By MATT MAURA
NASSAU, The Bahamas (BIS) – Inequality is an obstacle to a country’s human development and affects long, healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living, Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Lisa Rahming, said on Friday, December 10, which was observed as United Nations Human Rights Day.
The State-Minister also used the occasion to once again, condemn all forms of violence.
“As the Minister of State responsible for social protection, I condemn all acts of violence and I truly ask God to Bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” State-Minister Rahming added.
The State-Minister was addressing a United Nations Human Rights Day Celebration held in the Hearing Room of the Department of Physical Planning, Ministry of Works, Thompson Boulevard and Bethel Avenue.
The event was a collaboration between the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development; the Zonta Clubs and The Bahamas Crisis Centre and was held under the theme: “Equality, Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights”
Human Rights Day officially ends the commemoration of another United Nations observance – Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence — beginning November 25 with the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ending on December 10 with the observance of Human Rights Day. Violence against women is considered one of the world’s most persistent human rights violations.
Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, delivered the Keynote Address at Friday’s observance of Human Rights Day. Representatives from the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, the Department of Social Services, the Zonta Clubs, the Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWIL), Women United, Equality Bahamas, Dignity Bahamas, Civil Society, the Labour Movement, and the country’s Non-Governmental Organizations all participated in Friday’s Hybrid event.
“Human Rights are everyone’s inherent right – women, men, boys, girls, children,” Minister Rahming told her audience. “Why? Because they exist and they are all entitled to those inalienable Human Rights.”
The State-Minister said: “According to the United Nations, the Principles of Equality and Non-Discrimination are at the heart of Human Rights and help reduce disadvantage on numerous grounds and in many areas.
“Needless to say, Human Rights are not reserved for special groups although many think so. I applaud the efforts of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs in collaboration with the Zonta Clubs and all of the highly-charged organizations who work together to prevent violence and inequality in all forms in our communities.
“Today, the Government and the People of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, join the international community in commemorating the United Nations Human Rights Day under the theme: ‘Equality, Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights’’’.
The State-Minister advised her audience that December 10, 2021, marked the 73rd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948. She said the Declaration outlines “the fundamental Rights to Freedom of religion or belief; Freedom of a fair and free world; Freedom of expression; Freedom of Social Security; Freedom of equality before the law, and Freedom of cultural, artistic and scientific life.”
“It underscores that people should be free from discrimination, torture and slavery. This Day is set aside to celebrate the proclamation of the Universal Declaration and to continue efforts towards the advancement of human progress.”
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, State-Minister Rahming said, became a Member of the United Nations on September 18, 1973, and “has since upheld the tenets of not only the Charter of the United Nations, but also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
