Jamaicans for Justice
Encyclopedia
Jamaicans for Justice is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-violent volunteer citizens’ rights action group. Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) was founded in 1999 in Kingston, Jamaica.The group was co-founded by Jamaican human right activist Dr. Carolyn Gomes
who in 2008 was awarded the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights.
The founders of JFJ felt that there was a need for a citizens’ rights action group to address the frustrations of the Jamaican people. These frustrations included many instances of alleged corruption in the public sphere, apparent miscarriages of justice in the judicial system and imbalances in the socio-economic system.
Since its formation, JFJ has also developed working relationships with Amnesty International
, USAID Jamaica, The Carter Center, Article 21, Street Law
, CEJIL and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
.
Carolyn Gomes
The Honourable Dr. Carolyn Gomes OJ is a Jamaican human rights activist. Dr. Gomes is also the co-founder and current Executive Director of Jamaicans for Justice....
who in 2008 was awarded the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights.
Origin
Jamaican for Justice arose out of the Gas Riots of April 16, 1999. On August 19, 1999 four months after the riots, JFJ came into being. On October 15, it was officially a legal entity.The founders of JFJ felt that there was a need for a citizens’ rights action group to address the frustrations of the Jamaican people. These frustrations included many instances of alleged corruption in the public sphere, apparent miscarriages of justice in the judicial system and imbalances in the socio-economic system.
Since its formation, JFJ has also developed working relationships with Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, USAID Jamaica, The Carter Center, Article 21, Street Law
Street law
Street Law is an approach to teaching practical law to grassroots audiences using interactive teaching methodologies. Elements of practical law taught include awareness of human rights, democracy, consumer rights, and civil rights....
, CEJIL and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
.
Notable cases
Jamaicans for Justice, which particularly tackles cases involving allegations of state abuse, has led campaigns in a number of high-profile cases.- Police beating death of twenty-six year old Michael Gayle. Gayle, who was mentally ill, died on 23 August 1999 of injuries he sustained after attempting to pass through a police and army road block two days earlier. He was subjected to such a severe beating by police and army officers that he suffered a traumatic rupture of his stomach lining.
- Police Killing of the Braeton Seven in March 2001. The police, under questionable circumstances shot and killed Reagon Beckford, 14; Christopher Grant, 17; Dane Whyte, 19; Tamoya Wilson, 20; Andre Virgo, 20; Lancebert Clarke, 19; and Curtis Smith, 20. The police officers were charged with murder and later acquitted.
- 13-year-old Janice Allen was killed controversially in a crossfire between police and gunmen in April 2000.
External links
- Official Website
- Jamaicans for Justice on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Jamaicans for Justice on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...