Union Buildings, Pretoria 21 October 1999
October the 21st is African Human Rights Day. We celebrate this day to commemorate the coming into force of the African Charter on Human and peoples Rights, which was inaugurated by the Organisation of Unity (OAU) in 1986. South Africa ratified this Charte r a full 10 years later in 1996 and today is South Africa's first official celebration of African Human Rights Day a full thirteen years after the ratification of the Charter.
It has taken us thirteen years to catch up with our neighbours. Thirteen years, in which much has changed on this Southern tip of our great continent. Thirteen years in which we have destroyed the oppression of apartheid and taken our first, sometimes falt ering, steps into democracy. Thirteen years in which a democratic government was established; a government of the people all the people for all the people.
We were, of necessity, pre-occupied with founding and establishing our own democracy. We were consumed with the need to establish a democratic order in our then woe-begotten country. The urgency of this cause, this longing for our freedom occupied our days and nights. And when, at last, our dreams were fulfilled, we concentrated on building the structures needed for creating a better life for all. We were, to use a rather casual turn of phrase, occupied with the business of building a democracy! The pitch o f the battle for freedom; the desperation of the struggle, demanded single minded concentration and solidarity of purpose it was absolutely necessary to keep our eyes focussed on our own destiny.
Now we lift those eyes to the broader horizons of the continent. Recognising not only who we are. But also where we and with whom we share our destiny.
And this celebration today marks another step in our active acknowledgment of our place in Africa. It marks our moving forward with our African sisters and brothers toward the African Renaissance.
The Renaissance, this precious and cherished dream for our collective future, is couched in a framework of human rights. And human rights are a matter of dignity. The African Renaissance is the claim of this continent to its to its own self-respect in the eyes of the international community. I will say it again: human rights are a matter of dignity: they are an acknowledgement of the God-given self-respect that belongs to all human beings. So, this is a day to celebrate our African dignity our shared Afri can dignity!
And how appropriate that our Renaissance our rebirth and re-discovery takes hold at the dawn of the new millennium. The time is right: the time is now.
And as we face this brave new world and square up to the challenges which face us we should remember the words of Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary General of the OAU: "It is a fact that individually, African states have little leverage in meeting the condition s required by this new environment. Our countries need to work together and join their efforts ... In this endeavour. African states can rely on the resources and energies of the continent which are not negligible. But beyond these resources, the main asse t of our continent, in its efforts at assuming its rightful role in the new global environment, lies in our people acting in unity and solidarity which inspired the creation of the Organisation of African unity in 1963 should continue to guide our continen t and its people".
Today, ironically and sadly enough, our continent celebrates and affirms its accession, in its own right, to the community of nations and, at the same time, lays to rest one of the statesmen of our time. Today, we mourn with the people of Tanzania the deat h of one who epitomised African dignity, Julius Nyerere -Mwalimu.
Mwalimu belonged to Tanzania and yet he belonged to the whole continent. He was his own man and yet he was everybody's man. He would bow to no one and yet he would respect everyone.
Julius Nyerere. An incredible example to hold before ourselves today as we think about human rights in Africa.
He was a great champion of governance built on respect for human rights. He was an honourable man who did not claim that honour for himself but bestowed it upon all.
We celebrate his leadership, knowing that he walked alongside the people rather than make demands from afar. And, above all we celebrate his Africanness, knowing that he held aloft the spirit of Ubuntu and would never capitulate to consumerism - a trend s o indicative our time.
Julius Nyerere was among the first to bring independent democratic government to Africa. As he is laid to rest rejoice in a growing commitment to democracy throughout the continent
We rejoice in the OAU adoption in 1995 of the Cairo Agenda for Action, which includes the conservation (and I quote) that "human rights are the key tool for promoting collective security, durable peace and sustainable development".
We rejoice in the OAU decision to exclude from its membership those who obtain power through military coups against legitimately elected governments.
These are the kind of decisions that give rise to hope for a peaceful and democratic future in Africa.
And still, there are many reasons for concern. Civil wars, that sometimes spill over into neighbouring territories; military rule in too many countries; displaced refugees who have lost all hope of ever returning home; the horror of the HIV/Aids pandemic; the awful poverty that still pervades the lives of millions and the all too frequent discovery of corrupt practices and self seeking abuse of power.
These issues have, however, to be placed in the context of a continent that is discovering itself newly outside the rule of others and in the context of a new unity of purpose and promise among the nations of Africa.
At this time, we are reminded of a war that was fought here one hundred years ago. The South African War - or more commonly the Anglo Boer War. This was dispute among Europeans about the land and natural resources of our nation. It was a European war fo r which many Africans had to pay the price. We are now in a place and time where we can and must pay our own price for our own needs. As Salim Ahmed Salim said: "Africans are responsible for Africa. The simple truth we have to confront is that the world does not owe us a living".
The price we are charged to pay is that of respect for one another, together with determination, for a united Africa, to proclaim the values of our continent before the world.
One hundred and more years ago, the European colonialists carved up this continent for their own benefit. It is now time for us to carve our own niche within the international community - as proud and honourable people who have our own dreams and our own understanding of an African way of life.
The theme for this day is "Human Rights in Africa in the New Millennium". Africa - human rights - millennium. Those words sound good together. They fit together well and challenge us all to claim the next century ours by right by human right, to be the new African Century - our Renaissance.
I thank you