Latest news with #HumanRightsCommission
Saudi Gazette
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons with sweeping reforms and global partnerships
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri, President of Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Commission and Chair of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, affirmed on Tuesday that the Kingdom has established an integrated system to combat trafficking in persons, rooted in comprehensive reforms and institutional measures aligned with international best practices. Speaking on the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Al-Tuwaijri highlighted that the Kingdom's ongoing efforts are a direct extension of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the continuous support of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Among the key milestones cited was the establishment of the General Department for Community Security and Anti-Trafficking, affiliated with Public Security, which aims to eliminate trafficking crimes and strengthen social safety and security. Al-Tuwaijri noted that Saudi Arabia has bolstered its legislative and regulatory framework by ratifying the National Policy to Eliminate Forced Labor, and implementing amendments to various laws and regulations that protect victims, whistleblowers, witnesses, and experts involved in anti-trafficking cases. She emphasized that the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons is focused on achieving long-term impact through the implementation of the National Action Plan, the development of a national referral mechanism, the approval of crime indicator guidelines, and the creation of a comprehensive national initiatives are supported by both local and international partnerships, including the Victim Support Fund launched in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).On the prevention front, Al-Tuwaijri revealed that Saudi Arabia has adopted a capacity-building approach, delivering nearly 120 specialized training programs involving over 9,500 participants from both public and private also pointed to key public awareness campaigns, such as 'Together to Combat Human Trafficking,' self-paced learning initiatives, and community awareness assessments, as well as support for academic research to deepen understanding and drive innovation in combating Kingdom has also intensified victim protection measures, developing mechanisms to identify victims and provide them with appropriate support in coordination with relevant agencies, ensuring rapid response and Al-Tuwaijri concluded by reaffirming the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to promoting human rights and combating human trafficking through a unified, institutional stated that Saudi Arabia has become a regional model in this field, setting a benchmark for others in terms of policy, protection, and international cooperation.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Father among 9 people arrested in Pakistan over suspected honor killing
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The father and the ex-husband of an alleged honor-killing victim are among nine people arrested in eastern Pakistan in connection with the young woman's death. Police said Sidra Bibi, 18, was killed on the orders of a local council of elders in the garrison city of Rawalpindi after she married a man of her choice. Some of her relatives are alleged to have buried her body and flattened the land to erase evidence of a grave, police official Aftab Hussain said Monday. The victim was suffocated using a pillow placed over her face, he added. The arrests came after authorities exhumed the body and carried out an autopsy, which confirmed she had been tortured before being killed. The case has drawn widespread condemnation in a country where honor killings are still common. The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 405 women were killed in 2024 in such cases, compared with 226 in 2023. 'The actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting,' said Sadia Bukhari, a member of the commission's council. Honor killings, in which family members kill women for actions perceived as bringing shame to the family — such as choosing their spouse — have increased in recent years. Earlier this month, police in in southwestern Balochistan province arrested 11 suspects after a video shared online appeared to show a young couple being fatally shot for marrying without their families' approval. Police confirmed the authenticity of the footage, saying the killings happened in the Deghari district in the province of Balochistan. In January, police arrested a Pakistani man suspected of killing his U.S.-born 15-year-old daughter for refusing to stop posting videos on TikTok, a platform with more than 54 million users in the country. 'These so-called honor killings reveal a deep-rooted mindset that views women as the property of men,' Bukhari said. 'Most women in Pakistan face discrimination from childhood through adulthood.' __ Associated Press writer Asim Tanveer contributed to this story from Multan, Pakistan.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Man ends life alleging police harassment, investigation on
