The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) debated and passed the EAC Human rights bill 2012 that will permit the creation of East African Community Human Rights Commission if Heads of state endorse it.A statement seen by The Sunday Times, indicates that the Bill consolidates the various principles on human and people’s rights found in the Charter on Human rights and various conventions and agreements including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right as well as the UN Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.The Commission whose mandate is to ensure the protection of human and peoples’ rights in the economic bloc shall consist of a membership of five persons, one from each member state appointed by the Summit of the EAC Heads of State upon recommendation of the Council of Ministers.If formed, it would be an enormous achievement towards ensuring human rights in the bloc. Dora Byamukama a member of EALA noted that during the public hearings held in the Partner States, stakeholders had strongly supported the enactment of a Community law that recognises, promotes and protects human rights.“The enforcement of fundamental rights and freedoms is provided for in the constitutions and laws of Partner States and it is the duty of partner states to enforce the rights”, she said.Last week during the 51st ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Hassan Shire Sheikh, chairperson of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network said that more human rights activists were still being hunted down in the region of east and horn of Africa.
