East African Business Week

ARUSHA, TANZANIA  - The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the regional civil society fraternity have agreed to collaborate for the betterment of human rights standards in the region.
    The areas of co-operation span across information dissemination, scale-up of promotion and protection of human rights, enhanced monitoring and linking up with citizens to share best practices. At a roundtable held on May 27, 2011, participants called for vigilance and regular scrutiny of the environment to ensure the rule of law and the promotion and protection of human rights in the region was adhered to in order to strengthen democracies.
    The roundtable which was opened by the EAC Secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera, was attended by representatives of the civil society from the region under the aegis of the East African Civil Society Organizations Forum (EACSOF), Members of EALA (Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges) and EAC officials. Dr. Sezibera reiterated EAC's commitment to protecting and promoting human rights adding that it remained a major priority area for the region.
    "Human rights concerns have therefore constituted the philosophical underpinning of the EAC integration and development process. The requirements of inclusiveness and empowerment across all sectors and sections of the human society have been the ingredients of the EAC programme," Dr.Sezibera noted.
      The EAC Secretary General said human rights issues were not only cross cutting in the EAC   programme but also that the issues were best managed and handled in the context of the regional co-operation framework.  He acknowledged the fact that - the establishment of the Common Market last year gave priority to human rights issues.  "We acknowledge that deepening integration must be anchored on a firm foundation of the rule of law and respect for human rights. We have therefore moved human rights to the front banner," Dr. Sezibera said.   
    The EAC Secretary General committed to placing emphasis on social security, solidarity and development in order to pursue regional projects in the management of cross-cutting social concerns towards the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Speaker Mr. Abdirahin Abdi, termed respect for Human Rights as one of the fundamental principles of the Community that enabled the attainment of the objectives of the Community.
     "Adherence to the principles of good governance including respect for human rights is not only a fundamental and operating principle of the Community, but also a basic requirement for membership within the bloc" he said.  The roundtable also saw the launch of a new publication by the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI).  The publication is  titled: 'Human Rights and Parliaments: Handbook for Members and Staff'.