Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
South Africa was today elected by acclamation as chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights which is currently meeting in Geneva. Ambassador Jacob Selebi, South Africa's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, will act as chairman.
The Commission is the premier forum for international human rights issues. Its annual six-week session affords member-states the opportunity to take stock of the global human rights situation.
In his Opening Statement, Ambassador Selebi urged the Commission to express its support for those who devote themselves to defending the ideals enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He referred in particular to the importance of a Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
He added that, whilst the Commission has built up and impressive history of achievements over the past 51 years of its existence, much work remains to be done, bearing in mind the untold horrors still being committed throughout the world.
Ambassador Selebi stressed the need for the Commission to be relevant and credible and thus to adopt an integrated and cooperative approach to its work. He therefore proposed that the Commission's agenda be brought into line with present-day requirements.
Ambassador Selebi also proposed a review of the structures and procedures of the Commission, in concert with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to make them more effective and relevant.
Finally, Ambassador Selebi urged the participants not to use the session of the Commission to advance political agendas and engender confrontation, but rather to promote a genuine spirit of cooperation towards the realisation of all human rights.
South Africa will chair the Commission for a year, until the start of the 1999 session. Its term as chair coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the five-year review of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria. These are important milestones on the international human rights calendar.
The Commission was established in 1946 as a subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Membership of the Commission is for a three-year term upon election by ECOSOC. The current membership stands at 53, including South Africa which was elected in 1997.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 16 MARCH 1998