Visit of Mrs Mary Robinson, United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to South Africa, 15 and 16 March 2001 on the
WCAR
As part of the preparations for the 3rd World
Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, visited South Africa
on 15 and 16 March 2001.
The main purpose of her visit was to hold discussions with
the President of South Africa and the South African Government as well as to engage with
other roleplayers and the media on the World Conference.
During her visit, Mrs Robinson met the President and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs. She also met representatives of the South African Human
Rights Commission, SANGOCO (the South African Non-Governmental Organisations Coalition)
– who are the organisers of the NGO Forum linked to the World Conference, the SABC
and other national and international media representatives. She also had the opportunity
to interact with the local diplomatic community as well as academics, members of civil
society and statutory bodies such as the Commission on Gender Equality.
The visit served to heighten awareness of the issues
pertinent to the World Conference and to exchange ideas on how to take the process forward
for a successful outcome to the conference.
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