Let me take this opportunity, at the outset, to congratulate you, Mr. President, and the Bureau, on your election. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the new High Commissioner, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and we wish him all the success in the execution of his mandate.

Mr. President,
15 years ago, as we were ushering in the new millennium, the international community made solemn commitment to the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals. As we now embark on the intergovernmental process of defining a new Post-2015 Development Agenda, we should all be mindful that investment in the unfinished work of the Millennium Development Goals must continue. We must build on the successes of the MDGs, keeping in mind the Millennium Declaration ensuring that we once and for all eradicate poverty, create decent jobs and address income inequalities.

Therefore, it is imperative that the Human Rights Council gives priority to all human rights, ensuring a balance between civil and political, and economic, social and cultural, including the right to development. Socio-economic rights are very much the core business of this Council especially with respect to women, girls and the youth.

Available: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2015/mash0303.htm