JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (ANA) – The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Monday called on all heads of state and other leaders around the world to comply with their obligations in terms of the United Nations (UN) Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and to do all within their power to alleviate the plight of refugees in their respective countries.
"The commission also calls upon all UN agencies to take every step and efforts to bring to an end the conflicts and wars that are fuelling the increase in the current refugee crisis," the SAHRC said in a statement marking the 16th anniversary of World Refugee Day on Monday.
In South Africa, the commission specifically called on the government to comply with its obligations in terms of the Constitution and the Refugees Act to deal with the backlog in processing refugee applications and to extend the provision of basic services to all asylum seekers and refugees in the country.
"The commission also calls upon the people of South Africa to embrace the spirit of ubuntu and to extend a hand of friendship and ample empathy to all who find themselves on the shores of South Africa because of their displacement from their countries of birth," the statement said.
The SAHRC recognised that people were forced to leave their country of origin for a variety of reasons, such as fear for their lives in their own countries due to civil war, human rights violations, or natural disasters. Others were fleeing situations of dire poverty and perceived hopelessness and were searching for a better life and economic opportunities.
"Non-nationals who seek refuge in South Africa are entitled to enjoy all the rights in the Constitution except the right to vote. In other words, fundamental human rights cannot be denied to anyone regardless of their citizenship.
"The SAHRC promotes and protects the human rights of all people in South Africa including non-nationals, and it has condemned xenophobia, discrimination, and abuse of non-nationals in several instances where these tendencies and behaviour became prevalent," the commission said.
In a separate statement on Monday, Amnesty International South Africa called on the South African government to ensure increased protection of refugees and asylum seekers, including by preventing attacks on them and their businesses.
"Refugees and asylum seekers are often under attack in South Africa, facing xenophobic attacks," executive director of Amnesty International South Africa Sicel’mpilo Shange-Buthane said in the statement.
“Refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa are facing so many uncertainties. Their security is frequently under threat as they are accused of stealing jobs from locals and blamed for other service delivery challenges.
“The authorities must protect refugees and ensure that they are integrated into society. They must also involve them in critical decisions affecting their stay in the country,” Shange-Buthane said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
