Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shenilla Mohamed said that 30 years after the end of apartheid, the right to life and dignity continues to be trampled on, with some lives deemed more valuable than others.

“No one is spared, from women and girls enduring high rates of gender-based violence (GBV), to courageous human rights defenders risking their lives to expose wrongdoing and corruption,” she said.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International launched its yearly 'The State of the World’s Human Rights' report, which assesses human rights in 155 countries. 

Mohamed pointed out that three decades had passed since the end of the oppressive apartheid regime in South Africa, marking a historic milestone in the fight for freedom and equality, however, the struggle for human rights and dignity persisted.

She said GBV remained rampant, with perpetrators often evading justice.

She highlighted that the report paints a sobering picture of the ongoing challenges faced by South Africans and added that despite the hard-fought victories against apartheid, millions still grappled with the denial of their fundamental human rights.

“The promise to eradicate pit latrines in schools remains unfulfilled, while literacy rates among Grade 4 pupils remains low. Concerns loom over the potential adverse effects of the National Health Insurance Bill on healthcare accessibility, which is already a problem in the country. Access to safe drinking water is declining and water infrastructure is crumbling with alarming effects,” she said.

Mohamed noted that amidst these challenges, the murder rate persisted at staggering levels, and excessive use of force by police in response to protests continued.

“Human rights defenders, activists and journalists face threats and attempts to silence their voices, underscoring the persistent dangers confronting those who advocate for justice and accountability,” she said.

Reflecting on South Africa’s journey since the end of apartheid, it was a poignant reminder that the fight for freedom, dignity and human rights was far from over, Mohamed said.

“This year, as South Africa heads to the polls on 29 May, we have the opportunity to collectively shape the future of the country and vote for human rights; to demand a reality where justice and equality are protected, and the right to live free from violence and have access to safe, sufficient and reliable water is realised for every person, no matter who they are, or where they live,” she said.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

Amnesty International’s report presents a stark assessment of the “betrayal of human rights principles” by leaders and institutions.

In the face of multiplying conflicts, the actions of many powerful States had further damaged the credibility of multilateralism and undermined the global rules-based order first established in 1945, Mohamed pointed out.

She noted the conflict in Gaza which showed no sign of abating, as evidence that war crimes continued to mount.

The conflict has since forcibly displaced nearly 1.9-million Palestinians and is restricting the access of desperately needed humanitarian aid despite growing famine in Gaza.

The report also points to the US’s “brazen use of its veto” to paralyse the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for months on a much-needed resolution for a ceasefire, as it continues to arm Israel with munitions that have been used to commit what Amnesty International says likely amount to war crimes.

“It also highlights the grotesque double standards of European countries such as the UK and Germany, given their well-founded opposition to war crimes by Russia and Hamas, while they simultaneously bolster the actions of Israeli and US authorities in this conflict,” she added.

Mohamed said this showed that many powerful States were abandoning the founding values of humanity and universality enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

She highlighted that given the grim global state of play, urgent measures were required to revitalise and renew the international institutions intended to safeguard humanity.

Steps must be taken to reform the UNSC so that permanent members cannot wield their veto power unchecked, to prevent the protection of civilians and bolster their geopolitical alliances, she said.