Carolyn Gomes

Carolyn Gomes ( born March 30, 1958 in Kingston, Jamaica ) is co-founder and general director of the human rights group Jamaicans for Justice. She received the 2008 Human Rights Award of the United Nations.

Life

Carolyn Gomes, was born on 30 March 1958 as the daughter of Denise Mitchell Thwaites, also a doctor. She received her PhD in 1980 at the University of the West Indies in medicine and married in May 1980 their fellow students Richard Gomes. Even in the elections 1980, she became aware of their civil rights and guarding the ballot boxes. From 1980 to 1986 she worked with her husband in Trinidad. After returning she has specialized as a pediatrician and practiced from 1989 until the end of 2002 as an independent pediatrician. She has four children.

The turning point in her life were the gas riots on April 16, 1989. On October 15, 1989, she founded with other colleagues, the activist group Jamaicans For Justice ( Jamaicans for Justice). In November 2002 she took over the management as Director General. On 10 December 2002 she and her colleagues were awarded the internationally renowned Human Rights Award of the City of Weimar. In 2008 she was honored with the Human Rights Award of the United Nations. In 2009 she was awarded the Order of Jamaica. Gomes was also a member of a panel of renowned personalities who chose the universal logo for human rights.