Kenya Addresses Human Rights Record, Torture in Report to United Nations

In its second report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, Kenya defended its human rights record and said legal protections against torture have improved the situation since the adoption of the new constitution in 2010, Kenya's Capital FM reported Wednesday (May 15th).

"The most important achievement has been the enactment of a new constitution which provides a stronger constitutional, legal and institutional framework for promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country," the report said. "Freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is a right enshrined in the bill of rights."

Under the new laws, police are prohibited from resorting to torture in their investigations, and Kenya has charged three officers in court for failure to comply, the report said.

Extra-judicial killings have also been halted and suspected criminals all face legal prosecution, the report said.

"Every case of death during police operations is investigated on its own merits. Following such investigations, 34 cases have been investigated and police officers prosecuted for the offence of murder between 2006 and 2011. Out of these cases, three have been convicted, two acquitted and 29 are pending in various stages of prosecution," the report said.

Moreover, commissions have been established to protect women, children, minorities and people with disabilities, the report said. The government is also in the process of drafting a national refugee policy to protect refugees in Kenya.

(2013-05-16/allafrica)