The overall objective of the project is; enhancing adherence to human rights standards and principles by law enforcement and security agencies. This trickles down to the specific project objectives that include: ensuring accountability for human rights violations by law enforcement and security forces with regard to extra – Judicial Killing, Enforced Disappearances torture, cruel, In Human and Degrading Treatment; promoting the inculcation of a culture of respect for human rights and standards within law enforcement and security forces; and ensuring state’s compliance with obligations under international human rights treaties. The project shall be guided by Article 26(Right to Life) and Article 29(Right to the freedom and security of the person) of The Constitution of Kenya 2010. These provisions in addition to international instruments such as the: UDHR, ICCPR, ACHPR and the Convention against Torture, prohibit the commission of acts of torture and imposes upon state parties the obligation prevent it. Following this, Kenya passed the Prevention of Torture Act (2017) which seeks to give effect to the Constitution and the above instruments.
The implementation of this project shall mainly target the Law Enforcement Agencies (National Police Service) and Oversight and Accountability Agencies. Some of the latter agencies include: The National Police Service Commission, Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Independent Medical Legal Unit, The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, The International Commission of Jurists, Kituo Cha Sheria, etc. Additionally, The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and members of the public shall be involved in the implementation of this project.
Project Activities.
To achieve this, the project shall be implemented through:
- Capacity building. This shall be done by: preparing an abridged/pocket friendly version of the Prevention of Torture Act and the National Coroners Service Act; Preparing a Training Manual for Law Enforcement Officers; Training of law enforcement officers on prevention of torture; Capacity Building-Training of the IAU staff on policing standards and organizing public forums and symposia.
- Institutional strengthening. The specific activities include: An inception meeting between the KNCHR, Internal Affairs Unit and the Kenya Bureau of Standards; Development of data collection tools; Data collection in the field; Preparation and launch of the survey report; Advocacy for the implementation of the report; Monitoring the implementation of the recommendations and monitoring the police recruitment process.
- Research and international obligations reporting. The following specific activities shall be carried out: Meetings on shadow reporting Convention n Against Torture ( CAT ); Reporting on compliance by the State in its international obligations on anti-torture and judicial executions; Research on implementation of anti-torture legislation and legislations prohibiting Extra – Judicial Executions
- Investigations and redress. The activities carried out shall include: Admission of petitions of Torture; Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment; Rapid Response Missions on reported cases of Torture; Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment, Further investigations of reported cases on Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment; Community Dialogues/Public Forums on Torture, Extra – Judicial Killings, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment; Litigation and Compilation and Launch of the Report and advocacy for the implementation of Recommendations.
The above shall be conducted by the Reforms and Accountability department with the support of the other departments in the Commission.
MEAL
To measure the success of the project, various Project Monitoring and Evaluation tools shall be applied. They include: Back to Office Reports, Activity Reports, Weekly Reports, Monthly Reports, Quarterly Reports and Yearly Reports. Finally, an end of project evaluation shall be carried out to determine its effectiveness, efficiency, impact and helping in documentation of lessons for learning and future programming.
Expected outcomes.
In overall, the expected outcome of the action will be enhanced adherence to human rights standards and principles by law enforcement and security agencies that would translate to improved policing services leading to the protection and promotion of human rights.