17 March 2021, Geneva: CHRI was among the six NGOs that delivered an oral statement in the UPR outcome adoption of Jamaica at the 46th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The statement delivered by Ms. Aditi Patil, on behalf of CHRI, welcomed the positive developments highlighted in Jamaica's national report, especially in the context of tackling gender-based violence, child abuse, poverty, climate change and anti-trafficking measures.  

However, the statement noted with concern that Jamaica had merely noted 50 recommendations on key thematic issues raised by States and other stakeholders. CHRI called on the Government of Jamaica to:   

• meaningfully strengthen its internal accountability mechanisms to tackle impunity in cases of disproportionate use of force by police and security apparatus, while welcoming the steps taken towards defining the standard operating procedure for law enforcement and a "Less Lethal Weapons" policy.
• effectively implement the Access to Information Act 2004 and refrain from introducing amendments that would dilute or defeat its purpose.
• address the concerns that forms of modern slavery -- other than trafficking in persons -- such as forced labour, forced marriage and child labour continue to exist in a legal vacuum and renew its efforts towards training, investigation and prosecution in these cases informed by evidence-based policy.
• decriminalise consensual same-sex relations between adults.
• ratify the UNCAT. 
• expedite the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution in the country in accordance with the Paris Principles.  

You can read the statement here and watch the video below: