A/HRC/45/2 568. The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (by video message) recommended that Kenya adopt a law protecting human rights defenders and the model human rights defenders protection policy. It called for the enactment of several protection bills and laws ensuring the operation of non-governmental organizations in line with the right to freedom of expression. Kenya should also create a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and civil society organisations. It called for the revision and enactment of the data protection bill, to ensure the right to privacy. It recommended ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 569. The Center for Global Nonkilling stated that Kenya should urgently ratify the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 570. Article 19 – The International Centre Against Censorship (by video message) expressed concern about the recent attacks and harassment of journalists. Kenya must investigate all human rights violations against journalists and prosecute alleged perpetrators of such violations. It expressed alarm by the growing police brutality in the context of COVID-19. It also stated it was time for Kenya to fully operationalize the Public Benefit Act and amend the Association Bill. 571. Rencontre Africaine pour la défense des droits de l’homme stated that the COVID19 pandemic has affected the reforms in relation to the distribution of the wealth generated by trade and exploitation of natural resources. It expressed concern with the situation of the labour force and women in particular and requested Kenya to establish a safety net to ensure better protection to those with no income. It requested the international community to support Kenya in relation to the influx of migrants from neighbouring countries. 572. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (by video message) stated that police violence against journalists, activists and other civilians had not been investigated and compensation for victims was unheard of. It stated that the Government justified police violence by the need to fight terrorism or to enforce lockdowns. It urged Kenya to end its tacit endorsement of police violence and guarantee freedom of expression and association and to repeal the Security Laws Amendment Act of 2014. It also urged Kenya to honour the commitments made during the 2019 Nairobi Summit to make sexual and reproductive rights an integral part of its universal healthcare plan and called for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill, which provided a framework for ending unsafe abortions. 573. The Federation for Women and Family Planning (by video message) welcomed the acceptance by Kenya of recommendations to adopt legislative and administrative measures to combat discrimination against women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. It called on the State to develop a matrix for implementing these recommendations with a monitoring framework for follow-up and accountability. It expressed concern by the lack of acceptance of recommendations to respect, protect and fulfil sexual and reproductive health rights for young people, sexual and gender minorities and other marginalized groups. It called on Kenya to pass the Reproductive Health Bill. 574. CIVICUS - World Alliance for Citizen Participation (by video message) stated that, in the second cycle, Kenya had supported 20 of the 29 recommendations on civic space, of which eight were partially implemented and 12 were not implemented. In the third cycle, Kenya accepted several recommendations on civic space. However, Kenya has continued to restrict the right to peaceful assembly and expression though the disproportionate use of force and through the arrest and detention of peaceful protestors, human rights defenders and journalists. It called on Kenya to prosecute those law enforcement officers who were allegedly responsible for such violations and to create an enabling environment for human rights defenders, media houses and journalists. 575. The Alliance Defending Freedom applauded Kenya for its acceptance of the recommendation to reaffirm, inter alia, that the right to life existed from conception. It 98