ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Washington, D.C., USA – October 18, 2011……..Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Alternate Representative in the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington DC, assumed the chairmanship of the OAS Committee that will conduct a new round of negotiations to draft an Inter American Convention on Racism, Discrimination and All Forms of Intolerance. The elevation of Antigua and Barbuda to the position took place during a meeting at the historic Simon Bolivar Room at the OAS Headquarters in Washington DC on Monday 17th October 2011.

Through the drafting of this Convention, Member States of the OAS recognize the duty of adopting national and regional measures to promote and encourage observance of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals without any unlawful prejudice.

Speaking after the meeting from Washington DC, Mrs. Davis-Lake explained that negotiations on the Draft Convention, which began in 2005, came to a standstill in 2009 because delegations could not agree on the scope of the Convention. In May 2010, even as member states had begun to consider abandoning the process, Antigua and Barbuda offered a solution by suggesting that Member States negotiate a Draft Convention against Racism and an accompanying Protocol against Discrimination and Intolerance. This proposal was adopted and a new round of negotiations has begun.

In commenting on her appointment, Mrs. Davis Lake said, “I was honored to have been elected as the Committee’s Chair, it was a proud moment for Antigua and Barbuda and for me.”

Antigua and Barbuda Permanent Representative to the OAS, H.E. Dame Deborah Mae Lovell, said her country had been actively involved in addressing discrimination and intolerance in the Inter American System. She recalled especially the pioneering work in the area of racism carried out by Sir Clare Roberts at the OAS. “I am pleased that several years later, Antigua and Barbuda has the opportunity to build on the foundation laid down by Sir Clare, who was elected in 2001 to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights and was the first Rapporteur of the Rapporteurship of Afro Descendents and Against Racial Discrimination on the Commission ” Ambassador Lovell said.

Mrs. Davis-Lake is supported by the Committee’s Vice Chair Mrs. Sophie Isabel Castillero from the delegation of Panama and the Second Vice Chair, Ms Kendall Belisle from the delegation of Belize.