Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 07, 2016 (SKNIS): A wide cross section of the citizenry of St. Kitts and Nevis is more educated on the International Human Right System after the completion of a two day workshop hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Customs and Excise Department Conference Room on June 1 and June 2, 2016.
Michelle Brathwaite, facilitator, presented participants with a comprehensive overview on the Human Right Declaration of 1948 in a Caribbean context and the connection between human rights and the development agenda.
Speaking to the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS), Ms. Brathwaite explained that the workshop came as a result of recommendations geared at improving the human rights situation in the Federation. She indicated that the recommendations came out of the process of the periodic review held in 2015. This review was the second for St. Kitts and Nevis.
According to Ms. Brathwaite, the workshop also provided the opportunity for intense debate and discussions on human rights with the aim of raising the level of awareness. Discussions also allowed for stakeholder to give feedback on how the human rights situation in St. Kitts and Nevis can be improved.
According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Human rights refer to rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status.” All are equally entitled to human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.
The organization’s website also indicates that, “Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, customary international law, general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.”