Bridgetown.
There might be some denial in Barbados over the severity of human rights violations in relation to corporal punishment and sex related crimes, says United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner, Nari Pillay.
"I acknowledge there is some denial, both on the part of the Government and civil society of deeply disturbing trends which they attribute to a so call Caribbean culture. If its amount to human rights violations of any victims, then it falls under my mandate, it is a matter vof concern, so I have noted that there ia a political but there is alack of capacity on the part of the Government", says Pillay.
According to Pillay, the first UN Human Rights High Commissioner to visit the English speaking Caribbean, she was told before her visit that there was no human rights violations in this part of the region.
She stated after her arrival in Barbados, Government representatives told her tourists came to the island because Barbadians were happy, welcoming and smiling all at the same time, which attracted visitors.
"This is a denial because there certain people who are extremely vulnerable here. They include children who are subjected to corporal punishment in schools,pregnant young girls who are expelled from school as soon as they are pregnant. I was told this does not happen and I invite then a public statement so headmasters can hear the message that Barbados does not expell pregnant girls from school", Pillay said.
"Above all, the culture of violence has to be addressed and this should be done by having discussion and dialogue", she added.
Pillay was speaking to the press at the end of a three day visit to Barbados.
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