The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD, paid tribute to the late Kader Asmal at the unveiling of a plaque at the house in Foxrock, Dublin, where South Africa’s Bill of Rights was written more than 20 years ago.
The Tánaiste was joined yesterday by the Bill’s co-author, retired South African Justice Albie Sachs, who is visiting Ireland for a legal rights conference. The Tánaiste also welcomed Louise Asmal, the widow of Kader Asmal, to the unveiling:
“In this house in 1988 an essential element in South Africa’s peace process was created. South Africa’s Bill of Rights served as the bedrock of the subsequent Constitution of South Africa. Now, 20 years later, we see a free and democratic South Africa – a testament to the work of the late Kader Asmal and his wife, Louise, Justice Albie Sachs and, indeed, all those who struggled against the evil and inhuman apartheid system."
Addressing Louise Asmal, he said: “You shared with Kader the ultimate vindication of that struggle in the first democratic election in South Africa, and in his appointment as a Minister in President Mandela’s first government.”
Representing South Africa was Mr Livingstone Vukile Mdlalo of the Embassy and two young South African students who are studying in Ireland under the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme, which is funded by Irish Aid. The Tánaiste welcomed them to Ireland, saying:
“We here in Ireland are proud of Kader Asmal’s life and work for South Africa and indeed for his adopted country, Ireland. This fellowship programme is a fitting tribute to his memory. He valued education so much – and he was himself such a good teacher. These young African students coming here to study will help to strengthen the bonds which bind us so much to Africa, and to commemorate and celebrate the life of Kader Asmal and the principles which guided his work.”
Press Office
28 March 2014
Note to Editors
Two captioned photos of the unveiling are attached, featuring the Tánaiste, Judge Sachs, and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Cathaoirleach Councillor Carrie Smyth
Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas development programme. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Further details on the fellowship programme can be found here: www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2012/november/launch-of-kader-asmal-fellowship/
20 Beech Park Road, Foxrock, was the home of the late Kader Asmal who, along with Justice Albie Sachs, drafted the South African Bill of Rights in the kitchen of the house in 1988. The Bill of Rights was an essential element in South Africa’s peace process, and the bedrock of the subsequent Constitution of a democratic South Africa.
Kader Asmal moved to Ireland in 1963 and worked as a lecturer in law in Trinity College for 27 years, before returning to South Africa in 1990. He became a Minister in the first democratic Government led by the late President Mandela, while Albie Sachs became Justice of the Constitutional Court.
Judge Sachs is in Ireland for the Public Interest Law Alliance Conference today. Further details can be found here: pila.ie/events/pila-conference-2014-using-the-law-to-challenge-injustice/2014-03-28/