Kenya to table Human Rights Report in Geneva

By ROSELYNE OBALA

Geneva ,Switzerland:The Kenyan Government is set to submit it’s official second periodic report at a Human Rights meeting on the Committee Against Torture (CAT) beginning Wednesday.

Attorney General Githu Muigai is leading the country’s delegation to Geneva, Switzerland where they are expected to present the country’s situation for consideration and review.

The 14 member team, comprising Justice Gichira Kibara, Ambassador/permanent representative, permanent mission of Kenya to United Nations Dr John Kakonge and his deputy Antony Andanje are among others who will present the report today.

In a letter addressed to the office of the High Commission for Human Rights, the permanent mission of Kenya to UN and other international organisations in Switzerland will present its compliments to the office with reference to the said meeting.

“The CAT meeting to consider the 2nd periodic report from the 15th to 16th May, 2013 in Geneva and has the honour to submit the names of the Kenyan delegation.” the letter by the permanent mission to UN read in part.

It continued, “The mission avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the office of the OHCHR the assurance of its highest consideration.”

This pledges comes even as Kenya has been faulted for failing to take an active role as a country in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

Kenya was last reviewed three years ago and CAT will seek to confirm if the agreed recommendations were indeed implemented.

UPR founder and Executive Director Roland Chauville revealed that Kenya for many years has taken a back seat in process despite being assessed and reviewed by other nations.

“Kenya has not be active in taking the floor to make recommendations and judge other states as has been her case with others,” he explained.

He took issue with the Kenyan permanent mission in Geneva, noting that in the past they have lacked the good will to actively engage in the process.

Chauville noted that UPR is a UN global organization that reviews the performance of all countries in implementation of the agreed recommendations by CAT.

“The performance of Kenya in between one and 13 sessions is zero since 2008 to 2012. During each session, 42 nations are reviewed,” he started.

He however acknowledged that late last November the country has showed a positive trend by taking a more engaging role than before.

“It is very important for country to participate actively in Human Rights is the issues as it places the country in better ranking internationally,” he noted.

He continued, “It is the moral duty of all countries to know what is happening with their neighbours just as they also review other countries.”

Chauville urged Kenya to participate more as many countries all over the world have always taken up the country’s issue seriously.

“It is balancing if the participation improves and this makes the country part of the UN family,” he added.

He however sought to clarify that there is little the organistations can do to pressure governments to participate in this processes apart from either naming or shaming them