The Chairman of the Uganda Human Rights Commission Med S.K. Kaggwa has expressed concern at the continued cases of human rights abuses in different African countries despite protocols and instruments signed by different governments against torture and other human rights abuses.
He made the remarks during the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Brufut.
Kaggwa says in spite of the progress made by the African readers, commitment to promote and protect human rights in the African charter on Human and peoples’ Rights and other regional human rights instruments including the constitutive Act of the African Union, human rights violations still persist, adding that human rights violations are not only occurring in one country but are rampant in varying forms and degrees across the continent.
Torture on the increase in Uganda
Kaggwa, a member of the steering committee of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions says human rights violations are worsened by the lack of implementation of the international and regional human rights obligations.
He says African countries need to work together under the African Union mechanisms to promote and protect the rights of people on the African continent.
“We believe that coordinated efforts would help in the implementation of the international and regional human rights obligations. That is why as a Network of African Human Rights institutions, we organized a series of workshops between the AU human rights organs, National Human Rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society organizations with the aim of strengthening collaboration. We are grateful to the members of the African commission who supported this initiative,” he said.
He further noted that the National Human Rights Institutions are complementary to already established institutions and by the nature of their work are in a good position to make unique contribution to a country’s efforts to protect its citizens and to develop a culture that is respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
He said they are vital for enhancement of public awareness of human rights through human rights education, advising and monitoring government’s compliance with international human rights instruments and investigation of alleged human rights violations.
During the same function the African Union’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Mrs Julia Dolly Joiner said that there are still many on the African continent who continue to struggle for the most basic rights. She also called for a joint and balanced approach, so that the ordinary people may not lose faith in the possibility to enjoy their human rights.
She also noted that matters such as gender discrimination also continue to remain a concern and that systematic prejudices make the African Charter an empty promise for many.