OHCHR Joint Submission for Uganda's Universal Periodic Review
Report prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for Uganda's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) November 2016
Notable Developments
Uganda to close the largest chain of commercial private schools over non-respect of basic education standards
The Ugandan Minister of Education and Sports, Hon Janet Museveni, formally announced on Tuesday during a session of the parliament that the Government will soon close the schools operated by the largest and most controversial chain of commercial private schools worldwide, Bridge International Academies (BIA), which runs 63 nursery and primary schools in Uganda. Hon Museveni indicated having based her decision on technical reports from the Ministry that revealed that the schools did not respect national standards, in particular that “material used could not promote teacher pupil interaction” and that “poor hygiene and sanitation […] put the life and safety of the school children in danger”.
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The UK’s financial support to low-cost private education in developing countries in contravention of human rights, says again UN experts
In a landmark report, which has just been published, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) expressed its concerns that in some cases the UK’s development aid “has been reportedly used for activities in contravention of economic, social and cultural rights in the receiving countries.” This is the second time within less than a month that UN experts have spoken out on the legality of UK development aid under international law.
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UK support for private schools in developing countries criticised by UN Committee
The United Kingdom (UK)’s controversial support for commercial, low-cost private schools in developing countries has been questioned by a UN Committee on children’s rights.(1) The UK Department for International Development’s support for the for-profit primary and pre-primary school chain, Bridge International Academies (BIA) was singled out as a particular concern.
Human Rights Council adopts historic resolution on protection of defenders of economic social and cultural rights
The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a landmark resolution on the protection of human rights defenders working to promote economic, social and cultural rights by a resounding vote.
The Norwegian-led resolution, developed in close consultation with civil society and sponsored by over 60 States from all regions, was adopted by a vote of 33 Member States of the Human Rights Council to just 6 against. Eight States in the 47-seat Council abstained.
Call for articles for 6th ESRA Brief
ISER invites submission of articles for the 6th Issue of the Economic and Social Rights Advocacy (ESRA) Brief to be published in April 2016. The theme for this issue is "Realizing Social and Economic Rights through Gender Budgeting"
African Commission Calls on Uganda to Safeguard Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are often ignored by states and it is gratifying to see the African Union spotlight the State’s obligations to respect, protect and fulfill these rights particularly education and health. The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights places considerable emphasis on social economic rights and their realisation in Africa. These recommendations are a powerful call to prioritise the realization of these often ignored rights.
African Commission Concluding Observations & Recommendations on Uganda's 5th Periodic Report
This report contains the Concluding Observations and Recommendations from the review of Uganda by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPRs) that happened during the 56th Session in Banjul in April 2015.
As ESCRs advocates, we have reason to celebrate as we made some good scores. For example under the right to health, the Commission recommends that the " State expedites the process for the enactment of the Draft Bill on the National Insurance Scheme which aims at addressing the high out-of-pocket spending and improve equity in health care service" and review and revise the HIV AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2014 to ensure that it fully conforms with Uganda's regional and international human rights obligations. Under the Right to Education, the Commission calls on the State to "increase investment in public education to match the increasing enrolment, and ensure quality of, to avoid forcing parents to resort to private schools, as well as to regulate the quality of education being provided by private schools".