By Jeffrey ONGANGA
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has
reiterated that respect for human rights across the spectrum including
economic, social, civil and political rights, will be critical to a successful
public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa. The call was made at
the occasion of a webinar on the impact of Covid-19 on upholding human
rights in Africa, held on 28 July 2020.
The virtual
engagement sought to contextualise the centrality of human rights in dealing
with health disasters, and the role of an informed legislature in addressing
the human rights challenges arising from such pandemics, especially
in the context of Covid-19.
Moderated by Hon. Mephato REATILE, the webinar also aimed to
identify the human rights violations that are likely to occur in Africa during
COVID-19 and to promote parliamentary involvement in the upholding of human
rights during pandemics.
Hon. Chief Fortune CHARUMBIRA, Vice President of the PAP, noted
that that human rights transgressions have featured
extensively in most African countries as part of the response to the COVID-19
pandemic. He further called on African Parliamentarians to hold governments
accountable to their commitments to continental and international human rights
instruments.
“As part of its mandate, the PAP is called upon to promote human and
peoples’ rights, consolidate democratic institutions and the democratic
culture, good governance, transparency and the rule of law by all organs of the
union, regional economic communities and member states. Our obligation remains
to ensure that our states protect and promote human rights for all groups
especially the vulnerable. This is imperative at this time to assist societies
to emerge more resilient from this pandemic,” said Hon. Charumbira.
Amb. Salah HAMMAD, Head of the
African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat within the African Union
Commission Department of Political Affairs, addressed the webinar on the
African Union (AU) Human Rights Mechanisms that protect citizens against abuse
of power during health emergencies. Amb.Hammad reminded participants that the
COVID-19 pandemic has forced AU member states to use unusual methods of governance
to address the health crisis.
“Areas of human rights, justice and rule of law as well as democracy and
constitutionalism have suffered setbacks as part of states of emergency
declared to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in African countries. In the light of
this, AU mechanisms, organs and institutions are working closely to provide
technical support to member states in the fight against COVID-19 through a
human rights-based approach. The approach seeks to mainstream specific
areas of focus including human rights, human security, gender equality, youth
empowerment and women inclusion as well as protection and promotion of the
rights of marginalized groups such as children, cultural minority and old
persons among others,” said Amb. Hammad.
It was recalled that in October 2019, the PAP Plenary adopted the Model
Law on Policing in Africa, which establishes guidelines for law enforcement
agencies engagement with state, community and oversight actors. It envisages
and prioritizes the protection of life, liberty, security, and upholding the
rule of law and human rights.
The PAP has previously hailed the AU for endorsing a joint continental
strategy to combat Covid-19, complementing efforts by member states and the
regional economic communities by providing the public health platform. Dr. Raji TAJUDEEN, Africa CDCs’ Head for Public
Health and Research told the meeting that the continental coordination of
COVID-19 by the institution has focused on the socio-economic impact of the
pandemic on vulnerable populations. He also highlighted efforts made to address
stigma and discrimination in access to healthcare and funds made available as
part of the fight against pandemics in general.
Ms Patience Mungwari MPANI, Project Manager: Women’s Right
Unit at the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria), shone the light
on the plight of women and old persons. She emphasized that the COVID-19
pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities. ‘’Mitigation strategies need to
take into account the fact that certain categories are more exposed than
others. In the case old people, they usually carry underlying health problems
and merit specific attention in these times. On the other hand, it is important
to highlight the inability of women to access social care in times of COVID-19
as they are also confronted with gender-based and domestic violence during
these times.”
Mr. Kudakwashe DUBE, CEO of Africa Disability Alliance
(ADA) delved on the predicament of persons with disabilities. According to Mr.
Dube, Persons this group generally has more health-care
needs than others and are therefore more vulnerable to the impact of low
quality or inaccessible health-care services than others. “We must ensure that
people with disabilities are not left behind during the COVID-19 outbreak and
that they are treated with respect, dignity and without discrimination.”
It is important to note that the PAP has passed the African Model law on
Disability, which provides a legal and institutional framework for the
protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. Drafted in
line with the existing international and regional, legal and policy
instruments, these strides were made by the PAP in upholding its commitment to
protecting the rights of every citizen of this continent.
Ms. Bonolo MAKGALE, Project Coordinator: Democracy,
Transparency and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights,
underscored the role of Parliamentarians in protecting human rights during
pandemics.
“Parliamentarians need to strengthen checks and balances to ensure that
the health burden caused by Covid-19 is not worsened by human rights violations
across the continent. African Parliamentarians are therefore called upon to
protect human rights during pandemics by actively being involved in providing
legislative guidance and parameters to emergency measures put in place by
governments. Once these parameters have been established, Parliamentarians
should monitor the implementation phase and use their oversight powers to
safeguard the rights of the citizens.” She concluded.
Jeffrey ONGANGA is Media Officer at the Pan African
Parliament
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