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22 April 2024
30 years on, South Africa still dismantling racism and apartheid’s legacy
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17 April 2024
Kwibuka 30 - “Remember, Unite, Renew”
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Speech
27 March 2024
UN Resident Coordinator Nelson Mandela Foundation: Climate Change and Food Insecurity Seminar
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The Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in South Africa:
Story
04 October 2023
Women owning the ‘menstrual economy’: South African entrepreneur changing lives through a thriving sanitary pads manufacturing venture
Over the past few years, there have been concerted efforts to lift the veil on the taboo and stigma around menstrual hygiene. Not only have there been calls for sanitary products to be freely available but there have been conversations around who owns the means of production of these essential products.
Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa, 40, started thinking about putting her ring in the hat of what she calls the menstrual economy in 2015 after following these conversations and realized that in South Africa there were no women-owned, large-scale, manufacturers of sanitary products that can compete with the big suppliers. This was the start of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads which today not only sells to individual customers but supplies the South African government’s National Sanitary Dignity Programme in four provinces. In 2022 alone Lindiwe Sanitary Pads reached 10 000 girls, supplying them with a year’s supply of sanitary pads through the government’s programme, combatting period poverty. “When I started Lindiwe Sanitary Pads I felt it was unfair that women are only end-users of sanitary pads and decided we needed to be active in the menstrual economy. We need to be part of the entire value chain. Menstruation is a huge economy and it’s interesting that with all the taboos and stigma that have existed around menstruation, when it comes to the boardroom where the rands and cents are counted, suddenly men can talk about periods and get involved in the manufacturing and selling of pads,” says Nkuna-Kgopa. “Initially when I approached funders they’d turn down my applications because they said I didn’t have a manufacturing background. I had never even set foot in a factory! So they’d said ‘you don’t have the technical know-how. You are unbankable!’’ she says. An entrepreneur at heart, having previously dabbled in marketing and accounting, Nkuna-Kgopa took the rejection in her stride and decided to build the profile of a reputable sanitary pads manufacturer. When Lindiwe Sanitary pads started in 2018 the business focused on branding, packaging, and distributing sanitary pads purchased from an external manufacturer. But what the entrepreneur quickly learned is that being product-ready and having greater access to markets is costly and requires knowledge. UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), supported by NAMA Women Advancement, implemented a series of business coaching and mentoring workshops that equipped Nkuna-Kgopa and other businesswomen with the essential skills for running profitable and sustainable businesses. She is also one of the entrepreneurs on UN Women’s Buy From Women platform, which links clients who want to procure from women-owned entrepreneurs with such suppliers. “The process for getting your product ready, running it through the necessary tests, and meeting potential big clients is quite expensive. For example, traveling to meet a potential big client in Cape Town, at your own expense, is quite demanding. That’s why the programs run by UN Women for women entrepreneurs are invaluable. They trained us then put us in spaces where we can create linkages with market-potentials and eventually take advantage ,’’ says Nkuna-Kgopa. She was one of the women entrepreneurs sponsored by UN Women SAMCO through NAMA Women Advancement’s support, to attend the Africa Women in Trade Conference and Expo in Cape Town in 2022. This is where Nkuna-Kgopa met a contact who introduced her to a major client that not only bought a large supply of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads products but will also be pushing out the products into the rest of the African continent. Additionally, the contact enabled her to meet clients who took an interest in the business and provided letters of intent that have unlocked funding for Lindiwe Sanitary Pads to build a 3 500sqm factory. Additionally, her business is in the process of procuring what will be South Africa’s second-largest sanitary pads manufacturing machine which will produce 850 units per minute. Lindiwe Sanitary Pads currently employs 92 women in its peak seasons and 16 women in the quieter production periods. Nkuna-Kgopa highlights that automating the manufacturing process will not kill these jobs but grow the company’s output and revenue, allowing these women to be more securely and sustainably employed in other areas of the company. The machine is much-needed as the business expands its reach from supplying wholesalers and independent pharmacies to supplying two major retailers ’house brands. UN Women SAMCO has partnered with the South Africa Department of Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities to enhance the capacity of women-owned enterprises in the Sanitary Dignity value chain. The Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework (SDIF) aims to ensure dignified menstruation management while promoting women’s economic empowerment.
Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa, 40, started thinking about putting her ring in the hat of what she calls the menstrual economy in 2015 after following these conversations and realized that in South Africa there were no women-owned, large-scale, manufacturers of sanitary products that can compete with the big suppliers. This was the start of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads which today not only sells to individual customers but supplies the South African government’s National Sanitary Dignity Programme in four provinces. In 2022 alone Lindiwe Sanitary Pads reached 10 000 girls, supplying them with a year’s supply of sanitary pads through the government’s programme, combatting period poverty. “When I started Lindiwe Sanitary Pads I felt it was unfair that women are only end-users of sanitary pads and decided we needed to be active in the menstrual economy. We need to be part of the entire value chain. Menstruation is a huge economy and it’s interesting that with all the taboos and stigma that have existed around menstruation, when it comes to the boardroom where the rands and cents are counted, suddenly men can talk about periods and get involved in the manufacturing and selling of pads,” says Nkuna-Kgopa. “Initially when I approached funders they’d turn down my applications because they said I didn’t have a manufacturing background. I had never even set foot in a factory! So they’d said ‘you don’t have the technical know-how. You are unbankable!’’ she says. An entrepreneur at heart, having previously dabbled in marketing and accounting, Nkuna-Kgopa took the rejection in her stride and decided to build the profile of a reputable sanitary pads manufacturer. When Lindiwe Sanitary pads started in 2018 the business focused on branding, packaging, and distributing sanitary pads purchased from an external manufacturer. But what the entrepreneur quickly learned is that being product-ready and having greater access to markets is costly and requires knowledge. UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), supported by NAMA Women Advancement, implemented a series of business coaching and mentoring workshops that equipped Nkuna-Kgopa and other businesswomen with the essential skills for running profitable and sustainable businesses. She is also one of the entrepreneurs on UN Women’s Buy From Women platform, which links clients who want to procure from women-owned entrepreneurs with such suppliers. “The process for getting your product ready, running it through the necessary tests, and meeting potential big clients is quite expensive. For example, traveling to meet a potential big client in Cape Town, at your own expense, is quite demanding. That’s why the programs run by UN Women for women entrepreneurs are invaluable. They trained us then put us in spaces where we can create linkages with market-potentials and eventually take advantage ,’’ says Nkuna-Kgopa. She was one of the women entrepreneurs sponsored by UN Women SAMCO through NAMA Women Advancement’s support, to attend the Africa Women in Trade Conference and Expo in Cape Town in 2022. This is where Nkuna-Kgopa met a contact who introduced her to a major client that not only bought a large supply of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads products but will also be pushing out the products into the rest of the African continent. Additionally, the contact enabled her to meet clients who took an interest in the business and provided letters of intent that have unlocked funding for Lindiwe Sanitary Pads to build a 3 500sqm factory. Additionally, her business is in the process of procuring what will be South Africa’s second-largest sanitary pads manufacturing machine which will produce 850 units per minute. Lindiwe Sanitary Pads currently employs 92 women in its peak seasons and 16 women in the quieter production periods. Nkuna-Kgopa highlights that automating the manufacturing process will not kill these jobs but grow the company’s output and revenue, allowing these women to be more securely and sustainably employed in other areas of the company. The machine is much-needed as the business expands its reach from supplying wholesalers and independent pharmacies to supplying two major retailers ’house brands. UN Women SAMCO has partnered with the South Africa Department of Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities to enhance the capacity of women-owned enterprises in the Sanitary Dignity value chain. The Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework (SDIF) aims to ensure dignified menstruation management while promoting women’s economic empowerment.
