As the world commemorated International Human Rights Day on Tuesday, Mary Francis, Director of the National Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights Inc., called for increased attention to the protection and promotion of human rights, particularly in Saint Lucia.
She emphasised that human rights should not be misunderstood as being about criminals, but instead are fundamental to the well-being of every individual, regardless of their status or circumstances.
“It’s not about the person of criminals, that is a misunderstanding. It’s about our needs as human beings—our need for housing, our need for help, our need for education, our need not to be discriminated against by the various points put forward by the state. This is what it’s all about,” Francis told St. Lucia Times.
Francis’ remarks come as part of a broader call for the government to act on its obligations under international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights.
The outspoken Attorney at Law noted that while Saint Lucia has signed several important treaties, there has been a slow pace in ratifying and implementing the provisions of these agreements. This delay, she argued, is detrimental to the country’s progress in protecting the rights of its citizens.
“I am making a call once more on the government of Saint Lucia to establish a national human rights commission funded by the government to ensure that the treaties they have signed, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and conventions on persons with disabilities, are adhered to,” Francis stated.
She stressed that human rights go beyond the avoidance of harm and should encompass broader issues such as access to education, housing, and healthcare. She particularly highlighted the importance of addressing noise pollution and its impact on mental health in Saint Lucia.
“Our mental health is already under attack in this country from the level of noise pollution, and nothing has been done. On multiple occasions, the government said they were going to enforce legislation. I have not seen the legislation yet,” she said, while calling for concrete action to mitigate the disturbances and ensure citizens’ right to peaceful living environments.
Francis also expressed concerns about the slow pace of policy implementation and the interruption of human rights initiatives with each change in government.
“When a government changes, public servants and how certain policies have been developed are interrupted,” she pointed out, emphasising the need for continuity in human rights protections regardless of political shifts.
To address these issues, Francis has called for a dedicated national body to ensure that human rights are monitored and protected in Saint Lucia. “We need a body like a National Commission of Human Rights to actually ensure that there is redress and remedies when those rights are violated,” she said.
Francis further warned that without such a body and without proper education on human rights, the country risks becoming more chaotic and dismissive of the rule of law. “We don’t accept the rule of law in Saint Lucia today,” she lamented.
The relentless human rights campaigner concluded with a call to action: “Always stand up, always be vigilant, because if you lose that opportunity to stand up, to be vigilant, to speak out, and to educate yourself and become aware, governments can do whatever they want with you.”
