Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 02, 2015 (SKNIS): The promotion and advocacy for tolerance and peace in St. Kitts and Nevis will be strengthened in the coming months following the 12th Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) Human Rights Summit in New York.
Pierre Liburd represented the twin-island federation at the August 26 to 29, 2015 conference which was hosted at the United Nations Headquarters.
“It was focused on developing the capacity of young people around the world to promote and advocate for and to educate young persons on basic human rights, specifically, those stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Liburd explained. “It was also an opportunity for the young people participating to share their experiences, what they have been doing, what they would like to do and would like to see done in promoting and securing human rights.”
The attendance of the youth advocate and senior officer in the Department of Youth, was sponsored by YHRI and the local office of UNESCO, in his capacity as a member of the local Youth for Human Rights Steering Committee which falls under the umbrella of the National Commission for UNESCO. Last March, YHRI President Mary Shuttleworth visited St. Kitts and Nevis to endorse a training of trainers project to raise awareness on the fundamental rights passed 50 years ago.
The information shared at the conference will be used to help guide local activities. This was one of the reasons that made the 1,748 mile travel to New York so fulfilling for Mr. Liburd as he thanked the sponsors, organizers and volunteers.
“We will pursue what we already began here in St. Kitts and Nevis with the material to promote basic human rights,” Mr. Liburd added. “The idea is to engage more young persons as change agents, educate them on their human rights so that they can go on and educate others.”
The local committee is expected to meet next week to chart the way forward.