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Story
20 September 2023
We have a duty to leave no one behind, South African President tells world leaders
“Over millennia, the human race has demonstrated an enormous capacity for resilience, adaptation, innovation, compassion and solidarity … these qualities must be evident in how we work together as a global community and as nations of the world to end war and conflict,” he said.
He urged the international community to invest in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and supported Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for sustainable and predictable financing for peacebuilding efforts.
He also expressed concern about unconstitutional changes of government in parts of Africa and stressed the need for collaboration with the African Union to support peace efforts across the continent.
Empower women
President Ramaphosa also highlighted the importance of empowering women, advocating for gender equality and equal access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
Noting that women represented 50 per cent of South Africa’s cabinet, and that he was being accompanied at the General Assembly this year by an all-women delegation, he called for greater female representation on the global stage.
He also voiced concerns over rising global temperatures, noting that 17 of world’s “climate hotspots” were in Africa.
“Africa is least responsible for the climate damage that has been caused, yet it bears the greatest burden,” he said, calling on world leaders to accelerate decarbonization while pursuing shared prosperity.
Security Council reform
President Ramaphosa also highlighted the need for inclusive, democratic, and representative international institutions.
“The recently held BRICS summit in Johannesburg also affirmed the voice that the UN Security Council should be reformed and ensure that those nations that are not represented must be represented,” he said, referring to the recent meeting held by his country alongside Russia, India and China.
Concluding his remarks, the South African leader urged all nations to demonstrated that “we have the both the will and the resolve” to secure a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for our world and more importantly, for the generations that will follow.
“Leaving no one behind – that is the duty that we all have,” he said, recalling the guiding promise made by the international community with the adoption in 2015 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
FULL STATEMENT HERE
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12 January 2024
GAZA: South Africa levels accusations of ‘genocidal conduct’ against Israel at world court
The development came amid the ongoing and massive Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October that left some 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals dead in southern Israel and some 250 taken hostage.
Laying out their case, the South African legal team told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague that Israel had demonstrated a “pattern of genocidal conduct” since launching its full-scale war in Gaza, the 365 square kilometre strip of land it has occupied since 1967.
“This killing is nothing short of destruction of Palestinian life. It is inflicted deliberately, no-one is spared, not even newborn babies,” the court heard.
Unprecedented violence
Israel’s actions had subjected the 2.3 million people of Gaza to an unprecedented level of attacks from the air, land and sea, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the destruction of homes and essential public infrastructure, insisted Adila Hassim.
Israel had also prevented sufficient humanitarian aid from reaching those in need and created the risk of death by starvation and disease because of the impossibility of providing assistance “while bombs fall”, the South Africa lawyer alleged.
“Palestinians in Gaza are subject to relentless bombing wherever they go,” Ms. Hassim told the court, adding that so many people had been killed that they were often buried unidentified in mass graves. An additional 60,000 Palestinians had been wounded and maimed, she noted.
“They are killed in their homes, in places where they seek shelter, in hospitals, in schools, in mosques, in churches, and as they tried to find food and water for their families. They have been killed if they have failed to evacuate the places to which they have fled and even if they attempted to flee along Israeli-declared safe routes.”
As part of its claim against Israel, South Africa alleges that 6,000 bombs hit Gaza in the first week of the Israeli response to the Hamas-led attacks. This included the use of 2,000-pound bombs at least 200 times “in southern areas of the Strip that were designated as safe”, and in the north, where refugee camps were located, Ms. Hassim said.
These weapons were “some of the biggest and most destructive bombs available”, she maintained, adding that genocides “are never declared in advance, but this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts”.
Convention’s obligations
It was because of these actions that Israel had contravened the Genocide Convention, the ICJ judges later heard, in reference to the global treaty inked by Members of the United Nations after the Second World War to prevent crimes against humanity.
The Convention was “dedicated to saving humanity”, insisted John Dugard, also representing South Africa, and all countries that had signed up to the Convention “are obliged not only to desist from genocidal acts but also to prevent them”, he maintained.
The hearing continues on Friday with the Israeli presentation.
Rights chief Türk rejects ‘blood libel’
In a related development, the UN’s top human rights official has defended criticism of the invasion of Gaza, saying that it is “not antisemitic” to call out “gross violations” of international humanitarian law.
Writing in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday, Volker Türk once again strongly condemned “the shocking cruelty of the attack launched from Gaza by Hamas and other armed groups on October 7”.
The massacres that ensued created “intense and continuing trauma" across Israel”, the UN rights chief continued, before insisting that the country’s “campaign of overwhelming force” had been “tainted by grave breaches of international law”.
