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Jamaica UN: Open AIDS Meeting to All General Assembly Should Reverse Ban on Human Rights and Sexual Health Groups The United Nations General Assembly should reverse its decision to exclude three human rights and sexual health nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from its June 10 high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS, a coalition of human rights groups and international AIDS organizations said today. June 5, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Reply to Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica We write on behalf of Human Rights Watch to thank you for your response to our letter of February 27, 2008, expressing our concern regarding a violent homophobic attack on a group of men in Mandeville in January 2008 and the disappearance of one of the victims of the attack. April 17, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Letter from Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica I refer to your letter of 27th February regarding the violent attack on a group of men at a house in Mandeville. This is clearly a criminal act and is to be condemned and prosecuted. February 28, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Letter to Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica We write on behalf of Human Rights Watch to express our concern that Jamaican police have again failed to protect individuals from homophobic violence and to investigate recent abuses against men suspected of being gay by members of the Jamaican community. We urge you to direct the police forces to duly investigate these cases of abuse and violence and to bring to justice those found responsible. We also urge you to ensure a full investigation of the whereabouts of a victim who remains missing after the most recent attack. February 27, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Jamaica: Shield Gays from Mob Attacks Widespread Homophobic Violence Shows Failure of Police Protection A homophobic mob attack in Jamaica that left one man severely injured and another missing and feared dead shows yet again that authorities must take urgent action against violence and hatred, Human Rights Watch said today. This incident is the latest in a string of homophobic mob violence over the last year, including an attack on mourners in a church. February 1, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Courageous Jamaican and Montréal AIDS Activists Recognized 2006 Awards for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Gareth Williams, a leading AIDS activist and voice for the rights of sexual minorities in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean, is the recipient of the 2006 International Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch announced today. Stella, a Montréal-based support and information group organized by and for sex workers, is the recipient of the Canadian award. September 28, 2006 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to Dr. Hon. Peter David Phillips, Jamaican Minister of National Security As you know, Human Rights Watch has documented an atmosphere of homophobic intolerance and violence in Jamaica, and a pattern of indifference or reluctance to investigate such violence on the part of the police. While we are encouraged by the increasing willingness of authorities to work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, we urge you to ensure that a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation is taking place into the murders of Candice Williams and Phoebe Myrie. July 27, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Jamaica: Investigate Murder of Alleged Lesbians As fears arise that two women were murdered because of their alleged lesbian relationship, Jamaican authorities must immediately investigate the crime, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent to the Jamaican government today. It should also act to combat the continuing climate of violent homophobia. July 27, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version AIDS: Success in Fight Threatened by Rights Abuses Conference Must Promote Rights-Based Response to HIV Pandemic Ongoing rights abuses are undermining efforts to fight the HIV pandemic and threatening the few, hard-won successes, Human Rights Watch said today, a month before the XVI International AIDS Conference opens in Toronto. July 17, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Vasciannie's error By Rebecca Schleifer, Contributor Published in Jamaica Gleaner Online In a recent (Monday, May 22) column in this newspaper, deputy solicitor general, Stephen Vasciannie, suggested that Jamaica has no legal obligation to repeal its sodomy laws because no international treaty explicitly recognises a right to homosexual sex, and no reasonable interpretation of the law could justify this conclusion. May 26, 2006 Commentary Printer friendly version Jamaica: HIV/AIDS Activist Steve Harvey Mourned Human Rights Watch mourns the death of Steve Harvey, a leading Jamaican HIV/AIDS activist who worked tirelessly to defend the health and human rights of people living with and at high-risk of HIV/AIDS. December 1, 2005 Press Release Printer friendly version European Union: Parliament Calls on Jamaica to End Violence and Homophobia The European Parliament called on all countries, and specifically Jamaica, to repeal their antiquated and discriminatory sodomy laws and to actively combat widespread homophobia. June 1, 2005 Advocacy Impact Letter Urging Jamaican Government to Protect Rights Defenders and Address Violence and Abuse Based on Sexual Orientation and HIV Status Jamaican human rights defenders who criticized the government for abusive treatment of gay men and people living with HIV/AIDS have been threatened with sedition charges; and government officials have denied that any such abuses take place. Human Rights Watch urges Jamaican officials to act immediately to protect activists' democratic freedoms, and to investigate allegations of abuse based on sexual orientation and HIV status. November 30, 2004 Letter Printer friendly version Jamaica: Reject Call to Prosecute Rights Defenders Government Should Address Police Violence, Homophobia and HIV/AIDS Crisis Jamaican authorities should reject a police demand to press criminal charges against local human rights defenders who have criticized police abuses against gay men and people living with HIV/AIDS, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the Jamaican prime minister. November 30, 2004 Press Release Printer friendly version All Jamaicans Are Threatened by a Culture of Homophobia Published in The Observer Dancehall reggae's celebration of anti-gay violence reflects views in Jamaica that seem to be shared by government and police. Without a change in attitude the island will be ravaged by HIV/AIDS, warns Rebecca Schleifer. November 23, 2004 Commentary Printer friendly version Jamaica: Police Violence Fuels AIDS Epidemic Widespread violence and discrimination against gay men and people living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica is undermining government measures to combat the country’s fast-growing epidemic, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. November 16, 2004 Press Release Printer friendly version Hated to Death Homophobia, Violence, and Jamaica’s HIV/AIDS Epidemic Jamaica’s growing HIV/AIDS epidemic is unfolding in the context of widespread violence and discrimination against people living with and at high risk of HIV/AIDS, especially men who have sex with men. Myths about HIV/AIDS persist. Many Jamaicans believe that HIV/AIDS is a disease of homosexuals and sex workers whose “moral impurity” makes them vulnerable to it, or that HIV is transmitted by casual contact. HRW Index No.: B1606 November 16, 2004 Report Download PDF, 492 KB, 81 pgs Purchase online Testimonies from “Hated to Death: Homophobia, Violence, and Jamaica’s HIV/AIDS Epidemic” The two male officers started to beat the man with batons. I turned to the female officer and asked, “What has he done wrong?” She turned to me and said, "Everyday me have to warn people about this guy coming on the beach. I'm going to lock him up.” I said, “For what?” She didn't say. The two policemen said, "Beat him because him a battyman [homosexual]." November 16, 2004 Testimony Printer friendly version Letter urging thorough Jamaican police investigation of cases of homophobic violence Two murders and a violent attack against men actually or perceived to be gay were reported to Jamaican police in June 2004. Human Rights Watch urges Jamaican officials to ensure that these cases are thoroughly investigated and that the witnesses and complainants are protected from any reprisals. August 20, 2004 Letter Printer friendly version Jamaica: Investigate Police and Military Killings Human Rights Watch called on Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson to order an independent and impartial inquiry into the killing of more than twenty civilians in West Kingston. July 12, 2001 Press Release Printer friendly version |
 
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