Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry to be awarded by the UWI

Dr. Doumbia-Henry

Dominica-born, UWI alumna and Barrister at Law, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, is among 16 outstanding global citizens who will be added to the University of the West Indies honorary degrees list when they return to in-person ceremonies.

UWI said in a press statement Tuesday that in keeping with annual tradition across the five campuses, the University Council has approved the conferral of the 16 at UWI’s 2022 Graduation Ceremonies.

Dr. Doumbia-Henry and the 15 other honorary graduands will be recognized for their contributions to several areas including “Sport, Culture, Law, Business, and Science” and will join the 2022 graduating class in person this year.

Dr. Doumbia-Henry (LLB, LLM, PhD) has made her mark as a woman expert in international law, trade and Maritime labour standards.

Her career began at the UWI, Cave Hill as a Law lecturer. She then worked with the Iran-US Claims Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, followed by a 29-year-long career at the International Labour Office (ILO).

She considers her time at the ILO some of her best years as she witnessed the on-the-ground effect of international standards. From the 1990s, she led the ILO’s participation in many International Maritime Organization (IMO)/ILO interagency collaborations, including joint working groups on ‘Fair Treatment of Seafarers’ and ‘Liability and Compensations regarding Claims for Death, Personal Injury and Abandonment of Seafarers’.

During that time, she also led legislative reform of the body of 72 maritime labour instruments adopted by the ILO in 1920. In 2006, 68 of those would be consolidated into a single convention – The ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) – which is considered one of the most innovative and effective maritime labour instruments.

The MLC seeks to establish a level playing field for ship owners and effective protection and rights at work for seafarers, which today remains applicable to the global Maritime industry.

In 2005, Dr. Doumbia-Henry became the first woman to be appointed Director of the International Labour Standards Department—one of the ILO’s largest portfolios.

Appointed by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2015, she left the ILO and became the seventh President of the World Maritime University (WMU), a university established within the framework of the IMO.

She is the first woman President and the first President from a developing country.

As the Chief Executive Officer of WMU, she oversees and directs the operations and administration of the University, positioning it as the global centre of excellence in maritime and ocean education, research, and capacity building, taking on board the UNSDGs. Dr. Doumbia-Henry is also a Panel Member for the Rapid Response Labour Mechanism of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In 2021, Dr. Doumbia-Henry was selected for the Lloyd’s List – 100 most influential people in shipping.

She was also recognised as a remarkable woman in the field of transport for the year 2021 by the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative.

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10 Comments

  1. September 1, 2022

    Kudos sis . Finally being recognized and awarded some flowers in the region, better late, fills even sweetest

  2. Henry sibling
    September 1, 2022

    A global citizen indeed she is as her work has impacted all those who are working on ships that cross the oceans. Talk about making a difference in ensuring those who work on ships are not left stranded when the unscrupulous ship owners abandon their ships. No longer will ships be able to prevent their crew from not disembarking for months at a time. She spearheaded the intl treaty that today ports around the world can inspect and hold a ship until they satisfy min standards for safeguarding their crew.
    Sis, we’re proud of you and all you’ve accomplished.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  3. GOODWILL
    September 1, 2022

    Congratulations Dr Cleo Doumbia-Henry!!! You are an outstanding woman of excellence. Dominica is so proud of you!!!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  4. Corn Corner
    September 1, 2022

    Congratulations to this compatriot and woman of excellence on her international achievements. It’s good to be recognized by our own institution as well. Kudos x 1000
    NB. Somehow I feel she will not expect to be addressed as Dr Dr.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  5. Hampstead
    September 1, 2022

    Day in day out we hear about Dominicans abroad being awarded with this and that or having achieved this and that. It would be very interesting to find out why all those bright Dominicans left and refuse to return to their home land, where, according to Skerrit, milk and honey flows. Could it be that long time ago they, like myself, saw what’s coming up on the horizon.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 2
    • Mervyn
      September 3, 2022

      Exactly, leave Dominica to Skerrit, the Chinese and the Levantines. No space for us anymore.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 1
  6. Lin clown
    August 31, 2022

    Dr.Doumbia is from Mahaut Dominica,the sister of Dr.Valda Henry.Only two Dominicans are more educated than Dr Doumbia, IBO France and Gramoxone Francisco-DOG.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 22
    • Man bite dogs
      September 1, 2022

      Mr Lin clown, thanks for educating most of us Dominicans I know like me you have strong feelings or beliefs in our Pm.Dr Skerrit, and his Administration, I would also like to thanks all labour supporters on this Forum to keep the fire burning until election day we must get that corrupt liar Ugly Lenny, out of here he is useless as a three legged donkey.

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 1 Thumb down 20
    • Robertson
      September 2, 2022

      No, Roosevelt Skerrit is the most educated and clever man in Dominica. Since we started to lie, we might as well do it properly. BTW you are in no. 2 spot, totally unchallenged!

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0

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