African nations had long been aggrieved by the targeting of developing countries in the United Nations’ Commission on Human Rights, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Tuesday.
In written reply to DA leader Tony Leon, she confirmed on Tuesday that South Africa was one of 14 African nations which had supported no action on the European Union’s proposed draft resolution on Zimbabwe at the commission’s 58th session. Cameroon had abstained.
Developing countries had long been aggrieved by the targeting of the South, especially African states, in the commission, Dlamini-Zuma said. The resolution which urged Harare to invite UN human rights experts to visit Zimbabwe ”also contained many other elements” and was introduced by the European Union without prior consultation with the African group.
”The African delegations were disappointed and angered to discover that the text included only a scant reference to economic and social rights, while it did not mention the failure of the British government to meet its commitments in terms of the Lancaster House agreement.
”Nor was the primary importance of land distribution reflected in the draft.” Of the 20 country-specific resolutions proposed during the commission, nine concerned African states, Dlamini-Zuma.
”At the same time Western countries, including European states, were observed to be adopting obstructionist and delaying tactics when it came to issues of vital importance to the South, such as the right to development and the follow up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference Against Racism.”
For these reasons, the African heads of delegation recommended that their governments supported a no-action motion in respect of the draft resolution on Zimbabwe. South Africa’s position was not inconsistent with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Dlamini-Zuma said. – Sapa