Effective Sunday, 1 July, Ms Collins replaces outgoing HRC Chairman Hon Alden McLaughlin who was the driving force behind the formation of the current HRC, and who has been instrumental in re-establishing the committee and defining its function and goals.

Whilst maintaining a keen interest in issues of human rights Minister McLaughlin, who is also the government’s Minister of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports & Culture with a career background in law, felt that the timing was appropriate now the committee is firmly established to hand over its reins to a non-government representative to enforce the HRC’s position as an independent entity.

Mr McLaughlin is delighted with the appointment of Ms Collins to the helm of the HRC saying, “I know that Ms Collins will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to bear on the work of the Committee. She is an immensely competent lawyer with an acute interest in matters of Human Rights, and her in-depth local knowledge positions her perfectly for this important role.”

Mr McLaughlin also referred to the recent reshuffling of the HRC’s now 14-strong membership.

“The HRC boasts some great talent with a broad and relevant skill-base, not least some excellent young Caymanian lawyers and business people,” he said.

“The HRC has strengthened its capacity in the areas of law, religion and business, and provided for more private sector representation and increased independence from government, which will doubtless bring further enhancements in the way it serves the community.”

Ms Collins joined Walkers in 1996 and became a Partner in 2003. She has worked on a wide range of commercial litigation, with a focus on international trust litigation and court proceedings.

She obtained her law degree with honours at the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London in 1993, and was awarded the LSE and University of London prizes in company law.

Ms Collins qualified as a Barrister in England and Wales in 1995. She is also Chairperson of the Planning Appeals Tribunal and a Director of the Cayman Islands National Gallery as well as the author of a paper on the rights of women and children, presented at the Human Rights Symposium held in the Cayman Islands in 2001.

The HRC is the national institution vested with competence to promote and protect human rights in the Cayman Islands. In addition to its ongoing research and commentary on issues of human rights, the HRC responds independently to claims of violations against human rights locally, and provides opportunity for resolution of these issues.

The HRC regularly promotes important dates in the human rights calendar, has recently conducted a public awareness campaign to engage the community in human rights issues, and has established a working group to provide human rights input into the Constitutional Review process.

The HRC has already disposed of five cases and published three Final Reports.  In addition, it currently has a further 7 cases under investigation with a view to the production of a Final Report, 4 petitions under active consideration in which additional information is being sought prior to a decision on acceptance and 13 new petitions awaiting initial review.

More information about the HRC, its terms of reference, final case reports, petition and complaints procedure, applicable treaties and commentary from the committee can be found on the recently revamped HRC website, www.humanrights.ky