Two more gay men killed in Jamaica; panel seeks probe
An official human rights commission for North and South America has called on Jamaica to investigate the recent killings of two reportedly gay men and to punish those responsible.
Jamaica has a reputation as an intensely homophobic nation, despite new Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller’s position against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. She has also suggested a review of the country’s buggery laws, which provide for prison sentences of up to 10 years for male homosexual activity.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, or IACHR, said local activists for LGBT rights say eight gay men have been murdered in Jamaica within the last three months.
The latest two victims’ mutilated bodies were found June 13 in New Kingston ear several blood-stained rocks. In a press release, the IACHR said:
The IACHR reminds the State of its obligation to investigate such acts on its own initiative and to punish those responsible. The Inter-American Commission urges the State to conduct an investigation that takes into account whether this murder was committed because of the gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation of the victims.
The Commission continues to receive information on killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of violence and exclusion against lesbians, gays, and trans, bisexual, and intersex persons in the continent. In addition, the Commission notes that problems exist in the investigation of those crimes, which involve, in part, failures to open lines of investigation into whether the crime was committed by reason of the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation. The ineffectiveness of the state response fosters high rates of impunity, which in turn lead to the chronic repetition of such crimes, leaving the victims and their families defenseless.
The text of the IACHR press release is below.
Related articles
- Human rights in the Americas: Chipping at the foundations (economist.com)
- Debunking Betty-Ann Blaine’s anti-gay article (Anti-Gay Fact Check)
- Jamaica and Gays: Are We Homophobic or Not? (newsandviewsbydjmillerja.wordpress.com)
- Doing ‘business’ in New Kingston (Jamaica Observer)
- Human Rights Group Condemns Murder of 16-Year-Old Transsexual in Mexico (hispanicallyspeakingnews.com)
- Human Rights Commission Urges Investigation of Lesbian Teen Couple Shooting (hispanicallyspeakingnews.com)
Press Release
IACHR Condemns Murder of Two Gay Men in Jamaica
July 9, 2012
Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the killing in Kingston, Jamaica, of two men who, according to the civil society organizations and media outlets, were gay.
The two bodies were found on June 13, 2012, in the vicinity of the intersection of Trafalgar Road and Lady Musgrave Road, in New Kingston. According to the information received the bodies appear to have been chopped or mutilated, and were found near several rocks with blood stains. According to a local LGTB organization, this occurred in a context of severe violence against the LGTB community in Jamaica, where eight gay men have been murdered within the last three months, among other reported acts of violence.
The IACHR reminds the State of its obligation to investigate such acts on its own initiative and to punish those responsible. The Inter-American Commission urges the State to conduct an investigation that takes into account whether this murder was committed because of the gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation of the victims.
The Commission continues to receive information on killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of violence and exclusion against lesbians, gays, and trans, bisexual, and intersex persons in the continent. In addition, the Commission notes that problems exist in the investigation of those crimes, which involve, in part, failures to open lines of investigation into whether the crime was committed by reason of the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation. The ineffectiveness of the state response fosters high rates of impunity, which in turn lead to the chronic repetition of such crimes, leaving the victims and their families defenseless.
The IACHR urges the State to take action to prevent and respond to these human rights abuses and to ensure that LGTBI people can effectively enjoy their right to a life free from discrimination and violence, including the adoption of policies and public campaigns and the amendments necessary to bring laws into line with the inter-American instruments on human rights.
A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.
A suspect has already been held in the matter and is awaiting trial as it has to do with homeless msms and internal conflicts but by how this release is postured it makes it look as a homophobic killing when it is not so in this case, we must be honest that is not to say those do not exist either but if one wants to know what is truly happening one needs to come to Jamaica and see the issues on the ground for oneself the intellectual dishonesty that reaks from that press release like this helps noone or is it just how out of touch the advocacy structures are with regards to LGBT homelessness in Jamaica, all the populations are used for is to collect data with no meaningful followup to solves the issues the persons actually go through.
LGBT advocacy is not just about repealing or decriminalizing buggery but also addressing those lives interrupted on the ground who face untold hardships.
Thanks. You make an important point.
Jamaica is one of the MOST disgraceful countries in the world when it comes to acceptance! Jamaicans love to boast and brag that they are well-educated. However, well-educated people don’t go around killing people based on sexual orientation! Clearly their education system is not like that of the Scandinavian countries. Jamaican are PRIMITIVE!
Believe the world should BOYCOTT that country until they genuinely become educated and do NOT extend them any monetary support until they CEASE and DESIST from their PRIMITIVE consciousness as it pertains to individual’s RIGHTS! It doesn’t surprise me that the country exists in unceasing poverty. POOR consciousness…POOR everything! Wakeup you IGNORANT people! This doesn’t take ‘Rocket Science’. Duhhhhhhhhhh!
Jamaica has huge problems, but you’re being wa-a-a-y harsh.