Jamaica

Jamaica: Cross-dressing teenager murdered

Published by on August 1, 2013

Human Rights Watch 1 August 2013 Jamaican police should conduct a thorough, impartial and effective investigation into the murder of Dwayne Jones at the hands of a mob in Montego Bay, sometime between July 21 and 22, Human Rights Watch said. Jones, 16, was found dead on July 22 after being attacked at a party he attended dressed in women’s clothing. According to news reports, when someone at the party identified Jones as male, a crowd chased him as he fled. Police found his body on the road, with multiple stab wounds and a gun wound. “Jamaican authorities need to Read the full article…

Jamaica: Amnesty International Annual Report 2013

Published by on May 23, 2013

Amnesty International 23 May 2013 High levels of gang-related murders and killings by police persisted in inner-city communities. There was no significant progress in the investigation into alleged human rights violations during the 2010 state of emergency. Attacks and harassment of LGBTI people were reported to be increasing. No death sentences were passed and there were no executions. Read the full report here.

Jamaica: 2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Published by on April 19, 2013

US Department of State 19 April 2013 Jamaica is a constitutional parliamentary democracy. In December 2011, the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) won 42 of the 63 seats in the House of Representatives, and PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller took office as prime minister on January 5. International election observers deemed the elections transparent, free, fair, and without violence. During the year there were instances in which elements of security forces acted independently of civilian control. The most serious human rights problems were alleged unlawful security force killings; cases involving the violation of rights that were not resolved in a Read the full article…

Jamaica: Freedom in the World 2013

Published by on April 10, 2013

Freedom House 10 April 2013 In 2012, two gay Jamaicans initiated a legal challenge with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to laws discriminating against members of the country’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community. Meanwhile, the economy continued to stagnate during the year as the country struggled with high rates of inflation and unemployment. Read the full report here.

Jamaica: Country of Origin Information Report

Published by on January 14, 2013

UK Home Office 14 January 2013 The US State Department 2011 Human Rights Report: Jamaica (USSD Report 2011), released on 24 May 2012, provided the following overview: ‘Jamaica is a constitutional parliamentary democracy. On December 29 [2011], the opposition Peoples National Party (PNP) won 42 of the 63 seats in the House of Representatives, and PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller was sworn in as prime minister on January 5, 2012 …International election observers deemed the elections transparent, free and fair, and without violence. During the year there were instances in which elements of security forces acted independently of civilian control. Read the full article…

Jamaica: ‘There’s no safe place in this country’

Published by on October 26, 2012

The Guardian Owen Bowcott and Maya Wolfe-Robinson 26th October 2012 Gareth Henry hit the international headlines in his native Jamaica four years ago when he was beaten by policemen in front of a mob of 200 people who cornered him in a Kingston pharmacy. A year later, in 2008, the head of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays (J-Flag), fled to Canada following a series of death threats. He was granted asylum. The 35-year-old gay rights activist and social worker is now one of two co-petitioners bringing the legal challenge against his former homeland at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. “I Read the full article…

Jamaica: Investigate Killing of Human Rights Defender

Published by on August 29, 2012

Human Rights Watch, 29 August 2012 (Washington, DC) – Police should ensure that the investigation into the death of the refugee and asylum advocate Clover Graham is effective, thorough, and impartial. Graham’s body was discovered with her throat slit in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on August 19, 2012. “It is critically important for authorities to act with urgency to find those responsible for this deplorable attack on a dedicated human rights defender,” said Bill Frelick, Refugee Program director at Human Rights Watch. Graham had worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since 1998, serving most recently as its Read the full article…

Jamaica: Commentary on UKBA Operational Guidance Note

Published by on April 19, 2012

Still Human Still Here, April 19th 2012 “A Commentary on the February 2012 Jamaica Operational Guidance Note” This commentary identifies what the ‘Still Human Still Here’ coalition considers to be the main inconsistencies and omissions between the currently available country of origin information (COI) and case-law on Jamaica and the conclusions reached in the February 2012 Jamaica Operational Guidance Note (OGN), issued by the UK Border Agency. Where we believe inconsistencies have been identified, the relevant section of the OGN is highlighted in blue. This commentary is a guide for legal practitioners and decision-makers in respect of the relevant COI, Read the full article…

Jamaica: A commentary on the UKBA Operational Guidance Note

Published by on August 23, 2011

Published by the Still Human Still Here coalition August 2011 This commentary identifies what the ‘Still Human Still Here’ coalition considers to be the main inconsistencies and omissions between the currently available country of origin information (COI) and case law on Jamaica and the conclusions reached in the May 2011 Jamaica Operational Guidance Note (OGN), issued by the UK Border Agency. To download a copy of the report, go to the Still Human Still Here resources page

Jamaica: UKBA Country of Origin Information report

Published by on May 27, 2011

Published by UK Border Agency 27 May 2011 This Country of Origin Information (COI) Report has been produced by the COI Service, United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), for use by officials involved in the asylum/human rights determination process. The Report provides general background information about the issues most commonly raised in asylum/human rights claims made in the United Kingdom. The main body of the report includes information available up to 9 May 2011. The ‘Latest News’ section contains further brief information on events and reports accessed from 10 May to 26 May 2011. The report was issued on 27 May Read the full article…