Introduction: The Caribbean Human Rights Network, also known as "Caribbean Rights," was established in 1987. It works to establish and maintain systematic communications between local, regional and international agencies working in the human rights field and provides a regional perspective on human rights issues. It disseminates information and reports and promotes human rights issues within the Caribbean region. It also assist territories in developing programmes for monitoring of human rights. The Network also conducts fact-finding and election-observing missions



Background: The Caribbean Human Rights Network, also known as "Caribbean Rights," was established in August 1987 at the second meeting of Caribbean Human Rights Associations hosted by the Guyana Human Rights Association [GHRA] in Georgetown, Guyana. It is an outgrowth of the Regional Human Rights Pilot Project which was organized in November 1985 by the GHRA, the Jamaica Council for Human Rights [JCHR], and the Puerto Rico Institute for Civil Rights. The Project, which held its first meeting in June 1986, set up systematic communications between local, regional and international agencies working in the human rights field and developed a regional perspective on human rights issues. In broadening its membership base to include the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association, and the Ecumenical Centre for Human Rights in Haiti, the Project officially became known as the Caribbean Human Rights Network. The Human Rights Commission of Belize was accepted as a member organization in April 1988 and Moiwana `86 of Suriname was subsequently accepted.



Objectives: The Network`s objectives are [1] dissemination of information and reports and the promotion of human rights issues within the Caribbean region; [2] creation of a minimum monitoring of human rights programmes in those territories seeking assistance in this matter; [3] assistance in the coordination of regional human rights action programmes, e.g. on inquests; [4] promoting a regional campaign on freedom of expression; [5] acting as a Regional Liaison Office that would, among other functions, facilitate exchange of visits between trade unionists, human rights personnel, churchmen and other visitors to the region with a human rights interest; and [6] mounting fact-finding and election-observing missions. The Liaison Office, located with the Caribbean Conference of Churches [CCC] Barbados-based headquarters, is administered by a regional coordinator who works closely with an executive secretary, a post rotated among the network members on an annual basis. Caribbean Rights cooperates closely with the CCC.



Activities: The Network has been active on such issues as police brutality, capital punishment, prison conditions, freeedom of expression, democracy and elections. It has also been working to find ways of improving the organization`s system of communications. It engages in fact-finding, holds seminars and workshops, and takes initiatives at the request of its member organizations. It also tries to interest the Caribbean media in human rights issues. The Network works with other regional and international organizations in the exchange of information and joint actions. It also facilitates missions and visits to the regions.