The Irish NGO delegation are expected to deliver a strongly worded petition to the South African authorities – before conference ends tomorrow - over the treatment of one of its delegates by South African officials.
The incident which took place Tuesday a week involved an Irish-based South African woman and border police at Cape Town international airport. The woman was carrying both South African and UK passports.
In a letter to be handed to the authorities - a copy of which has been seen by ireland.com- the delegation said: "We wish to highlight and express our concerns at the treatment of one of our colleagues on entering South Africa at Capetown airport."
According to the letter signed by Marian Tannam: "On arrival by a South African Flight No SA 221 from Heathrow, having been cleared through immigration without problem any problems, this woman was later surrounded by a number of officials who did not identify or their positions at this time.
"These men questioned her very publicly while fellow passengers were passing by, the validity of her passport. Even to the extent of stopping and involving another UK passport holder in the discussion. At the same time one official continued to search her luggage and open wrapped presents."
It took the intervention of a member of an Irish delegation who vouched for her identity and position in the group and a telephone call by the officials to the British Embassy to sort out the matter. However the woman received no apology for the embarrassment, harassment and public humiliation which she received," the letter added.
The delegates are demanding an explanation as to "why this particular woman was singled out, why the questioning was carried out at the same time as her luggage was being searched, why it was done in such a public and condescending and aggressive manner and why no apology was forthcoming."