Human Rights Education in schools on Turks and Caicos Islands tcweeklynews/human-rights-programmes-planned-for-this-year-p4996- Human rights programmes planned for this year THE HUMAN Rights Commission (HRC) is planning to conduct a ‘Boys at Risk’ programme targeting young men in prison as well as those who have been recently released. This is just one of the objectives for the commission this year, Human Rights Commissioner, Doreen Quelch told the Weekly News in a recent interview. We want to focus on those boys especially who come out of Her Majesty’s Prison, who for whatever reasons it seems as if they have nowhere to go and so the recidivism (reoffending) rate continues.” She said the commission has been working with those who are imprisoned, but that these visits are not enough. She said they are now trying to work along with the Government to ensure that the children receive an education while they are locked up. This, she added, is a human right under both the Convention of the Rights of the Child and under the fundamental human rights and freedoms. The commission will also be integrating schoolchildren in that programme and will be continuing work with the female students at the Clement Howell High School. In the past I’ve worked with the young ladies, and I want to continue that; working with Ms Seymour…we talk to the girls about self-esteem and how to become proper young ladies.” She said this programme would recommence come September. Quelch added that the commission wants to see human rights education becoming part of the school curriculum. Focus will also be placed on the community and the role of parents, she said. We want to work with mothers; especially the single mothers who have to work and they leave their children. We want to help them understand the risks involved if they are not a part of that child’s life.” Quelch said the commission would also be focusing on the civil service concerning training. I feel that Government employees are at the forefront of human rights. When we look at human rights and we are thinking about violating someone’s rights if you don’t know your rights, or you don’t know what persons’ rights ought to be, then you stand a chance of violating those rights.” She said the next session of the education campaign will be in May and will take place in Providenciales. MAKING PLANS In June, another Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) will be held; the last one was held over the past week. An anti-discrimination campaign is also part of the 2014 plan, the Human Rights Commissioner said. Not just for persons living with HIV and AIDS though; the campaign will address several discrimination issues. A lot of people are complaining that they are being discriminated against, so we need to educate and indoctrinate people that discrimination is not acceptable. So we are working on all of these areas to enhance and to ensure that the furtherance of our human rights agenda is paramount for the Turks and Caicos because far too often people think that human rights are about everything.” She said education is vital as not everything people think is a human right, actually is. Meanwhile, for Human Rights Day 2014 (December 10) the local body is teaming up with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). They will be addressing people who consider themselves stateless in the TCI, refugees and asylum seekers. Quelch said the TCI is working very hard with the UN on these issues because of the illegal migrant situation in the country. What happens to the illegal children that come in on those illegal boats; we have to protect those children… and so we are looking at all of those areas and what role we play in protecting those people. Our constitution clearly says ‘whereas all persons in the country, be they legal or illegal…’” She said all people in the TCI have to be treated in a humane manner. Meanwhile, the commissioner said she would be focusing more of her time on these issues as a chairman will soon be appointed to the commission. She currently runs the office located next to the Islandcom headquarters at Graceway IGA and functions as executive chairman of HRC. Soon that will be separated – we will have a chairman and I will stick to the office, and then I will have a bit more time to do the things I need to focus on, because it’s a bit more difficult having to do both roles,” she said. Fundament rights and freedoms include - right to life, protection from inhuman treatment, protection from slavery and forced labour, protection from arbitrary arrest and detention, provisions to secure protection of law, and protection of the rights of prisoners to humane treatment. Others include protection of private and family life and privacy of home and other property, right to marry and found a family, freedom of conscience and religion, right to an education, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of movement and protection from discrimination. Protection from deprivation of property, protection of the environment, and lawful administrative action and enforcement of fundamental rights through the courts are other important rights. Anyone within the TCI can make a complaint with the commission. In situations where victims of human rights violation may have disappeared, died, or are in custody – a relative, friend, legal representative or a concerned non-governmental organisation can lodge the complaint. To make a petition to the commission, the victim or their representative(s) can in writing or verbally address their complaint to any member of the commission, write to the office of the HRC or visit the office in Graceway House, Providenciales. (DI)
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 22:17:29 +0000
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