SVG-Human Rights Association began 1986

The SVG-Human Rights Association is the first and only human rights organizations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It was formed in June of 1986. It is registered under the Companies Act of 1994 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization, and it is a membership organization. {{more}}

The Association is governed by a five-man executive body comprised of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and public relations officer and two paid staff members (when adequate funds are available) – the co-ordinator and clerk/ office attendant.

Both the executive and general membership of the organization do voluntary work for the Association.

The mission statement is: “The SVGHRA is committed to promoting and protecting the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines through education, training, representation, documentation and advocacy and by networking to influence the government and other organizations.”

Prior to opening an office, the SVGHRA held meetings at members’ homes or offices. In 1998 we received our first funding from ICCO. This enabled us to open an office. Thereafter other funding agencies helped such as UNICEF, the Swedish NGO Funding for Human Rights, Family Health International, the British Government, and Mamacash. Most of these funding agencies provided funding for a number of years.

Some work done by SVGHRA

(1) A series of lectures on human rights targeting all the secondary schools.

(2) Revolving Book Loan Scheme.

(3) Three-year project on domestic violence, women human rights and children rights including child abuse.

(4) A series of town and village meetings educating the public on domestic violence issues including the law.

(5) Work on prisoners’ rights.

(6) Radio programme, “Human Rights and You”.

(7) Series of television programmes on social issues.

(8) Production of a quarterly bulletin, “Vincy Rights”.

(9) Legal aid to women and children in the family court.

(10) Many seminars and workshops on various human rights topics including local government and Constitutional Reform.

(11) Work on human rights and HIV/AIDS – stigma and discrimination.

(12) Advice to the public on various issues on a daily basis at the office.

(13) Free legal consultations every Saturday.

(14) NGO report to the UN Child Rights Com-mittee in Geneva.