Sessional Paper No. 03 of 2014 on National Policy and Action Plan on Human Rights

Abstract

This Policy focuses on a set of key priority human rights areas that were identified by the public during hearings conducted countrywide. These key areas are categorized as follows: in the area of Civil and Political Rights - the right to life, liberty, and security of person, access to justice and the right to political participation, in the area of Economic and Social Rights - the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the rights relating to property, the right to housing, the right to food, the right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities, the right to education and the right to a clean environment; and in the area of Group Rights - the rights of specific vulnerable groups, women, children, persons with disabilities, youth, older persons, marginalized and minority groups, internally displaced persons and refugees. This Policy and Action Plan restates the Government's c01mnitment to human rights through broad undertakings. It also identifies the challenges and shortcomings that hinder the realization and enjoyment of human rights in the country and specifies the key strategic areas of intervention to address these challenges. The Government acknowledges that for development to be meaningful, hhuan rights standards must be implemented in a non-discriminatory, transparent, participatory and accountable fashion. The Government thus adopts a human rights-based approach to the development and implementation of the National Policy and Action Plan on Human Rights. This Policy will be implemented through a five-year action plan. The Plan outlines specific priority action areas and outcome indicators to measure progress in the realization of human rights. It is the fundamental duty of every state actor to observe, respect, protect, promote and fulfil human rights and therefore the Plan identifies these actors and designates specific responsibilities for the realization of particular rights. The Plan will be used by the national and county governments to consciously mainstream human rights within the government's development processes