Rocket fire from Gaza into Israel has also continued, Mr. Türk noted, before expressing regret that some Israeli officials had tried to discredit his Office’s concerns by claiming that they constitute "blood libel".
“It is not a blood libel to deplore the failure to hold to account Israeli soldiers and armed settlers who have killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, or the prolongation of a war whose conduct has raised grave international humanitarian and human rights law concerns,” the UN rights chief stressed.
Diplomacy continues in New York
And diplomats at UN Headquarters in New York continue to seek more consensus over the Israel-Palestine crisis, passing a resolution in the Security Council Thursday night aimed at containing the spillover from the Gaza war.
Ambassadors demanded that Houthi rebels on the Red Sea coast of Yemen end their attacks on international shipping, which the rebels say are in support of Palestinians and Hamas militants.
And on Friday afternoon, a meeting of the Security Council is due to take place to discuss concerns over the potential forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, at the request of new Council member, Algeria.
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Press Release
28 August 2023
Uniting Against Hate: UN South Africa and partners join forces to combat Hate Speech
JOHANNESBURG, 22 June, 2023 – The United Nations in South Africa in partnership with the Apartheid Museum, the Desmond Tutu Foundation and the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) hosted a panel discussion and a training workshop on hate speech and mis/disinformation to commemorate the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The overall goal of the event was to bring awareness to and discuss hate speech and mis/disinformation as well as to equip participants with knowledge and practical skills on how to address these ills online.
In his speech, Mr. Nelson Muffuh, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa, emphasized the UN's commitment to “upholding the principles of human rights, non-discrimination and the right of every individual to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of their nationality, race, religion, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. These are precisely the principles and rights that hate speech seeks to suppress.”
Mr. Muffuh also stressed that countering hate speech is a moral obligation that falls on all of us, whether we are government authorities, civil society organizations, the private sector, the media, youth, traditional and customary leaders, or simply individuals. He added that hate speech has a devastating impact on social cohesion, human relations, and safety, and that we must do everything in our power to combat it.
Speaking on a panel, Abigail Noko, Regional Representative for Southern Africa, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called for collective efforts towards building positive jurisprudence, saying that states have a mandate to safeguard human rights and must be liable to address incitement of racial discrimination and tackle hate speech.
Janet Jobson, Chief Executive Officer, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, in her message of support called for vigilance around misinformation and disinformation, as hate speech is becoming more prevalent in our society. “We must ensure that we do not fall into the logic of hatred and must not let hatred stand unchallenged. Our humanity is fundamentally bound up with each other and, we must counter hate speech whenever and wherever we encounter it,” said Ms. Jobson.
William Bird, Director of Media Monitoring Africa, also weighed in on the subject and the event saying, “Hate speech doesn’t just cause harm, it incites violence and undermines democracy. We commemorate the International Day for Countering Hate Speech recognizing our recent past, aware that some still seek to use hate speech to silence, bully, denigrate and rob people of their dignity. We all have a responsibility to combat and call out hate speech, but just what is it and how can we do so? Join us as we hear from experts and launch our course to empower the public to act against hate speech online.”
The panellist included Tali Nates, Director, Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Ben Winks, Independent Advocate and Thandi Smith, Head of Programmes, Media Monitoring Africa and focused on “Understanding hate speech from a legal standpoint, its impact on victims and their human rights and, strategies being employed to combat the scourge.”
The participants also had a chance for some insight and messages from Alice Nderitu, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation and Honourable Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Soono, African Commission on Human and People’s Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.
MMA also launched a programme on hate speech training. Dubbed Hate Speech Spotters Programme (HSSP). The goal is to bring awareness to hate speech, its impact on victims/target groups online, as well as how and why spreading such content is harmful and hurtful. The HSSP is designed for both those who have disseminated or are purveyors of online harms.
For media enquiries please contact: Eunice Namugwe, UN Information Centre – Pretoria, Email: namugwe@un.org, Tel : +27 71 6828310
PHOTOS of event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uninsouthafrica/albums/72177720309219465
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18 September 2023
The vital role of Indigenous Languages in shaping informed and engaged communities through the Media
The United Nations in South Africa South, in collaboration with the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), recently hosted the inaugural Indigenous Languages and the Media seminar in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The diversity of languages spoken in South Africa is greatly influenced by indigenous languages. It is crucial for their preservation that the media use and promote them. Sadly, there has been a loss in the understanding and usage of indigenous languages, particularly among young people, and less usage of indigenous languages by the media. The seminar sought to discuss and resolve these problems by bringing together key players, such as PanSALB and well-known indigenous language practitioners and media personalities, in order to have open discussions and to start dialogues that could result in practical solutions after the seminar.
In his remarks, Mr. Tafirenyika highlighted the UN’s role and efforts through the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in saving indigenous languages around the world as well as the lessons learned thus far.
“The UN is therefore appealing to all South Africans, including the government, the business sector, the civil society and individuals to do everything in their power to protect and promote linguistic diversity. Such an approach will strengthen, not weaken, our collective cultural heritage. And I can’t but fail to notice that this conference is taking place in September, which is South Africa’s heritage month,” he said.
He told participants that one of the most effective ways to preserve indigenous languages was to develop effective mechanisms for advocacy and awareness campaigns. “This is where the role of our partners in the media becomes crucial. Let me take this opportunity to commend the SABC, the national public broadcaster, for running radio stations with programmes that are broadcast in all the 11 official languages of South Africa.”
The UNIC director urged the media to promote and protect linguistic diversity and form partnerships to preserve cultural diversity and respect traditional ways of life. Governments should enact laws to conserve indigenous languages, such as mobilizing funding, defending linguistic rights, and incorporating these languages into educational systems. He further emphasized that “education is the main instrument in our toolbox of language preservation”.
The necessity of information, which is key to participation in a democracy was highlighted by Professor Abiodun Salawu, a professor of Journalism, Communication, and Media Studies at the North West University, and Director of the research entity, Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA). The media has a role to inform the masses in a language they will understand, he said.
