Electioneering must not divert the attention from crime, SA Human Rights Commission chairperson Jody Kollapen cautioned on Thursday.

"The concern is that as we run up to an election we may see that falling off the agenda," Kollapen said in Johannesburg.

"I think we would be failing our duty as leaders... in not highlighting that the sustainable and long term approach in dealing with criminality... is through fixing up, in a sense, the deep damage that exists within our society, within our families, within our communities... in practical ways."

He said opportunities "for upliftment" needed to be created for people.

"I'm not saying that poverty and lack of opportunities equal crime, but certainly in many communities we must ask ourselves the question: Are there opportunities for young children... that enable them to break out of the cycle and indeed embrace the vision that they can reach their full potential?

"We recognise the need for effective law enforcement, but it would be short sighted to think that we can solve the problems that are associated with criminality and violence purely through the law enforcement approach," added Kollapen.

He said crime and violence undermined the ideals of the Constitution on a daily basis.

"Our Constitution... it's proclaimed as one of the best in the world. But there's little doubt that these wonderful, noble ideals are challenged almost on a daily basis by the fact that we live in an unsafe society.

"Crime and violence in all its forms, whether in public places or in closed, private places in which people live, threaten the self determination of all South Africans."

He said it had changed the "very nature of who we are as people".

"It has affected our ordinary ability to reach out and touch somebody because of the fear and insecurity that goes with living in a society characterised by crime."

Kollapen said the majority of South Africans had one thing in common — "the desire to live in a society that's safe".

Kollapen was speaking at the launch of a book by Action for a Safe South Africa entitled, "What Every South African Can Do To Build A Safe Country".

The group hosted a convention in August to discuss how to deal with crime. Its founder, former cabinet minister Roelf Meyer, was reporting back on progress since the convention, which was supported by the SAHRC.

Meyer said there were no "quick fixes" to crime, but that the Action for Safe South Africa would establish a fundraising body to support non governmental organisations in dealing with the social causes of crime.

He said former cabinet minister Jay Naidoo would head a steering committee to oversee the implementation of programmes identified by working groups at the convention.

Some of the goals include creating alcohol-free schools, where no alcohol is allowed at any events, and "parenting training" where parents are taught how to raise their children in safe and peaceful homes.

South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world, with more than 18 500 murders committed in 2005/2006, according to the SA Police Service. That is almost 40 killings per 100 000 people.