Commission blasts Jamaica

The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR), is reporting that the alarming level of violence in Jamaica has had severely negative consequences for the human rights of the Jamaican people.



The Commission’s representatives have been here for a five day observation.



The Commission said preliminary observations conclude that although the government has undertaken certain constructive efforts to address the problem, they remain insufficient.



It says the Government is hampered by inadequate resources, a failure to sufficiently address the severe shortcomings of the security forces and the judicial process.



The IACHR also said there is a lack of integral, effective policies to address the social conditions that cause violence.



It says the stark social and economic marginalisation of large sectors of the Jamaican population contributes to sustaining the high levels of violence.



According to the commission it also results in the poorest and most excluded sectors being victimised by the overall situation of insecurity.



The Commission further found that there were deep inequalities pervading Jamaican society, which it says exacerbate the failure of the state to adequately protect and guarantee the human rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.



In particular, the IACHR found the violent persecution and fear to which gays and lesbians are subject in Jamaica to be deplorable.