From the sun-drenched shores of Saint Lucia to the vibrant streets of Jamaica, a new movement is rising, giving voice to Human Rights in the heart languages of the Caribbean.
Launched on Human Rights Day 2023, the Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign marks a monumental step – the translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) into Saint Lucian Kwéyòl and Jamaican Patwa, bringing the Declaration closer to millions of people across the region.
No longer confined to the pages of history books, the UDHR is now speaking directly to Saint Lucians and Jamaicans in their mother tongues. This is a victory for inclusivity and accessibility, asserting that everyone, regardless of their language background, has the right to understand and claim their fundamental human rights.
Breaking down language barriers:
For the first time, Saint Lucians can read the UDHR in their beloved Kwéyòl, spoken by 95% of the island's population. Similarly, the translation into Jamaican Patwa grants voice to 2.5 million Jamaicans whose native language has historically been underrepresented. More than just simple translations; this campaign delivers empowerment by recognizing the value and legitimacy of languages that have been marginalized.
Figure 1. UNIC Caribbean's National Information Officer [L] and Public information Assistant [R] hold discussions with civil society partners in Saint Lucia.
The UNIC’s National Information Officer, Amanda Laurence, and Public Information Assistant, Lindy-Ann Edwards-Alleyne were on the island, 9 to 12 December, where they briefed members of the Saint Lucian media, UN colleagues, and civil society partners about the initiative and introduced them to the Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign under which the translation was produced.
Figure 2. UNIC National Information Officer Amanda Laurence briefs UN Country Coordination Officer for Saint Lucia, Dr. Lorraine Nicholas about the Caribbean Rights Out Loud project
A ripple effect of empowerment:
The impact of this campaign goes beyond individual languages. It's a spark igniting a wider movement for linguistic and cultural recognition across the Caribbean. Dr. Embert Charles, Chair of the Monsignor Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre, sees the campaign as a crucial step in the ongoing effort to make Kwéyòl an official language of Saint Lucia.
Figure 1 UNIC National Information Officer Amanda Laurence interviews Dr. Embert Charles of the Monsignor Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre
The Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign asserts that giving voice to human rights in local languages is necessary to ensure that everyone, everywhere, is aware of their human rights, and can access them.
Championing inclusivity in human rights advocacy:
Organizations like the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) have long faced challenges in reaching rural communities with traditional human rights messaging. Maria Fontenelle, Director of Communications, believes the Kwéyòl translation will be a game-changer, enabling ECADE to tailor their outreach and amplify their impact.
Figure 5. From left: Maria Fontenelle, Director of Communications at ECADE and Amanda Laurence, National Information Officer at UNIC Caribbean.
A global commitment to translation:
These translations are not isolated efforts; they are part of the UN Human Rights Office's global UDHR Translation Project, aiming to make the Declaration accessible to everyone. The global initiative has already translated the UDHR into hundreds of languages, and the Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign promises to add even more voices to the chorus.
A call to action:
This is just the beginning. The campaign encourages translations into other Caribbean languages, further amplifying the universality of the UDHR. By joining the movement, you can playa role in ensuring that everyone, everywhere, can claim their human rights, regardless of the language they speak.
The UNIC team also visited its civil society partner, the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), which has experience using Saint Lucian Kwéyòl in education and advocacy campaigns. Director of Communications, Maria Fontenelle, explained that the organisation faces challenges in translating and communicating human rights concepts in traditionally oral or spoken Caribbean languages, highlighting the importance of Caribbean Rights Out Loud! as a tool for boosting outreach efforts across the Caribbean.
Together, let's make Human Rights truly universal, one voice at a time.
Join the movement:
- Visit the Caribbean Rights Out Loud! website to learn more and access translated versions of the UDHR.
- Share the campaign on social media using the hashtag #CaribbeanRightsOutLoud.
- Advocate for the translation of the UDHR into your own language.
Let's make sure that everyone, in every corner of the Caribbean, can experience the power and promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Translated into hundreds of languages and dialects from Abkhaz to Zulu, the UDHR set a world record in 1999 for being the most translated document in the world. There are currently 561 different translations available and the Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign promises to raise that figure.
The campaign also aligns with the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights 75th Anniversary commemoration, led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Human Rights 75 Initiative which aims to rejuvenate the UDHR by demonstrating its relevance in the modern world and promoting its promise of freedom, equality, and justice for all.
