UHRC launches database on human rights state reporting
Aug 05, 2016
"This will bring efficiency in compilation of information and will help avoid ad hoc manner in which state reports have been prepared in the past and the persistent delays in their submission,"
PIC:The director of legal services in Attorney General Chambers, Christopher Gashirabake (in orange tie) with the chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission, Med Kaggwa (in light blue suit) and the country representative Office of the High Commissioner for UN Human Rights, Uchenna Emelonye (second right) after the launching of the Uganda Human Rights Commission database and search engine at Protea Hotel in Kampala on Thursday August 4, 2016. Photos/ Francis Emorut
A database to monitor government compliance on reduction of human rights violations has been launched.
Uchenna Emelonye, the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) country representative stressed the need for government ministries to regularly update database with relevant information on actions being taken to implement human rights recommendations.
"This will bring efficiency in compilation of information and will help avoid ad hoc manner in which state reports have been prepared in the past and the persistent delays in their submission," Emelonye said.
The outlook of database search for all government ministries, departments and agencies.
"It (database) will help us to monitor government's compliance on human rights records. I call upon the political leadership to embrace it wholly," Med Kaggwa, the chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) said.
Kaggwa pointed out that without political will, the database will become a futile exercise.
He said the database will help in checking on accountability of different ministries mandated to implement recommendations on respect and promotion of human rights.
"It will be a quiet name and shame check list if you have not been doing your work," he said.
The chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission, Med Kaggwa ( centre) talks to the director of legal services in Attorney General Chambers, Christopher Gashirabake (left) and Benard Mujuni the commissioner equity and rights at gender ministry during the launching of the Uganda Human Rights Commission database and search engine at Protea Hotel in Kampala
Kaggwa made the remarks during the launch of the human rights recommendations database at Protea Hotel in Kampala on Thursday.
He explained that the database will help in coordination of line ministries responsible for promotion and respect of human rights.
The database was created by UHRC with support from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The rights body has captured all the recommendations of human rights made at national, regional and international levels.
The public and civil servants working in different government's ministries, departments and ministries would be able to access information from database relating to human rights.
MP Jovia Kamateka addressing participants during the launching of the Uganda Human Rights Commission database and search engine
However, one must have a computer, internet to access the information.
It has a search engine and acts like Google you type in the word for the information you are looking and it will display to you instantly.
"Based on the realization of difficulties faced in attaining information for state reporting to not only the Commission but treaty bodies and that database would go a long way in complementing this process," the deputy attorney general, Mwesigwa Rukutana said.
He was represented by the director of legal services, Christopher Gashirabake.
He said crucial information relating to human rights obligations of the government will be collected.
"This could particularly serve as a foundation for reporting to national oversight bodies, regional and international mechanisms," he said.
A cross section of participants during the launching of the Uganda Human Rights Commission database and search engine
The inter-ministerial committee on human rights are the implementers of human rights recommendations.
These include ministries of internal affairs, foreign affairs, UPDF Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons among others.
Mitooma Woman MP, Jovia Kamateka said the database will help to create positive image for government at national, regional and international level.
"It will help us to build on the success we have registered," Kamateka said.
She also said it will enable the Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to be consistent and transparent .
Assistant commissioner of Police, Dinah Kyasiimire said the database has helped the Police to have information in one place unlike before when the information was scattered.