More human rights action urged
SAXONWOLD – South Africa will be holding its sixth democratic elections 0n 8 May and Amnesty International with civil society will be watching closely to see if the next government delivers on human rights.
With the upcoming elections in the country, it is unavoidable that issues affecting human rights will come to light. Amnesty International South Africa, which is a global movement, wanted to make sure that government-elect and political parties adhere to the recommendations set in the movement’s manifesto launched at their office in Saxonwold. The movement has more than seven million supporters and activists in more than 150 countries who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights.
Amnesty International SA published 25 Year On: A Human Rights Manifesto for South Africa which recommended that the government put human rights at the centre of its policies or risk shackling people to the chains of unemployment, poverty and inequality for decades to come.
Executive director at Amnesty International, Shenilla Mohamed said they had compiled a manifesto in which they highlighted climate change, “As we woke up this morning to the news that 50 something people died due to floods in Durban. The reality of what we’re facing in SA is affecting every one of us and the media should be able to educate people on the link between human rights and climate change.”
Adding on to that, secretary general of Amnesty International, Kumi Naidoo said if climate change cannot be addressed then there will be no jobs as there ‘can’t be jobs on a dead planet’ as some leaders have said it’s either they address jobs or climate and not both. Naidoo said,
“SA has the highest level of inequality and if it is not addressed now then levels of violence happening now will seem like a picnic compared to what’s about to happen in the future.”
He also expanded on other points in the manifesto such as upholding the refugee and asylum-seeker rights. “All political leaders must refrain from promoting divisive political narratives that fuel xenophobic violence and speak out firmly and promptly against intolerance and discrimination. Their use of these divisions for votes is insensible,” Naidoo said.
He added that leaders regurgitate old policies that haven’t worked in the past and rather need to rethink the political and economic system while citizens pick up their level of moral courage and put pressure on government officials to do so.
A summary of the eight issues in the manifesto is as follows:
- Ensure the right to health for all
- End violence against women and gender non-conforming people
- Uphold the right to quality education
- Protect and promote refugee and asylum-seeker rights
- End excessive use of force by police
- Hold mining corporations to account
- Adopt human rights-consistent climate-change strategies
- Champion human rights and international justice in foreign police and relations.
Details: Amnesty International SA www.amnesty.org.za; 011 283 6000.
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