THE PARLIAMENTARIAN: INTERVIEW
THE PARLIAMENTARIAN INTERVIEW
Mr. Sidiki Kaba, President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Mr Akbar Khan welcomed Mr. Sidiki Kaba, President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court and the Minister of Justice from Senegal to the CPA Secretariat in London. The President and the Secretary-General discussed the role of Commonwealth Parliaments in combatting impunity, in the protection of human rights and the rule of law and a number of issues relating to the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth.
The President was able to meet some of the staff at the CPA Secretariat and view the portraits of previous Secretaries-General in the CPA’s long 105 year history. During his visit to the CPA Secretariat, Mr Sidiki Kaba graciously gave an interview to The Parliamentarian.
The Parliamentarian: What do you believe is the role of Parliamentarians in protecting human rights? Sidiki Kaba: It is a very important role. I think that all Parliamentarians in the world must work together to ensure that human rights are respected and upheld. It is fundamental for each country and for the stabilisation of each region to respect and uphold human rights. The more that we, across the world respect human rights, the more chance that society has to prosper.
Parliamentarians have a key role to play in ensuring the freedom of the press, the freedoms of association and the freedoms that society should provide where everyone can live harmoniously together in an environment where everyone is respected.
The work of Parliaments and the laws that they introduce must ensure that everyone, without discrimination, is protected and everyone is equal. It is also the place where international conventions can be ratified. Parliament is the place that can guarantee that rights can be executed for each citizen equally without discrimination or exclusion.
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The Parliamentarian: What role can the Commonwealth play in the protection of human rights? Sidiki Kaba: The Commonwealth is a huge organisation bringing together many Anglophone countries and notably lots of African countries. The values that the Commonwealth promotes and especially the protection of human rights and the respect for each other has helped to progress democracy in many countries, notably in many African countries and the regions of the global south. These values can be shared amongst other countries in order that freedom for everyone can be recognised. When equality of all people in society is recognised, a country can then take vital steps towards progress, where there is common engagement and common values that all citizens can work towards and that all citizens can defend together. Every voice counts – those of women, those of minorities, those of everyone - and for society, this participation is essential and helps towards the good functioning of democracy.
The Parliamentarian: What can Commonwealth Parliaments do to ensure that
Above: The CPA Secretary-General Mr Akbar Khan with Mr. Sidiki Kaba, President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court.
they are upholding the fundamental principles of the rule of law? Sidiki Kaba: The rule of law guarantees peace in our society. It supposes that a country has a functioning legal system; a huge part of this is seeking justice through independent and impartial courts that are empowered to dispense justice freely and without fear of retribution. We must be able to guarantee the protection for magistrates; we must be able to guarantee the protection of their careers and their independence from the Executive, from the influence of money and pressure groups, and also from oppression. In order to be effective, the rule of law must be applied in an equitable way for all citizens; it must never be applied in a discriminatory way.
The Parliamentarian: Does the Separation of Powers (Commonwealth Latimer House Principles) ensure that the legislative, the executive and the judiciary can act
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