Jamaican Researcher

An Absence of Comprehensive Human Rights Education will Impair Jamaicans!

I decided to publish this article because of the high level of interest of many persons within the Jamaican society about issues of Human Rights.

Today is December 10th and people around the world are celebrating international Human Rights Day. In Jamaica, a number of non-government organization (NGO) leaders will mark the event with an outdoor radio broadcast on a popular program Independent Talk. For me, this is a very important day, and its commemoration with a radio broadcast is the beginning of a process of public education and awareness, which will definitely help Jamaicans to start the process of claiming their human rights.

Most importantly, Jamaica, which has a history of human rights breaches dating as far back as slavery, will need a comprehensive human rights education program in order to improve peoples’ capacity to claim their rights. This is a necessity at this time because there has never been a deliberate attempt after emancipation to educate the ex-slaves and their children about their newly gained rights. Without such, there will be persistent apathy of  a large number of Jamaicans towards the development of self, community, and country.

I attended an event, ‘A Conversation about the Inter-American System of Human Rights’, earlier this month and was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest and curiosity of Jamaicans about the issue. As a matter of fact, they raised a number of issues, which are indicative of their interest and need for more information and education about human rights and the human rights systems at the national, regional and international levels. The main human rights issues that were raised by the audience included:

1. The death penalty, which is currently being debated in Parliament, and which seems to favor its reinstatement
2. Police abuse, excess, and injustice towards people from poor communities
3. Marginalization of the Jamaican poor from national policy and legislative decisions
4. Systemic denial of the rights of the male child and his associated vulnerability to poor education and incarceration
5. Domestic violence and denial of rights of adult males in their homes
6. Absence of youth participation in national planning and development, even concerning them
7. Discrimination and prejudice against people with differences based on religion, disability, age, and sexual preferences.

The fact that Jamaicans insisted on raising these issues, sometimes against opposition, demonstrates that they are ready and yearning for information and education that will better prepare them to claim their rights. Sir Clare Roberts, IACHR Rapporteur for Jamaica, Peoples of African decent and Racism noted that, “the first protection of human rights by an individual is for him to first be aware of his human rights… There is a need to build the capacity of NGOs in Jamaica, so that they can respond to human rights issues.”

With all this said, the arguments coming from IACHR and the Jamaican people, at this time, is that we need to ‘buckle down’ and be really serious about this business of human rights. We often times take it for granted because we are not members of marginalized and minority groups. The funny thing though is that we share a common world and the denial of one persons right affects us all.

Let’s imagine for a moment what life was like in the western hemisphere during the 1700s to 1800s–certainly the enslavement and dehumanization of one race of people in relation to another hurt both races. Both were deprived of the opportunity to learn skills that were essential for their survival. Further, we are left scarred with stigmas about the capacities and mannerism of the other. This holds us all back from progress, not just the individual being denied of his/her rights.

Today, I raise my glass to all the people (unrecognized and recognized) around  the world who keep fighting for human rights, equality and justice. I especially celebrate the achievement of Dr. Carolyn Gomes on being awarded the 2008 UN Human Rights Award for her contribution in the field in Jamaica. Her award is a symbol that serious work has started in our country.

We need to play our part to lobby Government to support the cause of justice and equality in all spheres of life in Jamaica–through policy, legislation, and available and accessible programming. At the individual level let’s increase our awareness and knowledge about human rights and change personal attitudes and behaviors which perpetuate stigma, discrimination, and low and negative expectations of people who are, prefer or dare to be different.

Let us send a message of one love, tolerance, and respect for all humanity!