South African Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva & other International Organisations in Switzerland
Pré-de-la-Bichette 1, Geneva
Joined December 2020
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South African Permanent Mission-UN Office, Geneva retweeted
The UN flag over the Pont du Mont-Blanc, with the Jet d’Eau behind it.
Geneva and the United Nations, side by side since 1946.
Happy #UNDay.
South African Permanent Mission-UN Office, Geneva retweeted
As the UN turns 81, we continue our efforts to build a better future for all.
South African Permanent Mission-UN Office, Geneva retweeted
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA CONGRATULATES JUSTICE NAVI PILLAY AS LAUREATE OF THE 2026 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
On behalf of the nation, President @CyrilRamaphosa extends his warm congratulations to Justice Navanethem “Navi” Pillay on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has honoured Justice Pillay as “a person who, with exceptional courage and integrity, has led the way towards a more comprehensive legal order. This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.”
Justice Pillay is an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice, where she distinguished herself in the genocide case of The Gambia v Myanmar.
She was a pioneering defence attorney for anti-apartheid activists and leadership including Founding President Nelson Mandela.
Justice Pillay served as a judge and President of the Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1999 to 2003 and served as a judge of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court from 2003 to 2008.
Following her International Criminal Court tenure, Justice Pillay served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
President Ramaphosa applauds the recognition afforded to Justice Pillay by the Norwegian Nobel Committee as a profound tribute to the veteran jurist’s courage, integrity and lifelong commitment to justice.
President Ramaphosa said: “Justice Pillay’s crowning as winner of the Nobel Prize allows us to celebrate the progressive contributions she has made to strengthen peace, uphold human dignity and bring hope in South Africa and to peoples globally.
“She has served humanity with principle and the belief that the world can and should be a better place.”
“The honour bestowed on her reminds us to build a society where every person, whatever their circumstances, can develop their abilities and contribute fully to our nation and the world.
“We are proud that Justice Pillay joins Chief Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Mandela and Former President FW de Klerk in highlighting the far-reaching impact of South Africans on peace, justice and the advancement of humanity.
“We congratulate Justice Pillay and wish her well as she continues to participate in various platforms to secure the rights and dignity of all people.”
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
South African Permanent Mission-UN Office, Geneva retweeted
South African Navi Pillay, Former U.N. Human Rights Commissioner, Wins Nobel Peace Prize nytimes.com/live/2026/10/09/… via @NYTimes
Addressing the UN Human Rights Council on the implications of Artificial Intelligence for the promotion and protection of human rights, Permanent Representative, Ambassador Zaheer Laher noted that AI holds immense potential to advance human rights, but also risks deepening discrimination, inequality, stereotyping and exclusion. We should heed the warnings of those developing the most powerful AI systems, whose capabilities they maintain may become difficult for human beings to control. Stronger global cooperation, meaningful technology transfer and equal participation of developing countries in AI governance—as co-designers, not merely recipients is needed. No one should be left behind!
South African Permanent Mission-UN Office, Geneva retweeted
South Africa is standing for election to the ITU Council for the 2027–2030 term.
A commitment to partnership, inclusion, innovation, connectivity and stronger digital cooperation.
Vote South Africa for ITU Council (2027–2030).
#DCDT
#VoteSouthAfrica
#ITUCouncil
South African Permanent Mission-UN Office, Geneva retweeted
During the General Debate under Item 10 of #HRC63, #Algeria delivered a joint statement on nuclear use and testing on behalf of a cross-regional group of States comprising #Austria, #Brazil, #Fiji, #Kiribati, #theMarshallIslands, #Mexico, #Nauru, #PapuaNewGuinea, #SouthAfrica and #Vanuatu.
In the joint statement, the group of States:
Stressed that nuclear weapons remain a threat to humanity and that their tragic legacy, including in Non-Self-Governing Territories, continues to undermine the full realization of human rights;
Deplored the suffering caused to victims, their families and communities, and emphasized that their rights, including the right to an effective remedy and reparation, must not be overlooked;
Stressed the need for technical assistance and capacity-building, including access to relevant information, in order to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy;
Expressed solidarity with all victims of nuclear weapons and emphasized that their voices and lived experiences deserve to remain at the heart of our collective efforts.
youtu.be/griP6vjn1fg
The Permanent Representative, Ambassador Zaheer Laher, today met with the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin, to discuss South Africa’s cooperation with the ITU. Discussions focused on the upcoming ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha and key priorities for the future of global telecommunications and digital development. The meeting reaffirmed South Africa’s strong partnership with the ITU and its commitment to advancing meaningful connectivity, digital inclusion and sustainable digital transformation, particularly across Africa and the developing world.
The Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN in Geneva congratulates Ambassador Mzukisi Qobo on beginning his term as @WIPO Deputy Director-General, Regional and National Development Sector. Ambassador Qobo previously served as South Africa’s Ambassador to the WTO. We wish him well in his carrying out his mandate to advance WIPO’s development agenda and supporting states in strengthening our national intellectual property, innovation and creative ecosystems (photographs courtesy of WIPO)
On 30 September 2026, Deputy Permanent Representative Ms Tsholofelo Tsheole delivered South Africa’s statement at the UN Human Rights Council on the follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which sets out the global framework for human rights. She reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the Declaration and Programme of Action and stressed the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights, including the right to development. She called for renewed commitment to their full and effective implementation through strengthened multilateral cooperation and international solidarity.
At an event in Geneva on the margins of the UN Human Rights Council, marking 25 years of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Ambassador Zaheer Laher reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He called for a shift “from rhetoric to reality” through concrete action, political will and international cooperation—including advancing reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent. The message at the event was clear: commitments must translate into meaningful action, with stronger cooperation among States, civil society and affected communities to end the scourge of racism.
South African Permanent Mission-UN Office, Geneva retweeted
They just spoke up for the #nuclearban
Now let’s turn words into action!
Next stop 📍 The Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, New York City.
Will you join us? Let us know ⬇️
The Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN in Geneva participated in an event hosted by @FranceONUGeneve and @MisionMexOI on regulating the use of the veto in the UN Security Council. Speaking at the event, Ambassador Zaheer Laher noted that some permanent members continue to use—or threaten to use—the veto to block meaningful Council action to maintain international peace and security. This has enabled violations of the UN Charter and atrocities, including the genocide in Gaza, to continue unabated. The veto should never stand in the way of urgently needed action to protect peace and security. Efforts to limit the use of the veto have an important role to play, but they cannot substitute for the urgent need for structural reform of the Security Council.
On 29 September 2026, Ms Bronwen Levy, Counsellor at South Africa’s Permanent Mission to the UN, addressed the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Palestine.South Africa stressed that, despite the purported ceasefire in Gaza, death, destruction and displacement continue and are metastasising into the West Bank. States have a responsibility to act: the legal framework is clear, and the tools exist. No State is exempt, and the preferences of the powerful cannot override States’ obligations. Corporate entities have obligations too. It is in this context that @The_Hague_Group was formed: to provide a platform for collective action to implement international law, end Israel’s illegal occupation, and support the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
On 29 September 2026, Mr Terence Tshisevhe, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of South Africa, delivered a statement during a dialogue with the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER). South Africa welcomed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ efforts to highlight the links between systemic racism, drug policy and law enforcement, and their disproportionate human rights impacts on racialised groups, particularly Africans and people of African descent. South Africa also emphasised that its National Drug Master Plan promotes a balanced, integrated and evidence-based approach to reducing both the supply and demand for drugs.
The African Group in Geneva, together with the World Against Racism Network will hold a commemorative event on the margins of the Human Rights Council on 30 September 2026 marking 25 years since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) and 80 years of UN action against Racism. As we commemorate these historic anniversaries in the fight against racism, South Africa maintains that there must be renewed international action to translate the commitments of the DDPA into measurable progress to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance which persists in many societies today.
The Permanent Representative of South Africa, Ambassador Zaheer Laher, met today with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Director Mr Robin Geiss to discuss cooperation between South Africa and @UNIDIR. Ambassador Laher reaffirmed South Africa’s support for UNIDIR’s independent research on disarmament, arms control and international security, including its work on nuclear disarmament, AI, autonomous weapons systems and other emerging technologies. UNIDIR’s research contributes to a better understanding of these rapidly evolving challenges and supports informed international dialogue.
The Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN in Geneva is co-sponsoring a side event on 30 September 2026 at the Human Rights Council focusing on Systemic Racism and Drug Policy Enforcement. Discussions will focus on drug policies and how they impact on racial injustice. Emphasis will be on advancing coherent and rights-based drug policies. #EMLER
