There is need for cooperation, financial support and capacity building for African national human rights bodies to be effective in their work. These are some of the key issues that were raised at the opening of a two-day training workshop for African national human rights institutions (NRHIs) and equity bodies in Kigali on Monday. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Madeleine Nirere, the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said there is need to strengthen the role of national human rights institutions in Africa for them to be more effective. “Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are serious violations of human rights and obstacles to the full enjoyment of rights and are among the root causes of many internal and international conflicts,” she said. The seminar focused on the fight against intolerance under the theme: The role of African National Human Rights mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” At least 15 national human rights institutions participated in the workshop. Nirere called on governments to take responsibility in enacting legislation, adopt policies to promote, respect and observe of people’s rights. Officiating at the opening, Justice minister Johnston Busingye observed that racism and racial discrimination attack the core of a person’s dignity and devalues humanity. “Do not imagine that the struggle to fight racism, xenophobia and the rest of racial intolerances belongs to someone else, it begins with me and you,” he said. Busingye said the world continues to wonder not where the next crisis is going to erupt but when it is going to do so. Citing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Busingye said Rwanda has had its own share of the vice. “The people of Rwanda have had to learn the hard way, that there are no benefits based on ideologies of divisionism and discrimination,” the minister added. Elsewhere, Central African Republic is experiencing a devastating conflict between Christians and Muslims which has literally tore the nation apart. Earlier this year, South Africa also experienced xenophobia attacks. Busingye described these incidents as the most human devaluing experiences Africa has faced in recent history. “We need to do what we say and say what we do; short of this we would have failed the next generation. That’s why there is need to reinforce and strengthen national and regional measures and to ensure even the least basic of human right in quest for equality and human dignity,” he said. The UN Resident Coordinator, Lamin Manneh, challenged leaders of national human rights institutions to take it upon themselves to ensure that state reports are periodically reviewed. “United Nations is ready to assist governments and civil society in their efforts to strengthen engagements aimed at combating all forms of discrimination,” Lamin said. The workshop was jointly organised by the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights-Geneva and NHRC-Rwanda. It attracted about 40 participants from national human rights commissions. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
