Thank you, hon Speaker. Today marks the 16th anniversary of celebrating the International Day of Democracy since the Inter- Parliamentary Union adopted the universal declaration on democracy that affirms the principles of democracy and exercises in democratic government and the global scope of democracy. The UN proclaimed this day in November 2007. This day is to serve as a reminder that the need to promote and protect democracy is as urgent now as ever.
In this regard, Parliament is the central institution in democracy. This is also relevant for South Africa as we celebrate 16 years of our democracy with significant milestones for our Constitution that safeguards and guarantees the Bill of Rights and ensures that regular free and fair elections are held.
However, since the advent of our democracy and our participation in world politics, our international relations have left much to be desired. Our track record in the UN General Assembly has been controversial and disappointing. Our voting patterns on topical issues, for example, Myanmar and Burma, and our stance on the Dalai Lama has shocked the world.
Our participation in the United Nations Security Council has also been marked by controversy and failure to influence change. Our blockades of the issue of Zimbabwe are some of our legacies in this august world body. Our continued relationship with rogue states in Africa like Guinea Bissau and the DRC, where according to a UN report human rights abuses are still happening, is a source of shame.
South Africa cannot be an island of democracy in a sea of undemocratic states. If we enjoy our democracy, then why are we not sharing the fruits with our neighbours, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, where political persecution is still permitted and we are watching blindly, doing nothing?
On a parliamentary question to the Minister concerning Swaziland, the response was that the South African government has made no representations to the Swaziland government concerning the political situation and has no intention of doing so. This continues to be the same with our failed, quiet diplomacy in the case of Zimbabwe that yielded no result for 10 years to bring about democracy in Zimbabwe. Our democracy is not sustainable if our neighbours are not free.
Mr Speaker, we need to go back to our constitutional imperatives and our foreign policy principles that focus on the promotion of human rights and democracy. The question here is: Why, up to now, have we not ratified these important treaties? I refer to the charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance adopted in Addis Ababa in 2007, the International Convention on the Protection of all Migrant Workers and the Convention against Torture?
We are defaulting on our noble principles and international commitments to promote human rights, democracy and international law when we support the AU stance not to honour the ICC warrant issued against Mr Al Bashir.
The challenges of democracy in Africa still continue today as we mark this day. There is lack of respect for human rights; intolerance; unconstitutional changes of governments; and a lack of adherence to the rule of law. We need to ensure that we encourage and instil respect for international law in Africa and ensure that civil society exercises, protects, claims and creates its rights.
On the domestic front, we need to ensure that our international commitments make a tangible difference to the lives of the poor by attempting to reach the Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty by 2015, as we have become the most unequal society in the world. We need to encourage vibrant civil society to participate in our democratic process and provide quality education for our young people.
In conclusion, looking forward to the future we need to strengthen our democratic institutions domestically and speak out against neighbours who are violators of these rights. We need to affirm our position as champions of democracy and human rights.
South Africa has a moral obligation in consolidating the African agenda, not only through brotherhood and sisterhood, but through making sure that human rights and democracy are promoted and protected and through respect for international law in the region and on the continent.
We must work hard on changing our tainted image in the international arena and continue to honour our international commitments by staying true to our constitutional values and ensuring that we report timeously on progress made with this commitment. We must also make sure that our democracy is sustainable through civil society participation. Thank you. [Applause.]