Prof. Salawu told his audience that the development of alternative media and the use of regional languages and creoles have been key factors in the evolution of participation issues, which are essential to democracy. He urged the media to take all the indigenous languages to platforms that the youth can relate with such as social media and reminded attendees that “indigenous language media still remain a potent vehicle for mobilizing people for positive (developmental) goals which include democracy.”
In his address, Lance Schultz, the PanSALB Chief Executive Officer called for the end to “social linguistic tribalism which is essentially a lack of respect for our indigenous languages. We must be intentional with how we communicate for an informed and engaged citizenry,” he added.
“The global decline of print media has negatively affected the development of indigenous languages. Therefore, the need to forge collaborative efforts between the media, parents, teachers and various other stakeholders to promote indigenous languages is now more pertinent than ever.”
The Treasurer-General of SANEF, Tshamano Makhadi, reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to serve the needs of community media and open opportunities for the development of indigenous languages in this sector and beyond. “This proactive stance not only strengthens the vital role of community media but also fosters inclusivity and cultural diversity, creating a richer tapestry of voices in our ever-evolving media landscape, he said, adding: “Through its steadfast efforts, SANEF paves the way for a more inclusive and vibrant media ecosystem, where indigenous languages can flourish, and communities can thrive.”
The recognition of the media's pivotal role in reaching diverse audiences underscores the importance of broadcasting in indigenous languages. As the current media landscape predominantly operates in English, there is an urgent imperative to document, educate, and fortify the usage of indigenous languages.
Embracing technology and fostering innovation becomes paramount in this endeavor, encompassing initiatives like translating books and dictionaries into indigenous languages and developing accessible mobile apps and online platforms. Moreover, the formulation of laws and policies, aligned with UN frameworks such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, becomes imperative to ensure the preservation and prosperity of indigenous languages for the betterment of all humanity. This multifaceted approach not only enriches people’s cultural fabric but also champions inclusivity and linguistic diversity in the global media landscape.
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22 April 2024
30 years on, South Africa still dismantling racism and apartheid’s legacy
Rethabile Ratsomo said it’s the little things that remind her of her perceived “place” in South African society. There are the verbal slights and side-eye in workspaces, where she’s been viewed as a B-BBEE hire (The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment programme in South African that seeks to advance and transform the participation of black people in the country’s economy) and therefore not capable of doing the work. There are the passive-aggressive comments from colleagues, constantly complimenting her on how well she speaks English. She has lived through the daily microaggressions that form part of her life. “I am a born-free and despite being born after the advent of democracy in South Africa, my race continues to play a huge role in my being, as a South African,” Ratsomo said, 29, who currently works at the Anti-Racism Network and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. “Many people continue to normalise racial discrimination and perpetuate harmful behaviours. Racism remains rife.” Thirty years since the end of Apartheid, South Africa still grapples with its legacy. Unequal access to education, segregated communities and massive economic disparities persists, much of it is reinforced by existing institutions and attitudes. How is it that racism and its accompanying discrimination continues to hold such sway in this, majority Black populated and Black governed nation? Racism has deep roots in the economic, spatial and social fabric of this country. It reflects the legacy of oppression and subjugation from apartheid and colonialism. While progress has been made to eliminate the scourge of racism it requires everyone to do their part for it be eliminated, said Abigail Noko, Representative for UN Human Rights Regional Office of Southern Africa (OHCHR ROSA)“Dismantling such entrenched racist and discriminatory systems requires commitment, leadership, dialogue and advocacy to put in place anti-racist policies that implement human rights norms and provide a framework to help address and rectify these injustices and promote equality,” she added. Free your mind and the rest will follow The project of dismantling racist systems in a place like South Africa, must go hand in hand with the process of decolonization – both at an institutional and an individual level, said Professor Tshepo Madlingozi, a Commissioner at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). “History has shown that unless you have decolonized your mind, you are going to step into the shoes of the oppressor and oppress other people over and over again,” he said. Madlingozi’s comments were part of a panel discussion on dismantling racist systems in South Africa, which took place during the Human Rights Festival in Johannesburg in March, which aligns with national Human Rights Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The discussion, sponsored by OHCHR ROSA, had three panelists providing their answers to the overarching question, how can racism present in the “rainbow nation” be dismantled to bring about freedom, equality, and justice for all? Samkelo Mkhomi, a social justice and equality activist in her 20s, agreed that an internal mindset change was needed, especially among young people. She said she noticed that many of her born-free peers, i.e., someone who was born after the advent of democracy in South Africa, harbour suspicious and distrustful attitudes toward other races. She mentioned a friend who has a distrust of all white people. When Mkhomi asked why, he told her “because of what they did in the past.” She called this deliberate lack of understanding among her peers as hereditary and a big stumbling block in moving forward. “We have set perceptions and stereotypes that we've inherited from family, from social experiences, experiences that are not our own,” Mkhomi said. “And we've used that as a blueprint to view other people. Once you can get rid of that as young people, I feel like we can start moving on and dismantling racism.”Madlingozi suggested one way to do this could be to not only focus on individual racist incidences, but also to bring more awareness, and push for policies in institutions that deconstruct current ways of working. “What matters is, have we dismantled the institutions, the cultures that perpetuate racism,” he said. “Because unless you do that, you’ll have Black people, you will have a Black government that will continue to perpetuate racism because that is the nature of institutionalised racism. So yes, let’s focus on individual human rights. Let’s focus on social justice, but where it matters the most is structural institutionalized oppression.” Casting a long shadowThe scars of Apartheid run deep, leaving a legacy of segregation, discrimination and inequality. This is evidenced by the stark economic disparities in the country. A 2022 World Bank report on inequality in southern Africa gave South Africa the unfortunate distinction of being the most unequal country in the world. The report stated that 80 percent of the country’s wealth was in the hands of 10 percent of the population. And it is the Black population who factor the most into the poorest category. The report places the blame for the income disparities directly on race. “The legacy of colonialism and Apartheid rooted in racial and spatial segregation continues to reinforce inequality,” the report states. The spatial divide mirrors the economic one. The evil genius of Apartheid was the segregation project, as it allowed the Government to not only separate people based on arbitrary categorizations, but through this create material differences between the communities to reinforce the idea of actual racial