GENDER CONCERNS:

The human rights of women and the girl child are denied extensively through out the world. Some progress has been made since the United Nations Beijing Conference in 1995 on Women Rights. Nevertheless, there is extensive work to be done in promoting women’s rights to the point where full equality is achieved by them with men, in law and in fact.

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), women still remain disadvantaged in most areas of life and work, and in their socio-economic condition. The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights has already done extensive work over the past eight years in promoting and protecting women’s rights. This is a continuation of that work.

Continuing work on Gender Concerns will endeavour to find common ground for a more harmonious living and working relationship between the sexes. This becomes necessary because a sizable number of males are already voicing concerns that they being forgotten where rights are concerned, while women’s rights are being extended more and more in law and fact.

While the above male comment is not in fact true, the fact that it is the perception of a sizable number of male gender warrants being addressed. For this reason it is necessary to focus our work on Gender Concerns and the promotion for gender equality.

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF GENDER CONCERNS

• campaigns and publicity for achieving substantial reduction in Domestic Violence over this planned period –2004-2006.
• Reaching out and promoting men’s participation in gender issues.
• Educating women on the provisions of CEDAW AND promoting a State wide campaign for the ratification of the Protocol to CEDAW by Government (CEDAW has been ratified by this State).
• Educating women on the provisions of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against women (Convention of Belem do Para) and how to use it for their benefit (SVG ratified this Convention on 31st May, 1996).
• Advocating for a national law on Sexual Harassment - The repeal of existing laws which still promote gender inequality against women. Advocate also for the positioning of more women in politics and in the governance of the country.
• Campaign for a Home for battered women and truant girls.

TARGET GROUPS

• Women and the girl child as the major target group. Men who are discriminated against and abused in any way.
• All adult women regarding their rights to increased acceptance to participate more in the governance of the country at the highest Executive and Legislative level.
• Women and children, regarding their protection from sexual and other violence and harassment.
• Giving guidance to women on how to use the local Domestic Violence Act to seek redress for domestic violence. Preparation of booklets for these purposes will be done.
• Campaigning the SVG Government to ratify the Protocol to CEDAW (CEDAW itself has already been ratified).

HUMAN RIGHTS AND HIV\AIDS: OBJECTIVES

Persons with HIV\AIDS are usually consumed with physical, mental, and psychological problems. They mostly live and work in a hostile environment when their health problems are disclosed. Even with their close family circle they suffer discrimination and non-acceptance. They are shunned and subjected to feelings of being unwanted. The object of the programmes is to educate the Vincentian public and also health workers of the human rights and ethical principle to be observed for persons with HIV\AIDS.

To show, particularly, that persons HIV positive have a right to work and earn a living, not to be discriminated in any way or measure, and that their human and legal rights are not different from non-HIV positive persons in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Work in area is intended to elicit a more compassionate and caring approach to HIV\AIDS persons and for respect for their dignity and worth as human beings.

It is appropriate to quote here Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which says:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

HIV AND AIDS IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

The SVGHRA prepared and presented several television programmes on HIV and AIDS including persons with the virus in such programmes.

The content of those presentation was aimed at educating Vincentians of the ways HIV infection is transmitted and ways and means of avoiding being infected. Not much attention was given then to the care and support of persons living with HIV\AIDS.

A significant omission at that time as well as in the late 1980’s and the 1990’s was not enough concern for the human rights of persons living with HIV\AIDS. With the growth in numbers of both HIV-positive persons and those suffering from full blown AIDS, this has become very important. This is evidenced by the fact that between 1984 when the first case of HIV was recorded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the year 2000 – 478 cases were reported.

Needless to say, since the year 2000 and to the present time, several more persons have been diagnosed HIV positive. Furthermore, they are those out there in our communities who have not yet been diagnosed.

THE CONCERNS OF THE SVGHRA

We are concerned that the human rights of persons with the virus and those who have developed full blown Aids have not been given enough attention and support. The SVGHRA has had a few reports in the past from HIV positive persons about discrimination against them by employers, landlords, friends, family, neighbours and others in their communities. As a human rights organization we believed we could assist the national effort in:

• Promoting and Protecting the Human Right s of persons living and working with HIV\AIDS.
• Pointing out and identifying the responsibilities of HIV positive persons to NON-HIV persons. This also involves persons with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Other related matters – example, mother to child transmission of the virus and action for avoidance thereof and the rights of children at risk in such circumstances.