Kanpur: The Human Rights Commission has initiated suo motu proceedings regarding Farrukhabad man's death by suicide, who left a note on his trousers describing police harassment. The commission, considering media reports, deemed this a grave human rights violation and sought a comprehensive report from the Director General of Police (DGP) within a fortnight. This development has raised questions over the working of the district police department, though the police had already arrested and sent the responsible police personnel and a fraudulent MP representative to jail after registering a case against them. The commission investigated the suicide of a man who was troubled by the police's mistreatment during a marital dispute. On July 15, Dilip Kumar Rajput (25), from Chheda Nagla village in the Maudarwaja police station area, ended his life by hanging from a ceiling fan hook with a saree. His suicide note, written on white trousers, detailed the police's misconduct and violence, specifically accusing two Hathiyapur outpost personnel of harassment and extracting Rs 40,000 for his release. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Lidah Kulon Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Following the deceased's father's complaint, police filed charges against five people--father-in-law Banwari Lal, brother-in-law Raju, fraudulent MP representative Rajneesh Rajput of Alupur village, and constables Yashwant Yadav and Mahesh Upadhyay for abetting suicide. The police sent all five accused, including the fake representative and both constables, to jail. The constables face suspension while Circle Officer Amritpur has been asked to conduct a departmental enquiry. Additional superintendent of police Sanjay Kumar confirmed the arrests and ongoing investigation, stating that the authorities are examining all aspects thoroughly. "We will get to the bottom of the case and ensure the strictest punishment for whoever is guilty," the ASP said further.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Employers think over-50 is 'old': these entrepreneurs prove otherwise
Age is just a number when it comes to work as proven by these three entrepreneurs, who prove you can start a profitable business at any age. Sue Parker, Rodney Ashton, and Sarah Jane Susac have all switched careers later in life, and turned their passions into profit. It comes as 24 per cent of HR professionals classify workers aged 51 to 55 as "older" (despite still having another 20-30 years left up their sleeves), according to research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute. The research also found half of employers (55 per cent) reporting hard-to-fill vacancies, just 56 per cent stated they are open to hiring workers aged 50-64 "to a large extent" - but that doesn't matter for this lot, who have taken control of their destiny. Read more in The Senior Ms Parker, 65, of Melbourne, is at the helm of Doggo Apparel & Readywear Ensembles, where she custom makes outfits for canine friends. People can choose a colour, design and size, then she uses her sewing talents to create the order. It's not limited to dogs; she also makes matching hoodies for their humans, too. After running several businesses in recruitment and marketing, Ms Parker said she became "soul-exhausted". "I'd had enough of fixing problems and trying to solve wicked issues that couldn't be solved. It was demoralising, I was tired, I was miserable, and I knew in my soul, I needed to get back to happiness via my hands." A keen sewer since she was 10, Ms Parker made outfits for her cavaliers for fun and posted pictures of her creations on LinkedIn. The positive reaction from them made her realise it could become a business opportunity. "It just hit me like a Samboy chip," she said. Ms Parker then started making dog outfits for her friends, who shared pictures of them on their own social media, plus she kept posting her own handiwork on sites including LinkedIn. She shut down her previous businesses, rebranded her existing website, registered the business name, and "it just went off", formally launching in May. "It flowed because it was coming from a place of joy, rather than desperation," she said. While she doesn't do it for the money, she said it was a part-time "hobby business". Ms Parker said making the outfits made her smile. "I feel as though I'm creating something and not solving wicked problems," she said. Ms Parker said while she hadn't experienced it herself, many of her clients in later stages of their careers had faced ageism - a problem that hand not changed in decades. Her message to all was "see the person, not the stereotype". The artist and decorative painter, 63, of Mornington Peninsula, runs Poster A Go Go, using his skills to restore vintage film, travel, and advertising posters. Working from his home studio, he restores each poster by hand, washing and then mounting them on canvas, before touching them up with pencils and watercolour paint. He's turned it into a full-time business, with customers seeking his services and work locally and overseas. As a decorative painter, Mr Ashton had painted murals, reproduced existing works and created tortoiseshell effects for decades. About six years ago, he started restoring posters for fun, beginning with a ripped-up original of the Statue of Liberty for United Airlines by Stan Galli - of which good ones can sell for US$2000. "There was about a quarter of it missing, but I managed to copy the colouring and get the right type of style of artwork that was being done in, and it came up really well," he