Question NW1963 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
27 June 2018 - NW1963
Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
(a) What are the details of the last 50 votes taken at the United Nations Human Rights Commission and (b) how did South Africa vote in each case?
Reply:
Honourable Members, the United Nations Human Rights Commission ceased to exist in 2006 when the United Nations General Assembly passed its resolution 60/251, establishing the Human Rights Council (HRC). The details provided here are for the HRC and not those of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights.
(a) & (b) In the last 50 votes taken at the United Nations Human Rights Council, South Africa voted in favour of a total of thirty five (35) resolutions, ten (10) of which are country specific and twenty five (25) thematic, voted against two (2) resolutions, one (1) of which is a country specific and one (1) thematic and abstained on 13 resolutions, twelve (12) of which are country specific and one (1) thematic.
The details of the last 50 votes taken by South Africa at the HRC are provided in the table below:
|
ITEM |
ADOPTED TEXT |
TITLE |
ACTION TAKEN |
|
1 |
37/1 |
The deteriorating situation of human rights in Eastern Ghouta, in the Syrian Arab Republic Led by: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Adopted by vote (29 to 4, with 14 abstentions), South Africa Abstained 5 March 2018 |
|
2 |
37/3 |
Integrity of the judicial system Led by: Russian Federation |
Adopted by vote (23 to 2, with 22 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 22 March 2018 |
|
3 |
37/10 |
The right to food Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote (46 to 1, with no abstentions), South Africa voted in favour 22 March 2018 |
|
4 |
37/11 |
The effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote (27 to 16, with 4 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour |
|
5 |
37/21 |
Human rights and unilateral coercive measures Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement) |
Adopted by vote (28 to 15, with 3 abstentions), South Africa voted in favour 23 March 2018 |
|
6 |
37/23 |
Promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights Led by: China |
Adopted by vote (28 to 1, with 17 abstentions), South Africa voted in favour 23 March 2018 |
|
7 |
37/29 |
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic Led by: France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America |
Adopted by vote (27 to 4, with 16 abstentions), South Africa Abstained 23 March 2018 |
|
8 |
37/30 |
Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Led by: Republic of Moldova, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United States of America |
Adopted by vote (21 to 7, with 19 abstentions), South Africa Abstained 23 March 2018 |
|
9 |
37/32 |
Situation of human rights in Myanmar Led by: Bulgaria (on behalf of the European Union) |
Adopted by vote (32 to 5, with 10 abstentions), South Africa Abstained 23 March 2018 |
|
10 |
37/33 |
Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) |
Adopted by vote (25 to 14, with 7 abstentions), South Africa voted in favour, 23 March 2018 |
|
11 |
37/34 |
Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) |
Adopted by vote (43 to 2, with 1 abstention), South Africa voted in favour 23 March 2018 |
|
12 |
37/35 |
Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) |
Adopted by vote (41 to 3, with 2 abstentions), South Africa voted in Favour 23 March 2018 |
|
13 |
37/36 |
Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) |
Adopted by vote (34 to 4, with 8 abstentions), South Africa voted in Favour 23 March 2018 |
|
14 |
37/37 |
Ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) |
Adopted by vote (27 to 4, with 15 abstentions), South Africa voted in Favour 23 March 2018 |
|
15 |
37/40 |
Cooperation with Georgia Led by: Georgia |
Adopted by vote (19 to 5, with 23 abstentions), South Africa Abstained, 23 March 2018 |
|
16 |
37/42 |
Contribution to the implementation of the joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem with regard to human rights Led by: Albania, Brazil, Colombia, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, Switzerland, Uruguay |
Adopted by vote (26 to 10, with 11 abstentions), South Africa voted in favour 23 March 2018 |
|
17 |
36/1 |
Composition of staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote: (31 to 15 with 1 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 20 September 2017 |
|
18 |
36/3 |
The use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination Led by Cuba |
Adopted by vote: (32 to 15 with 0 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 20 September 2017 |
|
19 |
36/4 |
Mandate of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote: (32 to 15 with 0 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 20 September 2017 |
|
20 |
36/17 |
The question of the death penalty Benin, Belgium, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Switzerland |
Adopted by vote: (27 to 13 with 7 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 21 September 2017 |
|
21 |
36/19 |
Renewal of the mandate of the commission of inquiry on Burundi Led by: Estonia (on behalf of the European Union) |
Adopted by vote: (22 to 11 with 14 abstentions) South Africa voted against 21 September 2017 |
|
22 |
36/9 |
The right to development Led by: Venezuela (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement) |
Adopted by vote: (31 to 11 with 4 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 21 September 2017 |
|
23 |
36/10 |
Human rights and unilateral coercive measures Led by: Venezuela (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement) |
Adopted by vote: (30 to 15 with 1 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 21 September 2017 |
|
24 |
36/24 |
From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance Led by: Tunisia (on behalf of the Group of African States) |
