Country detail - yourHRC.org

South Africa

Regional group:

African Group (AG)

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2016)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2018) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Working Group on Situations (2017, 2018)
OHCHR presence:	Regional Office
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Ad hoc

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

The need for an integrated approach to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the full realisation of human rights, focusing holistically on the means of implementation; Strengthening of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Rectification of the legal status of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights; Nelson Mandela International Day; Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity; Elaboration of an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights; Promotion and protection of the human rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas; The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights; The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, South Africa has (in the absence of consensus) abstained during voting on every item 4 resolution (situations that require the Council’s attention) except one (a 2009 resolution on Sudan – South Africa voted against). South Africa has never voted in favour of an item 4 resolution on a country-specific situation. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), South Africa has always voted in favour. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), South Africa has joined consensus on all resolutions except for three that were voted on during the period of its membership: on cooperation with Ukraine (South Africa abstained) and on the situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (South Africa voted in favour). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, South Africa has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has nearly always voted in favour. Notwithstanding, South Africa has voted against: a 2015 resolution on the effects of terrorism; a 2014 resolution on peaceful protests; and a 2009 resolution on religious discrimination. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, South Africa has either joined consensus on, or has voted in favour of, all adopted texts.

View full voting record

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional or subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 35

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 121

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 24

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 6

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on summary executions, 2008

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CEDAW
3 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2008, 2012, 2017)

Mid-term report

Level of delegation

Deputy Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 72 / 192

2^nd cycle: 100 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2018)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 16

South Africa tabled voluntary pledges and commitments in support for its candidacy for membership for the period 2014-2016 on 9 September 2013. South Africa made a number of concrete pledges and commitments at both international and national levels.

At international level, South Africa pledged to: maintain its Standing Invitation to Special Procedures and continue to receive visits; fulfil visit commitments for the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women; respect and protect the independence of OHCHR; contribute financially (un-earmarked) to OHCHR; support various UN human rights trust funds; support the trust fund for the permanent UN memorial to the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade; continue to advocate for a balanced sustainable development programme within the human rights framework; push for amendments to the two international covenants to include the right to development; continue to submit periodic reports to the Treaty Bodies

Domestically, South Africa emphasised that it was in the process of ratifying the ICESCR, ICESCR-OP, ICRMW, CAT-OP, CPED, the Convention relating to the status of stateless persons, and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. It will also submit a national action plan on racism, as required by the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

An analysis of steps taken by South Africa in fulfilment of its international level pledges shows that South Africa has maintained its Standing Invitation, and has accepted 10 out of 17 visit requests. For those international instruments to which South Africa is Party, it tends to submit its reports late and has two outstanding reports. South Africa ratified the ICESCR in 2015, but has so far not ratified the other international instruments mentioned in its voluntary pledges and commitments. South Africa did not make a voluntary contribution to OHCHR in 2014.

South Africa

African Group (AG)

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 72 / 192

2nd cycle: 100 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 16

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 72 / 192

2^nd cycle: 100 / 192