345 persons graduate from int’l human rights law course

The third cohort, comprising 345 persons, graduated on Saturday evening from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance International Human Rights Law Certificate Course.

The programme seeks to educate Guyanese on human rights, international rights and conventions, and Guyana’s constitution and laws.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) caught up with Suhana Khan, who believes that human rights should be everyone’s business.

“We must carry it with us wherever we go. It was a wonderful course, and I must thank the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance for giving us this opportunity.”

Journalist Khamisi Slowe is also happy that he signed up for the course and expressed appreciation to the government.

“I know for sure that it will benefit me as it relates to my work and my career, and I am thankful,” he said.

Police Officer Collin Clarke explained that the course gave him insight into how every human should be treated “and how our daily actions can affect or rather impact individuals’ rights.”

Participants were drawn from the 10 administrative regions in Guyana and a few from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize and Grenada.

The eight-week course covers the history and development of human rights, the international legal framework, major conventions, state obligations and the mechanisms through which those rights are protected and monitored.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira said she is thankful that law enforcement officers have joined the course, noting there is a disjuncture between progress and people’s awareness.

“We have to recognise that everybody has a place, everybody has rights, and it’s not just for certain people. Whether they are here temporarily, permanently or resident or born here, we all have rights. But we also have responsibilities,” Minister Teixeira stated.

Coordinator Anil Persaud reminded those present that the course “is entirely homegrown. It was not imported from another country. It is not a template borrowed from an international organisation, it is conceptualised, developed and continues to be coordinated in-house by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance as a response to gaps that we continue to identify in human rights education and awareness.”

He added, “In 2026, we received over 2000 applications, enrolled our largest cohort of approximately 400 participants, and today we celebrate 345 persons who have successfully completed the course; this brings the total number of persons trained since 2024 to over 780.” [DPI]