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Date
: 12/06/2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: S van der Merwe: ICRC/Department of Foreign Affairs Regional
Seminar
Opening address, Ms Sue van der Merwe, Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the Sixth International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)/Department of Foreign Affairs
Regional Seminar on the Implementation of International
Humanitarian Law
Madame Krill
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
Ladies and gentlemen
It is an honour for me to open this seminar, which is held annually
to review and discuss progress with regards to the state of
ratification and implementation of International Humanitarian Law
Treaties by participating countries. I extend a very warm welcome
to you all on behalf of the government and people of South Africa
and the co-sponsoring organisation, the International Committee of
the Red Cross.
Our foreign policy agenda is informed by our domestic imperatives
and guided by the vision of creating a better South Africa in a
better Africa and a better world. In this regard, we place issues
of human rights at the centre our foreign policy and understand
that these extend beyond the political, embracing the economic,
social and environmental. We also recognise that just and lasting
solutions to the problems of humankind can only come through the
promotion of democracy worldwide. To realise our vision of a better
world, we are motivated by the consideration that justice and
respect for international law should guide relations between
nations.
In his report to the 59th session of the General Assembly, the
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan, asserted "we will
not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security
without development, and we will not enjoy either without respect
for human rights." There is therefore a need to develop a vision of
collective security based on a shared assessment of the current
global threats and obligations needed in addressing these
threats.
Today, millions of people, particularly on the African continent,
continue to face threats, not just international war and conflict,
but terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, organized crime and
civil violence. They also face threats from poverty, deadly
infectious disease and environmental degradation, since these can
have equally catastrophic consequences.
As a government, we believe that the future of our country is
inextricably linked to the future of the African continent and that
of our neighbours in Southern Africa. Therefore, we understand that
socio-economic development cannot take place without peace and
stability. At the same time, we recognise that in times of
conflicts, certain fundamental freedoms are compromised, key of
which are human rights. In many conflicts, non-combatants,
particularly women, children and the elderly are the victims.
Second World War victim Anne Frank in her diaries vividly captured
the consequences of non-observance of humanitarian law. In an entry
to her diary on Saturday, 15 January 1944, Anne Frank wrote: "The
war goes on just the same, whether or not we choose to quarrel, or
long for freedom and fresh air, and so we should try to make the
best of our stay here."
In a further entry dated, Wednesday, 3 May 1944, she writes "I
don't believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists
alone, are guilty of the war. Oh no, the little man is just as
guilty, otherwise the peoples of the world would have risen in
revolt long ago! There's in people simply an urge to destroy, an
urge to kill, to murder and rage, until all mankind, without
exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything
that has been built up, cultivated, and grown will be destroyed and
disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over
again."
The sheer scale and horror of that war and its consequences, led
the leaders of the time to seek a permanent solution to ending
conflict through establishment of the United Nations. In a sense,
it could be argued that the UN created the hope for a new dawn in
which nations of the world would be united under the umbrella of a
single international legal and standard setting body. This
collective body would therefore primarily be concerned with
preventing conflict and maintaining peace and security. In addition
it would encourage developing friendly relations among nations,
achieving international co-operation in economic, social, cultural,
and humanitarian matters, developing respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and providing the means for harmonising
international action to attain these aims. Yet, conflicts continue
today in various forms, posing threats to human security and
threatening the realisation of development objectives. Perhaps in
the course of your deliberations some of the following issues will
be raised.
Firstly, the implications of our increasing role in international
peacekeeping and peace-making operations and the need for our
personnel to be educated in International Humanitarian Law. We
therefore as a country look forward to learn from the experiences
of our neighbours regarding International Humanitarian Law.
In this regard, I pleased to inform this group that the Government
of South Africa has made a decision to establish a national
International Humanitarian Law Committee. It will assist our
government with the domestication and implementation of
International Humanitarian Law. This Committee is ready to begin
its work and is in the process of addressing the ratification of
various International Humanitarian Law instruments.
We hope to learn more from others present here about how we can
make this Committee more effective. Secondly, your deliberations
might explore the consequence of breaches of the most fundamental
principles of International Humanitarian Law and their impact on
Africa. We will use the lessons learnt to build on the already
positive forward trend to good governance by African countries
under the aegis of the African Union (AU), undergoing Peer Reviews.
Thirdly and importantly, highlighting the plight of the victims of
war and the implications of the non-observance instruments of
International Humanitarian Law intended to protect them. Sadly it
is also forgotten that the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC) emblems are international symbols,
allowing for the protection of victims and effective humanitarian
assistance in the midst of hostilities. When this is forgotten, the
protectors themselves become the victims.
Finally, a very warm welcome and I wish once again to all
distinguished delegates a fruitful and constructive conference. I
trust that this will lead to future co-operation on various issues
relating to International Humanitarian Law.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 June 2006
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