Amnesty International Urges Dutch Royals to Focus on Human Rights in Kenya Visit
Amnesty International has urged the Dutch Royal Couple to prioritize human rights in their upcoming Kenya visit. As protests against human rights abuses continue, activists have campaigned against the visit. The Dutch ministers are called to focus on human rights discussions rather than economic interests during the state visit from March 18 to March 20.
Amnesty International has recently appealed to the Dutch authorities, urging them to prioritize human rights discussions in their upcoming bilateral talks with Kenyan officials. This plea, issued on March 15, coincides with the Royal Family’s imminent visit scheduled for March 18 to March 20, where it aims to foster stronger Dutch-Kenyan relations.
The human rights advocacy group emphasized the need to address the surge of human rights violations in Kenya, particularly in light of ongoing incidents over the past months. Amnesty specifically referenced the increasing numbers of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings following the June 2024 protests, pushing for these topics to take center stage during the discussions.
Activists in Kenya have mobilized efforts to halt the Royal Family’s visit, expressing their concerns through thousands of letters and an online petition. Irungu Houghton, the director of Amnesty Kenya, highlighted the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations by authorities, reinforcing the urgency of their calls for human rights to take precedence over economic and military interests during the state visit.
Houghton urged that both the Royal Couple and the accompanying Dutch ministers focus on human rights issues rather than other diplomatic discussions, insisting that the visit should serve as a pivotal moment for accountability in Kenya. “Economic, military, and other interests must not be prioritised at the cost of human rights,” he stated, reinforcing Amnesty’s stance on the importance of addressing human rights in Kenya.
Concerns regarding the Royal Couple’s visit have also been echoed by certain Dutch Members of Parliament, as reported by the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (AD). The ongoing discussions reflect a growing awareness and demand for accountability in international relations pertaining to human rights violations.
In conclusion, as the Dutch Royal Couple prepares for their visit to Kenya, significant pressure from Amnesty International and local activists underscores the necessity of prioritizing human rights in diplomatic discussions. The focus on addressing pressing human rights concerns, particularly in the wake of recent protests and government crackdowns, serves as a crucial reminder of the broader implications of international state visits.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
