United Nations Radio

Caribbean News Round-Up: a weekly 15-minute news magazine on developments at the United Nations concerning the Caribbean.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the full realization of all human rights for all peoples, and pledged to enhance international cooperation and dialogue among peoples and nations on the basis of mutual respect and understanding towards that goal.

Capping the year-long worldwide celebration of the Universal Declaration, the General Assembly adopted a Declaration of its own, which reaffirmed the indivisibility of all fundamental rights and freedoms, pledging commitment to development and to the internationally-agreed development goals, the fulfillment of which would be instrumental to the enjoyment of human rights.

The Assembly declared "we all have the duty to step up our efforts to promote and protect all human rights and to prevent, stop and redress all human rights violations".

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the political and civic rights of all peoples, including the right to freedom from torture, poverty, homelessness and other forms of oppression.

The representative of Guyana George Talbot, speaking on behalf of CARICOM, says societies comprising the Caribbean grouping have been initially forged in an environment characterized by the most pervasive violations of human rights.

Jamaica says the economies of Caricom member States are inextricably linked to the multi-dimensional aspects of maritime trade.

Twenty-six years since the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea painstakingly reached a delicate balance among countries to strengthen maritime security and protect the planet's Oceans it is still generating international cooperation on maritime issues.
That's what the General Assembly heard during a day-long debate on a wide range of related contemporary issues, from piracy to climate change.
The delegate of Jamaica noted that to an increasing extent, the economic livelihood of CARICOM States continues to be linked to the surrounding sea.
Therefore, the region's interests are buoyed by every effort, whether regionally or internationally, to enhance its capacities in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Charge d'affaires at the Jamaica mission to the United Nations Mrs. Angela Hamilton Brown said maritime commerce continues to expand at a remarkable pace.
She says the economies of CARICOM member States are inextricably linked to the multidimensional aspects of maritime trade which remains of paramount importance to the growth and development of the entire Caribbean region.

Antigua and Barbuda says South-South cooperation is a common endeavor of the peoples and countries of the South.

South-South cooperation is a common endeavor of peoples and countries of the South, based on their common objectives and collective solidarity.
That view was expressed by the Chairman of the Group of 77 developing countries and China Ambassador John Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda.
He told a workshop for Practitioners of South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Increasing the Effectiveness of South-South Cooperation for Development that this modality of cooperation is vital to development efforts and requires the support of and resources from development partners in the North and the UN system.
But he says it should never be regarded as a replacement for the traditional North-South cooperation.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls for an end to the hostilities in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for an end to the dramatic crisis in Gaza.
The Secretary-General told the UN Security Council that the civilian population, the fabric of Gaza, the future of the peace process, stability in the region, and goodwill among people throughout the world are all trapped between the irresponsibility displayed in the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas militants and the disproportionate action of the continuing Israeli military operation.
He says all will be further threatened if the conflict continues or escalates to a new phase of deadly violence.

Producer: Donn Bobb