Jamaica: Update to Response to Information Request JAM26718.E of 9 May 1997 on the Domestic Violence Act; the number of people charged, convicted or sentenced under its provisions, commentary on the Act, and a copy of the Act (May 1997 - November 1998)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | JAM30492.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Jamaica: Update to Response to Information Request JAM26718.E of 9 May 1997 on the Domestic Violence Act; the number of people charged, convicted or sentenced under its provisions, commentary on the Act, and a copy of the Act (May 1997 - November 1998), 1 November 1998, JAM30492.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abfa3c.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please find attached a copy of the 26 April 1995 Domestic Violence Act of Jamaica.
A 20 January 1998 Inter Press Service article states:
Although a Domestic Violence Act was introduced here [in Jamaica] in 1996, women's groups are concerned that there is not enough public awareness of the provisions under this law and as a result women continue to suffer in silence. The law provides that the person being abused can make an application for a protection order which prevents the abuser from entering or staying at the home. But according to attorney Margarette Macaulay, there are some women who may know about the Act but are still worried about personal protection even after such orders are made. She says, women know that such an order will be served by the police but are afraid because the law cannot guarantee protection 24 hours per day.
"Against the background of the high level of violence against women, the Bureau [of Women's Affairs] has been doing a series of training workshops for members of the justice system as this violence relates to the introduction of Domestic Violence Act in order to foster a better understanding of the issues," says Simms [Head of the Bureau of Women's Affairs]. The amendments to the Domestic Violence Act which the Bureau of Women's Affairs is pressing for will allow for speedy and effective remedy for victims, says Simms.
No information on the number of people charged, convicted or sentenced under the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Inter Press Service (IPS). 20 January 1998. Marlene Lewis. "Population-Jamaica: Violence Against Women On Rise in Caribbean."
Attachment
Jamaica. Domestic Violence Act. 26 April 1995.
Additional Sources Consulted
America's Update [Toronto]. May 1997 - Fall 1998.
Amnesty International. October 1997. Jamaica: A Summary of Concerns: A Briefing for the Human Rights Committee. (AI Index: AMR38/10/97). London: Amnesty International.
Caribbean and Central American Report [London]. May 1997 - September 1998.
Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, NEXIS/LEXIS, REFWORLD, WNC.
Latin America Press [Lima]. May 1997 - October 1998.
Problemes D'Amerique Latine [Paris]. April 1997 - September 1998.
WEP International News [Rotterdam]. May 1997 - December 1997.
WIN News [Lexington, Ma.]. Winter 1997 - Autumn 1998.
Women's Watch [Minneapolis]. March 1997 - December 1997, June 1998.
Resource Centre country file on Jamaica. January 1997 - November 1998.
One oral source contacted did not provide information on the requested topic.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact other oral sources.
