Human Rights as a challenge to South Africa’s foreign policy

Abstract

Once acclaimed as a reliable human rights defender, South Africa’s reputation in this regard has witnessed recent deterioration. Criticism has mounted due to its voting behaviour within United Nations (UN) forums, along with a perceived disregard for human rights considerations within its foreign policy framework. The study will analyse resolutions where South Africa voted against or abstained from, shedding light on its stance on key international matters. Subsequently, the study will scrutinise the coherence, or potential dissonance, between the nation’s declared foreign policy and its voting patterns. Through this analysis, both commendable initiatives and areas necessitating improvement will be considered. By building on its support for thematic resolutions and taking a more consistent and principled stance, South Africa possesses the opportunity to rekindle its status as a human rights defender and play an instrumental role in advancing global peace and justice, thereby contributing significantly to the international community.