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Amnesty report a mixed bag
Published: Tuesday | July 21, 2009
Amnesty International has given the Jamaican Government a pat on the shoulder in a report in which it provides a mixed review of the island's state of public security.
In the report, to be released today, the international human-rights lobby continues to chastise the security forces for their handling of crime and excessive use of force. However, it commends the Bruce Golding administration for what it describes as the interest it has shown in addressing most of the threats to public security.
The country recorded its third-highest homicidal toll in history last year with 1,611 murders. It similarly recorded a high but reduced number of police fatal shootings with 224 deaths. That, however, appears to be on the increase again, with 84 people killed by the police in the first five months of the year.
Strategy for change
According to Amnesty, the Government has identified a clear strategy for change and has formulated recommendations to reform the police force and the justice system. It notes that the strategies have received interest from international donors that have committed to provide financial and technical support for the process.
"Jamaicans have shown their support for the plans by electing a government whose programme focuses on the need to curb violence and foster development," the author of the report states. "What remains to be seen is whether the political leadership is strong enough to overcome possible obstacles and resistance and whether it is truly committed to tackling the public-security problem from a human-rights perspective."
Published: Tuesday | July 21, 2009
Amnesty International has given the Jamaican Government a pat on the shoulder in a report in which it provides a mixed review of the island's state of public security.
In the report, to be released today, the international human-rights lobby continues to chastise the security forces for their handling of crime and excessive use of force. However, it commends the Bruce Golding administration for what it describes as the interest it has shown in addressing most of the threats to public security.
The country recorded its third-highest homicidal toll in history last year with 1,611 murders. It similarly recorded a high but reduced number of police fatal shootings with 224 deaths. That, however, appears to be on the increase again, with 84 people killed by the police in the first five months of the year.
Strategy for change
According to Amnesty, the Government has identified a clear strategy for change and has formulated recommendations to reform the police force and the justice system. It notes that the strategies have received interest from international donors that have committed to provide financial and technical support for the process.
"Jamaicans have shown their support for the plans by electing a government whose programme focuses on the need to curb violence and foster development," the author of the report states. "What remains to be seen is whether the political leadership is strong enough to overcome possible obstacles and resistance and whether it is truly committed to tackling the public-security problem from a human-rights perspective."
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