12 Apr 2017

Parliamentarians have been called upon to address human rights violations as a measure to improve the lives of the people.

This was said by senior advisor for economic social and cultural rights at Amnesty International’s Southern Africa Regional Office, Mr Thabileng Mothabi in Gaborone on April 11.

Speaking during a workshop on strengthening the role of Parliament in promoting and protecting social, economic and cultural rights, Mr Mothabi said human rights were central to achieve sustainable economic development and regional integration.

He urged parliamentarians to strive to create conditions for all people to enjoy their economic, social, civil and political rights.

Mr Mothabi said it was very important for them to respond to the real needs of ordinary people and vigorously implement both regional and international human rights standards.

He was also of the view that SADC states had been lenient in making human rights compliance a priority, particularly that there had been uproar in different nations.

He cited the Marikana massacre, which took place in South Africa in 2012, as an example, adding that the concerned parties did not take concrete steps to improve and or respect human rights.

He therefore called for respect of human rights saying it could bring peace and stability and help drive the regional economic development that improves people’s lives.

Meanwhile, the SADC Parliamentary Forum (PF) programme manager for democracy and governance, Mr Sheuneni Kurasha pointed out that the focus on the meeting of Parliaments and human rights was relevant and timely, as there was growing consensus globally that enhances the role of Parliaments in the protection and realisation of human rights.

Mr Kurasha therefore called for parliaments to develop the institutional structures, processes and mechanisms necessary to put human rights at the centre of their core functions.

He mentioned that the meeting comes after the 39th Plenary Assembly Session of SADC PF that was held in Swaziland, in June 2016, under the theme: “Strengthening Parliament’s Role in the Protection and Realisation of Human Rights in Southern Africa.”

He pointed out that the 39th Plenary Assembly reiterated that human rights were indigenous to Southern Africa, as they were at the core of the aspirations and struggles of the peoples of the region throughout history.

Mr Kurasha said the fight for self-rule during colonial oppression attested to Southern African’s collective desire for human dignity and good governance, which were key tenants of human rights.

“With regard to the social, economic and cultural rights, the 39th Plenary Assembly observed that post-independence states in the SADC region were characterised by contradictions of a developed and diversified formal economy on one hand, existing alongside an underdeveloped peasant-based subsistence rural economy,” he stated.

He noted that resulted in acute inequalities which manifested through unequal access to social services, especially health, education, water, sanitation and food.

Mr Kurasha stated that the inequalities also resulted in excessively high poverty levels of up to 90 per cent in some instances.

He said in view of the state of affairs, the 39th Plenary Assembly Session underscored the central role of Parliaments in the protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights.

Mr Kurasha said it was resolved that priority must be given to building the knowledge and capacities of Parliamentarians in human rights discourse in order to make them more effective in discharging their mandate in that regard.

He pointed out that the SADC PF, SAPST and the Regional Office for Amnesty International have partnered to train Members of Parliament from the relevant Parliamentary Committees in SADC National Parliaments.

He said the workshop provides a good opportunity for members to examine their understanding of the relevance of human rights in general and social, economic and cultural rights in particular, in their work.

Mr Kurasha said it was critical for parliament to prioritise collaboration with stakeholders such as Human Rights Commission, media, civil society organisations and United Nations Agencies in its quest to promote and protect social, economic and cultural rights, adding that the stakeholders were endowed with technical capacity that was necessary in enhancing parliament’s effectiveness in their work.

He further informed them that, through the ongoing collaboration between SADC PF and the Regional Office of Amnesty International and SAPST, they were in the process of developing regional principles and guidelines on the role of Parliaments in the promotion and protection of human rights for use by SADC National Parliaments. ENDS