Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman (left), converses with Clare Roberts, first vice-president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) yesterday. They were participating in a human rights workshop for media practitioners, organised by the IACHR and the Jamaica Information Service. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
INFORMATION MINISTER Burchell Whiteman, yesterday appealed to the media to promote greater individual responsibility, especially in light of the popularity of the 'victim mentality'.
He said the media could assist the public to "recognise where the role of the state ends and the role of the individual begins".
The Information Minister was speaking at a human rights education workshop organised by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), and the Jamaica Information Service. It was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.
The workshop for media practitioners, was held under the theme: 'Freedom of information and You'. It is part of attempts by the IACHR to increase public education about its role and functions.
Clare Roberts, vice-president of the IACHR underscored the importance of the media's involvement in educating the public about human rights.
CONCERNS AND CRITICISM
"Just as the commission can enhance the work of the media, the media, in turn can provide a crucial link in developing a broader knowledge of human rights in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean. This requires the media to become more active in following and reporting on the Commission," he said.
According to Mr. Roberts the Commis-sion's move to educate the public about rights in the region has generated concerns and criticism of the system from the various countries. This, he said, demonstrated a greater need for promotion.
The IACHR, established in 1948 as part of the Organisation of American States (OAS), was created to promote the observance and defence of human rights in the hemisphere.
Currently, all 34 member states are considered legally bound by the American Declaration. However, only 24 have ratified the American Convention on Human Rights, six of which are Caribbean states.
