Marshall-Harris remains on UN committee on children’s rights

Barbadian jurist and children’s rights advocate Faith Marshall-Harris was successfully re-elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for the 2023 to 2027 period.

The election was held on Monday at UN headquarters in New York at a meeting of the States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“I am pleased and honoured to be re-elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child,” Marshall-Harris said.

“This re-election signals the esteem with which Barbados is held on the world stage. Barbados and the Caribbean region can be assured that I will continue to devote all my energy to safeguarding and defending the rights of children, not only in our region but everywhere there is a need.”

Marshall-Harris said her re-election was largely due to the hard work and commitment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, his Permanent Secretary and staff, as well as to “the enthusiastic support and dedication” of the Minister, Permanent Secretary and staff of the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs which has responsibility for children’s rights.

“I must also express my appreciation for the fine work of all the Barbados diplomatic missions which ensured that we garnered global support for my candidature,” she added.

Marshall-Harris was first elected to the Committee in 2018 and is presently Vice-Chair and Rapporteur.

The Committee oversees the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which is the world’s most ratified international human rights treaty. A total of 196 countries are party to the Convention which works to inspire countries to improve the conditions of children in the areas of health and nutrition, and to seek to protect them from violence and exploitation.

Marshall-Harris is the second Barbadian to serve on the Committee. Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, President of Barbados, was a Committee member from 1991 until 1999. (BT/BGIS)