Roundtable for SADC NGOs, April 29-30:Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa

"Responsibility to Protect: Roundtable for SADC NGOs"

The South Africa roundtable took place in partnership with the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA).

The fist day started with opening remarks from Jody Kollapen, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission. He mentioned the exaggerated importance that is given to sovereignty in a world already diffused by globalization, markets and climate change, which he believes in not an insurmountable obstacle regarding human rights. He expressed support for the civil society efforts on R2P, while recognizing that R2P confronts three main challenges; namely lack of political will, lack of authorization and lack of operational capacity (as seen in the failure to protect civilians in Darfur). Addressing the crisis in Zimbabwe, Mr. Kollapen praised South African NGOs for the work they did in blocking the Chinese shipment of weapons heading for Zimbabwe, but questioned the lack of concrete response by governments and the AU beyond quiet diplomacy.

Ms Ruth Archibald, Canadian High Commissioner in South Africa, who attended the roundtable as a guest speaker, explained how R2P was born from the report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS) and how it developed into an international commitment. She listed several challenges in operationalizing R2P: normative development, UN Security Council action on cases to set precedent, and operational readiness. Ms. Archibald insisted that R2P cannot succeed without the support of the AU and African governments, who were crucial to its endorsement in the GA in 2005. As it relates to the role of civil society, she expressed the need for more awareness raising and advocacy, which would help consolidate the norm, protect its integrity and promote its adoption. She also signaled to groups that there was a need within regional and UN agencies for early warning expertise and information.

Common Themes Present throughout the Day Included:

1. While normative advances for R2P in African institutions were more institutionalized than in any other regions, participants nonetheless contend that implementation is the most important issue and challenge.
2. Participants gathered in small groups to address two specific questions; namely (1) what were the biggest challenges for implementing R2P in the region? and (2) how these challenges could be overcome.

• Simplify and translate the norm in relevant languages to mobilize the public and increase the understanding of the World Summit Outcome Document.

• Develop an R2P toolbox for civil society strategies on R2P.

• Identify existing resources in the region and assess how sustainable they are.

• Mobilize around advocating for the AU and/or ACHPR to create a Advisor position on the Responsibility to Protect.

• Use regional mechanisms to target advocacy, i.e. SADC, including planning workshops on R2P for SADC stake holders.

• Organize R2P-CS meetings nationally with human rights, peace, faith, security groups.

• Approach parliaments, government ministries (foreign, defense, etc.), media (identify 4-5 key groups).

• Facilitate information exchange and enhance solidarity with people on the ground.

• Exchange and communicate early warning information through the network.

• Publish newsletters on R2P, and information on what the 'state of R2P' is in the region.

Next Steps:

• This meeting was successful in identifying NGO activities on a national and regional level. Groups agreed to take R2P back to their respective organizations and communities, to introduce or reinforce R2P into their existing mandates before eventually joining a network of NGOs. Participants expressed interest in reconvening another civil society meeting on R2P after consulting with their organizations/communities.

• To advance the work of the network, five volunteers offered to be part of an informal working group. Volunteers included Lloyd Kuveya (Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa); Isididro Cambamba Dinis Lueni (Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa), Gege Katana (Solidarity Movement of Women Human Rights Activists (SOFAD) and Corlett Letlojane (HURISA).

• The proposal for building an international civil society network on R2P was discussed, including a presentation of a tentative concept paper. No decisions were agree to but participants were asked to stay involved with the discussions.