Namibian lawmaker stresses role of parliaments in protecting human rights

Namibia's Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi supports the notion that Parliamentarians should be at the forefront in raising the alarm and taking action when serious human rights challenges arise.

Katjavivi, addressing 700 MPs from 138 countries at the 135th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, highlighted the role of parliaments as early responders to human rights abuses.

According to Katjavivi, in countries where there has been lawlessness, parliaments have often offered the only source of hope for the masses and civil society and the media are very important partners of legislators in exposing human rights abuses.

"We should therefore team up to ensure that the rule of law prevails and build long lasting institutions and systems in our various countries and regions," he added.

Besides human rights, the IPU Assembly will cover many additional issues during the five days, including the UN's response to allegations of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers, the role of parliament in preventing outside interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and the role of MPs in countering the activities of vulture funds, amongst others. Endit