JURIST - Paper Chase: UN rights report urges Kenya against amnesty for human rights violators

[JURIST] Kenya [JURIST news archive] should not grant amnesty to anyone who committed human rights violations in the wake of December's disputed presidential election [JURIST report], according to a report [PDF text; press release] issued Wednesday by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights [official website]. The report offered nine recommendations for re-establishing stability in the country, including establishing a Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission, passing institutional reforms, and enforcing victim and witness protection. The five-member team reached its conclusions after conducting a three-week fact-finding mission in the country in February. Reuters has more. The UN News Centre has additional coverage.

On Tuesday, the Parliament of Kenya voted unanimously [JURIST report] to approve a power-sharing agreement [JURIST report] between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki [official profile] and opposition leader Raila Odinga [campaign profile]. The Kenya Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008 [text], intended to end violence sparked by the country's controversial 2007 presidential election, names Odinga as the nation's first Prime Minister. The agreement has been praised by the US State Department and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who helped broker the deal.

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