The Tribune

DR Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, met Ms Tracy Robinson, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights President and Commissioner responsible for the Bahamas, on Wednesday for a discussion of the work of the Commission and human rights matters of interest to the Bahamas.

Ambassador Newry congratulated Ms Robinson, a native of Jamaica, for her ascendancy as a CARICOM national to the Presidency of such a key institution of the Inter-American human rights system. President Robinson advised that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had recently made strides in broadening its focus on CARICOM matters through expanding the number of Commissioners that had oversight of CARICOM countries.

Ambassador Newry advised that the Bahamas saw itself as a leader in human rights generally, but that it was also important to give consideration to history and context when considering perceptions of human rights and any evolution in perceptions of human rights must be organic, and not externally imposed to bear the most fruit.

President Robinson noted that the Bahamas was among the leaders in CARICOM with respect to anti-discrimination policy and in the creation of domestic violence legislation. However, she encouraged further support of key conventions and resolutions of the Inter-American system, which she viewed as important tools to signal the principles of OAS Member States.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organisation of American States (OAS), whose mission is to promote and protect human rights in the American hemisphere.