The Bahamas hosts its first joint side-event in the margins of the Human Rights Council “Beyond the 100 per cent participation of CARICOM in the HRC: Opportunities and challenges for the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund”

Co-Chairs, Moderator and panelists of the brochure launch and panel discussion [L-R, Mr. Eric Tistounet, Chief, Human Rights Council Branch (OHCHR); Ms. Fatou Camara Houel, Secretary of the Advisory Committee & Coordinator LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund, Ms. Shearlyn Joseph, Dominica, Beneficiary delegate at HRC-35; H.E. Mr. Wayne McCook, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN, Geneva; H.E. Ms. Rhoda M. Jackson, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the UN, Geneva; H.E. Ms. Ana María Menéndez Pérez, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN, Geneva; H.E. Ms. Patricia O’Brien, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the UN, Geneva; H.E. Mr. John Deep Ford, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN, Geneva; H.E. Ms. Nazhat Shameem Khan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Fiji to the UN, Geneva and Ms. Jasmien Wijngaarde-LijKwan, Suriname, Beneficiary delegate at HRC-32 (Universal session)]

On 16 June, 2017, The Bahamas, Spain and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) jointly hosted a side-event and brochure launch during the 35th Session of the Human Rights Council. The event was entitled ‘Beyond the 100 per cent participation of CARICOM at the HRC: Opportunities and challenges for the LDCs’/SIDS Trust Fund’ and also comprised the launching of the brochure entitled the ‘Voices of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the Human Rights Council: An Historical Milestone of participation by all CARICOM SIDS through the support of the LCDs/SIDS Trust Fund’. In 2012, the Human Rights Council established the OHCHR Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the work of the HRC and has recently set the landmark of having supported the attendance of a representative from every CARICOM Member State at either a full Session or a three-month Fellowship at the Human Rights Council. It is hoped that this achievement will contribute to ongoing efforts to promote inclusive, sustained engagement and participation, particularly by LDCs and SIDS, in the HRC. This will both ensure that their voices are heard at the Council on human rights issues of greatest priority and advance the promotion and protection of human rights at the global level.

Ms. Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and H.E. Rhoda M. Jackson, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the UN, Geneva during the Panel discussion.  The Deputy High Commissioner thanked The Bahamas for its leadership and support of the initiative to highlight the achievement of the full participation of CARICOM in the Human Rights Council.  She also underscored the value of having all Member States “at the table” in the Council, as the premier multilateral forum for human rights, because this was to the advantage of both the States themselves and the Council as a whole.

H.E. Ms. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter, Permanent Observer of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to the United Nations, presents a video message on behalf of H.E. Mr. Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-General which expressed appreciation for the partnership and cooperation which contributed to the achievement of this enhanced participation of CARICOM in the Human Rights Council.