Human Rights Council 50th Session of the Universal Periodic Review – Jamaica

Mr President,

We warmly welcome the delegation from Jamaica, and would like to express our condolences for the tragic loss of life and damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

We commend Jamaica’s efforts to strengthen human rights protections including measures under its National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-based Violence.

New Zealand recommends that Jamaica:

1. Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
2. Ratify the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
3. Repeal provisions in the Offences Against the Person Act (1864) prohibiting same-sex sexual activity.
4. Amend the Sexual Offences Act (2009) to criminalise marital rape in all circumstances.
5. Amend the Domestic Violence Act (1995) to explicitly include psychological, emotional, and economic abuse. 
   We thank the delegation for their participation today and wish them a successful review.

Thank you Mr President.