Abstract

Absence of strong institutions worth to realize good governance in the mineral sector and protection of human rights seem a challenge that face not only natural resources-rich developing states but also sub-regional initiatives. Strong institutions are said to depict features such as; independency, relevant infrastructure, relevant expertise and command of political support from the state(s) and or other organs. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) sub-region has in place numerous regulatory organs with mandate over good governance in mineral sector and human rights preservation. Unlike other sub-regions in Africa, ICGLR is naturally endowed with plenty natural resources with regional and global value against the global threat of climate change. This paper, through qualitative review of primary and secondary documents namely; protocols, conventions, declarations, pacts, journal articles, books and internet sources examines how strong are the ICGLR institutions towards guaranteeing MHCs right to food. The study found that, despite of the established institutions at the ICGLR sub-regional level, they fall short of the international standards of robust institutions. Such institutions suffer from both legal and practical challenges namely; inadequate independency, inadequate human resources, little or no political will and feeble infrastructure. If the ICGLR sub-region intends to guarantee MHCs right to food, it may not escape eradicating the noted legal and practical challenges of established institutions.

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