said. Mr Ashton had toyed with the idea of turning it into a business as he bought and traded more posters. He finally made the decision in January 2025 following a sore back that wouldn't heal and other health issues, and knew he could look after himself while still using his talents. "I just threw down the gauntlet and said 'alright, it's time'," he said. Mr Ashton changed the setup of his existing studio to accommodate big posters, sometimes measuring more than three metres wide. He'd already built a network of collectors and dealers through his hobby, went overseas to meet others, announced to his painting contacts what his new venture was, plus used Instagram to advertise. Leaving the security and familiarity of his previous business wasn't easy, but he knows it was the right decision and has become a full-time job. Mr Ashton said restoring posters is a tranquil experience and he loves the sense of achievement. "When you look at it finished, I just go, 'wow', and then you take it back to the person and they go, ' looks great now'," he said. The former IT worker left office life to start a new career in life coaching and that lead her to creating SJ Energy Candles, whose specially formulated range is designed to help change how people feel. Mrs Susac, 56, of Sydney, is an Energy Expander who fuses ancestral wisdom with energy work to "fast-track transformation" for high achievers, and helps them "lead from clarity and flow, not exhaustion". Mrs Susac gave up IT to become a life coach years ago, wanting to help others. But it was when her father had open heart surgery and bowel cancer about five years ago that she found her calling. Normally a busy person, he wouldn't get out of bed, so she tapped into her energy skills to lift his spirits. She used sandalwood candles as part of her work with him, but when her favourite brand was no longer available, a candlemaker friend of hers suggested she make them herself, and the candle business was born. Mrs Susac learned the skills from her friend and started to make the candles from home. She created a website to create a digital shopfront and would travel to different expos and events, then moved into a retail store with fellow female creatives, and recently moved into a showroom in a shared workspace. Ms Susac said making the candles is her "happy place". "Selling them shares the good vibes and allows me the funds to make more and it's a fabulous cycle," she said. "[There is] nothing like spending time doing what you love to do while helping change the world of others." Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. Age is just a number when it comes to work as proven by these three entrepreneurs, who prove you can start a profitable business at any age. Sue Parker, Rodney Ashton, and Sarah Jane Susac have all switched careers later in life, and turned their passions into profit. It comes as 24 per cent of HR professionals classify workers aged 51 to 55 as "older" (despite still having another 20-30 years left up their sleeves), according to research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute. The research also found half of employers (55 per cent) reporting hard-to-fill vacancies, just 56 per cent stated they are open to hiring workers aged 50-64 "to a large extent" - but that doesn't matter for this lot, who have taken control of their destiny. Read more in The Senior Ms Parker, 65, of Melbourne, is at the helm of Doggo Apparel & Readywear Ensembles, where she custom makes outfits for canine friends. People can choose a colour, design and size, then she uses her sewing talents to create the order. It's not limited to dogs; she also makes matching hoodies for their humans, too. After running several businesses in recruitment and marketing, Ms Parker said she became "soul-exhausted". "I'd had enough of fixing problems and trying to solve wicked issues that couldn't be solved. It was demoralising, I was tired, I was miserable, and I knew in my soul, I needed to get back to happiness via my hands." A keen sewer since she was 10, Ms Parker made outfits for her cavaliers for fun and posted pictures of her creations on LinkedIn. The positive reaction from them made her realise it could become a business opportunity. "It just hit me like a Samboy chip," she said. Ms Parker then started making dog outfits for her friends, who shared pictures of them on their own social media, plus she kept posting her own handiwork on sites including LinkedIn. She shut down her previous businesses, rebranded her existing website, registered the business name, and "it just went off", formally launching in May. "It flowed because it was coming from a place of joy, rather than desperation," she said. While she doesn't do it for the money, she said it was a part-time "hobby business". Ms Parker said making the outfits made her smile. "I feel as though I'm creating something and not solving wicked problems," she said. Ms Parker said while she hadn't experienced it herself, many of her clients in later stages of their careers had faced ageism - a problem that hand not changed in decades. Her message to all was "see the person, not the stereotype". The artist and decorative painter, 63, of Mornington Peninsula, runs Poster A Go Go, using his skills to restore vintage film, travel, and advertising posters. Working from his home studio, he restores each poster by hand, washing and then mounting them