Conference on human rights-Participants draw up recommendations |30 January 2006

They said they would polish them up and later forward the suggestions to the relevant organisations for consideration and action.

In the presence of Seychelles first President James Mancham, who officially closed the conference, and British High Commissioner Diane Skingle, they reviewed the summary of their conclusions and made preliminary corrections.

In his closing remarks, Mr Mancham lashed out at the media for “not giving adequate coverage” to the conference, which on Friday saw the participation of 16 individuals at its peak attendance.

He said he disagreed with some of the key recommendations of the conference saying there is rampant abuse of human rights in Seychelles.

As usual, he stressed the key roles various organisations he heads can play, “towards reconciliation in Seychelles.”

In her final address, one of the key facilitators, Zonke Majodina, of the South African Human Rights Commission, said she hoped for a strengthening and reorganisation of a Cefrad into a body that would not be seen to be politically affiliated.

Contacted for comment regarding these remarks later, Cefrad President, Matthew Servina, said he understood her words to mean that being the only organisation geared towards championing human rights here, it should steer clear of political affiliations.

He disputed suggestions that majority, if not all the participants present on Friday came from one political party, saying this year’s conference did not hear comments similar to those made in the November one, when participants charged that some parties were not represented.

Asked if the conference saw a good mix of representatives from different parties, the Cefrad head said it was not possible to discern the political affiliation of the participants, as the people present came from various organisations, as individuals, and none was registered as a representative of a party at the conference.

During the two days, the participants talked about the country’s judicial system and the specific roles of the Supreme and the Constitutional courts, which they said should be respected, but which in their turn, should respect the Court of Appeal.

“If the Supreme Court publicly questions the ruling of the Court of Appeal, then the Supreme court is in contempt of the superior court,” Mr Mancham said.

They also discussed such bodies as the Constitutional Appointments Authority, the Public Services Appeals Board and the Electoral Commission.

“The Electoral Commissioner appears to be doing what he is expected to do, but he needs a commission to work with,” the delegates said in their draft recommendations.

They said that the Constitution of Seychelles has all the provisions necessary for the protection of human rights, but also that few members of the public know what it contains.

They said efforts should be made to sensitise media personnel who should in turn educate the public on human rights issues.

Among the guest speakers at the conference was the executive director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, Alpha Falls.