U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Jamaica,
36th Session, November 11, 2020
Read by Sean Garcia
The United States welcomes the delegation of Jamaica to the UPR Working Group.
The United States recommends that Jamaica:
1. End abuses by security forces and other government agents involved in extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, and life-threatening prison conditions, and ensure swift accountability for those who commit abuses, by implementing existing mechanisms to investigate and punish abuses, and clearing administrative backlogs.
2. Combats trafficking in persons by increasing the number of trafficking victims annually identified and receiving services and enforce accountability of suspected human trafficking offenders by increasing prosecutions and punishments.
3. Repeal The Offences Against the Persons Act that criminalizes same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults.
We are deeply concerned by the high rates of homicide and femicide in Jamaica and the government’s insufficient response to end such violence and hold accountable those responsible. While we commend the efforts taken thus far to remedy the life-threatening conditions of Jamaica’s prisons and detention centers, the government must continue to improve conditions and protect the human rights of those detained.