St. Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean, this week, celebrated Human Rights Day alongside the rest of the world.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) remains the foundational document outlining essential rights and freedoms, including the right to education, health, and a sufficient standard of living—critical factors for human and social progress in all countries, including in the Caribbean.
According to a statement from CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett, “human rights are founded on equality, non-discrimination, and inclusion. As the Region continues to dismantle systemic barriers and promote greater participation of marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities, discrimination based on, among others, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status still limits full human rights for all.”
Dr. Barnett says that long-term progress requires integrating young people into the human rights agenda by fostering active participation in civic processes and ensuring that their perspectives inform decision-making at every level. She added that the digital revolution and increased information sharing require focused attention on privacy, online harassment, misogyny, and misinformation.
The commemoration of Human Rights Day the CARICOM Secretary General outlined is a reminder of the need for the ongoing global pursuit of dignity, freedom, and justice, which are fundamentally connected to human and social development and individual rights and freedoms.
CARICOM remains committed, she says, to the promotion and safeguarding of human rights across the Caribbean in the quest for a better Community for all.