differences, said Tessa Dooms. These racial classifications also encouraged the idea that the different groups needed to compete for basic human rights, dignity and economic opportunities, she added. “The Apartheid government didn’t just give people categories, they gave real live material meaning to those categories,” said Dooms, Director of Programmes for Rivonia Circle during the panel discussion. “As long as those categories mean something in the world, we still have work to do, to undo Apartheid, to undo colonialism, to decolonize.” To do this, Dooms recommended practical vision as to what a decolonized South Africa would look like, being very specific about the results wanted. She also called on the privileged groups to do the heavy lifting of helping to create more equality. Until those with privileges work to broaden access to them, the cycle will continue, Dooms added. “We cannot leave creating a more just world to the people who are most affected by injustice,” she said. “It’s not fair, it’s not right and it won’t work.” Taking concrete action Globally, South Africa’s post-Apartheid long walk to freedom has garnered an international reputation as a leader in global efforts to combat racism. In 2001, South Africa hosted the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), which resulted in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). The DDPA is a roadmap, providing concrete measures for States to combat racism, discrimination and xenophobia and related intolerance. One of the big recommendations was to have each country create its own National Action Plan (NAP). The plan is a means through which governments locally codify their commitment to taking action, with concrete steps on how they will combat racism. South Africa launched its plan in 2019, with OHCHR ROSA providing technical assistance. This assistance took many forms including participation in the consultations that led up to the final NAP and helping to set up support structures for its implementation, and support for research and other work to help develop systems for data collection on issues related to the NAP. “Human rights play crucial role in dismantling racism by providing a framework for addressing and rectifying historical injustices, promoting equality, and ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and with dignity,” Noko saidVarious other sectors have pioneered innovative approaches to chip away at Apartheid’s remnants. Corporate and governmental diversity programmes, such as B-BBEE, and the Employment Equity Amendment Bill of 2020, aim to promote diversity and equity in the workplace. Ratsomo of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said these and other efforts to address the underlying issue of what to do about that still exists in the country are key to taking it down. Everyone must learn, speak up, and act on racism, racial discrimination and related intolerances, she said. “The beginning point to tackle and dismantle systemic racism is to understand that being anti-racist does not only mean being against racism,” she said. “It also means being active and speaking out against racism whenever you see it happen. The more we understand racism, the easier it becomes to identify when it happens, which allows us to speak out and act against it when we see it happening.”
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17 April 2024
Kwibuka 30 - “Remember, Unite, Renew”
This year marks the 30th anniversary since the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda took place. Every year in April, the world, the victims and survivors of the genocide take time to remember those who lost their lives. “Kwibuka” means “to Remember” in Rwanda’s Kinyarwanda language, which is a time of remembrance and reflection on the past and to ensure it never happens again. Speaking at the event organized to commemorate the day, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to South Africa, Emmanuel Hategeka, said, “Today, we come together under the theme ‘Remember, Unite, Renew.’ We remember the million lives lost, we unite in our resolve against genocide, and we renew our commitment to unity and peace.” As he spoke, the audience was transported back to 1994, to the heart-wrenching tragedy that unfolded in Rwanda. The loss of over one million innocent lives, a stark reminder of the depths to which humanity can sink. Yet, in the face of such darkness, the resilience of survivors shone through, a beacon of hope for the future.The High Commissioner’s speech was followed by a moment of silence, a collective reflection on the past and a commitment to a future free from such atrocities. The United Nations Information Centre Director, Masimba Tafirenyika, who delivered the UN Secretary-General’s message” on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Nelson Muffuh, reminded the audience of the importance of peace by saying, “As we remember the million lives lost in the genocide, let their memory inspire us to build a world of understanding and peace. Their spirits urge us to move forward towards unity, compassion, and the strength to prevent such darkness from ever returning. Together, we honour them by forging a brighter future, a renewal.” In his message, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “We can draw a straight line between the senseless slaughter of one million Tutsi — as well as some Hutu and others who opposed the genocide — and the decades of hate speech that preceded it, enflamed by ethnic tensions and the long shadow of colonialism". The event concluded with a call to action, urging everyone to learn more about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the significance of Kwibuka30. As the attendees left the venue, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose, a commitment to remember the past, celebrate the progress made, and look forward with hope and determination.
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Story
19 February 2024
First person: Kavisha’s fight against corruption in South Africa
Twenty years have now passed since the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) – a landmark convention that seeks to develop a comprehensive response to a global problem.
South Africa ratified UNCAC in 2004 and is currently implementing its National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which promotes a whole of society approach towards tackling the issue. But what do we mean by “whole-of-society”?
Kavisha Pillay – Head of Stakeholder Relations and Campaigns for Corruption Watch, UN Youth Ambassador, a member of the President's National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, and a member of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC’s) Integrity Youth Advisory Board – has a few ideas.
“I was part of this “Born Free” generation born in 1992, two years before we [South Africa] got to democracy. There was the feeling that post-apartheid South Africa was going to be different from what our parents had grown up in – that there wouldn't be the deep inequality that they had experienced.”
Kavisha believes that South Africa’s unique history plays a large role in how corruption took root and is viewed in the country.
“Corruption in South Africa is a difficult subject because there are many who want to blame everything wrong in the country on corruption,” she says. “It's a little bit more nuanced than that.
“What we didn't consider post-apartheid was that so many people were now earning an income for the first time and able to look after their family members - to send them to university, own a house, a car, and purchase air travel. I don't think that we were thinking about these temptations. And sometimes the temptation is: I never want to be poor again. We underestimated how to bring people into a new government and a new system.
“And then, it’s a very different picture when you engage at the community level. There are people who have no other choice but to participate in a system where corruption is endemic, to get access basic rights and services, or hold their jobs.”
Reducing inequality to counter corruption
Kavisha has worked for the civil society organization Corruption Watch for 11 years. She travels the country meeting with youth, government, religious and traditional leaders, and the private sector. She says these interactions have given her an acute awareness of her fellow citizens’ concerns and how high a task her country faces to eliminate corruption.