on canvas, before touching them up with pencils and watercolour paint. He's turned it into a full-time business, with customers seeking his services and work locally and overseas. As a decorative painter, Mr Ashton had painted murals, reproduced existing works and created tortoiseshell effects for decades. About six years ago, he started restoring posters for fun, beginning with a ripped-up original of the Statue of Liberty for United Airlines by Stan Galli - of which good ones can sell for US$2000. "There was about a quarter of it missing, but I managed to copy the colouring and get the right type of style of artwork that was being done in, and it came up really well," he said. Mr Ashton had toyed with the idea of turning it into a business as he bought and traded more posters. He finally made the decision in January 2025 following a sore back that wouldn't heal and other health issues, and knew he could look after himself while still using his talents. "I just threw down the gauntlet and said 'alright, it's time'," he said. Mr Ashton changed the setup of his existing studio to accommodate big posters, sometimes measuring more than three metres wide. He'd already built a network of collectors and dealers through his hobby, went overseas to meet others, announced to his painting contacts what his new venture was, plus used Instagram to advertise. Leaving the security and familiarity of his previous business wasn't easy, but he knows it was the right decision and has become a full-time job. Mr Ashton said restoring posters is a tranquil experience and he loves the sense of achievement. "When you look at it finished, I just go, 'wow', and then you take it back to the person and they go, ' looks great now'," he said. The former IT worker left office life to start a new career in life coaching and that lead her to creating SJ Energy Candles, whose specially formulated range is designed to help change how people feel. Mrs Susac, 56, of Sydney, is an Energy Expander who fuses ancestral wisdom with energy work to "fast-track transformation" for high achievers, and helps them "lead from clarity and flow, not exhaustion". Mrs Susac gave up IT to become a life coach years ago, wanting to help others. But it was when her father had open heart surgery and bowel cancer about five years ago that she found her calling. Normally a busy person, he wouldn't get out of bed, so she tapped into her energy skills to lift his spirits. She used sandalwood candles as part of her work with him, but when her favourite brand was no longer available, a candlemaker friend of hers suggested she make them herself, and the candle business was born. Mrs Susac learned the skills from her friend and started to make the candles from home. She created a website to create a digital shopfront and would travel to different expos and events, then moved into a retail store with fellow female creatives, and recently moved into a showroom in a shared workspace. Ms Susac said making the candles is her "happy place". "Selling them shares the good vibes and allows me the funds to make more and it's a fabulous cycle," she said. "[There is] nothing like spending time doing what you love to do while helping change the world of others." Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. Age is just a number when it comes to work as proven by these three entrepreneurs, who prove you can start a profitable business at any age. Sue Parker, Rodney Ashton, and Sarah Jane Susac have all switched careers later in life, and turned their passions into profit. It comes as 24 per cent of HR professionals classify workers aged 51 to 55 as "older" (despite still having another 20-30 years left up their sleeves), according to research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute. The research also found half of employers (55 per cent) reporting hard-to-fill vacancies, just 56 per cent stated they are open to hiring workers aged 50-64 "to a large extent" - but that doesn't matter for this lot, who have taken control of their destiny. Read more in The Senior Ms Parker, 65, of Melbourne, is at the helm of Doggo Apparel & Readywear Ensembles, where she custom makes outfits for canine friends. People can choose a colour, design and size, then she uses her sewing talents to create the order. It's not limited to dogs; she also makes matching hoodies for their humans, too. After running several businesses in recruitment and marketing, Ms Parker said she became "soul-exhausted". "I'd had enough of fixing problems and trying to solve wicked issues that couldn't be solved. It was demoralising, I was tired, I was miserable, and I knew in my soul, I needed to get back to happiness via my hands." A keen sewer since she was 10, Ms Parker made outfits for her cavaliers for fun and posted pictures of her creations on LinkedIn. The positive reaction from them made her realise it could become a business opportunity. "It just hit me like a Samboy chip," she said. Ms Parker then started making dog outfits for her friends, who shared pictures of them on their own social media, plus she kept posting her own handiwork on sites including LinkedIn. She shut down her previous businesses, rebranded her existing website, registered the business name, and "it just went off", formally launching in May. "It flowed because it was coming from a place of joy, rather than desperation," she said. While she doesn't do it