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{
    "id": 1111232,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1111232/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 319,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Millie Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Of course, I wish to support the Committee on the Motion to adopt these two protocols relating to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The protocols are basically to support PWDs and older persons. Article 2(5) and (6) of the Constitution provides that any treaty that is ratified by Kenya becomes part of the laws of Kenya. So this is the first process towards ensuring that these two Protocols become part of the laws of Kenya. It is, indeed, unfortunate when we indicate that since one of the treaties was adopted in 2016, no State has ratified it. This is a sad call on us as African countries. We need to up our game. I speak as a former Member of the Pan African Parliament. The PAP currently does not still have legislative authority. If it was given legislative authority, then some of these protocols would pass much faster. Instead, countries are way ahead of PAP. For example, in Kenya, we already have laws dealing with this matter. I also speak as the Chairperson of the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), which is a coalition of Members of Parliament all over the world that work around these issues. So, I am very happy. As Members of PGA, this is one of the areas we have been working on, to ensure ratification of protocols and treaties both internationally and regionally to protect especially vulnerable groups in our society. The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights adopted this Protocol on PWDs in its 19th extraordinary session, but the process began in 1999 when they declared the international decade of PWDs and adopted a working group that would ensure that they come up with such a treaty. I am very happy that this is taking effect right now and that Kenya will be one of the first countries to ratify the Protocol. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I raised this issue today and I wish to raise it again now. We are given the same to speak to this Motion and yet we are discussing two treaties. It is like debating two laws in one. It is a bit difficult to talk about PWDs and elderly persons at the same time. I hope in terms of procedure, that will change in future. It makes one of the two suffer. The Protocols address issues of exclusion, harmful practices, and discrimination especially of women, children, youth and elderly PWDs. The Protocols guarantee equal protection of socio- economic, political and cultural rights to individuals with physical, mental, intellectual and developmental or sensory impairment. It will require countries to take action, including affirmative action, to deal with these issues. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, you cannot believe that even in Kenya, the way we have dealt with PWDs in the past and not through sensitisation, we have ended up changing. However, until recently, we describe persons with mental disability in law as idiots and imbeciles. That is The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}