What does the OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office do?
The OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office promotes and protects human rights across the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean by providing technical cooperation, capacity-building, oversight, and advocacy. We work alongside governments, civil society, national institutions, and communities to strengthen laws, policies, and practices that uphold dignity, equality, and justice for all — ensuring that no one is left behind.
Which countries does the OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office support?
The office serves 14 English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries: Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago.
When was the OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office established?
The office was established following the adoption of UN Human Rights Council Resolution 54/33 on 12 October 2023, and officially opened in October 2024. Its creation reflects the UN's recognition of the Caribbean's unique human rights needs and the importance of a dedicated regional presence to address them.
What are the main human rights priorities for the Caribbean region?
The OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office focuses on four key areas that reflect the region's most pressing human rights challenges: Poverty and Inequality, Discrimination, Violence and Insecurity, and Impunity and the Rule of Law. These priorities are shaped by the distinct social, economic, historical, and environmental context of the Caribbean.
How does the office support governments in the region?
We work closely with Caribbean governments to reform laws, policies, and institutions; strengthen national human rights frameworks; and support engagement with UN human rights mechanisms including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), treaty bodies, and Special Procedures. We also provide practical assistance and strategic guidance to help build justice systems that are fair, accessible, and rights-respecting.
How can communities engage with the OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office?
Communities can engage with us through regional consultations, public forums, awareness campaigns, and by contacting our office directly. We actively partner with civil society organizations, community groups, youth organizations, and local leaders to advance human rights at the grassroots level. Follow us on Facebook at @UnHumanRightsCaribbean for updates on events and initiatives.
How does the office address climate change as a human rights issue?
Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the world's most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise, ocean acidification, coastal erosion, and tropical cyclones. The OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office works to strengthen the linkages between climate change and human rights, advance the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and support regional resilience and food security efforts.
What is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and how does the office support it?
The Universal Periodic Review is a UN mechanism through which the human rights records of all UN Member States are examined periodically. The OHCHR CARICOM Regional Office helps Caribbean states prepare for and follow up on UPR recommendations, providing technical guidance and capacity-building to ensure meaningful and sustained implementation of human rights obligations.
How does the office partner with academic and civil society institutions?
Through our Regional Office University Strategy, we partner with tertiary institutions — including the University of The Bahamas and the University of the West Indies — to integrate human rights into academic and research curricula across the region. At the country level, we also work with civil society organizations, National Bar Associations, Indigenous Councils, youth groups, and disability organizations to broaden participation in human rights advocacy and engagement with UN mechanisms.
Where can I find human rights resources?
A wide range of human rights resources — including publications, reports, guidelines, and training materials — are available in the Resources section of our website. You can also visit the global OHCHR website at ohchr.org for international human rights tools, documentation, and guidance across all areas of human rights law and practice.