“Beyond the 100 per cent participation of CARICOM in the HRC: Opportunities and challenges for the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund”

On 16 June, 2017, The Bahamas, Spain and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) jointly hosted a side-event and brochure launch during the 35th Session of the
Human Rights Council. The event was entitled ‘Beyond the 100 per cent participation of CARICOM at the HRC: Opportunities and challenges for the LDCs’/SIDS Trust Fund’ and also comprised the launching of the brochure entitled the ‘Voices of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the Human Rights Council: An Historical Milestone of participation by all CARICOM SIDS through the support of the LCDs/SIDS Trust Fund’.

In 2012, the Human Rights Council established the OHCHR Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the work of the HRC and has recently set the landmark of having supported the attendance of a representative from every CARICOM Member State at either a full
Session or a three-month Fellowship at the Human Rights Council.

It is hoped that this achievement will contribute to ongoing efforts to promote inclusive, sustained engagement and participation, particularly by LDCs and SIDS, in the HRC. This will both ensure that their voices are heard at the Council on human rights issues of greatest priority and advance the promotion and protection of human rights at the global level.