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{
    "id": 1163609,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1163609/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 122,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "The theme for Zero Discrimination Day this year is “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower.” This theme is a continuation of last year’s theme which was “End Inequalities”. The Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated on 1st March, 2014. Madam Deputy Speaker, throughout the globe, there are millions of people who suffer silently as a result of discrimination. There are those that live with HIV/AIDS scourge and are overtly discriminated in very many ways. This affects their self-worth and dignity as human beings. In solidarity with this year’s theme, the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is highlighting the urgent need to act against the discriminatory laws. There are people who have cancer and some are cancer survivors. Discrimination even at the places of work is real. Most of them hardly get promotions at their places of work. However hard they may work, they are viewed as employees whose lifespan is short- lived. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are equally discriminated. In instances where they are productive, their works may not be amplified because of societal perception on PwDs. In all these instances such kinds of discrimination deny people human rights, fundamental freedoms and undue restrictions on how they live their lives simply because who they are or what they do. Let us have a moral and legal obligation to remove discriminatory laws and to enact laws that protect people from discrimination. Everyone has a responsibility to hold the states accountable, call for change and contribute to efforts to remove discriminatory laws. Kenya is a signatory to international laws that seek to enhance human dignity and equality for all. For instance, the Convention on the Rights of Children that was adopted in 1989 and came into force in 1990; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Kenya signed and ratified in 2008; the Abuja Health Declaration of 2001 that seeks to ensure everyone regardless of race, gender and ethnicity has the highest attainable standards of living, among other laws. These laws are enshrined in Articles 28, 54, and 43(1) respectively in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 which we must all seek to defend as leaders. Madam Deputy Speaker, as the world celebrates this day, it is important to note that women are equally discriminated in politics and governance. In many parts of the world and especially Africa, very few women have managed to rise to the very top. Many parliaments have not been able to adhere to the not more than two-thirds gender rule. Women are under-represented in parliaments. Societal perceptions of women and leadership are a huge contributory factor, which is compounded by a lack of monetary component to help women secure political positions. PwDs are disadvantaged more than thrice. Their physiological make up, lack of resources, lack of adequate security, heightened by negative societal perceptions make it extremely difficult for the PwDs to catapult in politics and governance. Madam Deputy Speaker, as we mark this day, I would like to urge legislators nationally and globally to make a deliberate attempt in ensuring that they take urgent action in ending all discriminatory laws and replace them with laws that foster and enhance equality and equity for all."
}