BY UGAMEDIA
In what may widely be seen as a signal to the western world that Africa is taking charge of its own affairs a group of 11 Great Lakes countries have agreed to redefine research standards for human rights abuses in total disregard of the approach taken by the Europeans and Americans.
Under the umbrella organization, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), member states including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Angola, Sudan, DRC, Central African Republic and Zambia have started a home-grown human rights initiative that gives priority to evidence-based research and root causes of human rights abuses.
The new governance project to be undertaken by an ICGLR think-tank is likely to water down misrepresentations about Africa as portrayed by western non-governmental organizations and the media.
The Levy Mwanawasa Regional Centre for Democracy and Good Governance think-tank, which has started collecting data in Zambia and DR Congo will fully roll out its operations in the other Great Lakes region member states next year to try and present the true picture of Africa’s story on human rights violations.
“Ours won’t be armchair research based on media reports. We are interested in credible analysis and evidence-based reports. This implies that we shall be on the ground to establish a realistic picture rather than depend on media reports,” said Frank Okuthe, the think-tank Executive Director during the ICGLR special session on sexual gender based violence in Kampala, Uganda from December 11 to 16.
The think-tank was named after the late President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia died during his term as the chairperson of the ICGLR. The regional centre is poised to provide a strong foundation to the ICGLR’s programme of action on the promotion of good governance and democracy.
It appears the ICGLR has a decided to take a radical approach after having been international embarrassed by the negative and unfair reports on human rights violations which have recently culminated in the indictment of African politicians and rebel leaders.
The Levy Mwanawasa Regional Centre for Democracy and Good Governance think-tank, which has started collecting data in Zambia and DR Congo will fully roll out its operations in the other Great Lakes region member states next year to try and present the true picture of Africa’s story on human rights violations.
“Ours won’t be armchair research based on media reports. We are interested in credible analysis and evidence-based reports. This implies that we shall be on the ground to establish a realistic picture rather than depend on media reports,” said Frank Okuthe, the think-tank Executive Director during the ICGLR special session on sexual gender based violence in Kampala, Uganda from December 11 to 16.
The think-tank was named after the late President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia died during his term as the chairperson of the ICGLR. The regional centre is poised to provide a strong foundation to the ICGLR’s programme of action on the promotion of good governance and democracy.
It appears the ICGLR has a decided to take a radical approach after having been international embarrassed by the negative and unfair reports on human rights violations which have recently culminated in the indictment of African politicians and rebel leaders.
However, the decision by the Great Lakes region to have its way in redefining the context of human rights could pit Africa against the West most likely will place the two on a rugged path.
According to Mr Okuthe, the think-tank’s findings will help redesign governance policies in the region after they being adopted by partner states’ Heads of State. “Since the data will be generated by ourselves (Africans) we hope our leaders will listen and buy our recommendations,” said Okuthe.
However, what remains unclear is how those Great Lakes regional leaders whose administrations ignite state-sponsored human rights violations will be made to account since those to conduct the investigations are under their jurisdictions.
“That will not be a problem at all. What is our main interest is to investigate the root causes of those violations to help us come up with appropriate policies,” said Okuthe.
Although foreign non-governmental organizations report extensive human rights abuses in several parts of Africa, often under the oversight of the state, the member states in Great Lakes region say there has been exaggeration and therefore, “the time has come for us to make our own research and determine our own standards.”
African leaders believe that partly it’s because of this exaggeration of human rights abuses that some of their colleagues like Sudan President Omar al Bashir and Laurent Gbagabo (Ivory Coast ex-President) were indicted.
However, the decision by the Great Lakes region to have its way in redefining the context of human rights could pit Africa against the West most likely will place the two on a rugged path.
Various forms of human rights abuses and mass atrocity crimes have been committed in numerous African states, ranging from genocide and crimes against humanity to war crimes. Most notable of these crimes have been unlawful killings of civilians and aid workers, the use and forceful recruitment of child soldiers, and sexual violence against women and children.
According to Mr Okuthe, the think-tank’s findings will help redesign governance policies in the region after they being adopted by partner states’ Heads of State. “Since the data will be generated by ourselves (Africans) we hope our leaders will listen and buy our recommendations,” said Okuthe.
However, what remains unclear is how those Great Lakes regional leaders whose administrations ignite state-sponsored human rights violations will be made to account since those to conduct the investigations are under their jurisdictions.
“That will not be a problem at all. What is our main interest is to investigate the root causes of those violations to help us come up with appropriate policies,” said Okuthe.
Although foreign non-governmental organizations report extensive human rights abuses in several parts of Africa, often under the oversight of the state, the member states in Great Lakes region say there has been exaggeration and therefore, “the time has come for us to make our own research and determine our own standards.”
African leaders believe that partly it’s because of this exaggeration of human rights abuses that some of their colleagues like Sudan President Omar al Bashir and Laurent Gbagabo (Ivory Coast ex-President) were indicted.
However, the decision by the Great Lakes region to have its way in redefining the context of human rights could pit Africa against the West most likely will place the two on a rugged path.
Various forms of human rights abuses and mass atrocity crimes have been committed in numerous African states, ranging from genocide and crimes against humanity to war crimes. Most notable of these crimes have been unlawful killings of civilians and aid workers, the use and forceful recruitment of child soldiers, and sexual violence against women and children.
No comments:
Post a Comment