Vice Chancellor Emeritus of The University of the West Indies, Professor the Hon. Rex Nettleford, is one of five persons worldwide who has been appointed a  member of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent established by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The appointment takes effect on May 1, 2008.

In a letter  dated April 3, 2008 , the President of the Human Rights Council, Doru Romulus Costea, noted that he had proposed Professor Nettleford‘s appointment as an independent eminent expert on people of African descent, on the basis of recommendations by the Council’s consultative group and following broad consultations, in particular through the regional coordinators.

The intergovernmental Working Group has been charged with making recommendations aimed at achieving the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in 2001 by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa.

The Working Group has been mandated

• to study the problems of racial discrimination faced by people of African descent living in the diaspora and to this end gather all relevant information from Governments, non-governmental organizations and other relevant sources;
• to propose measures to ensure full and effective access to the justice system by people of African descent;
• to submit recommendations on the design, implementation and enforcement of effective measures to eliminate racial profiling of people of African descent;
• to elaborate short-medium and long-term proposals for the elimination of racial discrimination against people of African descent, including proposals for a mechanism to monitor and promote all their human rights, bearing in mind the need for close collaboration with international and development institutions and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system. The proposals should include the designing of special projects, in collaboration with people of African descent, to support their initiatives at the community level and to facilitate the exchange of information and technical know-how between these populations and experts in these areas.

The Working Group has also been charged with developing programmes intended for people of African descent allocating additional investments to health systems, education, housing, electricity, drinking water and environmental control measures, and promoting equal opportunities in employment, as well as other positive action initiatives, within the human rights framework.

The United Nations Human Rights Council is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner.  The Council addresses situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and makes recommendations to correct these.

The Human Rights Council also promotes human rights education and learning and provides advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building, to be provided in consultation with Member States. The Council works in close cooperation with governments, regional organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society.

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Carroll Edwards (Mrs.)
Public Relations Officer
Email proffice@uwimona.edu.jm
Telephone: 977-5941/977-7346
April 1, 2008.