Professor Verene Shepherd, Professor of Social History, UWI, Mona has been appointed to the UN Human Rights Council´s Working Group of Experts on people of African descent, to represent the Caribbean and Latin America, replacing the late Prof Nettleford for the rest of his 2 year term. Her appointment takes effect on April 12, 2010. The appointment was made during the Council’s thirteenth session and followed consultations by the Consultative Group and the President of the Council and regional coordinators.

The Working Group is an essential follow-up mechanism to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance which was held in Durban, South Africa from August 31-September 2001. It was established by the Commission on Human Rights to address human issues affecting people of African descent.