REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA world. Our dedication to the promotion of human rights is entrenched in our Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, and informs our commitment to promoting peace, justice, human rights and the rule of law. 9. Government is committed to the advancement of the rule of law in order to ensure the realisation of the rights enshrined in the Constitution. Our courts ensure the nurturing of South Africa’s founding values such as human dignity, equality and supremacy of the Constitution. 10. South Africa has made significant progress in the protection and promotion of civil and political rights as well as economic and social rights over the years since the presentation of our first periodic country report on African Charter. 11. Various legislative, policy and other measures have been implemented to ensure the substantive realisation of civil and political rights as well as socio-economic and cultural rights. In addition, our courts continue to deliver judgments and develop case law to enhance and protect these rights and to provide guidance on the interpretation of these rights. 12. Since the first periodic report, the population of South Africa has increased from 45,8 million in 2002 to 53 million in 20133 and 53,7 million in 2014.4 SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE REPORT PURSUANT TO THE REPORTING GUIDELINES CHAPTER 1: CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS Articles 2 and 3: Prohibition of discrimination and the Right to Equality 3 4 General Household Survey 2013 General Household Survey 2013 10