Mandela activist joins Bill of Rights conference

A former African National Congress activist appointed by Nelson Mandela as a justice to South Africa’s Constitutional Court has been lined up for a two day conference on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Over 100 people from the public, community and voluntary sector were gathering in Armagh today for a conference organised by the Human Rights Commission which will be addressed by Albie Sachs.

Mr Sachs was appointed in 1994 by President Nelson Mandela to the constitutional court.

At the age of 17 as a second year law student at the University of Cape Town he embarked on a career as a human rights activist and anti-apartheid campaigner.

As a barrister he defended many victims of the apartheid regime and had his home raided by the security police as well as having banning orders restricting his movement.

Mr Sachs was placed in solitary confinement without trial twice after being detained.

In 1966, he fled South Africa and spent 11 years studying and teaching law in England before moving to Mozambique where he worked as a law professor and researcher.

In 1988, he was targeted by the apartheid government’s security agents in a car bomb attack but survived, losing an arm and sight in one eye.

Working closely with Oliver Tambo, the ANC leader in exile, he drafted the organisation’s code of conduct during the 1980s and played a key role in the drafting of a new democratic constitution for South Africa.

In 1990 he returned to the country and was a key member of the ANC’s negotiating team in the talks which led to a democratic South Africa.

During his time in the constitutional court the 70-year-old justice gained notoriety across the world for declaring a constitutional right for same sex marriages in the case of the Ministry of Home Affairs versus Fourie.

A play entitled ‘The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs’ based on his writings about his time in solitary confinement has been critically acclaimed in theatres across the world.

During the two-day conference, participants will take part in workshops and panel discussions to suggest ideas on the way forward for a Bill of Rights.

Chief commissioner Professor Monica McWilliams said the Human Rights Commission had been facilitating as wide a consultation as possible on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

“We want to discuss openly how best to take the debate forward in an inclusive, positive and constructive manner during the coming year and we look forward to listening to the views of participants at this conference,” she said.

“The Bill of Rights must reflect the mandate set out for the Commission in the Belfast Agreement.

“Every political party is on record as being in favour of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and there is overwhelming public support for the idea.

“The challenge for the newly reconstituted Human Rights Commission is to make the idea a reality in the near future.”