for the money, she said it was a part-time "hobby business". Ms Parker said making the outfits made her smile. "I feel as though I'm creating something and not solving wicked problems," she said. Ms Parker said while she hadn't experienced it herself, many of her clients in later stages of their careers had faced ageism - a problem that hand not changed in decades. Her message to all was "see the person, not the stereotype". The artist and decorative painter, 63, of Mornington Peninsula, runs Poster A Go Go, using his skills to restore vintage film, travel, and advertising posters. Working from his home studio, he restores each poster by hand, washing and then mounting them on canvas, before touching them up with pencils and watercolour paint. He's turned it into a full-time business, with customers seeking his services and work locally and overseas. As a decorative painter, Mr Ashton had painted murals, reproduced existing works and created tortoiseshell effects for decades. About six years ago, he started restoring posters for fun, beginning with a ripped-up original of the Statue of Liberty for United Airlines by Stan Galli - of which good ones can sell for US$2000. "There was about a quarter of it missing, but I managed to copy the colouring and get the right type of style of artwork that was being done in, and it came up really well," he said. Mr Ashton had toyed with the idea of turning it into a business as he bought and traded more posters. He finally made the decision in January 2025 following a sore back that wouldn't heal and other health issues, and knew he could look after himself while still using his talents. "I just threw down the gauntlet and said 'alright, it's time'," he said. Mr Ashton changed the setup of his existing studio to accommodate big posters, sometimes measuring more than three metres wide. He'd already built a network of collectors and dealers through his hobby, went overseas to meet others, announced to his painting contacts what his new venture was, plus used Instagram to advertise. Leaving the security and familiarity of his previous business wasn't easy, but he knows it was the right decision and has become a full-time job. Mr Ashton said restoring posters is a tranquil experience and he loves the sense of achievement. "When you look at it finished, I just go, 'wow', and then you take it back to the person and they go, ' looks great now'," he said. The former IT worker left office life to start a new career in life coaching and that lead her to creating SJ Energy Candles, whose specially formulated range is designed to help change how people feel. Mrs Susac, 56, of Sydney, is an Energy Expander who fuses ancestral wisdom with energy work to "fast-track transformation" for high achievers, and helps them "lead from clarity and flow, not exhaustion". Mrs Susac gave up IT to become a life coach years ago, wanting to help others. But it was when her father had open heart surgery and bowel cancer about five years ago that she found her calling. Normally a busy person, he wouldn't get out of bed, so she tapped into her energy skills to lift his spirits. She used sandalwood candles as part of her work with him, but when her favourite brand was no longer available, a candlemaker friend of hers suggested she make them herself, and the candle business was born. Mrs Susac learned the skills from her friend and started to make the candles from home. She created a website to create a digital shopfront and would travel to different expos and events, then moved into a retail store with fellow female creatives, and recently moved into a showroom in a shared workspace. Ms Susac said making the candles is her "happy place". "Selling them shares the good vibes and allows me the funds to make more and it's a fabulous cycle," she said. "[There is] nothing like spending time doing what you love to do while helping change the world of others." Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. Age is just a number when it comes to work as proven by these three entrepreneurs, who prove you can start a profitable business at any age. Sue Parker, Rodney Ashton, and Sarah Jane Susac have all switched careers later in life, and turned their passions into profit. It comes as 24 per cent of HR professionals classify workers aged 51 to 55 as "older" (despite still having another 20-30 years left up their sleeves), according to research by the Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Resources Institute. The research also found half of employers (55 per cent) reporting hard-to-fill vacancies, just 56 per cent stated they are open to hiring workers aged 50-64 "to a large extent" - but that doesn't matter for this lot, who have taken control of their destiny. Read more in The Senior Ms Parker, 65, of Melbourne, is at the helm of Doggo Apparel & Readywear Ensembles, where she custom makes outfits for canine friends. People can choose a colour, design and size, then she uses her sewing talents to create the order. It's not limited to dogs; she also makes matching hoodies for their humans, too. After running several businesses in recruitment and marketing, Ms Parker said she became "soul-exhausted". "I'd had enough of fixing problems and trying to solve wicked issues that couldn't be solved. It was demoralising, I was tired, I was miserable, and I knew in my soul, I needed to get back to happiness via my hands." A keen