Accra: Ghana's parliament has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing human rights and upholding international obligations through robust engagement with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. The UPR is a mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that assesses the human rights record of all UN member states. It aims to evaluate human rights situations, promote dialogue and cooperation, and improve them.
According to Ghana News Agency, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Bernard Ahiafor, emphasized the legislature's critical role in protecting rights and monitoring executive compliance, particularly in implementing key UPR recommendations accepted by the state. He stated that Parliament played a vital role in ensuring that human rights institutions were properly resourced by allocating funding to key bodies such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in collaboration with the Parliament of Ghana, organized a two-day workshop on promoting human and children's rights in Ghana. The workshop was focused on introducing new Members of Parliament (MPs) to the scope and responsibilities of their mandate, especially in human rights. It also aimed to raise awareness of human rights principles and inform participants about the Human Rights Council (HRC) and the UPR mechanism.
Mr. Ahiafor noted that MPs engaged directly with communities through forums, town hall meetings, and public education programs. This approach ensured that UPR-related actions were informed by local realities and experiences. He highlighted that Ghana's Parliament has acted on several key UPR recommendations, including the abolition of the death penalty and the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill.
The workshop brought together MPs, parliamentary staff, representatives from the executive, the National Human Rights Commission of Ghana, civil society organizations, and students. Discussions included the role of Parliament in promoting human rights, the UPR process, and strategies to support the implementation of UPR recommendations.
Dr. Isaac Annan, Advisor, Human Rights, Parliament of Ghana, elaborated on Ghana's UPR process, emphasizing Parliament's responsibilities in reporting, monitoring, and following up on recommendations to uphold human rights standards. Additionally, Dr. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director, Ark Foundation Ghana, advocated for the upholding of children's issues through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Participants emphasized the importance of legislation, oversight, and budget allocation in advancing human rights. They also highlighted the need for continued reforms and the importance of parliamentarians in pursuing the ratification of optional protocols to improve child rights in Ghana.
