STATEMENT ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs

Fifty years tomorrow the United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To coincide with this historic day South Africa will be ratify four important human rights conventions at the United Nations in New York. They are as follows -

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and
• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This brings to 26 the number of human rights-related conventions and protocols to which South Africa is a party.

South Africa will also lodge with the United Nations a copy of its National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights tomorrow.

This National Action Plan was compiled in accordance with the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action which called upon states to consider drawing up such plans, identifying steps whereby governments would improve the promotion and protection of human rights as well as freedoms.

In depositing these documents at the United Nations, South Africa will recommit itself not only to the international community but also to the people of South Africa.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 09 DECEMBER 1998