Ahead of the 2024 elections on Wednesday, Amnesty International South Africa urged the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), political parties, candidates and authorities to ensure the 2024 general elections are free and fair and that all eligible voters are given the opportunity to cast their ballot.

Amnesty International stressed the need to uphold human rights during elections.

“…this includes the right to freedom of expression, dignity and safety. There must be no space for fear and intimidation of voters during the election and the safety and security of everyone, no matter who they are, must be respected before, during and after elections,” said Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shenilla Mohamed.

Amnesty International is encouraging citizens to consider human rights when they make their mark on Wednesday, expressing disappointment that not more political parties and candidates signed the pledge to uphold human rights.

Last month Amnesty International released its Human Rights Manifesto focusing on 10 issues crucial for political parties and candidates to commit to, and ensure that human rights were upheld.

The manifesto was sent to political parties and independent candidates along with a request for them to sign a pledge, outlining their [political parties and independent candidates’] commitment to upholding human rights if elected.

She noted that to date four political parties and one independent candidate had signed the pledge.

Mohamed highlighted that human rights were universal principles that transcended politics and offered a roadmap to a better future.

She added that in order for these human rights to be realised, the electorate could use their power at the ballot to ensure that political parties and candidates standing for office did their part to ensure that the government met its human rights obligations domestically, used its influence to advance human rights globally, and engaged other governments to do the same.

She noted that political will and a commitment were needed to making human rights a reality.

“While we are calling on political parties to sign the pledge, we are also calling on citizens, who are eligible and are registered to vote, to take a pledge to vote for human rights and to hold political parties and candidates accountable ahead, during and after the elections. Close to 10 000 people have taken the pledge,” said Mohamed.

She said those who were voted into power after these elections must serve the people, stop the politicking and deliver on human rights obligations.