TRC Final Report

Volume 5

Chapter 8

Subsection 28

Research and publications

91 The Commission recommends that:

THE PROFESSIONAL BODIES, STATUTORY COUNCILS, AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS BODY (REFERRED TO ABOVE) MONITOR RESEARCH PRACTICES, ESPECIALLY AMONG VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHOSE MEMBERS MAY BE UNAWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS.

THERE BE A PROHIBITION AGAINST RESEARCH INTO SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF INTERROGATION AND TORTURE.

SOUTH AFRICA ADHERE RIGOROUSLY TO ALL THE STIPULATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE PERTAINING TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL (SAMJ) HAVE EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE FROM ANY INTEREST GROUP SUCH AS THE STATE, THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA (MASA) ETC.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE SAMJ BE BROADLY REPRESENTATIVE AND INCLUDE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.

92 Responsibility for developing and implementing these recommendations, and for monitoring their implementation, rests primarily with:

a The Department of Health – national and provincial;

b The statutory councils;

c Professional organisations;

d The SANDF;

e Health science faculties;

f The Human Rights Commission;

g NGOs involved in health.