Promotion and protection of human rights, were topics discussed at a recent two day seminar for 20 English speaking Caribbean journalists, held in Antigua and Barbuda last week.
Themed, “Freedom of Expression in the Inter-American System on Human Rights”, the seminars were conducted by Eduardo Bertoni, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organisation of American States (OAS).
Additionally, Candis Hamilton, attorney at IACHR, spoke to a general overview of the OAS Human Rights system and the Commission’s petition system. Eduardo Ulibarri, former director of La Nacion newspaper in Costa Rica, touched on issues concerning journalism and the Inter-American system on Human Rights.
The intense two-day seminar was held at the Jolly Beach Resort, St. John’s, Antigua on August 10-11.
President of the IACHR, Mr Clare Kamau Roberts, expressed that more involvement is needed in the Caribbean region in the system “in order to establish an open dialogue between the Special Rapporteur for the Freedom of expression and the journalist”.
“Participants who were chosen, were chosen on the basis of an application process. They are journalist or representatives, from NGO’s (non-government organisation’s),” he explained.
He also announced that a second component to the seminar, was that two journalists from the Caribbean region, would be awarded a fellowship to work for two months at the headquarters of the IACHR, in New York, USA. “The objective of these fellowships is to give the journalist an opportunity to observe firsthand and participate, in the work of the rapporteurship and generally of the Commission.”
At the close of the seminar, Mr Bertoni explained that the aim of disseminating information to the journalist about the IACHR, was accomplished. “The seminar from my perspective, is optimistic. I think that it was a very good group of people that are really interested to know more about the Inter-American system, and the freedom of expression standards.”
He also echoed his message that freedom of expression is a fundamental right for everybody, not just journalists.
The IACHR was created in 1959, and is the principle organ of the OAS, charged with protecting human rights in the Americas. It is mandated to monitor the human rights status of its 35 independent member countries- also all members of OAS.
President Roberts also used the forum to call on Caricom members to ratify the American convention on human rights. “I must also use this forum, to encourage the countries of the Caribbean that have not yet done so, to become a party to the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights.”
Less than 15 Caricom countries have ratified the convention, and those who have done so are Barbados, Haiti, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
By: JIMENITA SWAIN, The Nassau Guardian
