Human Rights in EAC

Press Release—The first regional meeting of the Heads of National Human Rights Commissions of the EAC Partner States was held in Arusha on 11- 13 February 2008.

The meeting deliberated and identified strategic intervention areas and key activities that would form a 3-year plan of action aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights within the Community.

The meeting, which was chaired by Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya, the Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission, was attended among others by Mrs. F. Simbiri Jaoko, the Vice-Chairperson of Kenya National Commission of Human Rights, Amb. M. R. Abdiwawa, the Vice-Chairman of Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance of The United Republic of Tanzania, Mrs. Kanyange Anne Marie, the Commissioner of National Commission for Human Rights of the Republic of Rwanda, and Mr. Audace Ngiye, the Vice-President of the Governmental Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Burundi.

Others present were Human Rights Commissioners and Officers from the Partner States’ Ministries of Human Rights, Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Attorneys- General’s Offices, National Human Rights Commissions, Ministries of EAC Affairs and officers from the East African Community Secretariat.

In her welcoming remarks to the delegates, the EAC Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Political Federation, Hon Beatrice Kiraso underscored the importance of the meeting saying “it will definitely set the pace for integration in the human rights sector for the region”.

While citing the provisions of Article 6 and Article 123 (3) (c) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, Hon Beatrice Kiraso reiterated that promotion and protection of human rights as one of the fundamental principles that shall govern the achievement of the Community’s objectives. She urged the delegates to work out national policies, strategies and programmes geared towards the promotion and protection of human rights in the region.

The Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mrs. Sekaggya hailed the EAC Secretariat for convening the meeting noting that “with the current events in the region, time is ripe for a forum for Heads of National Human Rights Commissions under the EAC structures to facilitate integration and harmonization of policies in the sector”.

During the meeting, leaders of the various delegations applauded EAC for the regional initiative and called for a forum to be established for regular Meetings so that National Human Rights Commissions can assume their rightful role in the EAC integration process.

The meeting noted, among others issues, that though Partner States had made tremendous progress in the promotion and protection of human rights, they still faced some challenges, among them, weak legal and institutional frameworks which continue to undermine the promotion and protection of human rights; enforcement of decisions and implementation of recommendations of the Commissions; mode of establishment of some Commissions and appointment of Commissioners compromise their imparity and independence and capacity to perform their functions effectively (some are established by Acts of Parliament whereas the ideal situation is that the establishment should be entrenched in the Constitutions) and lastly inadequate funding for the activities and programmes of the Commissions.

The meeting unanimously adopted strategic interventions for the regional plan of action on promotion and protection of human rights within the East African Community. The interventions include: the establishment of an EAC Bill of Rights with mechanisms for enforcement; compliance with the Paris Principles on National Human Rights Institutions; establishment of an EAC Human Rights Policy forum. Others are capacity building for national institutions; development of National Action Plans; ratification and domestication of all relevant international and regional human rights instruments; build capacity of Partner States to comply with their reporting obligations in compliance with regional and international human rights instruments; and increasing the levels of awareness and understanding of human rights among key actors and agencies in Partner States through education and training.

The key programmatic activities envisaged for implementation within the three year period include: the establishment of National Human Rights Institutions which are compliant with Paris Principles and where Institutions exist, strengthen them in line with these Principles; the development of training manual / guidelines for human rights actors and agencies; and the undertaking training for actors involved in the promotion and protection of human rights including judges/judicial officers, Electoral Commissions, policy makers/ implementers, legislators, civil society.

Others include convening annual meetings of Heads of National Human Rights Commissions to exchange views, experiences and share progress on human rights programmes at national level; liaison with other regional and international organizations, including civil society organization; the development and continuous review of best practices on promotion and protection of Human Rights in the EAC region in line with international standards.

The Meeting recommended that Partner States should set up mechanisms, through which National Parliaments would receive, consider and debate annual reports from National Human Rights Commissions as well as ensuring that recommendations are acted upon. It was also further recommended that National Human Rights Commissions should explore ways of engaging with various committees of Parliaments on human rights issues.

Background Information

The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community upholds the principles of respect for human rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. In the same context, the EAC Development Strategy- 2006/2010 provides for development of strategies and programmes towards promotion and protection of human rights in East Africa.

The EAC Partner States have made significant gains in promoting and protecting human rights both at national, continental and international level. At national level, Partner States have established National Human Rights Commissions and have all signed and ratified the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights which is also adopted by the EAC under Article 6 of the Treaty as the basis for the fundamental principle of promoting and protecting human rights in East Africa.

The National Human Rights Commissions / Departments of the Partner States have the vision of promoting a human rights culture founded on equality and social justice, which is also in accordance with the Treaty. There is need regionally, to build on the gains already made at national level.

It being the first Meeting of the Heads of National Human Rights Commissions its main objective was to share experiences, ideas and strategies, policies and programmes and eventually to harmonizing them. This will also pave the way for developing a regional plan of action and an implementation plan for regional policies, strategies and programmes towards enhancement of respect for human rights in the region.

Directorate of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
EAC Secretariat Arusha 14 February 2008

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