MABULA LODGE, NORTHERN PROVINCE, 28 NOVEMBER 2000
The Premier of the Northern Province,
The President of AWEPA
The Regional Director of UNICEF
Ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to be among you today, especially since this conference takes place just two days before World AIDS Day, on December 1, and only a few days before International Human Rights Day on December 10. The two are interlinked, as it is now widely recognised that HIV/AIDS is a human rights issue.
The observance of human rights has become an integral part of our lives as South Africans because of the painful history we have gone through, where the apartheid government rode roughshod over basic human rights over many decades. We fought against that kind of tyranny to get the rights that are now enshrined in our Constitution.
For that reason we are prepared to defend these rights, and will also challenge anyone that seeks to abuse the rights of others. This we shall do as a tribute to the many South Africans who paid a high price and made lots of sacrifices to enable us to reach a stage where our liberty and human rights are entrenched in one of the most advanced Constitutions in the world.
Chairperson, this conference provides an opportunity for us to confront certain issues that undermine our quest for a world that fully observes and respects human rights. One of these issues is that of the conflicts that continue to ravage various parts of the world, leading to loss of life and limb, the displacement of families and individual citizens and the spread of poverty.
International organisations such as AEPA should be able to discuss the effects of these wars, especially with regards to the manner in which they undermine fundamental human rights.
The time has come for us to speak out as one against these wars and massacres. The world must not be indifferent to wars just because they affect the downtrodden in poorer countries. There needs to be a concerted effort to find lasting political solutions to ensure the elimination of conditions that lead to conflicts and wars in our global village.
Chairperson, another challenge, as we discuss human rights, is the struggle towards the realisation of socio-economic rights for the poor, such as the rights to housing, health care, food, water, social security, education and the environment. Granted, millions of people already enjoy civil and political rights but these socio-economic rights remain elusive.
Talk of universal human rights will remain largely theoretical and elitist to thousands of people who live in abject poverty unless something is done to change the situation.
The socio-economic rights of the less privileged are undermined because of where they are positioned in life. It is a sad reality that the right to education of some children in rural areas is undermined and they have to study under trees as there are no schools.
This is a challenge we need to confront head on, both locally and globally. Powerful countries and institutions need to be made aware of the impact of their activities on developing countries. They need to accept that they cannot dictate terms that lead to poverty and the undermining of socio-economic rights in the developing world.
Chairperson, I would also like to touch upon the question of HIV/AIDS as human rights issue in our country. Being a constitutional democracy, South Africa has a Constitution that entrenches human rights, and protects people living with HIV/AIDS. Our Constitution promotes equality, human dignity, freedom and security of the person, privacy, sound labour relations, housing, health care, food, water and social security. This means that people with HIV/AIDS, like everybody else, have rights to fair treatment and access to other political and civil rights, including rights to social services such as health, housing and social security.
Flowing from the Constitution, we have passed legislation, which should protect people with HIV/AIDS. An example is the Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act passed during this year. This Act will come into effect in 2001 and is based on the Right to Equality contained in the Constitution. This is a resource for people to use in dealing with discrimination towards people with HIV/AIDS.
I mention these laws, Chairperson, because HIV/AIDS, penetrates all facets of life, including the workplace. People with HIV/AIDS battle to find jobs and also run the risk of being unfairly dismissed due to their HIV status.
There is a plethora of labour laws passed in South Africa, which attempts to protect people with HIV/AIDS from unfair discrimination. This laws aim to protect people from being forced to take HIV tests against their will, prevent dismissals due to HIV status, provide access to a safe working environment and provides for basic benefits such as sick leave.
Relevant legislation in this regard includes the Employment Equity Act, Labour Relations Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Mine Health and Safety Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
Chairperson, we have gone some way towards ensuring a universal observance of human rights in South Africa, although we still have to meet the challenges posed by socio-economic rights. We are pleased that debates and discussions are taking place around these issues as we can only be wiser from interaction with one another and the sharing of ideas.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is clear that the new world economic order presents serious challenges for us.
While it is meant to globalise prosperity and development for all, in practice, we see a trend developing, which if left unchallenged, would lead to a globalisation of poverty and further erosion of basic human rights.
As public representatives, we need to prioritise the matter of dealing with globalisation in such a manner that we protect the rights of those who, in the main, come from poorer countries. Their rights would certainly be undermined if the current trend is left unchecked.
I wish you well in your deliberations, and assure you of Government commitment to the upholding of human rights for all.
DEPUTY PRESIDENT: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Private Bag X1000, Pretoria, 0001
Tel: 27 12 337 5100 Fax: 27 12 323 3114