By Lesroy W. Williams
Observer Reporter
(Medellin, Colombia)- “The democracy which we as a Hemisphere have been successfully promoting and defending, rings hollow in the face of our inability to imbue our youth with the knowledge, values, skills and abilities which should enable them to shape more free, just, democratic and equitable societies.”
That was the message delivered by Hon. Dr. Timothy S. Harris, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Consumer Affairs, Industry and Commerce at the 38th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the
Organization of American States held in Medellin, Columbia, from June 1-3.
Dr. Harris reminded the General Assembly that the first article of the Inter-American Democratic Charter boldly asserts that “the people of the Americas have a right to democracy and their Governments have an obligation to promote and defend it”.
“Under the caption ‘Promotion of a Democratic Culture’, the penultimate Article of the Charter, Article 27, demands that “special attention shall be given to the development of children and youth as a means of ensuring the continuance of democratic values, including liberty and social justice,” he told the Assembly.
The failure with our youth has resulted in the epidemic of crime and violence that threatens to destabilize the societies of the Americas by placing an enormous stress on public health, security, development and democratic governance, Dr. Harris told the assembly.
“Like the legendary Nero we continue to fiddle with resolutions, mandates and declarations while our cities and communities are ablaze with homicide rates unimaginable a decade ago, health services burdened by an escalation in purposeful injuries, pervasive feelings of vulnerability and, in every strata of our communities, many are becoming increasingly unsure that they are safe from harm,” Dr. Harris said.
According to Dr. Harris, the problem of crime and violence is recognized by the Governments of the Caribbean as a serious problem that merits urgent and drastic measures in order to curb and eradicate it.
He challenged the OAS and various agencies of the Inter-American system to a deeper engagement and heightened leadership role in implementing “sound policies” and “focused programming” on the social challenge of crime and violence.
He further stated that what is needed most is not merely “high level meetings with impressive presentations” but the courage to bring to fruition “solution focused violence prevention action plans that have relevance to our respective jurisdictions that are informed by reliable data and prioritized for implementation”.
In the closing remarks of his address Dr. Harris said that we cannot continue to fail our youth but that we must hold fast to the continuance of their development in ensuring that democratic values, including liberty and social justice are imbued in them.
