Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Dr. Carolyn Gomes (foreground), executive director of Jamaicans for Justice; Nancy Anderson (centre), of the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights; and Amrit Atwal of the Jamaica Youth Employment Network address journalists during a press conference to launch the third annual Human Rights Jamboree at the Jamaican Bar Association Conference Room, downtown Kingston, on Thursday.

Members of the public have been invited to learn about their rights at the third annual Human Rights Jamboree in the Park, scheduled for to be held at Emancipation Park, New Kingston, today.

The event, which forms part of celebrations for Human Rights Day, was launched at a press conference held by the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights at the Jamaican Bar Association Conference Room, downtown Kingston, on Thursday.

Nancy Anderson, promoter of the event, said the theme of the jamboree, 'Health is a Human Right', is meant to highlight the right of Jamaicans to quality health care.

"We have many human rights and some are very protected by our Constitution more than others," she said. "Health and health care and the right to an adequate standard of health care is unfortunately not in the charter, but we are emphasising that this is a human right and it should be protected."

Ms. Anderson also said that, in light of the recent outbreak of the malaria disease, the event is seeking to provide information to patrons.

"I have been contacting the Ministry of Health and we are seeing what we can do, of course the majority of their efforts right now are in other areas but I am hoping they will have some information available for people about malaria and what can be done in order for it to be prevented," she said.

Fight disease

Dr. Carolyn Gomes, executive director of Jamaicans for Justice, however, called for Jamaicans to come together and fight the disease.

"The fight against malaria is not limited to public health inspectors and the Ministry of Health," she said. "Fighting against the spread belongs to all of us and there are a number of things that every individual can do at this point in time at their homes, workplaces and schools to ensure we can get over this without going to a situation where malaria is endemic."

The jamboree will last from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will have several booths that will showcase and focus on various sectors of society and human rights.