Concerned with the growing trends for acts of impunity being perpetrated by people and governments in Africa, and various cases of abuse of human rights being daily reported, there was an urgent need to rise against the tide through collaborative efforts and public sensitization programmes by governments and non-governmental organisations.
That was the spirit that informed the recent participatory seminar organised under the auspices of the Global Parliamentarians Working Against Impunity in Africa, which was hosted by the National Assembly of Gambia in Banjul.
As an advocate of human rights, good governance and due process, I was privileged to be one of guests invited by the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) an affiliate of the United Nations to join the 63-Member Regional Working Group to participate in the two days event. The Working Group is made up of 35 Lawmakers from Africa with one from Nigeria; 7 Parliamentary Staff, 17 Experts and 4 PGA Secretariat Staff. We were 3 Nigerians that participated at the event with one of us working with an International Human Rights NGO and resident in Gambia.
The event was an exceptional opportunity for me to meet with so many women leaders from across the globe whom I interacted with and shared ideas on various issues affecting Africa and its development, and particularly women’s active participation in development activities. There’s no doubt that I learnt a lot from their experiences/achievements from most of them who were eager to share their experiences and also hear from others. I was particularly excited to meet the Speaker of the Gambia National Assembly, Honourable Mariam Jack-Denton and other female members of the Parliaments from across the African Countries whose participation in the legislature should serve as inspiration for other females.
After two days of exhaustive deliberations at the event, members agreed on a number of resolutions tagged, “The Draft Banjul Plan of Action towards an end to Impunity in Africa.”
Members observed that serious human rights violations and crimes under international law affect millions of human beings across the world, and most of the communities, after expressing gratitude to the National Assembly of the Gambia and its staff for welcoming and warmly hosting the important regional event. We therefore recognize that impunity for perpetrators of the most serious crimes included in the Rome Statute poses a global threat to peace, justice, and the rule of law, and increases the likelihood of committing new atrocities.
Members also Underscored the importance of the Rome Statute system in the fight against impunity, including establishing a common legal framework for investigations, prosecutions, and judicial cooperation, and providing a court of last resort, the International Criminal Court (ICC). Furthermore, they acknowledge their responsibility as legislators and representatives of their respective people on the need to use their prerogatives to protect human rights and pursue all legal avenues to hold those who commit mass atrocities
accountable.
In addition, members agreed to exercise their legislative, political, and institutional prerogatives to achieve the following national and regional commitments to act to advance the fight against impunity and to support their regional neighbours in their efforts by pursuing truth, justice, and reparations as essential rights of victims of international crimes among others.
In keeping with the mandates of the PGA and in line with its action-driven approach, members further resolved on specific commitments to supporting member countries in handling their peculiar experiences in abuse of human rights.
Accordingly, there were specific observations made in the different member countries and plans of actions made to address such impunity.
In the specific case of Nigeria, members resolved to call on the government and the judiciary to seriously address the rampant sexual and gender-based violence, by raising awareness on the issue and by effectively investigating and prosecuting cases. Members also resolved to monitor that the current attacks led by armed groups are adequately addressed both by security forces, without committing violations of the human rights, and by the criminal justice system, especially when they amount to crimes of international law.
“Calling on the government to set up independent investigation mechanisms to prove allegations of serious human rights violations;
“Adopting a bill modifying the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedural Code to improve the provisions fully implementing the Rome Statute in domestic law, including on the basis of legal analysis that may be provided by PGA’s Secretariat,” the plans action plan statement read.
Among the seven resolutions adopted as part of the plans of action on Nigeria were the need to engage the government towards the ratification and implementation of all amendments to the Rome Statute, including that on the crime of aggression; call on the government to fully cooperate with the ICC, and to consider negotiating bilateral cooperation agreements with the Court on the execution of sentences, relocation of witnesses and victims, interim release and release of persons; and call on the government to make the declaration so the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights
may hear cases submitted by individuals and non-governmental organisations.
There’s no doubt that the two days event in Banjul, Gambia, provided enormous opportunity for global partners and members of the Parliament from the African continent as well as non governmental organisations engaged in human rights to put heads together to deliberate on the nagging issues of impunity in Africa. The event also provided a platform for sharing ideas and comparing notes on the state of impunity in most African countries which the resolutions addressed on specific cases. It’s therefore hoped that the deliberations and the resolutions reached would serve as impetus to campaigns against impunity in Africa and a reawakening of consciousness and commitment to changing attitudes and the status quo towards achieving good governance, human rights and development in our continent.
– Dr Safiya Stephanie Musa is Founder/Chief Enterprise Officer of EduShine Educational Support Foundation, and the Amazons For Change & Empowerment Initiative
