THE PERMANENT MISSIONOF

SOUTHAFRICA
TO THE LINITEDNATIONS

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STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADORG. MTSHALI OF THE REPUBLICOF SOUTHAFRICA

ON ,.ELIMINATION OF RACISM AND RACIAL
DISCRIMINATIONOO

THIRD COMMITTEE UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK 7 NOVEMBER 2OO7

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Chairperson, fully associatesitself with the statements The South African delegation presented Pakistan behalf the Groupof 77 andChinaand Zambiaon on of by (SADC). Development Community African behalfof the Southern Mr the recent Report of the SpecialRapporteur, welcomes My delegation and xenophobia racism, racialdiscrimination, DoudouDiene,on Combating to of implementation the follow-up and relatedintolerance the comprehensive of and the DurbanDeclaration Programme Action.SouthAfricasharesthe incidents racismsome of Rapporteur the resurgent on of concerns the Special forms. violent of whichhavetaken platforms, and of at We are alarmed the emergence racistand xenophobic justifytheseacts by invoking rightto freedom of the that Statescannot believe law. in of Thisis clearly violation international Article and expression. opinion (ICCPR) clearly Rights on Covenant Civiland Political 20 of the International "Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that instructs thal hostilityor violenceshallbe prohibited consffiufesincitementto discrimination, of Convention the Elimination All on the International by lavl'. Moreover, "Shallnot permitpublic (ICERD) declares that States Formsof Discrimination national or local, to promote or incite racial authoritiesor public institutions, No. Comment 15 of the SouthAfricaagreesfullywith General discriminafion. (CERD) whichstresses Discrimination of Racial on Committee the Elimination of of that the prohibition the dissemination raciallyinciting material, with of propaganda information Statesis compatible freedom expression by or a n do p i n i o n . of and that the DurbanDeclaration Programme Action SouthAfricabelieves (DDPA) adopted at the World Conference Against Racism, Racial (WCAR) in 2001, and Related Intolerance Xenophobia Discrimination, to theirown measures to basisfor countries develop a concrete constitutes have taken steps to combat all the scourgesof racism.AlthoughStates that much undertaken the DDPA,we believe in the implement commitments to moreneeds be accomplished. (13) years of The Government SouthAfricahas withinthe periodof thirteen progress eliminating racism, racial in madesometangible intoits democracy all intolerance reversing thatwas and xenophobia related and discrimination, and by whichwas imposed colonialism apartheid. in repugnant our society, of the The South AfricanConstitution 1996 entrenches Bill of Rightswhich human freedoms, of the espouses promotion humanrightsand fundamental and non-discrimination non-sexism. dignity, equality, Chairperson, provisions, our basedon our constitutional equality To ensuresubstantive of enjoyment to on has Parliament enactedlegislation elaborate the practical following: others, the among Theseinclude, theserights. o The Promotion Equality Prevention Unfair Act, Discrimination of of and

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. . . . The Public Transformation Act, The Employment Equity Act, The Promotion Accessto Information and of Act, The Labour Relations Act. In our effortsto implement the DDPA, the South AfricanGovernment is engaged partnership otherstakeholders. havealsomadeprogress in with We in the development a National of ActionPlanto combatall the scourges of racismincluding theircontemporary manifestations. SouthAfricaestablished a National Forum Against Racismin 2003 as a platform national for dialogue on issuesof racism well as a national as register auditincidents racism to of in our country. Chairperson, We are pleased notethat the General to Assembly decided convene has to a Review Conference the WCAR in 2009. In this regard, the recent of Organisational Session the Preparatory of Committee the DurbanReview for Conference adopted numberof important a Decisions. wishto emphasise We that the issueof funding non-governmental organisations ensuring and their participation all the processes effective in leading and including Review to the Conferenceis critical. My governmentstrongly advocatesthat NGOs, including representatives victimsof racism,be afforded opportunity of the to expresstheir viewsand make their contribution the goals of the Review on Conference during secondPreparatory the Committee April2008. in We also urge the Secretary-General secureadequatefunding for the to DurbanReviewConference, RegionalPreparatory the Conferences and to supportNGOsin theirendeavours contribute theseprocesses. to to As we preparefor the Durban Review Conference, urge all Statesto we intensifytheir effortsto implementthe commitments made at the World Conference Against Racism. firmly We political believe onlyenhanced that will partnership and a meaningful international among all stakeholders can achieve aimsof the Conference. the It is imperative that the outcomeof the 2009 DurbanReviewConference seeks to guarantee maximumprotection and remedies the victimsof all to scourges racism, theircontemporary of and manifestations. I thankyou.