The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has been translated into Jamaican Patois (Patwa), as part of the United Nations’ Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign.

Caribbean Rights Out Loud! is part of commemorative activities associated with the 75th anniversary of the UDHR.

The campaign seeks to promote awareness of the UDHR by expressing it in the languages of the Caribbean, with conceptualisers noting that by translating the document into local languages it ensures that everyone, everywhere, is aware of their human rights, and can access them.

“To claim your rights, you must know your rights, making this campaign a powerful vehicle for empowerment and equality in the region,” said Liliana Garavito United Nation Information Centre Caribbean Director.

“We hope that this campaign truly does what it intends, which is to leverage the power of language and culture to catalyse interest and educate persons far and wide about their human rights,” added Dennis Zulu, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica.

Caribbean Rights Out Loud! supports the ongoing global UDHR Translation Project, and highlights how such translations promote the declaration’s universality – in access, expression, and applicability.

In addition to being translated the historical document is also available in audio format, voiced by Jamaican entertainers Ifidel Williams and Deidrie Wadsworth.

The UDHR set a world record in 1999 for being the most translated document in the world, with 561 different translations available and the Caribbean Rights Out Loud! campaign promising to further raise the figure.

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the UDHR sets out the fundamental human rights which are guaranteed to all individuals.