Welcome to “The Gender Corner,” published in collaboration with The Anguillian newspaper. The goal of this Corner is to encourage today’s reader to think critically about the topics mentioned below so that we can start building a positive and productive society. This week, I am writing part two of the column highlighting the events and discussions surrounding the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Human Rights Conference for the Overseas Territories (OTs).
As I mentioned last week, the conference on human rights is taking place at Lancaster House in London amongst a passionate group of Human Rights Commission leaders, UK Legal Advisers and Government Officials from Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, St. Helena, Ascension Island and Turks and Caicos Islands. As the representative for Anguilla, it is my pleasure to update the attendees on the progress made in Anguilla in relation to Gender Affairs and its link to human rights.
The human rights conference sessions are more like think-tank sessions geared toward identifying the status of human rights in the OTs and considering what measures can be taken to end heinous crimes against humanity. These human rights concerns include identifying the rights of women and girls, sexual harassment and violence in schools (as was explored in Part I of this column), immigrant and migrant populations, prisoner rights, disability concerns, LGBT issues, workplace discrimination and rights, human trafficking and modern slavery, among numerous other topics.
In this article we should take a closer look at the importance of Human Rights Commissions, modern slavery in the form of human trafficking, and efforts to ensure the rights of women and girls. As you all may be aware, there is no Human Rights Commission in Anguilla but it is a goal that is attainable and is certainly necessary. HRCs, as they are called, should be autonomous bodies mandated to investigate, promote and/or protect human rights in a specified jurisdiction. They should offer a non-bias “outsiders” opinion about serious situations that could infringe, or are infringing, upon a person’s human rights.
As you could probably imagine, individuals in Anguilla and around the world sometimes encounter situations where they feel disempowered or helpless in finding a resolution. It could be in instances of workplace harassment, domestic violence situations, migrant workers being taken advantage of in terms of work hours and wages, and related issues.
How do we deal with these situations in Anguilla now? Do you feel that in the case of any of these abuses that you know who to turn to? Do you believe that when you seek help you will receive it? This is one reason why bodies such as HRCs are in operation and why many countries are seeing the importance and impact of them in building a stronger nation.
When we consider issues such as modern slavery in the form of human trafficking, do you view this concern as a current or future problem in Anguilla? I have spoken with individuals who say “definitely yes” and “definitely no.” Part of the divide may be the understanding of human trafficking and modern slavery. For starters, human trafficking and modern slavery can take place within a country when any individual is denied freedom of movement or is not given access to their legal documents. If an individual is exercising a position of power leading to coercion, abuse or taking advantage of another person’s vulnerabilities, especially in regard to forced labour, trafficking is likely a concern.
Trafficking may also include forced labour in a number of industries including the most well-known related to sexual exploitation. Is this a concern in Anguilla? Do we have individuals whether, locals or migrants, participating in a sex trade against their will? Are individuals from other countries brought to Anguilla believing that they will work as domestic workers or cooks and then held on bond until they become sex workers in the nightlife, club and bar scenes on our island?
Let me make it clear that if any individual participates in the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harbouring/housing of such a person, he or she is involved in the human trafficking process. It is safe to say that many involved in this web of modern slavery and trafficking do not think of their actions within this perspective. However, part of the problem may be a lack of awareness and education around human rights. Unfortunately, the problem is not isolated to Anguilla as many of the countries at the conference share similar concerns.
We are one step ahead, however, in the awareness and education phase of human rights issues, thanks to upcoming training by United Nations Women (UNWomen) Caribbean. In mid-October, trained personnel will come to Anguilla for one-week focused on equipping Parliamentarians, Civil Society/Non-Governmental Organisations and the Royal Anguilla Police Force with key skills to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fulfilling requirements of the CEDAW Treaty (Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women) and training first-responders in bringing our 2015 Domestic Violence Act from paper to practice.
Such initiatives, as the one facilitated by UN Women and Gender Affairs should help us to understand the importance of human rights concerns in our lives. As I mentioned in Part 1 of this column, all of these issues may not be at the forefront of Anguilla’s current action plan but, as time goes by, we will find it all the more present and pressing for Anguilla. Let’s begin now to make ourselves aware of the true environment that we live in and not deny that human rights abuses are all around us. Eventually we will need to take a stand before it overwhelms our society. There is always hope if each of us commits ourselves to work diligently in our areas of influence and stop any injustice in its tracks.
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If you have feedback about this Gender Corner article, please lead the discussion among your networks and community groups and feel free to email me, Dr. Ronya Foy Connor, Gender Development Coordinator, Ministry of Home Affairs, The Valley at Ronya.Foy-Connor@gov.ai or call at 497-2518. Let your voices be heard!
