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Call for a Caribbean Human Rights Foundation

18 February 2004

"The Commonwealth's primary goals are promoting international co-operation and peace, democracy and good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and poverty alleviation through sustainable economic and social development."

Commonwealth Human Rights Unit

Participants of the the human rights workshop held in Jamaica from 4 to 5 February 2004to promote the 1998 United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders

Human rights defenders in the Caribbean have called for the creation of a Caribbean Human Rights Foundation to support their work in the region.

They propose that the Foundation would be a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with eminent persons from the region as trustees. It would raise funds to be channeled to human rights related work so more could be done at national level.

The call was issued at the conclusion of a human rights workshop held in Jamaica from 4 to 5 February 2004to promote the 1998 United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The workshop sought to empower both governmental and non-governmental organisations, with emphasis on the fundamental human rights values which the Declaration reiterates. Human rights defenders are individuals, groups and organisations that promote and protect universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The workshop participants were drawn from government departments responsible for human rights (such as Attorney-General offices, ombudsman offices and legal aid councils), from human rights NGOs, and from the academic community. During the workshop they created and developed networks in the region at state and NGO levels, which would identify important human rights issues and enable human rights defenders to make proposals on human rights legislation and policies to regional bodies.

There was also a call for the promotion of international human rights instruments at the international level; the development of technical assistance programmes, aimed at helping states implement their international obligations; and increased co-operation among international bodies, governments and NGOs.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day workshop, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha said: "The promotion and protection of human rights is a central commitment of the Commonwealth.

"The Commonwealth's primary goals are promoting international co-operation and peace, democracy and good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and poverty alleviation through sustainable economic and social development."

Delivering the opening address on behalf of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of Jamaica, Permanent Secretary of Justice Carol Palmer said: "It is important to note that the challenges inherent in the protection of human rights for all citizens are great and that governments could not hope to find solutions solely. In this respect, the increasing important role of civil society has been recognised.

"Human rights defenders carry out a variety of functions, some of which are highly complementary to the work of governments and in many instances are invaluable. Human rights defenders are useful vehicles for the dissemination of information and for raising awareness of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

The workshop was organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat's Human Rights Unit, and co-hosted by the Attorney-General's Chambers in Jamaica with assistance from the International Service for Human Rights.