21st November 2017
Press Release
The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya), leading legal and policy experts from across the continent convene in Mombasa, Kenya, from November 22nd to 24th to reflect on the state of human rights in Africa, the continental conference shall have participation from over nine countries to constructively deliberate on the continued quest for human rights in Africa.
Kenya’s Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court Hon. Justice David Maraga, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Ms. Kagwiria Mbogori, Justice Oagile Bethuel Dingake of the High Court of Botswana, Lady Justice Prof Lilian Tibatemwa, Mr. Beny Gideon Mabor the Chairperson of South Sudan Human Rights Commission and ICJ Kenya Chairperson Mr. Njonjo Mue headline a galaxy of over 30 judges, legislators, lawyers, scholars, policy experts and human rights activists speaking.
The discourse on state of human rights is convened under the auspices of ICJ Kenya’s Annual Jurists Conference (AJC) whose main objective is to deliberate and contribute to the discourse on emerging rule of law, human rights and justice trends affecting the Continent. The theme of the conference is “The State of Human Rights in Africa: bridging the gap between aspirations, implementation and enforcement.”
In Africa, the contestation between States on their obligations to fulfill, uphold and respect human rights and non-state duty to monitor compliance is riddled with contradictions and divergent conceptual understanding challenges. Yet, if full realization of human rights in the continent is to be achieved, effective implementation of normative frameworks is a necessary precursor in order to guarantee the right to development[1], peace and security in the continent.
The conference will interrogate recent developments in relation to the rise of human rights violations around the continent, the deficiency of political will for reform, as well as socio-economic implications for the African citizen, the state of human rights in Africa and the commitment of States to translate the rights contained in the African Charter into tangibles which still remains a pipe dream. Economic, social and cultural rights to date receive less attention than civil and political rights, while violations of civil and political rights continue on a massive scale. The concept of group rights is still at its formative stages.
While acknowledging that widespread corruption, impunity and lack of good governance continue to hinder the full realization of human rights in Africa, ICJ Kenya has identified key emerging areas of concern that the conference will seek to interrogate as follows:
- Failed electoral processes and inability to access the right to vote
- Excessive use of force including lethal force by police and other security agencies.
- The shrinking of civic space.
- Failed realization of social economic rights.
- Challenges of trans-national and international crimes.
- Prosecution and judicial enforcement of the rights.
- You are all invited to provide coverage for the event.
For any media release or Interviews kindly contact: Moses Okinyi on telephone number +254726989713 and/or Edigah Kavuravu on telephone number +254720791579 or send an email to: moses.okinyi@icj-kenya.org and communications@icj-kenya.org.
Please also join our conversations on Twitter: #AJC2017 and #HumanRightsKE
Kind regards,
Samwel Mohochi
Executive Director
Office Tel: +254-20-2084836/8|Office Mobile: +254 720 491549| Fax: +254-20-2625467
Email: communications@icj-kenya.org| Website: www.icj-kenya.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ICJ.Kenya| Twitter: twitter.com/#!/icjkenya