“I don’t excuse or condone corruption. But the way in which our society is structured compels people to participate in corruption. You must meet people at their level and try to understand: why is this appealing to you?
“It is quite lazy at this point to simply say that people engage in corruption because of greed or loose morals,” Kavisha insists.
“If you don't deal with inequality, you’re always going to see higher levels of corruption, of crime, of unemployment. Inequality is South Africa’s original sin, and we won’t see any changes until we address it.
“I used to be young and naïve, thinking that I could see a corruption-free society in my lifetime,” Kavisha admits. “But the way in which society works, I don’t think it is realistic. I’ve tempered my expectations to seeing a reduced level of corruption in my lifetime.“
The power of youth
“As a young person and a woman, in rooms that are often predominantly male and predominantly older, you’re treated as a token and not taken seriously.
“But young people actually have a stake. Should we have the loudest voice and the biggest platform? No, I don't think so, but we need to include young people in these conversations, in legal reform and implementation because we will be involved much longer.”
Kavisha says outreach to South African youth is crucial to prevent apathy around corruption.
“We [Corruption Watch] ran a survey on young people’s perceptions on corruption. The survey showed that young people have a bleak outlook on the state of corruption today, believe that it's going to get worse and since they can't change this, they might as well play the game and participate in it,” she laments.
“What is positive is that awareness among youth is growing, and I’m hoping the run-up to the election will turn that awareness to action.
“Last year I was appointed to serve on the President's Advisory Council, the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, and I'm the youngest [member],” Kavisha continues. “When I talk at public events, young people come up to me asking how to join the movement.”
Struggle of a lifetime
“To me, the starting point is a mass rejection of corruption,” Kavisha muses. “What if all of us were asked for a bribe to access a hospital and we all said no, absolutely no? Would that change things? I don’t know. Is this me being naïve? Maybe – but I would hope so.
“We don’t have the luxury to give up. I am mentally prepared for the long game,” she concludes.
“For many of us, this is the struggle of a lifetime.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
UNODC supports the work of the South African President’s National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC), of which Kavisha is a member. In November 2023, UNODC and GIZ supported the hosting of the Council’s first Anti-Corruption National Dialogue, which brought together representatives from government, business and civil society to consider strategies that have been proposed and assess work currently underway. UNODC will provide technical support to the NACAC workstream on procurement reform in order for an advisory to the President to be presented in 2024.
UNODC’s GRACE initiative – or Global Resources for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth Empowerment – established the “YouthLED” Integrity Advisory Board. The Boards consists of 25 talented young people who are working with the GRACE Team in advancing education and youth empowerment as a key tool to prevent and fight corruption locally, regionally and globally.
https://grace.unodc.org/grace/en/youth-empowerment/YouthLED.html
https://grace.unodc.org/grace/en/youth-empowerment/YouthLED.html
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01 February 2024
Recognizing the extraordinary courage of victims and survivors of the Holocaust
Every year on the 27 January, the United Nations pays homage to the courage of those who defied the Nazis, despite its immense risks. Their remarkable stories and history will be honored, as we strive to counter Holocaust denial, antisemitism, and racism in memory of all victims and survivors. To mark the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, the United Nations in South Africa participated in an outreach activity in collaboration with Education Africa with learners from Masibambane College in Orange farm at the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre.
” Today, we pause to mourn the six million Jewish children, women, and men systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators – and we grieve the Roma and Sinti, the people with disabilities, and so many others who were persecuted and killed in the Holocaust. We honor their memory. We stand with the survivors, their families and descendants. We pledge never to forget – nor let others forget the truth of what happened. And we recognize the horrific resonance this day of commemoration finds in our own times. The antisemitic hate that fueled the Holocaust did not start with the Nazis, nor did it end with their defeat.”
- United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Eunice Namugwe and Marubini Muswede from the UN in South Africa, facilitated an educational session for the learners, focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the significance of collaborative individual actions to effect community change, and the roles of specific UN agencies in South Africa. Commencing with a screening of the UN Secretary-General's message on this year's Holocaust Remembrance and its emphasis on global peace, the session engaged participants through interactive quizzes, offering prizes to competitive learners.
The Holocaust Centre and Education Africa jointly delivered a presentation on the historical events of the Holocaust, featuring video footages depicting the occurrences. The learners were guided through a museum tour, and they had the privilege of listening to Irene Klass, a Holocaust survivor, as she recounted her life experiences.
“I was an only child; my parents were well off, and I lacked nothing. My parents were assimilated Jews and we lived in Lodz, which was not predominantly Jewish, my parents didn’t speak Yiddish at home, only Polish. When antisemitism started in Poland and my father could not import anymore, my mother opened a card club that was doing very well until the war broke out.”
-Irene Klass, survivor of the Holocaust.
The United Nations stresses the international community’s collective responsibility to address trauma from genocide through effective remembrance policies, preservation of historical sites, and education. Lessons from the Holocaust contribute to a more just, tolerant world aligned with SDGs, emphasizing the need for collective action to prevent future atrocities and promote inclusivity.
As the world commemorated this day, the UN congratulated Tali Nates on being awarded The Secretary of State’s International Religious Freedom” in the United States. Ms. Nates leverages her personal story and her position as the founder and director of the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre to inoculate South Africans especially youth from growing rhetoric that dehumanizes vulnerable groups. https://www.state.gov/international-religious-freedom-awards/
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24 January 2024
Investing in foundational learning drives development
“Today is the sixth International Day of Education and is celebrated under the theme ‘learning for lasting peace’.
“It’s an apt theme, in a world where conflict, climate shocks and inequality threaten our very existence. So, while we put out fires and work to reduce the impact of multiple crises on children, we must also invest in building the learning foundations for the future to enable a generation of children to learn for lasting peace.
“Ending ‘learning poverty’ can in-turn create fairer and safer societies that drive development, reduce the risk of conflict, and strengthen resilience to cope in the face of crises, fostering a kinder and better society for every child – for everyone.
“In South Africa, the class of 2023 recently received their Matric results, achieving a national pass mark of some 82.9 per cent, an increase of 2.8 percentage points from the previous year. We congratulate all learners who sat their Matric exams.
