The EAC workshop on draft Policy Instruments ended in Kigali, Rwanda on Friday, March 25, 2011 with Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) emphatic that uniformity of the Protocols of the EAC with the International charters and instruments was of absolute necessity.
In addition, EALA Members further called for the amendment of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC to accommodate and guarantee the security of fundamental rights as well as that of other on-going projects and programmes as the integration process moves forward.
“We need to encourage the EAC to amend the Treaty and for Partner States to collectively and in a sign of unification, ratify all charters and instruments so that uniform enforcement is done,” Members said.
At the meeting, the EAC Secretariat presented three draft instruments on the Draft Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Mechanism (CPMR), the EAC Draft Bill of Rights and the EAC Framework on Good Governance. The instruments are in line with the fundamental principles provided for in Article 6 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community as well as Peace and Stability provided for under Articles 123, 124, and 125.
Members of EALA noted that the extension of the Jurisdiction of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) to include matters of human rights and other areas was long overdue insisting it was time to urgently address the matter to boost litigation and thus keep EAC citizens’ dreams of full integration on course.
“The extension of the Jurisdiction of the EACJ is vital to enable grievances of the region to be properly handled. For this reason, the region should explore means and ways of ensuring the outstanding jurisdiction of the EACJ is addressed. We as EALA are considering having an audience with the policy makers - the Council of Ministers and even the Summit over the matter,” Members added.
It was further suggested that the EAC focuses on ensuring immediate enforcement of Human Rights’ principles equally across the region as this shall enable realization of the various benefits that should accrue from the Common Market. They should however be separated from constitutional rights as guaranteed by the respective Partner States’ constitutions even if they shall be in consonance with the EAC legislation.
On the Conflict Prevention, Management framework (CPMR), participants called for Gender equity and suggested the need for respect of the same as espoused in the EAC Treaty.
The role of EALA in CPMR, Members said, was essential calling for the Assembly to be empowered to carry out advocacy activities on CPMR.
“With additional resources, EALA should be able to carry out advocacy including workshops, sensitization programmes and media shows,” the Members reiterated.
They further urged Partner States to move with haste and to fasttrack the signing of the Protocol on Peace and Security. With it, it was suggested that the EAC Stand-by-Brigade be established and deployed where and whenever necessary in the region.
In the concluding remarks, the Speaker of the EALA, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi, thanked the EAC and the Assembly for putting together the workshop on the three instruments, which he noted, formed part of the core subject discussions in the Assembly. He urged the Partner States to move quickly to implement components of the Common Market Protocol and pledged that both the EAC and EALA would continue to work closely.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General, Hon Beatrice Kiraso said the suggestions and comments by EALA would make the instruments more comprehensive. “We need a multi-pronged approach to the issues of EAC to enable the region to be strong,” she said calling on Partner States to enhance information dissemination and wide sensitization of the populace.
For more information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
