bahamianpride
05-16-07, - 10:40 AM
16th May
Human Rights Group Vows To Protect Rights Of Gays, Rastas
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=12610
By Vanessa C. Rolle
A local human rights movement is apparently prepared to defend the rights of homosexuals and lesbians, among other groups in the Supreme Court.
President of the Bahamas Human Rights Network Elsworth Johnson told The Bahama Journal his organization intends to go to court if there is no resolution to the concerns of such groups of people .
"We plan to have dialogue and that is the better way - to use alternative dispute resolution techniques to solve these problems in our community," Mr. Johnson said.
"But should that fail the constitution under article 28 gives any individual whose right has been breached or is likely to be breached, to go to the Supreme Court and have their rights enforced."
The BHRN, which was founded in 2006, is a network of various civil and human rights non-governmental agencies that united to address, not only local infractions of human rights, but also international infractions.
Mr. Johnson, who is a legal aid attorney at the Eugene Dupuch Law School, said the group is also concerned with the rights of the homosexual community, and the rights of Rastafarians to freedom of religion.
"So if we can’t sit down in a democratic society and properly address the infringement of human rights, then we plan to go the court," Mr. Johnson said.
The BHRN’s constitution outlines fundamental provisions including the right to life, freedom of association, freedom of consciousness, freedom of religion and those rights enshrined with the rights of citizenship.
Mr. Johnson said that at the heart of human rights is the ability to safeguard those rights, and at the heart of that is a proper functioning court system.
"Our constitution has in it those fundamental rights, provisions that guarantee the right of every individual in The Bahamas. We hope that the government would be guided by the grand norm, or the supreme law of our country…and the supreme law of our country ensures the fundamental rights of every individual," he said.
Mr. Johnson said the right not to be inhumanely treated, the preservation of person’s property and the right to privacy must be protected.
"We expect that the rights of children, the rights of women, the rights of gays and lesbians in the community and those persons who have been trafficked through the Bahamas [are] upheld," Mr. Johnson continued.
"We also expect that this government would take seriously the situation of the courts, and yes, we do intend to contest the enforcement of some of these rights in the courts," he said.
Human Rights Group Vows To Protect Rights Of Gays, Rastas
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=12610
By Vanessa C. Rolle
A local human rights movement is apparently prepared to defend the rights of homosexuals and lesbians, among other groups in the Supreme Court.
President of the Bahamas Human Rights Network Elsworth Johnson told The Bahama Journal his organization intends to go to court if there is no resolution to the concerns of such groups of people .
"We plan to have dialogue and that is the better way - to use alternative dispute resolution techniques to solve these problems in our community," Mr. Johnson said.
"But should that fail the constitution under article 28 gives any individual whose right has been breached or is likely to be breached, to go to the Supreme Court and have their rights enforced."
The BHRN, which was founded in 2006, is a network of various civil and human rights non-governmental agencies that united to address, not only local infractions of human rights, but also international infractions.
Mr. Johnson, who is a legal aid attorney at the Eugene Dupuch Law School, said the group is also concerned with the rights of the homosexual community, and the rights of Rastafarians to freedom of religion.
"So if we can’t sit down in a democratic society and properly address the infringement of human rights, then we plan to go the court," Mr. Johnson said.
The BHRN’s constitution outlines fundamental provisions including the right to life, freedom of association, freedom of consciousness, freedom of religion and those rights enshrined with the rights of citizenship.
Mr. Johnson said that at the heart of human rights is the ability to safeguard those rights, and at the heart of that is a proper functioning court system.
"Our constitution has in it those fundamental rights, provisions that guarantee the right of every individual in The Bahamas. We hope that the government would be guided by the grand norm, or the supreme law of our country…and the supreme law of our country ensures the fundamental rights of every individual," he said.
Mr. Johnson said the right not to be inhumanely treated, the preservation of person’s property and the right to privacy must be protected.
"We expect that the rights of children, the rights of women, the rights of gays and lesbians in the community and those persons who have been trafficked through the Bahamas [are] upheld," Mr. Johnson continued.
"We also expect that this government would take seriously the situation of the courts, and yes, we do intend to contest the enforcement of some of these rights in the courts," he said.