“But the story is as always more nuanced. The 2021 ‘Progress in International Reading Literacy Study’ results revealed that 81 per cent of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning. Across Sub Saharan Africa, it is estimated that today, 9 out of 10 ten-year-olds cannot read and understand a simple story or solve basic math.
“The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened existing cracks and historic challenges in the education sector. Data from the Department of Basic Education showed that education for learners at the foundational phase was particularly hard hit, with 65% of school contact time lost due to closures and rotational attendance policies.
“These learning losses in the early grades present a serious long-term threat for the children affected. One of the strongest predictors of children dropping out of the education system is poor learning foundations. Years of research globally is clear that fewer years of education can lead to worse health outcomes, greater youth unemployment and deeper levels of poverty.
“That’s why learning and skills for all, with a focus on the foundation phase, is a UNICEF priority across the Eastern and Southern Africa region. This means improving basic literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills such as socioemotional skills. Foundational learning essentially provides the building blocks for all other learning.
“In South Africa, UNICEF is supporting and championing the ‘Early Grade Reading Programme’ to implement evidence-based programming that can improve the overall quality of teaching and in-turn learning across key foundational learning areas: early childhood development, reading and literacy in home languages, and numeracy.
To improve foundational learning, South Africa must increase public investment in the early years by expanding access to early childhood education and scaling up proven solutions to improve literacy and numeracy, including investing in teachers and their ability to deliver quality and impactful learning.
“With the support of the LEGO Foundation, Hapag Lloyd, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Hempel Foundation, among others, UNICEF is working in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, to improve educational outcomes for learners across marginalised communities. This includes through targeted, measurable, and tested programmes that positively transform the learning journeys of these children.
“We also welcome the African Union’s designation of 2024 as the Year of Education in Africa, under the theme, ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa’. This is an important opportunity to accelerate efforts in transforming education on the continent and unleashing Africa’s potential.
“Education is a fundamental human right and it is our obligation to ensure that no child is left behind.”
Note to Editors
The International Day of Education is celebrated annually on January 24th. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to celebrate the role of education in
promoting peace and development. The theme for 2024, is “learning for lasting peace”. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of education as a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility while highlighting the need for inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all.
promoting peace and development. The theme for 2024, is “learning for lasting peace”. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of education as a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility while highlighting the need for inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all.
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Press Release
08 March 2024
1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty
On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls for the world to “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress” as the best way to accelerate economic growth and build more prosperous, equitable societies.This is particularly urgent when war and crisis are eroding the achievements of decades of investments in gender equality. From the Middle East to Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, women pay the biggest price for conflicts that are not of their making. The need for peace has never been more urgent.Climate change is accelerating persistent poverty gaps. As competition for scarce resources intensifies, livelihoods are threatened, societies become more polarized, and women bear an increasingly heavy burden:1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty.The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas doubled since 2017, now, more than 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In conflict areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty.Climate change is set to leave 236 million more women and girls hungry by 2030, twice as many as men (131 million).At prime working age, only 61 per cent of women are in the labour force versus 90 per cent of men.We cannot continue to miss out on the gender-equality dividend. More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments prioritized education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanded social benefits. Almost 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through investments in care services, such as provision of daycare and elderly care. And closing gender employment gaps could boost gross domestic product per capita by 20 per cent across all regions.The current reality is far from this. Programmes dedicated to gender equality represent only 4 per cent of official development assistance. An additional USD 360 billion in developing countries is needed per year to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is less than one fifth of the USD 2.2 trillion spent globally on military expenditure in 2022, for example.The areas needing investment are clear and understood. First and foremost there must be an investment in peace. Beyond this, the investments needed include: laws and policies that advance the rights of women and girls; transformation of social norms that pose barriers to gender equality; guaranteeing women’s access to land, property, health care, education, and decent work; and financing women’s groups networks at all levels.UN Women is also calling on Member States at the Commission on the Status of Women, starting in New York on 11 March 2024, to back up their commitments on gender equality with resources. The world’s leaders have this opportunity to develop concrete and progressive agreed conclusions that reflect the crucial need for financing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women´s organizations. They must seize it for the sake of equality, our planet, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality. For more information: unwomen.org. Local Media contact:
Maphuti Mahlaba
Communications Analyst
UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office
maphuti.mahlaba@unwomen.org
+27 65 742 4459
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality. For more information: unwomen.org. Local Media contact:
Maphuti Mahlaba
Communications Analyst
UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office
maphuti.mahlaba@unwomen.org
+27 65 742 4459
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Press Release
07 March 2024
On International Women’s Day, UNAIDS calls for protecting women’s rights to protect their health
GENEVA, 6 March 2024— Ahead of International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, UNAIDS is calling for the protection of women’s rights to protect their health.The world is way off track to meet the gender, equality and HIV targets that are part of the Sustainable Development Goals. At the current rate of progress, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.In addition, around the world at least five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family. One in three women worldwide experience sexual or gender-based violence.Women who experience violence are more at risk of acquiring HIV. This risk is heightened for the 600 million women and girls who live in the world’s conflict-affected countries, facing an increased danger of sexual violence. And in the majority of the world’s poorest countries, the debt crisis is squeezing out investment in education, health, and social protection, particularly hurting women and girls.Women are further threatened by the organized pushback against women’s rights. “Today, women’s hard-won rights are under a globally coordinated, ruthless attack. Those facing the most vicious attack are already the most marginalized women,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “The injustices faced by women are not natural disasters to prepare for, like hurricanes or storms. They are man-made, and, as such, we can unmake them.”The good news is that across the world, women and girls are leading struggles for equality and rights. Women are standing up against oppression in their homes, workplaces, and communities. Women’s movements are providing direct support to women and girls who face violence, and marching and striking for equality. To protect women’s rights, it is vital to support and resource these community organizations, civil society groups and women’s organizations—the frontline defenders of those rights.Like justice, health is never given, it is won.UNAIDS’ call this International Women’s Day, is to protect women and girls’ health, protect women and girls’ rights. In doing so, the world will end AIDS, and will overcome the inequalities driving it.______UNAIDSThe Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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Press Release
