GENEVA, CMC – UNAIDS has welcomed Jamaica’s enlargement of protections in opposition to gender-based violence because the nation’s Home Violence (Modification) Act got here into impact on Monday.
“UNAIDS welcomes the commitments made by Jamaica to develop protections to sort out gender-based violence. Decided motion is crucial throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and the world over to interrupt the vicious cycle of violence, abuse, and inequality. Survivors should be heard, and justice should be achieved,” mentioned UNAIDS Government Director Winnie Byanyima
“To guard ladies and ladies’ well being, it’s important to guard their human rights,” Byanyima added.
The federal government mentioned the Home Violence (Modification) Act of 2023 will present glorious safety to victims of home violence.
“This authorities, and certainly the entire Home, has demonstrated its dedication to stopping and punishing acts of home violence by way of the passage of those vital amendments, which is able to, amongst different issues, permit the Court docket to subject Safety Orders and impose a penalty of as much as a million {dollars} (One Jamaica greenback=US$0.008 cents) for a breach of a Safety Order, up from a most of J$10,000,” mentioned Gender Affairs Minister Olivia Grange.
She mentioned that the modification additionally permits for a sentence of as much as one yr in jail and that the Safety Orders are supposed to protect in opposition to an array of potential hurt, from harassment to property harm, and “it’s proper with time that we now apply a extra applicable penalty that may function a deterrent to this grave crime.”
“Alongside the brand new authorized adjustments, the Authorities of Jamaica has additionally dedicated to persevering with to implement different insurance policies to assist survivors, together with a gender-based violence helpline, authorized assist, shelters, intervention facilities at police stations, and particular coaching for members of the police pressure and one other service supplier.”
UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Luisa Cabal, applauded the political dedication of the Jamaica authorities and parliament, highlighting the significance of addressing the challenges in enforcement and insurance policies.
Cabal famous the crucial position of the courts, police, different legislation enforcement personnel, and civil society companions in tackling gender-based violence in all its types for all ladies and ladies in all their range.
The federal government mentioned the brand new legislation can even enhance the classes of individuals who can apply for a Safety Order, together with the partner or guardian of a person in respect of whom the conduct has been made or is prone to be made.
The Youngsters’s Advocate can even now have the ability to apply for a Safety Order the place the alleged conduct is threatened in opposition to a toddler.
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