HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTEGRITY IN GOVERNANCE

UWI Mona Student Leaders’ Conference 2015

Jamie – Ann ChevannesAugust 14, 2015

What is Human Rights?• A basic moral guarantees that people in all countries and

cultures allegedly have because they are people – Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

• Universal legal guarantees that belong to all human beings and that protect individuals and/or groups from actions and omissions of the State and some non-state actors that affect fundamental human dignity – Amparo Thomas, A Human Rights Approach to Development, 2005 .

Human Rights cont’d

• Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible – United Nations Website

Categories of Human Rights

• Liberty Rights speaks to your civil and political rights

• Equality Rights speaks to your economic, social and cultural rights

• Solidarity Rights speaks to your right to development, peace and environment

Who is Responsible for Safeguarding Your Human

Rights?• The State has a tripartite obligation in relation to safeguarding

the human rights of its citizens, that is :

• To Respect

• To Protect

• To Fulfil

How are Human Rights Safeguarded?

• Human Rights are safeguarded through international and local legislation, such as:• International Treaties:• Universal Declaration on Human Rights, 1948• International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights• International Convenant on Economic, Social and

Cultural Rights• Local Law:• Chapter 3 of the Constitution of Jamaica – Charter of

Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, 2011

Major Threat to Human Rights

• Lack of integrity in governance = Corruption

Transparency International defines corruption as the ABUSE OF ENTRUSTED POWER FOR PRIVATE GAIN”.

Connection between Corruption and Human

RightsCorruption erodes the basic standing principles of democracy and human rights, grounded by ethical or moral principles, which can have devastating results when not present:• Equality• Citizen Participation• Accountability• Transparency• Control of the Abuse of Power

How Does Jamaica Measure Up?

• Jamaica forerunner in Human Rights in the Caribbean with the first Caribbean Nation achieving Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944

• Jamaica is a signatory to the International Treaties, implying its commitment to adhere to the basic principles of the human based approach of these treaties, that of transparency and accountability.

• In 2011, Jamaica amended its Constitution to become more compliant with the treaties which were ratified by the State

How Does Corruption Violate Your Human Rights?• The right to freedom of thought, conscience, belief and

observance of political doctrines

• The right to equality before the law

• The right to equitable and humane treatment by any public authority in the exercise of any function

• The right to freedom from discrimination

• The right of every citizen who is so registered to vote in free and fair elections

How to Combat Corruption and Protect Human Rights?

Strengthening of legislative framework through:

• The passing of the Integrity Commission Act and establishment of the Integrity Commission

• Passage and implementation of Campaign Finance Reform

• Implementation of the Political Parties Registration

• Development of sentencing guidelines for judiciary

How to Combat Corruption and Protect Human Rights?

• A more informed citizenry through greater access to information• Partnerships between civil society groups and

government, as in the case of :

• Jamaica Environment Trust• Citizens Action For Free and Fair Elections• Jamaicans for Justice • National Integrity Action

For More Information

• www.niajamaica.org

• FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/NIAJamaica

• Office Number: 906-4371

Or 1-888-429-5562