21 February 2024
Time to protect children from violence and save lives now
20 February 2024 - “Shocking levels of violence continue to destroy children’s lives across South Africa, with 285 children murdered and 2,707 surviving attempted murder, assault, or grievous bodily harm between October and December 2023.The latest quarterly South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics once again reveal the tragic and dangerous reality of life for far too many children. On average, thirty-three children are violently attacked each day and at least three of them will not survive.Despite the horror, the figures show a nearly 11 per cent decline in the number of child murders compared to the same three-month period in 2022 but an almost 12 per cent jump in violent assaults.In the last quarter of 2023, some 1,135 women were also murdered and more than 20,300 violently assaulted. Worryingly, the statistics only represent reported cases, and the real situation is likely to be far worse.This violence not only ends young lives and those of thousands of women and girls but has a devasting impact on families, communities, and the nation’s development.The latest statistics follow the release of the Committee on the Rights of the Child concluding observations on South Africa’s periodic child rights report. The Committee expressed concern over the high prevalence of all forms of violence against children and UNICEF welcomes their call to strengthen efforts to tackle the root causes and to eradicate violence against children.What this means is engaging all of society in the response. Research shows that we can reduce violence through committing and investing in interventions that work, from the home to school and into the community and work environment.This includes:Scaling-up parenting support to promote non-violent disciplinary techniques, improving mental wellbeing, and encouraging positive - as opposed to toxic -masculinity.Increasing investments in violence prevention and early intervention programming that can save lives.Training teachers and child and youth care workers to identify at risk children, while improving care for child survivors of violence.Putting into action the School Safety Framework and other initiatives to create a safer learning environment.The time to protect every woman, girl, and boy and to stop the killing is now. Without the safety and nurturing care children need to survive and thrive, society will bear the consequences of a cycle of violence and continued social and economic strain.Let’s mark the thirtieth year of South Africa’s democracy by respecting and realizing the rights of every child, so that the nation’s greatest resource – its children – can lead the country’s journey of development and progress over the coming three decades.”
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Press Release
10 December 2023
Statement by the United Nations Resident Coordinator on International Human Rights Day
Seventy-five years ago, world leaders united to chart a path towards a more just, equal, and peaceful world following two devastating world wars. Death and destruction birthed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings.
International Human Rights Day on 10 December commemorates the adoption of the UDHR in 1948. In South Africa, it also marks the signing into law of the Constitution in 1996. Merging the two commemorations was a global symbol by Nelson Mandela to demonstrate that as United Nations member states forged the UDHR from brutal conflict, similarly, the South African Constitution could unite a country emerging from a violent past.
Since their adoption, the UDHR and the Constitution have catalysed socio-economic and political transformation and a legally binding system to protect human rights.
South Africa will hold its seventh national and provincial elections in 2024, a testament to 30 years of democratic rights for all.
The rights of women, children, persons with disabilities and migrants are inscribed in law. Discrimination has been prohibited on several grounds and the indivisibility of social, economic and cultural rights and civil and political rights upheld.
Yet, while millions of people enjoy the universal rights and freedoms guaranteed by the UDHR, they are still far from the lived experience of many.
Globally, poverty has risen for the first time in 20 years.
Inequality is rising between and within countries.
South Africa is no exception. The country is ranked the most unequal in the world. Unemployment remains high, with young people bearing the brunt.
Rape, sexual assault and femicide remains a scourge.
Severe flooding, due to changing climate patterns, claimed hundreds of lives in parts of the country and forced thousands to leave their homes.
As we commemorate Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December, more effort is also needed to address service delivery, corruption and maladministration and trust in public institutions.
These persistent and new challenges require a recommitment to human rights.
Just as states turned to human rights 75 years ago to guide them out of conflict and despair, today, with less than seven years to the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, our transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030 must be grounded on human rights.
Governments, civil society, and the private sector must put human rights at the centre of all efforts to solve persistent challenges.
We must chart a way towards a human rights-based economy that reduces inequality. Service delivery must be equitable and inclusive, reaching those furthest behind first.
We need to invest in the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and ensure justice for survivors and victims.
Young people must be at the decision-making table, bringing their insights and innovation to solve critical challenges.
On this 75th anniversary of the UDHR, we call on everyone to heed the call of “freedom, equality and justice for all”. Let us each do our part to make universal human rights a living reality for everyone, everywhere.
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Press Release
31 October 2023
FAO South Africa and The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development Commemorate World Food Day in KwaZulu-Natal
PRETORIA - The country representative Dr Ahmadu Babagana commemorated World Food Day with The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development in KZN, KwaMaphumulo, Ilembe District, Sixeni Sport Ground.
World Food Day is commemorated every year on 16 October to mark the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and underscore the need to step up efforts to end hunger and other forms of malnutrition.
It is a day to highlight our collective efforts towards progressively achieving zero hunger targets, while also underlining the important role played by food and agriculture in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This year’s theme is “Water is Life, Water is food. Leaving no one behind”. It calls for collective action in making healthy diets available and affordable to all.
This year’s World Food Day focusses on celebrates one of the planet’s most precious resource: water. It is essential to life on Earth. It covers the majority of the planet’s surface, makes up over 50 percent of our bodies, helps keep us fed, supports livelihoods and is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We all have a responsibility to protect our planet and all its natural resources. Especially water. Without water there is no life, without water, there is no food. Therefore, it is important for us all to come together in partnerships and collaboration to address the following issues around water;
Good governance is crucial for sustainable and equitable water allocation, through an integrated and inclusive approach with all partners. Water governance and tenure, water pricing, regulations, and incentive measures, are needed to drive change and ensure equitable access to clean and safe water resources.
We need to implement integrated water resources management through coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize human well-being, without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
Investment in innovative, efficient water management practices is vital, including recent advances in irrigation and storage technologies and science-based solutions to address water scarcity and harnessing flooding; so that we are building a water-saving and resilient society.
In conclusion, none of us can be able to achieve these Goals alone. Partnership between Government, Private Sector and Civil Society remains being our best chance at achieving our 2023 Sustainable Development Goals.
Media Equiries:
Luthando.Kolwapi@fao.org
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Resources
29 September 2023
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