We have collectively expressed our views through the OAU Bamako Declaration of December 2000 and the SADC declaration on Fire-arms of March 2001. We shall actively participate in the UN first international conference on this topic and we shall seek to promote international cooperation on illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. The United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights recognises, inter alia, that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They have inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, which are a foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. South Africa is in the forefront of this struggle having introduced this culture for the first time through the ANC Government in our own country.
Human rights have to include the right to education, health, shelter and food.
Human rights include children's rights and have towork for elimination of child soldiers, child labour, child abuse and trafficking in children. Children must be allowed to develop their full human potential in a peaceful, stable and secure environment. Women's rights are human rights. South Africa is in the forefront of the struggle for a non-sexist world. We hope that the international community will continue to support struggles for the emancipation of women in all countries.