Adopted by vote: (32 to 5 with 10 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 26 September 2017 |
|
25 |
36/20 |
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic Led by: France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America |
Adopted by vote: (27 to 7 with 13 abstentions) South Africa abstained 21 September 2017 |
|
26 |
36/21 |
Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights Led by: Fiji, Ghana, Hungary, Ireland, Uruguay |
Adopted by vote: (28 to 0 with 19 abstentions) South Africa Abstained 26 September 2017 |
|
27 |
36/22 |
Promotion and protection of the human rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas Led by: Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Ecuador, South Africa |
Adopted by vote: (34 to 2 with 11 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 21 September 2017 |
|
28 |
36/33 |
Technical assistance and capacity building to improve the situation of human rights in Burundi Led by: Tunisia (on behalf of the Group of African States) |
Adopted by vote: (23 to 14 with 9 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 22 September 2017 |
|
29 |
36/30 |
Technical assistance and capacity-building in the field of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Led by: Tunisia (on behalf of the Group of African States) |
Adopted by vote: (45 to 1 with 1 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 26 September 2017 |
|
30 |
35/3 |
Human rights and international solidarity Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote: (32 to 15 with 0 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 14 June 2017 |
|
31 |
35/4 |
Promotion of the right to peace Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote: (32 to 11 with 4 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 14 June 2017 |
|
32 |
35/26 |
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic Led by: France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America |
Adopted by vote: (27 to 8 with 12 abstentions) South Africa Abstained 15 June 2017 |
|
33 |
35/31 |
Cooperation with and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights Led by: Ukraine |
Adopted by vote: (22 to 6 with 19 Abstentions) South Africa Abstained 15 June 2017 |
|
34 |
35/8 |
Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights Led by: Venezuela (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement) |
Adopted by vote: (32 to 3 with 12 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 15 June 2017 |
|
35 |
35/27 |
Situation of human rights in Belarus Led by: Malta (on behalf of the European Union) |
Adopted by vote: (18 to 8 with 21 abstentions) South Africa Abstained 15 June 2017 |
|
36 |
35/9 |
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons Led by: Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt (on behalf of the Group of Arab States), El Salvador, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia |
Adopted by vote: (30 to 12 with 5 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 15 June 2017 |
|
37 |
35/21 |
The contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights Led by: China |
Adopted by vote: (30 to 13 with 3) South Africa voted in favour 20 June 2017 |
|
38 |
34/3 |
Mandate of the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote (31 to 16 with 0 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 15 March 2017 |
|
39 |
34/8 |
Effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of all human rights Led by: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia |
Adopted by vote: (28 to 15 with 4 abstentions) South Africa voted Against 16 March 2017 |
|
40 |
34/27 |
Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the OIC) |
Adopted by vote: (26 to 3 with 18 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 16 March 2017 |
|
41 |
34/37 |
Cooperation with Georgia Led by: Georgia |
Adopted by vote: (18 to 5 with 24) South Africa Abstained 16 March 2017 |
|
42 |
34/13 |
Human rights and unilateral coercive measures Led by: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (on behalf of the NAM) |
Adopted by vote: (32 to 14 with 0 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 16 March 2017 |
|
43 |
34/11 |
The negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, and the importance of improving international cooperation Led by: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia (on behalf of the Group of African States) |
Adopted by vote: (30 to 1 with 16 abstentions) South Africa in favour 21 March 2017 |
|
44 |
34/23 |
Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Led by: Republic of Moldova, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United States of America |
Adopted by vote: (22 to 12 with 13 abstentions) South Africa Abstained 16 March 2017 |
|
45 |
34/12 |
The right to food Led by: Cuba |
Adopted by vote: (45 to 1 with 1 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 16 March 2017 |
|
46 |
34/34 |
Mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action Led by: Tunisia (on behalf of Africa Group) |
Adopted by vote: (46 to 1 with 0 abstention) South Africa voted in favour 21 March 2017 |
|
47 |
34/36 |
Elaboration of complementary standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Led by: Tunisia (on behalf of the African Group) |
Adopted by vote: (31 to 4 with 12 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 21 March 2017 |
|
48 |
34/27 |
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic Led by: France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America |
Adopted by vote: (27 to 7 with 13 abstentions) South Africa Abstained 17 March 2017 |
|
49 |
34/28 |
Ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the OIC), State of Palestine |
Adopted by vote: (30 to 2 with 15 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 17 March 2017 |
|
50 |
34/29 |
Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination Led by: Pakistan (on behalf of the OIC), State of Palestine |
Adopted by vote: (43 to 2 with 2 abstentions) South Africa voted in favour 17 March 2017 |