Call for hate crimes law
2010-07-08 15:13
Cape Town – Among some of the recommendations made by a local rights group to the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on xenophobia is the strengthening of laws that punish those found guilty of committing crimes motivated by prejudice.
"Internationally, there is protection awarded on the basis of being a victim of a hate crime," said Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, chairperson of the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (Cormsa).
"South Africa has not dealt with it," Ramjathan-Keogh said, adding that these laws would not only help the cause of migrants facing xenophobic violence but also other minority groups that are sometimes discriminated against, including gay people. It would also help deal with racial attacks more appropriately, she said.
According to Ramjathan-Keogh, these types of laws improve the reporting of crimes by victims, make them less vulnerable to attacks and improve access to justice.
In South Africa there is currently no specific hate crimes law, meaning that the motive behind an attack is not necessarily considered as an aggravating circumstance during the sentencing of perpetrators.
Various human rights groups continue to call for government to introduce such laws.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Reform was not available for comment.
Other recommendations by Cormsa included public condemnation of xenophobia by government leaders at all levels and the strengthening of conflict resolution and prevention at community level.
The group also called for government to increase accountability of government employees who make threats and deny services to people based on xenophobia.
It said public information campaigns to dispel myths about foreign nationals in South Africa and the inclusion of education on diversity in the school curriculum would also help fight xenophobia.
The IMC, which is convened by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, is expected to announce the results of a discussion of an integrated programme of action by government and civil society to avert or deal with xenophobic threats and violence later on Thursday.
The committee includes the ministers of home affairs, social development, state security, basic education, co-operative governance and traditional affairs, arts and culture and international relations and co-operation.