African leaders should ultimately be assessed by their commitment to enhance the values of democracy, and justice for the victims of serious crimes- not by their unrepentant efforts at nurturing the culture of impunity at the expense of the rights of the citizens according to , the Executive Director of Malawi’s Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR).
He was speaking at the 16th annual SADC Lawyers Association Conference and General Meeting at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania between 20 and 23August 2015.
The conference’s theme was, “Using the Law to strengthen good governance practices and to facilitate socio, economic and political transformation in the SADC region.”
Mtambo noted that, “Recognizing the obligation to help protect human rights and uphold the rule of law, the law societies herein gathered together with CSOs should take a leading role in appeal to African ICC States Parties to reaffirm their commitment to fighting impunity against serious crimes of international concern by not ratifying the Malabo protocol until necessary amendments to Article 46A are made. With the status quo, the protocol does not represent the democratic and human rights interest of the people of Africa.”
He stressed that,
“Fighting impunity requires not only time and determination: It also requires political support and commitment. Let’s all directly participate in the fight against impunity for the gravest crimes so that those responsible for war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and genocide –whoever they are and wherever they are – can be held accountable for crimes that gravely offend human dignity and human rights. Such participation can be partly reflected in our joining of hands.”
Timothy Mtambo Presentation Paper at SADC Lawyers Association AGM.
