Pretoria - Input for policy aimed at curbing racial discrimination, xenophobia and prejudice was the rallying point as stakeholders kicked off the Gauteng leg of public participation for the national action plan (NAP).
Discussions held at St George’s Hotel in Centurion on Monday were aimed at getting communities’ comments on their experiences and ideas on the development of a policy to tackle racial discrimination.
Deputy Justice Minister John Jeffery said the need for an action plan to formalise how to deal with the increasing prevalence of racially-based incidents was more crucial than ever.
“The world over has witnessed discriminatory crimes in recent days. At the very core of instances of racism, discrimination, homophobia and prejudice is hatred.
“No law, government plan or policy can change the human heart but we can put in place measures and initiatives that send a clear signal that it will not be tolerated,” he said.
“These measures foster understanding, awareness and respect for human rights. They create an environment conducive to tolerance and that is why we need a national action plan,” said Jeffery.
The deputy minister said it was crucial in developing the national action plan that input was sought from communities that deal with and are affected by racism, discrimination and prejudice.
The national action plan can provide a basis for developing a comprehensive public policy and promotion of racial equality if all stakeholders are consulted, he said.
“We know from international experience that some of the practical problems experienced in states that have already adopted NAPs for human rights revolve around the plans’ lack of credibility owing to the lack of public participation and public awareness,” Jeffery said.
Developing an NAP in line with the UN guidelines meant that great care was needed to ensure linkages with existing over-arching national human rights action plans as well as national development plans and policy planning processes focused on health, education, women and children, minorities and indigenous people, he said.
“The plan should clearly describe the current situation of racial discrimination, identify what problems need to be overcome, specify what action we can take and include benchmarks for the evaluation of progress.
“Additionally, it should prioritise actions, specify who is to take the actions, establish a time frame, establish a budget, provide for effective monitoring and evaluation of what is being accomplished and what is not,” he said.
“It is acknowledged that no state can realistically expect to eliminate racial discrimination within a relatively short time frame and as such NAPs should be viewed as a long-term process,” he said.
“Consultations are meant to create public awareness, strengthen existing networks and encourage collaboration across sectors. The public is welcome to submit their inputs to us. This process is vital as the government is not going to dictate what should be in the plan as it is for the whole country.”
Pretoria News