Alliance Francaise
23rd June 2009

Ladies and gentlemen,

For over a decade, the world has marked the 26 June as the occasion of the UN
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Kenya has marked this day
in the last 12 years since it signed the UN Convention against torture and other
Cruel Inhuman treatment and punishment, in 1997. On this day, thousands of
individuals and organizations around the globe speak out against torture and
insist that torture survivors’ needs and rights be fulfilled.

Among those who raise their voice on this day are the treatment centres and
programmes affiliated with the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture
Victims – the IRCT. Today, on behalf of Independent Medico-Legal Unit, I am
proud to read out this statement. It is a statement of national solidarity, to show
that regardless of where we are in Kenya, we raise a collective voice to Stand
for Human Rights say NO to torture. It is a statement in honour of those who
have suffered under torturer’s cruel hands; and a reminder to us all that no
matter where we live or work, there are torture survivors among us. Daily they
show extraordinary courage as they attempt to heal from the physical and
mental wounds of their experience.

Download full speech here.

Mr President, I want to begin by acknowledging that the Kenyan Government deserves full
credit for having invited me to visit. It is also a credit to Kenya that the Waki Commission
was established to investigate post-election violence. That Commission did a superb job and
its report remains an indispensable guide to the reforms needed to prevent a repetition of that
violence when the next elections are held. In addition, a police reform Taskforce has recently
been established and, last Friday, a new judicial reform initiative was announced. I am also
encouraged by the presence today of a large delegation representing Kenya which attests to
the vigorous debate on these issues within the Government and the society as a whole.

In relation to my report on Kenya, the Council needs to ignore much of the background noise
that has been generated, and to focus its attention on four issues which I hope all parties agree
need to be resolved:

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION

Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture

KENYA

1. The Committee considered the initial report of Kenya (CAT/C/KEN/1) at its 852nd and 854th meetings, held on 13 and 14 November 2008 (CAT/C/SR.852 and 854), and, at its 860th and 861st meetings, held on 19 November 2008 (CAT/C/SR.860 and 861), adopted the following conclusions and recommendations.
A. Introduction
2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the initial report of Kenya, which is in conformity with the Committee’s guidelines for the preparation of initial reports, but regrets that the report was submitted nine years late.
3. The Committee notes with satisfaction the frankness with which the State party acknowledged the gaps in its legislation relating to the elimination and prevention of torture. The Committee also appreciates the constructive and open dialogue that was conducted with the high-level delegation from the State party, as well as the replies to the questions raised during the dialogue.

 Download full version here.

PRESS RELEASE

DATE: 17 April 2009 For immediate release

Kenyan human rights defender Samuel Mohochi shortlisted for prestigious Front Line Award 2009

“Today we are honouring four brave human rights defenders who have shown exceptional courage in the face of threats intimidation and the constant risk of assassination. Every day they put their lives on the line in defence of rights that we take for granted” said Mary Lawlor Executive Director of Front Line.

Ms Lawlor was speaking at the press conference in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin,  to announce the nominees for this year's prestigious Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. This is the fifth year of the Award and the winner of this year's Front Line Award will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin's City Hall on 8 May and will be presented by Martin Sheen. Front Line was joined by representatives of all the main political parties and both the Irish and European parliaments: Proinsias De Rossa, MEP, Alan Shatter TD, Ciaran Cuffe, TD, Ruairi Quinn TD each of whom endorsed the nomination of one of the four candidates for the award. (TD – Member of the Irish Parliament.)

The nominees for this year's Front Line Award are:

• Samuel Mohochi, Esecutive Director IMLU Kenya nominated by Ruairi Quinn TD

• Dr Yuri Giovanni Melini – - CALAS - Guatemala nominated by Proinsias de Rossa MEP

• Yaena Solaemae, Thailand nominated by Alan Shatter TD

• Danilo Rueda - Paz Y Justicia – Colombia, nominated by Ciaran Cuffe TD
  

“Whether facing attack by paramilitaries in Colombia, revenge by the army in Thailand, a corrupt legal system and police force in Kenya or the risk of assassination by elements of the security forces in Colombia or assassins acting to protect the interests of illegal logging companies all four nominees have shown that around the world there are people who think more of the rights of others than of their own safety – who are prepared to sacrifice their energy, their health and even their life in pursuit of a more just society” said Ms Lawlor.

I”n a country like Kenya in which there is total impunity for attacks by the security forces, Samuel Mohochi's has been a brave voice speaking out to challenge those who think that torture can be used to protect their political and economic interests”, said Ms Lawlor

The annual Front Line Award was established in 2004 to honour the work of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the protection of Human Rights in the face of considerable personal risk. It is intended that the Front Line Award and the profile gained by the nominees and the winners will contribute to their security and protection. It is also an opportunity to highlight the important and courageous work of human rights defenders around the world.

For further Information please contact:

Jim Loughran, Head of Communications, Front Line

Telephone 00 353 1 212 3750 MOBILE 00353 (0)87 9377586

LINK TO AWARD NOMINEES PAGE ON THE FRONT LINE WEB SITE

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1887