Ratification of Human Rights Treaty Reaffirms SA’s Commitment to Socio-Economic Rights and Internationalism
By Daniel McLaren —
On 12 January 2015, South Africa ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Though ratification is long overdue, given that President Nelson Mandela signed the Covenant in 1994, this statement of renewed commitment to social and economic justice and internationalism has been roundly and justifiably welcomed.
But what is the significance of this moment? To answer that, we must briefly revisit a very different time.
1976 was a year of tragedy and shame for South Africa. Internationally, it also marked a turning point. The mass student protests against the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools – a continuation of struggles that had been waging ever since the Bantu Education Act was passed in 1953 – had the Nationalist government on the back foot. On 16 June it showed its teeth. The tragic onslaught by security forces against unarmed youth led to the deaths of 176 learners in Soweto and thousands of casualties across the country.
Read full article here
