Caribbean Colloquium on Promoting the Rights of Women and the Girl Child to be held in Guyana
10 April 1997
Chief Justices, women judges and other legal professionals of Commonwealth Caribbean countries are holding a colloquium in Georgetown, Guyana, from 14-17 April to discuss how best the judiciary can advance the rights of women and the girl child.
It is envisaged that the 'Caribbean Regional Judicial Colloquium for Senior Judges on the Promotion of the Human Rights of Women and the Girl Child through the Judiciary' will lead to measures relating to the use of international and regional human rights standards relevant to the rights of women at the national level.
Highlights of the conference agenda are: general and specific human rights and their relevance to women, with emphasis on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; the protection of the rights of the girl child in Commonwealth and Caribbean jurisdictions; equality laws under Commonwealth constitutions and litigation relating to the human rights of women.
Another topic will be the implementation of the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) model legislation on violence against women.
The colloquium is being jointly organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association and CARICOM.
One significant outcome of the meeting will be the development of a Commonwealth Programme for Action. It is also expected to lead to the formation of a network of judges committed to the promotion of the human rights of women in the Caribbean region.
The colloquium is the fourth in a series of Commonwealth regional judicial meetings focusing on the human rights of women. The first was in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in 1994. They have been held in response to mandates given by Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for
Women's Affairs. The colloquia also support the Beijing Platform for Action which identifies among critical areas of concern, lack of respect for and inadequate promotion and protection of the human rights of women.
The keynote address will be delivered by the Vice-Chairman of the UN Human Rights Committee, Justice P N Bhagwati. It will be jointly chaired by Justice Desiree Bernard, Chief Justice of Guyana, and Justice Joan Sawyer, Chief Justice of The Bahamas.
Participants of the Caribbean colloquium will include delegates from the African and Asian regions, as well as representatives of international and regional organisations.
97/18 10 April 1997
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