Fields of Green for ALL, through our special consultative (ECOSOC) status at the United Nations, had the opportunity to make a submission on behalf of our South African Cannabis communities to the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights. We have previously made submissions to the Rapporteurs on both Indigenous & Health Rights.
Special Rapporteurs are independent human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. They serve voluntarily to investigate, monitor, and publicly report on human rights situations in specific countries or on global thematic issues, such as freedom of expression, extreme poverty, or climate change.
The Rapporteur, Ms Xanthaki who hails from Greece, posed a detailed set of questions relating to the foundations and implementation of cultural rights in our country. As data around Cannabis, use, cultivation and trade is scarce in South Africa, we could only answer the first set of questions around the foundations. This showed us the glaring gaps that are present in establishing data-driven evidence that can inform policy.
Download the pdf of our submission HERE.
Questions
- What indicates to you that cultural diversity is recognized and valued in your country? What indicates to you that it is notrecognized?
- What indicates to you that there is or is not meaningful participation of individuals and groups in decision-making impacting their rights or well-being?
- What indicates that such participation has been designed and conducted in a manner that is culturally adequate and acceptable? That it has allowed people to contribute in accordance with their knowledge, worldviews and aspirations?
- What indicates to you that cultural rights, as defined above, are respected, protected and promoted, or not, in your country?
We appreciate this opportunity to include Cannabis within the (very much) broader cultural rights conversation on the road to Fields of Green for ALL! Watch this space for when the Rapporteur’s Report is presented at the UN General Assembly in October.
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