Caribbean regional workshop on UN human rights treaty reporting concludes in Bridgetown

The workshop was organized by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) and the Commonwealth Secretariat, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados.

The workshop, as part of global events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), aimed at building the capacity of Caribbean countries on treaty body reporting with a focus on the synergies between the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the 2030 Agenda.

Mahamame Cisse-Gouro, Director of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms of UN Human Rights, called on the Caribbean countries to ratify outstanding human rights treaties and make pledges, individual or collective, to their effective implementation. He noted that “the protection of human rights is fundamental in our quest to build a more equal, just, and prosperous world for all.”

In her opening remarks, the Hon. Sandra Husbands, Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, welcomed the workshop, highlighting the importance of technical assistance for Small Island Developing States in addressing reporting gaps. She expressed confidence that the mechanisms discussed during the workshop would strengthen efforts to uphold human rights principles and fulfil reporting obligations of participating countries.

In addressing the forum, Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, emphasized that “the SDGs are a right-based agenda. Acceleration of the SDGs is intertwined with progress in the implementation of human rights standards. This may be in relation to water and sanitation, education, gender equality or stronger institutions for peace and security and is always linked with leaving no one behind.”

Dr. Shavana Haythornthwaite, Head of the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat, highlighted that the workshop “represents a unique opportunity to bring together English-speaking Caribbean countries for knowledge-sharing and mutual learning, strengthening their commitment to human rights and engagement with UN processes, as they celebrate the 75th year of UDHR.”

The regional workshop provided a hands-on opportunity for participants to share experiences and discuss challenges in addressing treaty body reporting obligations and created the space for Caribbean countries to foster greater cooperation.

According to Ms Rovin Fevrier, a participant from Saint Lucia, “the workshop was very helpful to focus on human rights mechanisms and on the preparation of reports”.

On the global level, this workshop allowed participants to learn about the Human Rights 75 Initiative, including the possibility of making pledges ahead of the High-Level event planned for 11-12 December 2023 in Geneva.

Delegates from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago took part in the workshop.

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About the Human Rights 75 Initiative:

The Human Rights 75 Initiative is a global campaign launched by OHCHR in 2023 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It seeks to inspire people around the world to stand up for human rights and to build a more just and equitable future for all.

Media Contacts:

Carlos Rodriguez, Public Information Officer, OHCHR- Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean, email: carlos.rodriguezosorio@un.org; phone: +507 6671 3569

Carol Gaskin, Communications and Advocacy Officer, UN Resident Coordinator Office Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org; phone: +1 246 467-6110