A few words for Human Rights

For 2013 Human Rights will continue to factor into most of my conversations.

This realization is fueled in part by countless Jamaican news reports of children being murdered, or being made to work, or held in ramshackle prisons with adult offenders. Notwithstanding the moratorium, the death penalty remains on Jamaican law books.

The high crime rate, extra judicial killings, and mounting case backlog, place a significant strain on a justice system, that requires modernization and capacity strengthening. Certainly, the human rights issues for which Jamaica is most known are the challenges faced by its LGBT citizens.

Reports of intolerance and discrimination remain a going concern. There is no question, there is much to be said and done.

Despite its issues, Jamaica has duly ratified most international human rights law instruments. The Constitution, with its Charter of Rights, protects against discrimination and guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms. The country also has the High Commission’s support, in its ongoing efforts to sustain the rule of law, and its work to build an effective judicial system within a human rights framework.

One of our aims has been to fund projects that support and strengthen the judicial system in line with recommendations from the Jamaican government. We have bolstered the legal system by facilitating the visit of local prosecutors to the UK, to observe best practices in the application of certain laws, and to build relationships between UK lawyers and their Jamaican counterparts, in respect of the proceeds of crime and mutual legal assistance.

We have also assisted in the development of a handbook for the Director of Public Prosecutions, which will help to provide greater accountability and transparency in the justice process for that office.

Over the years, we’ve worked with local NGOs like the Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), which, with our support, visited the Human Rights Council in Geneva to advocate during Jamaica’s review. Read more of that story on the UK in Jamaica website.

Our Department for International Development (DFID), has also funded the JFJ’s Legal Assistance and Advocacy project, to assist persons who otherwise would not have legal representation to realize their rights.

We’ve worked with the Independent Council on Human Rights, to increase the engagement of Jamaicans in conversations about human rights and in particular, the death penalty. Read more on UK in Jamaica website.

We have hosted fora on human rights, in conjunction with legal institutions which aimed to get human rights stakeholders in the same room, discussing the issues with a view to finding solutions.

Though reports of discrimination, attacks and ostracism are quite common from the LGBT community, there has been in recent times, positive accounts flowing on the side of tolerance. I believe this is in large part owed to the work of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All Sexuals and Gays (JFLAG), which has the continued support of the High Commission, in its efforts to lobby for tolerance, safety and equality.

See here a list of JFLAG’s encouraging achievements for 2012 on the JFLAG website.

In keeping with the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, we have funded a child protection programme, that seeks to reduce incidences of trauma suffered by children within the Jamaican criminal justice system.

Through our sponsorship, there is now a multi agency approach towards reporting incidents of child abuse, the promotion of more frequent use of voluntary bills by the DPP to reduce the number of child victims at preliminary hearings, as well as movements towards the introduction of video recorded evidence in criminal trials. Read more on the UK in Jamaica website.

Other projects not mentioned here are set to be concluded in 2013. Additionally, in a few weeks we will host a discussion with human rights partners to identify other areas for development. No doubt there will be much to say for Human Rights in 2013. Stay Tuned.

For more on the High Commission’s work on Human Rights please visit the UK in Jamaica website, or like us on Facebook.