The USK Foundation recently held a high-level consultative meeting with H.E. Bethuel Macharia, the Secretary General for East Africa of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
As a leading intergovernmental organization (IGO) dedicated to the protection of universal liberties, the IHRC’s regional mandate in the East African Community (EAC) provides a vital platform for the USK Foundation to advance its mission. The discussion focused on aligning the United Ancient Indigenous Enlightened Nations (UAN) framework with international human rights standards to benefit Kenya’s marginalized populations.
Key strategic synergies discussed include:
- Constitutional Alignment: Collaborating to reinforce the protections for minorities and marginalized groups enshrined in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution (Bill of Rights), ensuring that indigenous voices are prioritized in national policy.
- Indigenous Rights Advocacy: Utilizing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a benchmark for local projects in Taita Taveta and the Lake Victoria Basin, particularly regarding land and cultural rights.
- Security & Peacebuilding: Integrating the UAN’s ancient wisdom-based conflict resolution models with the IHRC’s regional peace and security frameworks to foster social cohesion in marginalized territories.
- Socio-Economic Inclusion: Enhancing USK’s youth and women empowerment programs through the IHRC’s human rights-based approach to development, ensuring that economic growth is inclusive and dignifying.
By partnering with H.E. Bethuel Macharia, the USK Foundation solidifies its Nairobi Regional Office as a continental hub for indigenous advocacy. This collaboration ensures that our USD 10 million annual budget is applied through a lens of legal protection and social justice, bridging the gap between ancient heritage and modern human rights for all Kenyans.
