The resolutions that saw the light of day included a motion urging Partner States to assist girls with sanitary pads and hygienic facilities in schools, pay tribute to the Rotary International for their humanitarian services and finally calling EAC Partner States to take concerted actions to end the killings of elephants and ivory trafficking.
In a social responsibility move, the Assembly passed a resolution that urges the region to waive taxes on sanitary pads with the aim to enhance quality, availability and affordability of the pads. The move is expected to keep girls in school and to ensure their well-being, enhanced dignity and respect of their rights.
However, the government of Tanzania and that of Kenya were lauded for abolishing tax on sanitary pads.
The motion which was moved by Dr. Odette Nyiramilimo notes that poor menstrual hygiene in the region is an insufficiently acknowledged issue and that poor girls often have no access to the sanitary products.
Dr. Odette Nyiramilimo
“This leads to social trauma and distress especially when occasioned by wearing poor protective clothing during menses, something that contributes to gender disparities in schools,” noted the legislator.
The resolution therefore urged governments and the private sector to consider making school sanitation facilities more user friendly and to ensure such cubicles have locks.
It further wants Partner States to introduce a reproductive health curriculum in schools and to provide sanitary pads and painkillers in all schools ensuring that they are distributed whenever necessary.
The motion received overwhelming response with contributions from various members including Abubakar Zein, AbuBakr Ogle, Nancy Abisai, Dr. Martin Nduwimana, Shy-Rose Bhanji and Mukasa Mbidde.
Meanwhile, the resolution on Rotary International which was presented by Mike Sebalu also received a nod of approval from the legislators for promoting humanitarian services around the region and the globe.
According to Hon Sebalu, on March 31, 2013, there were over 1million service minded men and women - Rotarians in over 200 countries, meeting weekly in local areas globally and contributing to economic empowerment initiatives.
Rotary International is a worldwide organisation of business, professional and community leaders providing humanitarian services and enhancing goodwill and peace in the globe.
“Among its focus include water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, peace and conflict as well as maternal and child health,” said Sebalu, adding that, Rotary International is also committed to eradicate polio around the world by setting a strategic endgame plan of USD 5.5 billion.
During the debate, EALA members urged the Rotarians to increase coverage of humanitarian services in EAC especially in areas that are in dire need.
“I look forward to seeing more of Rotary in arid and semi-arid areas such as in North-Eastern Kenya,” Ogle noted.
Others who supported the motion were Dora Byamukama, Mukasa Mbidde and Nancy Abisai.
The Chair of the Council of ministers, Shem Bageine appreciated the work of the charity organization, noting that they made a significant contribution in reaching out to far flung areas thus supporting government initiatives.
Members further congratulated the District Governor, District 9211 (representing the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda) Emmanuel Katongole for his efforts to increase Rotary club members in order to widen coverage of services.
Meanwhile the resolution on halting the killings of elephants and ivory trafficking was presented by AbuBakr Ogle who noted that investment in wildlife law enforcement was inadequate to deal with emerging threats as a result of increase of criminal cartels.
He said the region has a role to play in halting the trade, “no African elephant range is immune to the ongoing killings of elephants to feed the ivory demand in the Far East…a workable solution to the crisis is needed.”
The legislators welcomed the creation of the International Consortium for Combating Wildlife Crime involving the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Interpol and the World Bank among others and noted the importance of realising the set targets.
Patricia Hajabakiga, Adam Kimbisa, Joseph Kiangoi, the Counsel to the Community, Wilbert Kaahwa and Shem Bageine.
The resolution thus called on EAC Partner States to categorise elephant poaching and ivory trafficking as an economic crime and a national and regional crisis.
They said it is important for EAC Partner States to co-operate to identify wildlife crime hotspots and conduct coordinated investigations and undertake joint crackdown on corruption while eliminating any corrupt tendencies that abet poaching of elephants for their ivory.
In this regard, EALA urged EAC Partner States to scale up engagement with regional and global enforcement agencies in order to crack down on key cartels and continue to use services provided by the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) comprising UNODC, CITES, Interpol, WCO, World Bank and Caucus Foundation (ICCF) among others.
The Assembly is sitting for its first meeting of the second session of the third Assembly.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
No comments:
Post a Comment