IN efforts to strengthen the culture of adhering to human rights in business, the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) has met with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to discuss the best way to prepare a National Action Plan on Human Rights and Business (NAP-BHR).
Giving the remark during a meeting held in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, CHRAGG Vice Chairperson, Mr Mohamed Hamadu said the move in is a continuous cooperation between CHRAGG, development partners and CSOs in ensuring the commission achieves its goals of promoting human rights.
“The meeting intended to gather CSOs to validate the roadmap on NAP-BHR development process and avail their comments and inputs on how best to drive forward the preparation of the plan in the country,” he said.
Adding: “ the commission recognises and appreciates the great contribution of CSOs in encouraging the protection, defence and preservation of human rights in the country.”
He further noted that, CHRAGG is aware of the capacity and expertise of CSOs in preparing various plans and strategies of human rights.
“The commission continues to strengthen cooperation with CSOs to join forces in ensuring that the human rights agenda becomes a permanent agenda to build a society that protects and respects human rights in the country,” he underlined.
In a related development, the Vice-Chair mentioned some of the benefits of NAP-BHR including to prevent and reduce acts of violation of human rights in the implementation of business activities as well as building capacity for marginalised groups regarding the protection and defence of their rights and protecting human rights defenders.
“The plan will also help to promote development that observes human rights, as well as harmonise human rights and business issues with various national development plans,” he insisted.
On behalf of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, East Africa Regional Office (OHCHR), CHRAGG Executive Secretary, Patience Ntwina said OHCHR stands ready and is committed to providing relevant support including capacity building to all its partners including member states in fulfilling obligations undertaken under relevant International and Regional treaties on the promotion and protection of human rights.
Coupled with that, he commended CHRAGG for organising Civil Society Consultation on the road map towards the development of the NAP-BHR in Tanzania with the Office of the African Union Workstream of the East Africa Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“OHCHR is committed to support such activities as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and enhance the capacities of African Union Member states,”
