The review will be conducted between tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday, by the UN Human Rights Committee, as the body established under the ICCPR to monitor the implementation of the Covenant by states parties.  The SAHRC’s Commissioner Dr Danny Titus will be present in Geneva to participate in the review of South Africa.

South Africa ratified the ICCPR in 1998, together with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). In accordance with the ICCPR, South Africa was due to submit its initial country report in 2000. However, it was only in late 2014 that the initial country report was duly submitted by the South African government to the UN Human Rights Committee, together with South Africa’s country reports under the CERD and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Whilst the SAHRC is encouraged by these submissions, it is concerned with the lengthy delay of the ICCPR report in particular, and the lack of priority afforded to upholding obligations under international human rights law.

In line with the review process of the UN Human Rights Committee and the responsibilities incumbent upon national human rights institutions (such as the SAHRC) to promote the domestic harmonization of international law, the SAHRC has submitted two reports to the UN Human Rights Committee. These reports follow South Africa’s submission of its initial country report in 2014, and provide the UN Human Rights Committee with pertinent information regarding the state of enjoyment of civil and political rights in South Africa, as well as the key issues facing the full realisation of these rights.

In particular, the SAHRC noted with concern the ongoing issues surrounding the treatment of migrant workers and asylum seekers, and the xenophobic violence which has ensued.  It also noted the high number of deaths occurring at the hands of South African law enforcement officials, many of which go unexplained or investigated. Other issues of concern raised by the SAHRC included gender discrimination, and violence against women, children and persons of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and inter-sex community. And, in addition, the SAHRC noted the ongoing challenge of racially motivated hate speech.

The SAHRC will be engaging with the UN Human Rights Committee together with members of South Africa’s civil society who have insight and knowledge into these critical issues. The SAHRC hopes that through its engagements with the UN Human Rights Committee it can bring the attention of the international community to the ongoing human rights challenges in South Africa.

ENDS
Issued by the SA Human Rights Commission
Isaac Mangena
Spokesperson
0718848273