The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted in 1948, states in Article 1 that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
This article, in the foremost universally recognised and accepted human rights document, underscores the importance of all persons to work together to enhance their civic liberties, fundamental freedoms and rule of law.
In Kenya, as is the case in many African and third world countries, human rights standards are deteriorating alarmingly.
Human rights groups across the world say the Covid-19 pandemic has seen many nations regressing in the observation, promotion and protection of the rights of their citizens.
In Africa specifically, state machinery, including police and armed forces, have been reported to have engaged in gross human rights violations over the last one to two years
In Kenya specifically, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are on the increase.
From Mombasa to Nairobi, Garissa to Isiolo, tens are reported to have been killed by the bullet or forcibly disappeared never to be seen again.
Although Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has repeatedly stated there is no official policy of killing suspects in Kenya by the government, the practice has shown that the state is slow or does absolutely nothing in various cases of police excesses.
The example of advocate Hassan Nandwa is evidence of such inaction by the state.
The inactions point towards complacency by the authorities to investigate and/or bring to book those who are engaging in enforced disappearances.
In many cases, despite overwhelming evidence including eyewitness accounts, photos and videos, the authorities have failed to arrest state-associated perpetrators of killings and disappearances.
If the state is not part of these atrocities, why are there no arrests?
It is in the face of such blatant high handedness by the state towards its own population that demands for intervention by the international community began to be heard.
When locally justice becomes elusive, the people have a right to explore international options.
Since all persons have a right to liberty, all states across the world must therefore play their role in safeguarding the rights of the people wherever they are in the world.
It is our natural duty to each other not to remain silent when atrocities are committed.
While we respect that each country has its own laws and states must be given time to deal with their issues, oppressive states cannot hide behind the principle of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of the nation.
Failure to protect its own citizens from violations particularly by security authorities and institutions is a clear indication of a failed state.
When rights are violated flagrantly, the state loses its moral authority to govern and to be allowed to rule over its people.
It is, therefore, incumbent upon every state to ensure that it safeguards the rights and liberties of not only its citizens but the citizens of other countries too by playing their international role of protecting any people from oppressive states.
Whether through regional bodies such as the African Union or United Nations, collective responsibility of states must be exercised to advance fundamental liberties and freedoms recognised under international human rights law.
As a result, many jurisdictions across the world, including Kenya, recognise international law also as an extension of their own laws.
This is because no country can operate as an island without its international partners socially, economically and politically.
For mankind to succeed, we must look out for each other. Failure to act as the international community has shown in the past that many lives stand to be lost.
The case of the Rwandan genocide remains, to date, a shocking reminder of this.
This week, Kenya received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the spirit of partnership.
While Kenya may not yet be at that stage where direct international community’s intervention is necessary, the Secretary did well to advise the Kenyan government to do better.
Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances should not be tolerated. The Secretary emphasised that even in the face of security threats, protection of human rights and rule of law must be guaranteed.
Executive director of Haki Africa.
(Edited by V. Graham)
