Jersey Liberation Day comes and goes every year along with Holocaust Memorial Day and the service at the Crematorium in memory of the "slave workers"...
Here, on Liberation Day 2012, our 51 Elected States Members march along with the brass bands together with VIPs from the government and adminisitration of Jersey, young people in military uniforms, and church officials - all in front of an audience of thousands of residents and visitors.
Yet this week, another report is published drawing attention to the lack of the most basic anti-discrimination laws in Jersey.
This time it is the failure, not only to safeguard the rights of all women but also reminds us that this Island has still not even ratified the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
What sort of a community is this? How is it possible that 51 elected representatives can so resolutely fail, year after year, to implement the necessary regulations and reforms so that Jersey's International Profile is worthy of respect? Why also is it possible that Jersey's 250 lawyers allow this international scandal to remain unchecked and in silence?
Who in our States will grasp this matter as a matter of urgency now that Bob Hill is no longer a Deputy?
Shall Senator Bailhache have the courage to demand that this Island achieves international human rights standards in parity with other territories?
Who will demand that funds are allocated so that the people of Jersey are educated and informed on human rights matters and who will undertake to promote ratification of the many outstanding treaties and conventions that protect for example, the rights of children and disabled persons in this Island?
The Tooth Fairy???
ReplyDeleteIt probably says something about Jersey that the music accompanying the first 25 seconds of film - Abe Holzmann's Blaze Away - is best known with a set of lyrics that are not terribly respectful to women...
ReplyDeleteShall Senator Bailhache have the courage to demand that this Island achieves international human rights standards in parity with other territories?
In a word - no.
The final image of Constable Sadie Rennard dressed up as a Jersey milk-maid from a past century just about sums up the whole sad situation. Apart from her milking the sentimentality of this pseudo nationalist day it is absolutely clear that she has - in the States - not a clue about anything political. Her recent minimal utterances were expressed in such an immature way that her slighty sexist "unparliamentary" expressions had to be politey withdrawn. Worse still, but it was all treated as a jolly joke by the chair and the other members. Such is the state of the States in 2012.
ReplyDeleteNot much hope that this woman will be promoting equality on any matters because she represents the true bigotry of the average Jersey view and it is apparently lapped up like warm milk direct from the udder.
Even her "sister" Constable Mezbourian (or Gallichan not sure which) was on Radio Ga Ga with ex deputy Jennifer Bridge singing Sadie's praises in a programme that was discussing the Jersey Community Relation's Trust report (on discrimination against women).
What hope is there? The previous singing deputy came into the States with grand promises of reform and plans to implement anti-discrimination legislation but soon became the Bailiff's own pet Vera Lynn for every occasion. At least Sadie has started out as the singing milk maid but I just hope that she can be kept away from the voting button.
Guernsey passed their legislation back in 2005, if my memory serves me right.
ReplyDeleteI hope it goes without saying that I fully support the findings of the report. The anti-discrimination law is rumoured to be with Social Security Minister at the moment. It has been doing the rounds. The law is all-encompassing. It will be a huge piece of work but I feel that is the correct way forward as I couldn't pick one group to protect and leave out other groups.
DeleteTom, on reading your comments above, I went back and listened to the recording of the programme on iplayer to confirm my recollection. Could I clarify that you meant to insert a comma after my name, so that it would read that the Constable sang Sadie's praises as opposed to me? I do not know the Constable of St. Saviour and did not hear the broadcast of the debate so do not feel qualified to comment either way.