1. SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Presentation on
SAHRC Mandate and Role
to the
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services
19 August 2014

2. Contents Legislative mandate Vision, mission and values
Organisational structure
Commissioners’ strategic focus areas
Overview of strategic plan for 2014 to 2017
Outcomes based programming and key outputs
Collaboration with other Constitutional institutions
Issues for Portfolio Committee attention

3. Constitutional mandate
The South African Human Rights Commission must:
promote respect for human rights and a culture of human rights;
promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights; and
monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.

4. Constitutional mandate
2. The Commission has the powers, as regulated by the national legislation, necessary to perform its functions, including the power: 
To investigate and report on the observance of human rights;
To take steps and secure appropriate redress where human rights have been violated;
To carry out research; and
To educate.

5. Constitutional mandate
3. Each year, the Commission must require relevant organs of state to provide the Commission with information on the measures that they have taken towards the realisation of the rights in the Bill of Rights concerning housing, health care, food, water, social security, education and the environment. (Economic and Social Rights Report completed annually in this respect) 4. The Commission has the additional powers and functions prescribed by national legislation.

6. Legislative mandate: Other legislation
Establishment provided for through the South African Human Rights Commission Act, prescribing composition, powers and functions, including investigation, mediation and conciliation
Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)
Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA):
Chairing of Equality Review Committee
Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA)
In respect of (b) to (d), the Commission has to:
Promote awareness
Monitor compliance and report to Parliament
Develop recommendations

7. Vision, Mission and Values
Vision: Transforming society. Security rights. Restoring dignity.
Mission: The Commission as the independent national human rights institution is created to support constitutional democracy through promoting, protecting and monitoring the attainment of everyone’s human rights in South Africa without fear, favour or prejudice.
Values: Integrity, honesty, respect, objectivity, Batho Pele principles and equality.

8. Approved Organisational Structure
EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY:
The Commissioners
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer
(Administration)
Corporate Services
Financial Management
Chief Operations Officer
(Programme Support)
Research
Human Rights Advocacy
Promotion of Access to Information
Legal Services
Commissioners’ Programme
Strategic Support and Governance
Chief Audit Executive
Provincial Offices X9

9. Approved Organisational Structure
Provincial Office:
Provincial Manager
Receptionist & Admin Clerk
Human Rights Advocacy & Research Officer
Flow-centric data Capturer/ Intake Officer
Senior Legal Services Officer
Legal Services Officer
Administration Secretary:

10. Commissioners’ strategic focus areas
Province
UN Treaty Bodies
Chairperson, Commissioner M L Mushwana
Migration, Equality,
Mpumalanga
Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Deputy Chairperson, Commissioner P Govender
Basic Services, Health Care
Gauteng and Western Cape
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Commissioner B Malatji
Disability, Older Persons
Limpopo
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Commissioner L Mokate
Basic Education, Children
Kwa-Zulu Natal
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Commissioner M Ameermia
Housing
Free State and North West
Commissioner J Love (part- time)
Environment, Natural Resources, Rural Development
Eastern Cape
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Commissioner D Titus (part- time)
Human Rights and Law Enforcement, Prevention of Torture
Northern Cape
Convention against Torture Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

11. Overview of Strategic Plan 2014 T0 2017
Previous strategic planning cycle focused on strengthening protective mandate.
Consequent improvements in complaints resolution rates from 79% in 2012/13 to 93% in 2013/14.
Strategic plan focuses on the promotion and monitoring mandate (rural and peri-urban outreach).
The Plan also increasingly realises the need for outcome-oriented planning, evaluation and reporting.
Revised key strategic outcomes.

12. Overview of Strategic Plan 2014 T0 2017: Key strategic outcomes
Using and projecting a broader Constitutional and legislative mandate.
Engagement with processes of enacting legislation that promotes Constitutional human rights obligations.
Enhancing understanding of international and regional issues through engagement with stakeholders.
Enforcing protection of rights through alternative dispute resolutions and litigation.
Intensifying advocacy as well as public and community outreach.
Re-clustering strategic focus areas to enhance effectiveness.
Strengthening key stakeholder relationships.
Developing the institution as a learning organisation.
Strengthening capacity that supports delivery on the mandate.

13. Overview of Strategic Plan 2014 T0 2017: Strategic objectives
Promote compliance with international and regional obligations.
Position the Commission as the focal point for human rights in South Africa.
Enhance and deepen the understanding of human rights and promote a human rights culture.
Advance the realisation of human rights.
Use and project a broader Constitutional and legislative mandate.
Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Commission to support delivery on the mandate.

14. Outcomes based programming
Human rights protection and promotion programme
International and regional affairs
Section 5 Committees
High level stakeholder engagements
National hearings
Legal services: approximately complaints handled annually
Human rights advocacy and public outreach
Media and communication

15. Outcomes based programming
2. Research, monitoring and reporting programme
Research: Economic and Social; Equality; Parliamentary; International
Promotion of Access to Information Act
Strategic planning
Performance and impact monitoring, evaluation and reporting
3. Administration programme
Corporate support
Finance
Internal audit

16. Key outputs
Legal services: Annual Trends Analysis Report; Investigative Reports
Research: Economic and Social Rights Report; Equality Report; International Human Rights Report
Advocacy: Annual Advocacy Report
Promotion of Access to Information Act Report
Strategic Plan
Annual Report and Quarterly Performance Reports

17. Collaboration with other Constitutional Institutions
Shared mandates:
Office of the Public Protector
Commission for Gender Equality (CGE)
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL)
Independent Electoral Commission
Referral of cases to relevant institutions
Forum for Institutions Supporting Democracy
Complaints management
International obligations
20 years of Constitutional democracy

18. Issues for Committee attention
Levels of responsiveness of State institutions to SAHRC information requests.
Implementation of SAHRC recommendations by State Departments.
Ratification, domestication and reporting on international and regional instruments.
Committee support for additional financial resources to SAHRC.

19. The South African Human Rights Commission
@sahrcommission