BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 28TH 2010 (CUOPM) – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has appointed a five-member delegation that will participate in the universal periodic review by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The delegation will be headed by the Federation’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Delano Bart.
The other members of the Cabinet-appointed Committee are Senior Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Kay Bass; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services Community Development and Gender Affairs, Ms. Sharon Rattan; General Counsel and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Dr. Dennis Merchant and Parliamentary Counsel in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Ms. Karen Hughes.
In March 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to adopt the Human Rights Council, and a mechanism was established by which all UN member states will be held accountable for their human rights obligations and commitments.
In fact, each member state undergoes periodic review by the council which operates for ten weeks, three times per year.
At the review, the member state presents its report, which is followed by discussion and cross-examination and then a formal declaration of the outcome of the evaluation.
St. Kitts and Nevis, as a member of the United Nations, and having adopted the United Nations
Convention on Human Rights, will undergo its evaluation early 2011.
