South Africa's moral obligation

The human rights project is meant to obligate each member of the United Nations. If one faces an abuse of human rights, and it is within their power to end it, it is their moral obligation to do so. Of course, ideals are meant to be betrayed.

Plenty of member states have allowed human rights abuses to continue. Some have done so because they are actively antagonistic to those abused; others because it is not in their political or economic interest to intervene. China for instance will not agree to harsh sanctions against Sudan for their actions in the Darfur because they are partners in trade; and because sanctions against Sudan may lead to the scrutinizing of its own practices and human rights abuses. See, for instance, the organ harvesting of the Falun Gong.

Similarly, South Africa is not using its position of influence over Zimbabwe in the best way. Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa, has suggested that his refusal to support sanctions and strong measures against Robert Mugabe’s oppressive regime is to show fraternity with a fellow African state. Sadly, by supporting Mugabe he is only harming the people of Zimbabwe hurt by Mugabe’s policies: the overwhelming majority.