By Winfred Watenya
The Arusha Initiative has urged the incoming African Union Commission leadership to focus on enhancing transparency in the nomination and selection process for members of the African Human Rights Mechanisms.
The call comes a day after Djibouti’s Mahmoud Youssouf was elected chairman of the AUC in a race that also included Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Yousouf and Richard Randriamandaro from Madagascar.
Youssouf won the race with 33 votes in the seventh round, defeating Kenya’s Raila Odinga after at least 4 rounds.
He succeeds Muusa Faki who has been at the helm of the continental body for two terms spanning eight years.
The Arusha Initiative also urges the new leadership to ensure availability of adequate resources, including financial support, personnel and institutional backing.
The group also emphasizes the importance of strengthening efforts to implement decisions, recommendations and opinions issued by human rights bodies as well as ensuring greater accountability from state parties.
The Arusha Initiative is an African rights holders’ movement meant to enhance African human rights mechanisms efficiency, independence and effectiveness.
