The Chairman of Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Ernest Yaw Anim, has urged legislatures worldwide to use their oversight powers more effectively to hold governments accountable for international commitments, particularly those relating to the protection of children.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Parliamentary Conference on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, the Kumawu MP said parliaments had significant authority through their committees to scrutinise executive actions and demand answers from public officials.
He cited the power of parliamentary committees to summon individuals and compel them to appear before hearings as an important tool for ensuring accountability.
“At our level in Parliament, we wield so much power at the committee level. We have the powers of the High Court, so you can subpoena anybody to appear before your committee,” he said.
Mr Anim said legislatures must exercise these powers to ensure that governments implement international commitments they have signed and ratified.
He questioned whether legislation passed by parliaments was translating into meaningful improvements in children’s lives, arguing that passing laws alone was not enough to guarantee their protection and welfare.
“We pass laws, but then are these laws benefiting our children? Are they having impact in the lives of our children? So, that is where we need to be able to exercise this oversight,” he added.
He said effective parliamentary scrutiny was necessary to assess whether government policies and legislation were delivering the intended results, particularly for children.
His remarks highlighted the role of parliamentary oversight in bridging the gap between international human rights commitments, national legislation and their practical impact on vulnerable groups.
