Barbados’ newly appointed Human Rights Commissioner, Kerryann Ifill, has pledged to lay a robust legal and policy foundation for the island’s first independent human rights office, focusing on public education, legislative reform and awareness of the nation’s own human rights challenges.
Ifill, who brings decades of leadership across national, regional and disability advocacy organisations, met briefly with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Attorney General Dale Marshall, ahead of Human Rights Day on Wednesday. The new Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (HRC) is to operate independently and develop policy, legislation, educational programmes and monitoring systems to address both traditional and emerging human rights concerns.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Ifill revealed that her first priority will be laying the legislative and policy foundation for the new office.
“The first thing we need to address is we have to start looking at legislation and national policy,” she explained. “From the policymaking side, we need to get the legislation sorted, but we also need to start addressing the education of the general public as to what human rights are, what our human rights challenges are specific to Barbados, and how we as citizens can contribute to improving on human rights.”
She noted that while mechanisms will eventually be in place to receive and investigate complaints, the groundwork must be carefully done.
“You don’t want to get it wrong,” she said. “You’re dealing with human beings, you’re dealing with sensitive issues. So the mechanisms and legislation must be properly established, and consultations will be necessary.”
When asked whether human rights violations are underreported in Barbados, the former lawmaker suggested the issue goes deeper than reporting.
“We need to start with understanding what human rights are,” she said. “If you don’t understand what the human rights are, then you don’t know what you’re infringing on. We also need to appreciate that human rights, like all of the things involving humans, are evolving concepts. They have political, economic, social and civic dimensions — it’s a broad range of rights.”
On Human Rights Day, her message to the country was blunt: “Always try to remember to treat other people the way you would want to be treated. In the time to come, we are going to have discussions, you know, about what human rights mean to our country and where we need to go.”
Reflecting on her pioneering role as the first Human Rights Commissioner, Ifill said she feels deeply honoured.
She said: “It’s not the first time I’ve been placed in this position, but every time I’m called on to set up, I am reminded that I have to look into myself and look into the others around me in order to achieve the awesome responsibility that has been placed on me. So, while I am the first, while I’m the only one, but no. Human rights is everybody’s business.”
The Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, which falls under the Office of the Attorney General, will initially operate from Baobab Towers in Warrens, St Michael, as it prepares its legislative proposals, public education initiatives and operational framework. Over the next year, the government intends to enshrine the position in law and cement the foundation for a national human rights regime.
(LE)
The post New human rights commissioner sets sights on rights protection framework appeared first on Barbados Today.
