Two Caribbean Countries’ Human Rights Under UN Microscope

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 2, (CMC) – The human rights issues of two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are being examined, today, by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group.

The two CARICOM countries under the microscope are St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

The UN said that in the case of both countries, this will be the second time a review of their human rights problems will be undertaken.

“The second review of States aims to highlight human rights developments in the country since its first review, and provides an opportunity for States, under review, to spell out steps taken to implement recommendations posed during their first reviews. “

The delegation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be headed by Ambassador Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, while the delegation of Suriname will be headed by Mrs. Jennifer van Dijk-Silos, Minister of Justice and Police.

It said the documents on which the reviews are based are national report – information provided by the State under review; information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities and information provided by other stakeholders, including national human rights institutions, regional organizations and civil society groups.

The UN said among the issues raised in the above-mentioned documents are combating gender-based violence; the Domestic Violence Act; combating human trafficking; gender equality measures; and eliminating patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes that discriminate against women.