Amnesty International wants human rights activists in SA to have better protection

CAPE TOWN - Amnesty International is calling for human rights activists to have better protection.

It said South Africa has been plagued with a number of human rights issues, particularly gender-based violence (GBV).

ALSO READ: Amnesty international calls for better protection of human rights defenders

This, it said, highlighted the need for social justice and protection of human rights for citizens.

The Whistleblower Protections Bill is set to be introduced to Parliament in this financial year.

However, the organisation’s executive director for South Africa, Shenilla Mohamed, said many human rights defenders did not fall under whistleblower protection.

"Human rights defenders, they are normal members of the public who stand up for their and their community’s basic human rights, no matter what they may be. This is why President [Cyril] Ramaphosa needs to acknowledge human rights defenders in addition to whistleblowers."