- Human rights institutions meeting for next three days in Nairobi are expected to conclude with adoption of a declaration providing further guidance on the role national rights institutions can play on issues related to rule of law and administration of justice.
More than 150 delegates from 71 countries are convening today at a UN conference in Nairobi to explore roles of national bodies set up to protect or promote human rights in relation to the judiciary, law enforcement and monitoring of detention centres.
During the three-day meeting, national human rights institutions will also report on activities undertaken as part of the Dignity and Justice for Detainees Initiative.
Launched earlier this month by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay, initiative seeks to increase pressure on States, parliaments, judiciaries and other relevant institutions to abolish - or at least reduce - arbitrary and unlawful detention.
As part of the campaign to celebrate 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December, scheme also seeks to ensure that conditions in prisons and other places of detention are brought in line with minimum global standards, UN commission has said.
The gathering has been organised by Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in cooperation with Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Swedish International Development Corporation Agency and UN Development Programme (UNDP).
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.