Antigua and Barbuda made history as the first Caribbean country to ratify an agreement to end racism.
Presenting the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance on Friday, the country’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders said it was a groundbreaking move by the twin-island nation.
“It is a matter of pride for Antigua and Barbuda that, small nation though we are, we have done ground-breaking work to advance a legally binding definition of racism, aggravated discrimination, and intolerance,” he said, adding that the Convention offers protection to all human beings from racism, racial discrimination, and related forms of intolerance in any sphere of public or private life.
The Convention, which was under negotiation for more than 13 years, affirms the equality of all humans regardless of their race and places a duty on the governments to ensure they promote the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms of all humans.
Antigua and Barbuda now joins 11 other countries that have signed the Convention: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.
