JFJ hits out against political leaders endorsing 'discriminatory' sentiments

 

Human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), says the endorsement of discriminatory sentiments by political leaders undermines the trust among the populace. 

 

This follows the use of a controversial 2001 T.O.K. song, requested by member of Parliament for Portland Western Daryl Vaz, at a political meeting on Sunday. 

 

JFJ Executive Director Mickel Jackson says the lobby group has been calling for anti-discrimination laws and amendments to the Constitution to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

 

"The question that we must ask ourselves, when political leaders engage in or endorse discriminatory rhetoric, they not only betray their responsibility to champion these changes but they also erode public confidence, and if those served or tasked with shaping our laws act in those particular ways that perpetuate harm, how can we expect broader societal progress?" she questioned.

 

She has also called for the political parties or the political ombudsman to issue guidelines to prohibit the use of discriminatory language whether spoken or through the use of music on the campaign trail.