CHRAJ holds Capacity Building Workshop for Stakeholders in Ketu South

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has organized a day’s capacity training program aimed at providing training to build the capacity of both public and private sector  agencies in the effective use of Human Rights Based Approach to handling issues pertaining to marginalized groups on Human Rights Advocacy in the Ketu South Municipality of the  Volta region.

The Second National Deputy Director of the Commission, Mercy Labi, said the workshop was aimed at strengthening the capacity of local government and key stakeholders including women, youth, persons with disabilities, among others in the various communities and Assemblies throughout the nation  to ensure that their voices are heard through inclusive participation in planning, budgeting and the mobilization of resources to enable local government institutions to deliver effective, efficient, gender- responsive, youth-sensitive, equitable and sustainable COVID-19 Recovery Plans by the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP)

According the Deputy Commissioner, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health, economic and social crisis which has adversely affected the livelihoods of billions of people globally and in Ghana millions have been affected by the onslaught of the pandemic increasing poverty and inequality in its wake.

The pandemic according to her has challenged and identified short falls in Ghana’s medium term national development plan and it’s frameworks, leading to ineffectiveness in local governments such as inability of sub district structure, weak ownership and accountability of leadership, weak capacity of local governance practitioners, poor coordination in preparation and implementation of district development plans, limited involvement and participation of citizens in planning and budgeting. She said  the core mandate of the  Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)is to campaign for the use of Human Rights Based Approach will end up pushing for   the rights – holders to demand for accountability from the office holders and duty bearers when it comes to delivering on their duties and responsibilities, to ensure balance in building capacity for both supply and demand for governance and on the other hand it  all tune in ensuring capacity maximization of the sub national public and private agencies in use of Human Rights Based Approach in  promoting human rights and inclusion to strengthen the development and implementation of Covid 19 Green Recovery Plans.

The deputy commissioner called for the human Rights Based Approach to be the daily consciousness and systematic enhancement of  humans rights should be respected in all aspects of  programs development. That Individuals or social groups have particular entitlement in relation to specific duty bearers . For example children are right holders and the parents are considered the first line duty bearers (according to CRC)

Therefore, parents have the responsibility to protect them.

The state being the ultimate duty bearer, it ratifies international conventions for participation.

“Everyone has the right to participate in decisions which affect their human rights, the  participation  needed to be active, free, meaningful and give attention to issues of accessibility including access to information in a form and in language which they can be well understood”

For human rights based planning one needs to take accessibility, availability, acceptability affordability and quality and safety of planning to development to the benefit of the right-holder.

Director for Commission on Human Rights And Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Mary Nartey outlined the duties binding on public agencies like Judicial service, works department, ministry of road and highways, Ghana Education Service, Assembly Staff and private agencies namely Market women, persons with disabilities, Dressmakers, Hairdressers, Faith Based Organizations, Youth Groups as the duty bearer to more accountable by  effectively monitoring of human rights standards as well as effective remedies for human rights breaches all over with the enactment of appropriate laws, policies, and institutions, putting in place administration procedures and mechanics for redress are necessary to check accountability and the cost of duty delivery to the  right holder.

She  said, now, there is the need to  need to move  from charity based and need based planning development approach to human rights base approach, adding that planning means that individuals and communities should know their rights. It also means that they should be fully supported to participate in the development of policy and practices which affect their lives and to claim rights where necessary.

According to the director, Human rights approaches sanitize the citizens and give them the courage in holding states and other parties accountable, hence the duty bearers end up respecting, promoting and protecting the rights of humans.

By Hebrews Pouyeli Kumako