A/HRC/8/32 Page 3 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its first session from 7 to 18 April 2008. The review of South Africa was held at the 14th meeting on 15 April 2008. The delegation of South Africa was headed by H.E. Ms. Glaudine J. Mtshali, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of South Africa in Geneva. For the composition of the delegation, see annex to the present report. At its 17th meeting held on 18 April 2008, the Working Group adopted the present report on South Africa. 2. On 28 February 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of Rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of South Africa: Zambia, Guatemala and Qatar. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of South Africa: (a) An oral national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/ZAF/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/1/ZAF/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Canada, Denmark, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Finland and Sweden was transmitted to South Africa through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Universal Periodic Review. I. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS A. Presentation by the State under review 5. At the 14th meeting, on 15 April 2008, H.E. Ms. Glaudine J. Mtshali, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations Office at Geneva introduced the national report. She indicated that the 1996 Constitution guarantees all human rights and fundamental freedoms and also internalizes all the core provisions of the International Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights of the South African Constitution is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in South Africa and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. There is a clear separation of power between the judiciary, legislature and executive branches of the State. The judiciary is empowered to uphold the Constitution, and both the legislative and executive branches are required to uphold the authority of the judiciary. The Constitution recognizes traditional leadership and makes provision for the House of Traditional Leaders. A notable practice by the legislature is that of “Taking Parliament to the People.” Following the first democratic elections in 1994, the South African Government adopted a reconstructive framework whose primary goal was to address the historical legacy of inequality, create an integrated service delivery system and improve the quality of life of all South Africans. In order to accelerate the achievement of this objective, the Government subsequently introduced complimentary economic and development frameworks aimed at overcoming the challenges of extreme poverty and hunger, underdevelopment, unemployment and lack of priority skills. As one of the first countries in the world, South Africa has introduced justiciable socio-economic rights in its Constitution. The Government fulfils its obligations taking due consideration of its available