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International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will participate in the High-level Segment of the 28th  session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), scheduled for 02-06 March 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.

It is expected that Minister Nkoana-Mashabane will deliver a statement to the HRC on Tuesday, 03 March 2015. The statement will cover contemporary issues facing the international human rights system and the agenda of the Human Rights Council.

The 28th session of the HRC meets against the background of the post-2015 Development Agenda and South Africa’s chairing of the Group of 77 plus China (G77), which presents an opportunity for South Africa and developing countries to advocate for and promote issues of development, social integration and the treatment of all the universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms on the same footing and with equal emphasis.

Furthermore, South Africa plays a leadership role in several inter-governmental processes at the UN pertaining to human rights and social development. In this context, the Minister’s participation will enhance the importance which South Africa attaches to its membership of the HRC, which will end in 2016.

As a member of the HRC since 2013, South Africa has consistently participated in all previous High-level Segments, thus confirming the seriousness with which South Africa regards the work of the HRC as one of the key UN bodies.

It is expected that during this segment, a number of High-Level Dialogues will take place on the following topics: Human Rights Mainstreaming, the question of the Death Penalty, and Human Rights and Climate Change.

Issued by DoC on behalf of the Department of International Relations and Cooperations