Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
21 March 2001
Chairperson and distinguished delegates,
Allow me to congratulate you on your election to Chair the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and also to commend your predecessor, His Excellency Ambassador Dr Shambhu Ram Simkhada of Nepal for his sterling work as Chairperson of the 56th Session of the Commission on Human Rights.
Madame High Commissioner, we also extend our congratulations to you and your Secretariat for your commitment and exemplary work in the field of Human Rights.
We know that there is no country that is untouched by human rights concerns. The non-observance of human rights impinges on the overall well-being of the human family and any violation of human dignity constitutes an affront to humanity as a whole. For this reason we often need to act as the collective conscience of humanity when we are confronted with increasing incidents of human rights abuses and the growth of racism and racial discrimination.
In his book "Long Walk to Freedom", President Mandela wrote: "I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities and I dare not linger for my long walk is not yet ended".
All the members of the human family have taken part in this long walk. We started from very diverse positions and followed even more diverse paths but in this era of globalisation we have a common destiny.
This is a unique opportunity to take a rest from the walk, look back, examine the journey, heal the wounds of the past and chart the future path. This being the beginning of a new century and a new millennium we can indeed try and close ugly chapters of the past centuries and build a more positive common vision for the future.
More than fifty years ago, after two world wars the people of Europe in particular after a long walk, took a rest and surveyed where they had come and charted a vision for the future anchored on the universal declaration of human rights.
They made the correct assertion that "human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood" (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). This was after their emancipation from Nazi tyranny. Now is the time for all of us to take that rest and survey our journey, determine where we are and where we are going.
The concern about human rights and the need to act as a collective conscience of humanity is therefore a legitimate right of the member states of the United Nations. To this end we should not be selective in registering our deep concern whenever such abuses occur. Collectively we should act without fear or favour.
Later on this year delegates from all over the world will descend on the eternal shores of Durban, South Africa, to participate in the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. This will give us the opportunity to collectively take a rest from our long walk, survey the past, appreciate the present and map out the future. This conference will be looking at issues that go to the core of human rights. Behind any conflict whether it is in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Sudan, Genocide in Rwanda, apartheid to South Africa, problems in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine you are sure to find racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia or a related intolerance. Without dealing with this frankly and honestly we cannot ever hope to achieve total respect of human rights.
Since we have travelled from diverse positions and followed different paths to get to where we are, it would be necessary to survey our journey.
This conference must provide a bridge between the past of deeply divided societies and experiences like slavery, colonial exploitation, racism which resulted in strife, conflict, untold suffering and injustice and future founded on the recognition and acknowledgement of the historic injustice, human rights, democracy, respect for the diverse cultures, languages, religions and more importantly founded on the equality of human beings irrespective of race, colour, class or gender.
Having recognised the injustices of our past we should find ways and means acceptable to all of us to heel the wounds and divisions of the past so as to restore the dignity of all.
These experiences of the past have resulted in a North and South divide or rich and poor divide. One way of healing these divisions or bridging the divide would be to address the disparities in wealth and development.
Talking about the past and how to bridge the past and the future may indeed be uncomfortable. Change is usually uncomfortable. Maybe it is like giving birth. You plan the pregnancy, you look forward to the outcome but the process of giving birth is very uncomfortable maybe even painful yet the outcome is so welcome and precious. The pain is a worthwhile sacrifice. We cannot pretend there was no past.
All of us irrespective of which side of the divide must approach this matter with the aims of achieving an outcome that can indeed close the ugly chapter of slavery, colonial exploitation, racism and start this century on a new page. I am aware that this is not going to be easy but with our collective will to put this matter behind us we shall succeed.
During our short rest we must appreciate the scenery and take note of the contemporary forms of slavery like trafficking in women and children xenophobia which is on the increase in Africa, Asia, America and elsewhere. Religious intolerance is still a major problem and so is racism and racial discrimination. Sexism compounds racism and xenophobia for women. These are all the problems we have to deal with at the Durban Conference.
Since everybody agrees that this should be a forward looking conference we should be able to come up with a programme of action that would be implentable at an individual, national and international level.
We owe it to future generations to take a bold and decisive step against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
It should be possible to work towards a world and a future where a Palestinian child and an Israeli child should have access to food, shelter, health services, education and security. A world where a Palestinian child and Israeli child should grow up in brotherhood and sisterhood where an Israeli mother feels the pain when a Palestinian child bleeds and equally a Palestinian mother the same pain when an Israeli child bleeds.
A future where the Palestinians will have their own motherland and live in harmony with their Israeli neighbours. This should be possible, not easy, but possible. The alternative is unthinkable and unacceptable. We should work towards a future where an African child is proud to be an African and not aspire to be European or white because the white colour and race guarantees food, shelter, education and security.
A world where women enjoy all the freedoms and are an integral part of the political class, business class, professional class, religious leadership and still are able to be mothers and wives. A world where a Moslem, a Catholic and a Protestant live as neighbours in the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.
A world where you can land at any airport and be treated as a human being irrespective of colour, nationality, religion or gender.
This kind of world will not be easy to achieve but it is possible. This would be the greatest contribution to human rights. South Africa, Chairperson is seized with all these issues that the conference will be dealing with. From the human tragedy of apartheid, we are building a nation united in its diversity, a non-racial and non-sexist society. We are working hard at bridging the gap between the white, rich minority and black, poor majority. We are recognising and confronting our past, the struggle is not over yet.
As President Mandela said: "I dare not linger for too long for my long walk is not yet ended".
Chairperson
It is important that we honour and acknowledge the selfless efforts of all those who died in the quest to uphold the values of human rights and the fundamental freedoms of humanity the world over.
Let me in conclusion state that South Africa stands ready to make common cause with all participants in Durban to mount a sustained campaign of combating racism and its other manifestations in this century and beyond.
Finally, may I mention that we appreciate the sterling work of Mrs Mary Robinson, Commissioner for Human Rights, and express our regret that she is not seeking a second term of office. We still look forward to working with you, Mrs Robinson in the coming months leading up to the Durban Conference and wish you every success in your future endeavours.
I would like to ensure you that South Africa takes the important work of the Commission of Human Rights very seriously and we look forward to make a constructive contribution to this ongoing work. We also look forward to welcoming you all to our beautiful land in August.
I thank you.