FCO is in formation for the purpose of bringing a declaratory legal action to define the scope and application of Art. 7 as set forth in the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Art 7 states:
No one shall be subjected without his [or her] free consent to medical or scientific experimentation. Through a process of consensus inquiry (prior to filing our action) FCO seeks to reach an accord amon
gst the human rights groups of the Caribbean nations, on ICCPR, Art. 7’s use of the following terms:
Free Consent
Subjected
Medical or scientific experimentation
It is also FCO’s intention to explore the ICCPR’s use of the term non-derogable human rights, given the widespread Caribbean constitutional doctrine of necessity as it arises in the context of a public health emergency. National sovereignty and the supremacy of domestic constitutions shall inform discussion. Balanced against the absolutism of the sovereignty principle is the seminal Inter -American Court of Human Rights case of Boyce et al. Specifically, what weight should be given to a nation’s ratification of a treaty that requires domestic enabling legislation? FCO’s goal in initiating this consensus inquiry process is to secure the participation ( as a party to the declaratory action) of a minimum of one(1) recognized human rights group in every Caribbean nation. The Grenada Human Rights Organization would be the lead plaintiff, based on its unanswered filing with Office of the Ombudsman Grenada. Lead Plaintiff status would also be afforded (at FCO’s discretion) to any Caribbean human rights organization that had availed itself to any domestic and/or international remedy, related to ICCPR Art 7. FreeConsent.Org is committed to education, advocacy and social justice. Our process is grounded in consensus inquiry which honors open, frank and respectful discussion. We believe in the sacredness of the human spirit and in every human beings’ right to express their point of view within the constraints of law, and without advocacy to violence.