sewer since she was 10, Ms Parker made outfits for her cavaliers for fun and posted pictures of her creations on LinkedIn. The positive reaction from them made her realise it could become a business opportunity. "It just hit me like a Samboy chip," she said. Ms Parker then started making dog outfits for her friends, who shared pictures of them on their own social media, plus she kept posting her own handiwork on sites including LinkedIn. She shut down her previous businesses, rebranded her existing website, registered the business name, and "it just went off", formally launching in May. "It flowed because it was coming from a place of joy, rather than desperation," she said. While she doesn't do it for the money, she said it was a part-time "hobby business". Ms Parker said making the outfits made her smile. "I feel as though I'm creating something and not solving wicked problems," she said. Ms Parker said while she hadn't experienced it herself, many of her clients in later stages of their careers had faced ageism - a problem that hand not changed in decades. Her message to all was "see the person, not the stereotype". The artist and decorative painter, 63, of Mornington Peninsula, runs Poster A Go Go, using his skills to restore vintage film, travel, and advertising posters. Working from his home studio, he restores each poster by hand, washing and then mounting them on canvas, before touching them up with pencils and watercolour paint. He's turned it into a full-time business, with customers seeking his services and work locally and overseas. As a decorative painter, Mr Ashton had painted murals, reproduced existing works and created tortoiseshell effects for decades. About six years ago, he started restoring posters for fun, beginning with a ripped-up original of the Statue of Liberty for United Airlines by Stan Galli - of which good ones can sell for US$2000. "There was about a quarter of it missing, but I managed to copy the colouring and get the right type of style of artwork that was being done in, and it came up really well," he said. Mr Ashton had toyed with the idea of turning it into a business as he bought and traded more posters. He finally made the decision in January 2025 following a sore back that wouldn't heal and other health issues, and knew he could look after himself while still using his talents. "I just threw down the gauntlet and said 'alright, it's time'," he said. Mr Ashton changed the setup of his existing studio to accommodate big posters, sometimes measuring more than three metres wide. He'd already built a network of collectors and dealers through his hobby, went overseas to meet others, announced to his painting contacts what his new venture was, plus used Instagram to advertise. Leaving the security and familiarity of his previous business wasn't easy, but he knows it was the right decision and has become a full-time job. Mr Ashton said restoring posters is a tranquil experience and he loves the sense of achievement. "When you look at it finished, I just go, 'wow', and then you take it back to the person and they go, ' looks great now'," he said. The former IT worker left office life to start a new career in life coaching and that lead her to creating SJ Energy Candles, whose specially formulated range is designed to help change how people feel. Mrs Susac, 56, of Sydney, is an Energy Expander who fuses ancestral wisdom with energy work to "fast-track transformation" for high achievers, and helps them "lead from clarity and flow, not exhaustion". Mrs Susac gave up IT to become a life coach years ago, wanting to help others. But it was when her father had open heart surgery and bowel cancer about five years ago that she found her calling. Normally a busy person, he wouldn't get out of bed, so she tapped into her energy skills to lift his spirits. She used sandalwood candles as part of her work with him, but when her favourite brand was no longer available, a candlemaker friend of hers suggested she make them herself, and the candle business was born. Mrs Susac learned the skills from her friend and started to make the candles from home. She created a website to create a digital shopfront and would travel to different expos and events, then moved into a retail store with fellow female creatives, and recently moved into a showroom in a shared workspace. Ms Susac said making the candles is her "happy place". "Selling them shares the good vibes and allows me the funds to make more and it's a fabulous cycle," she said. "[There is] nothing like spending time doing what you love to do while helping change the world of others." Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Defending Democracy: The Role of Chapter 9 Institutions Amidst Attacks
