Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) officials will wrap up a four-day visit to Saint Lucia on Friday, June 30, 2023.
While here, the IACHR delegation has been meeting with state and non-state officials, including civil society organisation representatives.
Mary Francis, the Executive Director of the National Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights, welcomed the visit.
Francis attended a workshop to engage civil society organisations regarding the Inter-American human rights system and using the IACHR in filing petitions against the state for human rights violations.
“I will most certainly use this training in filing petitions to get Government to comply with and adhere to its obligation,” the outspoken Human Rights Advocate told St. Lucia Times.
Francis, an Attorney at Law, referred to unlawful state killings by Saint Lucia police during the controversial anti-crime initiative, ‘ Operation Restore Confidence’.
She declared that twelve years later, there has been no justice for the victims’ families.
“Consequently, this is the next avenue,” Francis stated.
She thanked IACHR officials for the training workshop in Saint Lucia as her National Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights, a non-profit organisation under the laws of Saint Lucia, observes its 25th anniversary this month.
