UK lawyers to take case of trainee cop

TWO UNITED Kingdom-based attorneys are said to have expressed an interest to take the case of the pregnant student constable who was barred from graduating from the Police Academy to the International Human Rights Council.

Local attorney-at-law Althea Grant, who is representing the student constable, told The Gleaner of the development yesterday.

"I will be responding to them tomorrow (today). They emailed me and offered to assist. They are saying that based on what they read, it could be a case of discrimination and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) should not be allowed to get away with this," Grant said.

The woman was served with a dismissal letter one day before the passing-out parade at the Jamaica Police Academy after she informed her superiors of her status.

The Human Rights Councilis an inter-governmental body within the United Nations responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.

Yesterday, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange said as a male-dominated institution and one that enforces law and order,the JCF has to ensure that men and women are treated equally under the law.

violation of human rights

She said all forms of discrimination against anyone is a violation of human rights, and if the female trainee was dismissed based on her sex and because she is pregnant, then this is a clear case of discrimination, which is a violation of the Charter of Rights.

Similarly, Senator Sandra Falconer, the opposition spokesman on gender affairs, said she is "expecting that the commissioner will intervene in the matter and make sure that it is resolved in favour of this young lady who has been discriminated against".

Falconer said under the law, it is a human right for women to have their children and for her to be denied of her rights to work because she is pregnant is a violation of the law.