Africa-Press – Uganda. RIGHTS|PARLIAMENT|AUTHORITIES
KAMPALA – Human Rights Defenders have asked Parliament to fast track the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, 2020 to protect their fundamental rights and freedoms from being violated by the authority.National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders executive director, Robert Kirenga argues that although human rights defenders are supposed to be protected under Article 50 of the Constitution, there is a need to enact specific legislation prescribing and guaranteeing the rights of human rights defenders.”Human Rights Defenders are facing several challenges such as arbitrary arrests and intimidation particularly in Albertine region and we, therefore, call upon Parliament to pass the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, 2020 into law to overcome it,” Kirenga noted.Kirenga implored Parliament to repeal specific provisions of the law that serve to restrict the rights and freedom of human rights defenders working in the extractives sector such as Non-Government Organisations Act, 2016.Kirenga made the call during the commemoration of the annual International Human Rights Defenders Day at Royal Suites in Bugolobi.The day is observed on December 9 of every year to acknowledge the crucial work of human rights defenders across the globe.
Netherlands envoy to Uganda Karin Boven encouraged human rights defenders to embrace their shelter city program to find safe spaces where they can re-energise and engage with their allies.”The short stay in these shelter cities enables human rights defenders to build their resilience and reinforce their local actions for change on return to their countries, I, therefore, call upon all of you to express interest in it,” Boven said.Boven urged the Government to ensure a free and fair electoral process despite threats from the global deadly COVID-19 pandemic.Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Pheona Wall Nabasa expressed displeasure against people who look at human rights defenders as mere noisemakers in society.”Each of us should be a human rights defender because we need solidarity to protect human rights. Human rights defenders are not noisemakers but have regard to fundamental rights,” Nabasa said.Nabasa implored all lawyers to take a keen interest in defending human rights.
