Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, the wife of Barbados’ former Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony, has been elected to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR).
The University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer is the first Caribbean woman to be elected to the post of Commissioner on the ICHR and was nominated by Belize.
“The position of Commissioner is a sensitive one, since a Commissioner must pronounce on important, often controversial human rights issues of the day in particular member states.
“The Commissioner must be of the highest integrity, independent, impartial, willing and able to speak courageously on the protection of human rights. Additionally, there is no room for colored opinion, biases, or judicial activism, given that a statement or precaution from the Commission has the potential to ‘sanction’ a member state,” she said.
The ICHR is an international Law Tribunal that serves the Organization of American States (OAS) by hearing and passing judgment in relation to human rights complaints.
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