Assembly passes Resolution, setting stage for Partner States to develop policies and legal instruments punishing genocide ideology and denial. The East African Legislative Assembly is calling on the EAC Summit of Heads of State to institute a mechanism and to undertake a comprehensive study of the security impact of genocide ideology and denial.
EALA has at its plenary this afternoon passed a Resolution to this effect, setting stage for Partner States to develop policies and legal instruments punishing genocide ideology and denial.
Consequently, the Assembly has requested the Summit to direct the Council of Ministers to propose an Action plan to deal with the matter and to further the Community’s obligations under the United Nation’s Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle.
The Assembly has also approved the formation of a Select Committee to study and to make recommendations to the House on the likely security impact of genocide ideology to the region.
The Resolution moved by Hon AbuBakr Ogle notes that some of the groups in the region sowing terror are driven by sectarian and genocide ideologies and denials.
This move, Hon Ogle asserts, continues to happen whereas the Convention on the Prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9th December 1948, and that it came into effect two years later.
Genocide denial is often defined as an attempt to deny or minimise the scale and severity of an incidence of genocide.
The Resolution according to Hon Ogle is buoyed by the fact that the Summit is entitled to review the state of peace, security and good governance in accordance with Article 11 of the EAC Treaty.
At the same time, under article 124 of the Treaty, the Partner States undertake to co-operate and to enhance handling of joint measures for maintaining and promoting peace and security.
The Assembly is concerned that despite regional efforts to contain groups promoting terror, such groups continue to pose a threat to the peace and security of the people of the region. This is despite the fact that United Nations has asserted the need to adhere to the R2P Principle.
Hon Dan Kidega, Hon Dr. James Ndahiro, Hon Dora Byamukama, Hon Charles Makongoro Nyerere and Hon Nancy Abisai rose in support of the motion. Others who gave the Resolution a nod were Hon Christophe Bazivamo, Hon Abdul Karim Harelimana, Hon Jeremie Ngendakumana, Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema and Hon Straton Ndikuryayo.
The Resolution follows another one moved by EALA in April 2013 castigating the United Nations over its failure to prevent the Genocide against the Tutsi, nineteen years ago, despite having reports to that effect. The Resolution in part admonished the UN for its decision then, to reduce the numbers of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) troops, leading to the deaths of thousands of people who had sought refuge at the UNAMIR sanctuary. This, the Resolution stated, was done despite a UN Resolution of 21/912 which had adjusted UNAMIR’s mandate and Resolution 918 (1994) that expanded the force.
The Assembly today also posed various questions to the Council of Ministers. Tomorrow, EALA shall hold a meeting to deliberate on maternal, newborn and child health. The meeting is a collaborative effort with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
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