by Orita Bailey

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, and the Department of Social Services, held consultations with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) yesterday 7th September 2010, in line with it’s obligations to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The 192 countries who are members of the United Nations (UN) and signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are required to undertake a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of their performance on Human Rights. As a signatory to the declaration St.Kitts and Nevis are due to be reviewed in January 2011.

The UPR was instituted at the UN World Summit of 2005, where is was determined that ” The UN’s Commission on Human Rights has a serious credibility problem. Its membership, its increasing politicisation and its overall lack of effectiveness at tackling human rights violations around the world have overwhelmed its achievements….” This led to the formation of the Human Right Council, directly reporting to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the instituting of effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance by all signatories to the Convention.

This is only the second round of UPR’s which was instituted in 2008 following the establishment of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2006, which has a membership of 47 member states selected by the UN General Assembly by secret ballot and representing the regions of the world. All countries undergo a review every four (4) years

The consultation with NGO’s in the Federation saw representation from a cross section of organisations and groups including womens’ organisations, organisations for persons with disabilities, children’s and young persons organisations, faith and other organisations, and provided the opportunity for these organisations to report on issues affecting their members. The NGO’s were asked to present position papers on challenges as well as opportunities around their specific area of interest and to make recommendation as how Government can best address such issues and anomalies in current legislation and practice.

Participants at UN UPR Consultation - NGO's

It is anticipated that the UPR will focus on areas where the Federation has signed onto specific treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Gender Issues and Racial discrimination; however, areas such as the rights of persons with disabilities, prisoners, and gay and lesbian rights are areas where legislation is not yet in place and where there is need fro improvement.

The review process should be completed by February 2011.

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