Human rights of Western Cape's fishing communities under threat
FIAN International raises concerns over the discriminatory practices in the implementation of the Interim Relief policy against small scale fishers in Arniston, Struisbaai and Pearly Beach in South Africa.
So far, 49 fishers from the list of beneficiaries of the Interim Relief System (IRS) have been excluded, thereby violating their human rights, particularly their right to adequate food and nutrition. For over one year, those discriminated have been addressing their complaints to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) without any success.
In an Open Letter, FIAN International urges the responsible officials at DAFF to include these fishers on the IRS list, as well as take all necessary steps to start the implementation of the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy as soon as possible, in compliance with South Africa’s human rights obligations.
You can read the Open Letter here.
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