of the two entities, taking a more direct approach in protecting human rights in all policing activities.
As such, both the Commission and the SAPS are committed to find opportunities to foster greater respect for life, rights and freedoms, and law and order in the Republic.
The parties agree that:
- the SAHRC will review and develop identified, training curricula for officers of the SAPS, as well as policy pertaining to the protection of human rights;
- the SAHRC will present lectures on human rights to members of the SAPS in order to build and enhance the capacity of police officials to implement a human rights approach to policing;
- both the SAHRC and the SAPS will collaborate on research to identify, amongst others, a human rights approach to policing, underlying and systematic causes and consequences of violence, crime and public protests in South Africa;
- the parties will undertake joint or collaborative outreach activities to, amongst others, create awareness amongst members of the community and members of the SAPS on issues pertaining to human rights, freedoms and associated responsibilities relating to the conduct and oversight of public protests as well as matters of human rights and policing;
- the parties will share information on the protection of human rights within the context of policing, as well as information on the promotion of awareness of the rights, duties and responsibilities of the public relating to policing
- the parties will strive for collaborative development of monitoring and evaluation tools to assess and report on the progress made towards the achievement of a human rights based approach to policing and public observance of rules and procedures relating to public protest in South Africa; and
- that the SAPS will facilitate unhindered access to the Commission to places of detention under its control for the purposes of monitoring.
Through this MOU, the Commission is hopeful human rights standards and norms are located within the SAPS operations.
- Ends –
Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission
Gail Smith – Spokesperson Tel: 060 988 3792 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gushwell Brooks – Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 082 645 8573 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.