JFJ Executive Director Mickel Jackson
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Mickel Jackson
Human rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has hit back at statements by Justice Minister Delroy Chuck that suggest human rights advocacy groups protect criminals.
At a JFJ function on Thursday, the Justice Minister said human rights groups have been primarily focused on the injustices done to offenders by the state and this approach has emboldened criminals to breach the law, as they believe they will get protection.
But JFJ Executive Director Mickel Jackson says advocacy groups should not be criticised for holding the state accountable to respect the rights of all citizens.
Responding Friday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, Miss Jackson argued that Jamaicans for Justice simply protects individuals who are most at risk or whose fundamental and constitutional rights are infringed upon.
She insisted that the group does not protect criminals but condemns criminality and ensures that the "innocent citizens are always protected" by holding the state accountable.
Calling it "political cowardice", Miss Jackson chided the minister for "blaming certain things at the feet of human rights organisations".
The JFJ executive director also dismissed the assertion that human rights advocacy groups are a hindrance to due process for victims of crime.
She argued that families are facing a lengthy wait for justice as matters are being put off in the courts, sometimes for years.
For instance, Miss Jackson highlighted the case of 23-year-old Matthew Lee who was killed by the security forces in 2013. That case, she said, was recently postponed for two more years and will not be brought before the court until 2024.
"So when we talk about due process, this is what we're saying, that there needs to be an overhaul of the justice system where families can get some closure. That is not a JFJ gap, that is a state gap. These are the things that the JFJ will be educating the people around," she declared.
Miss Jackson said Jamaicans for Justice through its "Justice for All" campaign, which was launched on Thursday, will focus on educating members of the public about their rights and the obligations of the government to protect human rights.
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