Providenciales, December 10th 2021 - This year’s Human Rights Day concentrates on the very first Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, equality. Article 1 states that ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’.
With the global spread of Covid-19, it was the most vulnerable in our society who were the most impacted; the elderly, those who work on minimum wage, women, children, and the disabled.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission is addressing areas of inequality that exist in the Turks and Caicos Islands and is pleased with the advances being made.
In the coming year, the Commission will continue its ongoing works in addressing key areas of inequality that exist within the Turks and Caicos through media releases, outreach programs and reports and recommendations made to government, our primary focus will be on the standard of living in the Turks and Caicos Islands and are to include areas such as housing inequality, minimum wage, facilities for the elderly and disabled persons, special needs education and school placement.
The Commission pledges to continue working to:
End discrimination of any kind: Structural discrimination and racism have fuelled the COVID-19 crisis. Equality and non-discrimination are core requirements for a post-COVID world, and the Human Rights Commission will play a leading role in this endeavour.
Address inequalities: To recover from the crisis, we must also address the inequality pandemic. For that, we need to promote and protect economic, social, and cultural rights. We need a new social contract for a new era, a more robust welfare system and advances in our education system.
Encourage participation and solidarity: From individuals to governments, from civil society and grass-roots communities to the private sector, everyone has a role in building a post-COVID world that is better for present and future generations. We need to ensure the voices of the most affected and vulnerable are involved in the recovery efforts.
Promote sustainable development: We need sustainable development for people and planet. Human rights, the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement are the cornerstone of a recovery that leaves no one behind. The Human Rights Commission can play a leading role in this challenge supported in turn by the business and human rights initiative.
As we look towards 2022, we remain steadfast in the promotion of equality in the Turks and Caicos, and we encourage everyone to assist in this advancement. An equal Turks and Caicos builds a better and stronger Turks and Caicos, one where we can all be proud of and one in which our children will be free of discrimination and stigma, a society where everyone is respected and their rights protected.
Happy Human Rights Day Turks and Caicos!