Situation during the visit
(A/HRC/16/52/Add.3)
Information received in the reporting period
Non-governmental sources: A private members Bill was
tabled in October 2010, to effectively repeal the Flogging
Regulations Act and the Crime (Prevention of) Act, which
condone the acts of flogging and whipping as punishment.
The Bills continue to be debated.
Death penalty
(r) Abolish the death penalty
On 26 November 2008, parliament voted to
keep the death penalty. At the time of the
visit, six people remained on death row. No
death sentence has been executed since
1988, however there is a rise in fatal
shootings by the police, which are often
alleged to amount to extrajudicial killings, as
well as the apparent lack of investigation and
accountability of those responsible.
The prisoners in death row in the Gibraltar 1
section in the St. Catherine centre were held
in isolation.
Government: There are no plans by the Government, at this
time, to abolish the death penalty.
With respect to allegations of extrajudicial killings, the
Government is committed to ensuring that all such cases are
appropriately investigated. The establishment of the
INDECOM is also expected to effectively respond to an
investigation allegations of abuse by agents of the State.
As regards the issue of the number of persons killed during the
operations in West Kingston (73), the circumstances of their
death remain the subject of investigation.
Emphasis is being placed on enhancing the training being
offered to security personnel with a special focus on the
fundamentals of ethics, use of force and human rights. Training
in the area of human rights is being provided in collaboration
with human rights NGOs. The overall objective is to reduce
the number of complaints of police excesses and restore public
confidence in and support for the police. The Jamaica Defence
Force also put in place revised rules of engagement which
focus on further reducing the chances of civilian deaths when
members of the Force carry out their operations.
Non-governmental sources: Reportedly, by the newly
entrenched Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms the
Government decided to limit the effect of the Pratt and
A/HRC/19/61/Add.3
144
Recommendation
(A/HRC/16/52/Add.3)
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