Jamaicans for Justice works through a series of Committees and a Secretariat and is overseen by an elected 12 member Board of Directors. The organization has developed close working linkages with a number of local Community Based organizations and NGO’s. JFJ has also developed working linkages with international bodies and organizations including Amnesty International, USAID (Ja.), The Carter Center, Article 21, Street Law, CEJIL and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The main Committees of JFJ are the Response Team, the Issues Committee, the Communication and Education Committee, and the Montego Bay Chapter.
Given responsibility for addressing citizen's complaints of injustice and abuse of their rights, and conducting follow-up of JFJ adopted cases, the response team has been very successful in carrying out its mandate. Their work involves continuously monitoring over 350 cases, primarily of state abuse of rights and providing vigilant follow-up throughout the entire process from investigation to final determination in the local or International courts. From assisting families to obtain an independent observer or a second autopsy for incidents of questionable police killing, to assisting families to obtain legal council JFJ provides support to persons whose rights have been breached by the State. The Response Team has also spearheaded the push to take cases which define and extend the rights of citizens to the highest levels. Included in the list of notable successes are
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The successful Judicial Review of the ruling by Justice Ellis against note-taking in the Prisons Enquiry |
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The presentation of a Petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in the case of Michael Gayle. This was deemed admissible in February 2003 and a final report adopted in October 2004. This should be available within the next few months.
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The issuing of Precautionary measures against the Government of Jamaica, by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in the matter of failing to protect citizens from abuse of their rights by a particular policeman.
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Precautionary Measures issued in respect of the issue of the abuse of a child in the Children’s Homes in Jamaica |
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The Appeal to the Court of Appeal for Judicial Review of the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions not to prosecute policemen for the death of Patrick Genius. |
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Participation before the Privy Council on the issue of the Process of establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice in Jamaica. |
The Issues committee has impacted forcefully on a number of important areas which affect, actually or potentially, citizen's rights in the society.
These include:
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Lobbying in Parliament for improvements to legislation dealing with Corruption, the proposed Caribbean Court of Justice, Access to Information and a new Charter of Rights for the Jamaican people and more recently the issue of abuse of children in the State supervised Children’s Homes and Places of Safety. |
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The Committee has held numerous public forums and debates to educate citizens on the issues and has helped identify and raise awareness of deficiencies in the Criminal Justice System in Jamaica.
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The committee’s work has also included lobbying and building support for improved police/community relationships and a commitment to Community Policing by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
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The Communication and Education Committee is charged with educating the public on the state of justice in our country and with keeping the public and the membership aware of JFJ's views and positions on important issues. They have been active in building public awareness of problems of Human Rights abuses in Jamaica. The work of Jamaicans For Justice has seen them receiving several local and International awards. Among them are the
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2001 - Gleaner Honour Award - Special Award For 2000 |
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2002 - Royal Netherlands Embassy - 'Wooden Shoe Award' for Outstanding Community Service
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2002 - St Mary Award for Community Service
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2002 – City of Weimar Human Rights Award |
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2003 – Outstanding Community Service Award from the Rotary Club of New Kingston |
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2003 – Press Association of Jamaica Special Award for Service |
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