Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana
Distinguished Representatives of the United Nations (UN)
Sir George Alleyne
Other Distinguished Participants
Distinguished Guests
Representatives of the MediA
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today, the 10th of December 2008 the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) joins the international community in marking the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) under the theme “Dignity and Justice for all of us”.
This year’s theme moves us to reflect on Articles 5 through 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which calls for every human being to be treated with dignity and equality before the law. The Declaration has served throughout the decades, to provide the international standard for the protection of the various human rights and fundamental freedoms which we all, whether individually or collectively, have come to cherish.
The Declaration has also provided the legislative bedrock for the fundamental rights and freedoms that the international community, and indeed the citizenry of our Caribbean Community, enjoy. The transition of our Member States from colonialism to independence was achieved through the promulgation of national Constitutions, which have generally enshrined a Bill of Rights that was inspired by the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our Judicial Systems, administered by an independent judiciary have enabled us to safeguard our rights against arbitrary interference by granting access for all to the Courts.
At the regional level, the Caribbean Community, by a resolution of the Conference of Heads of Government in February 1997, reaffirmed our commitment to the fundamental principles of human rights and freedoms by resolving to adopt the Charter of Civil Society and agreeing to pay due regard to the principles contained therein. In that way they reinforced the human dignity of each person and their equality before the Law, as set out in the national Constitutions. Further, the Heads of Government have taken a decision to make the provisions of the Charter, legally binding on the Member States of the Community.
In acknowledging the evolution of the gamut of rights and freedoms that the international community had come to recognise at the closing of the 20th Century, CARICOM’S Charter of Civil Society builds on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by including references to the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Rights of Disabled Persons and Good Governance, while providing a framework for genuine consultations among Social Partners as defined in the Charter. Indeed, for us in CARICOM, we can take some comfort in the fact that our democratic traditions and culture have remained largely intact, notwithstanding various challenges.
In this the 60th year of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we live, however, in a world where there is still need for vigilance to safeguard these fundamental rights and freedoms to ensure that all humanity is treated equally with dignity and have equal access to justice.
As we mark on this day, this historic anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, let us recommit ourselves to preserving those Rights so that the Caribbean can maintain its proud record in this area of human development and continue its efforts to shine like a beacon in the global Community.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
