Human Rights Commission holds Public Hearings on Socio-Economic Rights

The SA Human Rights Commission is to hold public hearings on the progressive realisation of Socio-Economic Rights from Monday, June 08 - Friday, June 12, 2009 at the Human Rights House in Parktown, Johannesburg. These hearings will take place from 09:00 – 16:00.

The dates for the specific rights are as follows:

• Environment, Water and Food - Monday, June 08
• Social Security – Tuesday, 09 June
• Health - Wednesday, June 10 2009)
• Land and Housing - Thursday, June 11
• Education Friday, June 12

The aim of these hearings is to enable the Commission to meet its constitutional mandate of monitoring and promoting human rights as provided for in section 184 (3) of the Constitution. This provision requires that organs of state must provide the Commission with information on the measures that they have taken towards the realization of the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights. These measures should include, amongst others: eradicating the scourge of poverty, unemployment and inequality; dealing with the crisis in education; addressing the slow pace of land reform; the huge housing backlog and other critical social challenges that continue to plague the people of South Africa.

Furthermore, Section 7 (2) of the South African Human Rights Commission Act further provides that all organs of state shall afford the Commission such assistance as may be reasonably required for the protection of the independence, impartiality and dignity of the Commission.

In the interest of constitutional accountability the Commission will write to the Speaker of Parliament to raise its concerns about the lack of submissions from some national and provincial government departments.

This lack of co-operation confirms the findings of the Report of the Independent Panel Assessment of Parliament that highlighted the insufficient attention that Parliament gives to the Commission’s reports on Economic and Social rights.

In addition, the Commission will further communicate with the relevant Ministers to request the relevant department’s participation at the hearings.
The Commission expresses its appreciation to those government departments and civil society organisations that have demonstrated their commitment to this process through timeously making their submissions.

For further enquiries: Vincent Moaga on 073 562 9866