Human rights commission presents 2022 annual report to the president |10 May 2023

President Ramkalawan flanked by Justice Renaud and Ms Come (left) and Mrs Carolus-Andre and Mr Julie (right)

President Wavel Ramkalawan yesterday received a copy of the 2022 annual report of the Seychelles Human Rights Commission (SHRC).

It was the chairman of the commission, Justice Bernardin Renaud, who handed over the document to President Ramkalawan in a ceremony at State House.

Justice Renaud was accompanied by commissioner Barbara Carolus-Andre, chief executive Elvis Julie and communications officer Gina Come.

The law makes provision for the annual report to be presented firstly to the President before being made public.

Justice Renaud said that they had an interesting meeting with the President where they discussed the relationship between the commission and government as per the constitution as well as matters in the report.

He noted that the commission assisted 117 complainants in 2022 but most complaints were not necessarily related to human rights violations as the complainants were rather seeking for help they did not succeed in getting at other places they went to in the first place.

“The only way they thought they would get help them was by coming to us. We analysed their situations and we helped them where we could through information and guidance. We have also retained around a dozen complaints which we hope to resolve,” said Justice Renaud, who noted that most of the complaints were directed towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs in relation to police matters given that the public and the latter interact a lot with each other.

Justice Renaud stated that SHRC is working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to address human rights issues in relation to police work and for improved conditions of police cells and that of the Seychelles prison.

He added that the commission hopes to make known more of its presence locally and internationally through the strengthening of its relations with the state and with regional and international organisations.

“Our main challenge is the lack of manpower. Most foreign human rights commissions who visit the country are amazed of the work that we do with so little staff compared to other places. They had thought in the first place we have thirty plus people working for the commission which is not the case,” Justice Renaud added.

Justice Renaud said that compared to many countries, Seychelles is very far ahead when it comes to human rights and human dignity, and that the commission is working to keep the recognition and standard attained at a high level.

He noted that we, as Seychellois, have to show gratitude and appreciation for the achievements gained over the years.

He said that among the commission’s main priorities for this year is to conduct the reporting and monitoring of human rights situations across the country, training sessions on human rights for the public and institutions, review the country’s human rights international treaties and to conduct educational sessions on the Seychellois Charter of Human Rights and Freedom that will include school children. 

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert