Following is an edited version of an address by Justice Roxanne George at the 44th Convocation of the University of Guyana delivered on November 20, 2010
As graduands of the University of Guyana, you have had the opportunity of studying your chosen fields in the context of Guyana in a globalized world. You have been equipped with a substantial amount of knowledge, though you should see your graduation as a key to opening many other doors to learning and further education. You most likely have been equipped with insights into the issues that need to be addressed to solve the peculiar challenges that face developing countries such as Guyana. But while you have been so equipped, as stated in the Preamble to our Constitution, you must function in a society that upholds democratic values, social justice, fundamental human rights and the rule of law. And it is in this context that I would like to focus on the theme of leadership and legacy.
As citizens of this nation, who have had the privilege and opportunity to obtain tertiary education, it is important that you utilize your powers of analysis and critical thinking, and the skills and learning you have acquired here at UG to promote not only your respective fields of expertise and training, but to ensure that in our society there is respect for human rights.
What do I mean when I refer to human rights? Without getting into a philosophical exposition on human rights, human rights are essentially the bundle of civil and political, social, economic and cultural, and collective or group rights which we as human beings enjoy. Human rights norms were more clearly articulated and formulated from the mid-20th century and in this 21st century, it’s now time to ensure that there is greater implementation and application of human rights norms.
Apart from general human rights and freedoms such as freedom from discrimination, freedom of beliefs, expression and association, freedom
