Upon returning from the 2019 Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) summit, which concluded last Saturday in New York, one of the two delegates who represented Guyana, is planning to raise more awareness about human rights with the help of YHRI Guyana members.
YHRI is a youth body which falls under United for Human Rights, which is a non-profit international organisation dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at local, regional, national and international levels. The membership comprises individuals, educators and groups throughout the world who are actively forwarding the knowledge and protection of human rights by and for all mankind.
Shazam Somwar and Steven Singh represented the Guyana branch of YHRI at the 16th annual International Human Rights Summit, which began on June 27th and concluded on Saturday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The event was organised in collaboration with leading non-profit organisations and permanent missions to the United Nations. Each year the summit is attended by scores of official ambassadors, dignitaries and youth participants from all across the globe.
At the 2019 summit, persons from various countries discussed how knowing about human rights can help to solve issues, and spoke about their reach in human rights education in their countries. Violations of these rights, which lead to injustice, and the notion of peace were discussed.
Singh, during a speech at the summit, told attendees that despite enormous challenges since 2016, with dedication and a relentless spirit, Guyana was able to ratify and sanction the Youth for Human Rights International Guyana Chapter. Further, Singh informed the crowd that it is imperative that all Guyanese become aware of their rights and the rights of others, and of the means of ensuring their protection. He added that human rights education in Guyana will foster the knowledge, skills and attitudes which will become the behaviour that upholds human rights in his country.
He concluded that despite making progress, Guyana still has instances of human rights infringements, but the YHRI Chapter will continue to play its role in educating the Guyanese people about their basic human rights, as are established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Somwar, during the presentations by Youth Delegates on their advocacy and accomplishments, stated that prior to attending the summit in 2018, he was curious about people’s knowledge and positions regarding human rights in Guyana. Thus, upon returning to Guyana after the 2018 summit, he collaborated with persons of like interest and eventually became the President of the Berbice Chapter of YHRI.
He noted that he and his team were able to spread human rights education to the Guyanese people through different mediums, including educational institutions. Somwar further explained the hurdles he faced, but said he remains optimistic that human rights education will become a reality to all Guyanese.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Somwar revealed that the only challenge he faced was getting persons to listen to the YHRI Guyana team when they attempted to ask or talk about human rights. He said one of his favourite experiences with the organisation was during one of the outreaches, which was held at Cropper Primary School. “The students were full of energy and very eager to learn about their rights. Yes, right at Cropper Primary School, one of the students came up to me and was relating the rights to her life at home and when she said that now [she] knows that she can stand up for her rights and she will and that made me feel so good,” Somwar revealed via email. He went on to say that due to that experience, he told himself that he will not be stopping with regards to human rights education in Guyana.
He further revealed that his experiences as the current President of YHRI Berbice can be described as nothing short of amazing. “When I see persons smile and how enthusiastic about the fact that they do have rights, it makes me feel happy,” Somwar further revealed.
He said that he is very passionate about spreading human rights education to persons and knowing that somewhere along the line it is going help make his work easier. He credited his success so far to his teammates.
Upon returning to Guyana, Somwar and team plan to carry out an education drive to raise more awareness about human rights. According to Somwar, to date they have been able to share their knowledge on human rights to more than 150 persons. Those persons include students from primary and secondary schools in Berbice. “We are looking forward to increase that number so that not only Berbice is educated on their rights but all Guyanese,” the 23-year-old stated.
According to Somwar, since its official formation in 2016, YHRI Berbice has been raising awareness on human rights as declared by the UN. The Berbice-born youth also revealed that he is also an advocate and an active volunteer on various projects such as ones focused on suicide prevention, and in various organisations, such as The SAVE ABEE Foundation, and the Rotaract club.
The Chapter’s first education project was held in Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice. In February of 2018, YHRI gained permission from the Ministry of Education to have human rights sessions in all public schools in Guyana. In addition, YHRI conducted sessions at private schools, most notably School of the Nations and Fraser Education Institute.
