Advocate Pansy Tlakula has been elected to serve on a United Nations (UN) Human Rights body that tackles racial discrimination, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) announced on Monday.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Dr Naledi Pandor, has congratulated Advocate Pansy Tlakula on her election to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (the CERD), said Dirco.

"Advocate Tlakula will serve on this important Human Rights Treaty-monitoring body for four years, for the period 2020 to 2023," said Dirco,

Tlakula was elected among 14 candidates, who sought to fill nine vacancies on the 18-person Committee. 

At a meeting in New York on Friday, 181 state parties elected nine new members to this Committee. The CERD, which comprises of 18 expert, monitors the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

For the past 24 years, Tlakula has occupied leadership positions in independent constitutional bodies nationally and on the African continent. These positions have  equipped her with practical skills and experience to perform her functions with impartiality and without fear, favour or prejudice. 

Tlakula, the former Electoral Commission of South Africa chairperson, has been working as South Africa's Information Regulator.

The global resurgence of incidents of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance and their manifestations, require of CERD to have members such as Tlakula, who will be able to serve the  committee with great distinction.

"Minister Pandor is confident that Advocate Tlakula’s election will greatly enhance the work of the committee as she has lived experience and extensive professional experience in terms of the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights at the domestic and regional levels," said Dirco.

The department said Minister Pandor "wished advocate Tlakula success in her endeavours in the CERD".