Statement by Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the General Debate of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (4th Committee), UNGA75
15 October 2020
Chairperson,
My delegation congratulates you, Your Excellency, and the Bureau, on your election to the chairship of the Fourth Committee for the 75th session of the General Assembly. I assure you of South Africa’s full support and cooperation to you and your Bureau during this session. We also commend your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of Iraq, for the able manner in which he steered the work of this Committee during the 74th session.
South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered by Azerbaijan on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Chairperson,
We hold this session during an unprecedented global health crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic which impacted not only on how we work but also threatens the socio-economic and political gains made by the United Nations in the last seven decades. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on global development and as a result of the nexus between development and peace and security, threatens global peace. In this regard, the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire in the context of the pandemic remains crucial.
We also underscore the SG’s call for a global New Social Contract for a new era and a New Global Deal that create equal opportunities and respect for the rights and freedoms for all. This is indeed profound, as the world battles the worst global pandemic in a century. As a community of nations, we indeed have a generational opportunity to build back a more equitable and sustainable world.
Chairperson,
Our Leaders convened for a High-Level Meeting last month to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the UN. They reflected on the birth of the organisation and its shared values of peace, justice and dignity for all and to save successive generations from the scourge of war. However, 75 years after the UN’s establishment, many people have not yet obtained these common aspirations which severely impedes their right to development. The work of this Committee remains all the more important to achieve these noble aspirations.
Chairperson,
In stating the purpose of the organisation, Article 1 of the Charter maintains that it is aimed at developing “friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples”. It is therefore regrettable that there remain 17 Non-Self-Governing territories yet to exercise their right to self-determination, almost six decades after the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV).
South Africa attaches great importance to the issue of decolonisation and fully commends the Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence on Colonial Countries and Peoples for its work in addressing the plight of those who still live under colonial domination and foreign occupation. Needless to add, our delegation would not be represented in the UN if it were not for the efforts of this Committee.
The existence of colonialism and occupation in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is inconsistent with both the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations.
Chairperson,
South Africa seizes this opportunity to reaffirm its support to the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and the right to their independent and viable State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of relevant United Nations General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and references. It is a stain in the moral fiber and a blight on the ethical consciousness of the international community that Palestine and its people remain under illegal occupation and continue to be deprived of the shared values and ideals reaffirmed by all Member States during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the UN.
Chairperson,
We want to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Mr. Phillippe Lazzarini for his informative report to this committee. The work of UNRWA is carried out in very difficult circumstances and South Africa would like to pay tribute to the Commissioner-General and the staff of UNRWA for their hard work and dedication.
Chairperson
In our own continent, Africa, the Saharawi people have not exercised their right to self-determination, which is guaranteed under the Charter of the United Nations. The struggle for the people of Western Sahara is a struggle for self-determination and our support for their cause is based on the principles of decolonisation, promotion of human rights, international legality and the stability and security of the African continent.
We once again stress the need for the United Nations to facilitate the realisation of the referendum to allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination in line with the mandate given to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) exactly 31 years ago to organise a referendum of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. Regrettably, this is yet to occur.
Chairperson,
It remains imperative that the envisaged referendum take place to allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their right to self-determination. We further call on the United Nations to fully assume its responsibility for the protection of the human rights of the people of Western Sahara. We also wish to call on the Security Council to ensure that the MINURSO which is due for renewal this month by the Security Council maintains its impartiality and independence.
South Africa wishes to encourage the Secretary-General to expedite the process of the appointment of the Special Envoy for Western Sahara. We believe this is an important UN mechanism that will resuscitate the dialogue between the two parties, Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO, to resume direct negotiations as called for by the Security Council in its relevant resolutions. This is critical to ensure that the momentum created by the commendable efforts by the former UN Special Envoy Mr. Horst Kohler through the Geneva round of talks in December 2018 and March 2019 do not become another ‘relic in the museum of history’.
Chairperson,
Also, in our continent Africa, the complete decolonisation of Mauritius should be undertaken according to the UN General Assembly resolution that was adopted earlier last year, which reaffirmed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the question of the Chagos islands. This resolution is a strong signal by the international community that Chagos islands belong to the people in whose land and continent it is located.
Chairperson,
On the issue of peacekeeping, we pay tribute to the 3 932 men and women in blue helmets who lost their lives since 1948 in the pursuit of global peace and security. We also commend the uniformed and civilian men and women who continue to risk their lives in pursuit of global peace at times under dangerous conditions.
We remain dedicated to the commitment we made when we endorsed the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping Initiative in 2017, which has increasingly become the guiding framework for the work of the C34, and at all levels of United Nations peacekeeping operations at Headquarters and in field missions. Whilst the C34 has held one of its productive substantive sessions this year, we reiterate the request made by the NAM for a dedicated section on Africa in the restructured report of the C34. This is a lacuna that must be addressed noting the advanced and vital relations between the UN and the African Union on matters of peace and security including peacekeeping.
Chairperson,
With the advent of COVID-19, peacekeeping missions had to adapt to the challenges emanating from this pandemic whilst executing their priority tasks. Some peacekeepers continued to operate in challenging environments that resulted in casualties and in some cases fatalities (e.g. MINUSMA, AMISOM, and MINUSCA). It is within this context that we underline the plight of the safety and security of peacekeepers. We are pleased that the Security Council adopted resolution 2518, which emphasizes and prioritizes matters of safety and security of peacekeepers.
The safety of the peacekeepers cannot be separated from issues of performance and accountability. We commend the Secretariat for the phased roll-out of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment System (CPAS) and the progress made in the development of an Integrated Performance Policy Framework. These policy frameworks will contribute towards performance improvement of all components of peacekeeping operations, which is contingent on myriad of factors.
It will be remiss of this delegation to not highlight the significance of this year, which marks the 20th anniversary of resolution 1325 on women peace and security. It is thus befitting that the Security Council adopted resolution 2538, its first resolution on women in peacekeeping. This resolution is a welcomed development in efforts aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of women in peacekeeping operations.
Whilst recognising their different but complementary roles, we also wish to underline the importance of harmonising the decisions of the C34 and that of the Security Council on peacekeeping policy issues.
Chairperson,
While peacekeeping Missions are downsizing due to budget cuts we hope this does not also impact Special Political Missions, as that would affect the gains and progress that have been achieved so far by these missions in regards to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and sustaining peace. We, therefore, continue to stress for the need to ensure predictability and transparency of funds dedicated to Special Political Missions. We also believe that it is necessary that the UN invest more in conflict prevention and resolution efforts. We are pleased that the Secretary-General shares the same sentiments. We, as the international community, have been steadfast in our commitment to assist in bringing about peace, stability and prosperity and we welcome the efforts of Governments in pursuit of political reforms.
Chairperson,
We note with concern that some amongst us have used the COVID-19 pandemic to spread misinformation and disinformation. In this regard, South Africa wishes to underscore the commendable efforts by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its efforts in discrediting the “infodemic” by disseminating reliable, authentic, accurate and science-based information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Africa is encouraged that the Department of Global Communications (DGC) continues to provide credible information from authoritative sources within the UN system. We reiterate our support for the work carried out by the United Nations Information Centers in disseminating information about the work and activities of the United Nations, as well as raising awareness of challenges the world community is currently facing in the local languages. We reiterate the call for the DGC to continue supporting the United Nations Information Centers and strengthening them, both in terms of staffing and equipment.
In conclusion, Chairperson, South Africa urges the international community to fully commit itself to the total elimination of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations, while calling upon the United Nations to contribute in a more effective manner towards this end.
I thank you.
Rev. Friday, 16-Oct-2020 12:23 PM