ORIGIN OF HURISA

The Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA) has its roots in the Goldstone Commission of Inquiry.

The Commission of Inquiry Regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation (under the chairmanship of Justice Richard Goldstone) was appointed by former State President FW de Klerk on 24 October 1991, to inquire into the phenomenon of public violence and intimidation in the Republic of South Africa, the nature and causes thereof and what persons were involved therein. It also inquired into any steps that should be taken in order to prevent public violence and intimidation. The Commission made 47 recommendations to the State President.

Largely as a result of an initiative of the Norwegian Government, the State President agreed to the establishment of an institute of the Commission. The Institute for the Study of Public Violence was established in June 1993. Commonly known as the Goldstone Institute, its main role had been the documentation of material relating to public violence and intimidation as well as research. The institute had a sophisticated computer capability and was a unique source of information of value not only to the Commission but to the general public and, in particular, the media. The Norwegian Government funded the computer requirements of the Institute as well as the experts who were so essential in setting it up. The Commission paid for the accommodation of the Institute and the salaries of its officials and staff. The assets of the Institute are held by a company not for gain duly registered under section 21 of the South African Companies Act of 1973.

In 1994 the Commission and the trustees of the Institute resolved that the Institute should become an independent non-governmental organisation, the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA) and that its field of operation be extended to cover all aspects of human rights in South Africa.

In its final report of 27 September 1994, the Goldstone Commission wrote:

"The Institute for the Study of Public Violence has been registered as the 'Human Rights Institute of South Africa' (HURISA). The Commission believes that the Institute's decision to focus on human rights in South Africa comes at an appropriate time and that the Institute with its excellent facilities will render a unique contribution in the development of such a culture."