Kiraso calls for Human Rights promotion

The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community in charge of political federation, Beatrice Kiraso, believes that for the political federation to be achieved, there was need for regional partner states to put in consideration human rights as a tool that would foster the region’s development. She said this while speaking at the EAC Forum of Human Rights Commissions conference that ended yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting attracted various human rights experts from all five EAC Partner States to examine the progress the region was making in this area. “Protection and promotion of human rights is key for social, political and economic development of the East African region,” Kiraso said. “Successful integration will be achieved if East Africans feel their rights are protected and not infringed upon,” she added. Promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights is one of the fundamental principles of the EAC Treaty, and is a key component of the EAC programme in good governance. The meeting acknowledged the progress made in addressing human rights issues in the region, but also recognized that much more must be done to improve it. Hon. Kiraso called for continuous evaluation of the situation with a view of narrowing the gaps and devising new strategies to tackle the deficits that presently pertain in the region. She urged national human rights institutions to keep alive the debate on the extended jurisdiction of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) to handle human rights issues, as part of strengthening institutions which will support the process towards political federation of East Africa. The delegates expressed concern over lack of a regional mechanism to coordinate issues of protection of human rights noting that sometimes duplication of efforts by various players does not yield the required results. Kiraso congratulated Burundi for having established the Independent Human Rights Commission in July 2011. She termed it a milestone that reflects the importance of institution building as a way of harmonizing the EAC approach to governance issues. The meeting, among others, will consider the implementation status of the EAC plan of action on promotion and protection of human rights and review the Partner States policies and action plans. eric.kabeera@newtimes.co.rw