Source: AllAfrica

Human rights are natural, intrinsic and are not given by governments, spouses, parents or institutions, says Nduta Kweheria, a senior programmes officer with the Kenya Human Rights Commission. Speaking to the press in Nakuru ton yesterday, Kweheria said it is the responsibility of governments, spouses, parents and institutions to help citizens access and enjoy human rights. "Every right goes hand in hand with responsibilities. Rights must be enjoyed in a manner that does not violate the rights of others," said Kweheria. "But the government bears the greatest responsibility of facilitating access to rights by all," she said. She said the recognition of vulnerable groups like women, the elderly, children, youth, minority or marginalised communities, ethnic, religious or cultural communities in the new constitution is a milestone that would safeguard their rights.

Commenting on Human Rights Education (HRE), she said it is the mandate of governments to continuously provide education through school and other curricula, media, at elections, referenda, through courts in its day-to-day interactions with citizens to be well informed about human rights.

 

'All State organs and all public officers have the duty to address the needs of vulnerable groups,' said Kweheria.

 

She praised the formation of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) that would ensure equitable resource allocation recognizing 'the vulnerability of particular groups or individuals in society'.

 

Kweheria lamented that due to limited contact and exchange between people working with human development and people working with human rights, these rights have not been well cascaded to the right recipients who have faced violation of their rights. 

• Kenya