THE WORK of local human rights lobby group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), was significantly boosted yesterday with a $12 million donation from the British Government.
The money will be used to implement a two-year legal assistance project.
Dr. Carolyn Gomes, executive director of JFJ in accepting the donation at the British High Commission, New Kingston, explained that the project will be geared towards addressing some of the priority problems in the justice system.
It will also assist those most at risk of being deprived of their fundamental rights, including the right to life, by the state. Dr. Gomes explained that the money will provide JFJ with the resources to employ its own legal officer.
"Through the provision of legal advice sessions, in-house legal services and the provision of observers at post-mortems, we aim to increase awareness of rights, (and) provide oversight of the work of the forensic pathology departments," Dr. Gomes outlined.
She added that the financial assistance will enable the JFJ to have increased representation at coroner's inquests, increased capacity for test cases, and demand more accountability and transparency in the legal system.
"The overall objective of this part of JFJ's work is to improve the prospect of holding the security force personnel and the state accountable for violations of fundamental rights," Dr. Gomes noted.
IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Phil Sinkinson, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Jamaica, noted that "the UK's (United Kingdom) support for the project, which aims to further enhance the protection of fundamental human rights and the capacity of Jamaica's justice system, underlines the importance we attach to human rights."
While noting that the Jamaican Government had recorded some improvements in addressing human rights abuses, Mr. Sinkinson is hoping that the project "will lead to greater public awareness of human rights issues, and encourage further transparency and accountability in the Jamaican justice system."