Operation Dudula and Abahlali Basemjondolo converged on the corner of Jorissen and Melle streets in Braamfontein as tensions rose between the two movements, which hold opposing views on the issue of foreigners in the country. Image: Itumeleng English / Indepedent Newspapers Last week (July 17, 2025) we participated in a demonstration when a group failed with hate, marched to the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (Seri). While Seri were targeted by this group which one journalist called "vigilante anti-immigration group Operation Dudula", they were attacking something much wider: our democracy. On their posters, they informed the public that their march was against "Unpatriotic NGOs and Chapter 9 Institutions Must Fall!!!" The poster for the demonstration. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Under attack were groups like the Helen Suzman Foundation, the Human Rights Commission and Seri. Their poster accused these NGOs for protecting criminals – illegal immigrants. When we met them outside the Seri offices, police were on hand to ensure peace under trying circumstances as a few in the group dressed in expensive military fatigues, and carried intimidatory rocks as they hurled insults at us. The march against these groups was defended by others in the civil society movement, groups such as Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia, Abahlali baseMjondolo, the Inner City Federation, and the South African Informal Traders Forum – the glaring absence from other political and civic formations in particular unions in defending if not the NGOs but a Chapter 9 body was obvious and glaring. Austerity: friendly fire? The Human Rights Commission were singled out because they reaffirmed the principles and values of the Constitution and the rulings of the Constitutional Court on health care for all. But this must not hide the fact that the Commission has been injured by friendly fire – our government. The austerity measures of the government against the people and these bodies that are supposed to serve the public is the real enemy. It would be good, even with the fiscal repression, to have seen democrats from all hues and shades that profess to love the constitution be present and make a stand for this Constitution and its values. For the uninformed, bodies like the (a) The Public Protector; (b) The South African Human Rights Commission; (c) The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities; (d) The Commission for Gender Equality; (e) The Auditor-General; and (f) The Electoral Commission, all are known as Chapter 9 institutions. They take their name from the chapter of the Constitution with the heading: Chapter 9: State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. Political economist Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen argues that Chapter 9 institutions, including the Human Rights Commission, face significant challenges as budgets are unlikely to grow significantly. He shows that the SAHRC programme on 'monitoring observance of human rights' budget will decline by 10% between 2024/25 and projected budget in 2027/28. While the government websites extol the virtues of our participatory democracy and the role of the Chapter 9s as being a check on power, they do not fund these sentiments. The writer beautifully quotes former Chief Justice Pius Langa when he states that their role is 'to secure the freedom of every citizen by seeking to avoid an excessive concentration of power, which can lead to abuse, in one person or body'. Is the underfunding just about our poverty or is it an ideology of austerity that inevitably undermines us all, starting with civic organisations, including those constitutional bodies that are mandated to keep a check on power? While you ponder on this, think what could be achieved if the funds would have been used to revitalise bodies like the SAHRC and others that are supposed to do their work without fear or favour? It is not all doom and gloom, and I feel I must end with these two hopeful takeaways from the recent events. Firstly, I will be failing to mention that the staff and leaders at Chapter 9s are doing a sterling job and are committed to do so against all odds. They could do better with greater citizens' pressure, critical participation and support so that they can deliver on their mandate without fear or favour. In addition to the SAHRC, we have the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), a body that has not failed to tell the government about how it is using public funds, and they are not afraid to call out the government in cases of corruption, or where funds were not used properly. Citizens and civil society groups could do better by reading their audit reports and helping them (and us) to widen the base and culture of transparency and accountability that the AGSA have been trying to grow. Similarly with the Electoral Commission (IEC) which, despite austerity, has maintained its mission of being an ' independent constitutional body which manages free and fair elections of legislative bodies and institutions through the participation of citizens, political parties and civil society in deepening electoral democracy'. In conclusion, I return to the protests and confirm that it was democracy in action as a civic society consisting largely of the working class and poor were engaged in debate on the streets. Amidst song and toyi-toyi at the defence of the Seri offices, one of the leaders of the shack-dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo and coordinator of the peaceful gathering, Sbu Zikode, spoke directly to the leaders and the few members that attended from Operation Dudula. He said that they were targeting their ire and fire and the wrong people and called on them to join the struggle for real socio-economic and political justice that is inclusive and not hateful. That invitation I believe still stands. * Hassen Lorgat is a social justice activist who has worked in trade union and anti-apartheid sports movements. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
