IPU concludes in Geneva with Clarion call to put ons check human rights violations
East African Legislative Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland: 28 October, 2016: Global Parliamentarians have concluded the 135th Inter- Parliamentary Union and related meetings. As, they ended the week-long congress, legislators were unanimous towards raising alarm and taking action when serious human rights abuses occur, particularly in conflict situations.
A Resolution released at the end of the Geneva Assembly was categorical that Parliamentarians are the guardians of human rights and the rule of law, and when violations or challenges occur, they should be the early responders.
The declaration details specific actions Parliaments can take to prevent human rights abuses and tackle them when they occur.
Ensuring international human rights norms are part of national legislation, guaranteeing that law enforcement always acts with the necessary restraint, combating gender-based violence, and preventing the rise of violent extremism are a few of the concrete measures Parliaments must take to protect their citizens’ human rights.
The Resolution states that legislators “…speak out vigorously against violations and work tirelessly to find a remedy, whatever the violation, and wherever it occurs.”
The globe continues to bear the brunt of serious conflicts in various nations amongst them Syria, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere. A media release dispatched by the IPU Press Centre quoted the IPU President, Hon Saber Chowdhury as stating that MPs must be part of the efforts to find peace, promote dialogue and end the violence and tragic loss of life.
“We need to use our strength as the ‘eyes and ears of our citizens’ to prevent human rights abuses in conflicts and protect the people we represent,” Hon Chowdhury said.
The Resolution calls upon Parliaments and political parties to adopt policies on preventing sexual harassment, and creating effective complaints mechanisms and penalties for offenders. It also urges Parliaments to set a deadline by which at least 30 per cent of MPs should be women.
At the congress, the IPU also welcomed Swaziland as the 171st Member of the Organization.
Over 700 MPs from 140 countries, including 100 Speakers and Deputy Speakers attended the IPU Assembly.
Mid last week, EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel Fred Kidega urged the Assembly to take the lead in reversing the ever-increasing human rights abuses in the society. In remarks delivered by EALA Member, Hon Taslima Twaha, the Speaker urged legislators to rise up to the occasion, accept responsibility and diligently play their roles to avoid been roundly condemned for doing too little or nothing, in stopping such abuses.
The EALA Speaker noted that unrests in some Partner States were still a big challenge to the Community today leading to cases of human rights abuses. He further mentioned the EAC had similarly suffered from the brunt of the Al-Shabaab, with hundreds of lives lost to terrorism and property damaged.
Internationally, the Speaker’s statement added, the Syrian Crisis in Aleppo was getting to very alarming heights with documented cases of human rights abuses been brought to the fore.
The IPU acknowledged that over 11 million people have lost their homes in Syria, 6.5 million of whom are internally displaced, and that 4.8 million have had to flee abroad since the outbreak of hostilities, in Syria, particularly in Aleppo.
In attendance were delegations from the EAC as well. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national Parliaments. It works to safeguard peace and drives positive democratic change through political dialogue and concrete action. To that end, IPU fosters contacts, co-ordination, and the exchange of experience among Parliaments and Parliamentarians of all countries.
Ends-
For more Information, contact: Bobi Odiko,
Senior Public Relations Officer;
East African Legislative Assembly;
Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945 +254-733-718036; No in Geneva: +41-767-861929
Email: bodiko@eachq.org
Web: https://www.eala.org
Arusha, Tanzania
