A/HRC/30/15 adopted and at the high numbers of police killings. It welcomed the willingness of Jamaica to engage actively in the universal periodic review process. 53. Barbados noted progress on enhancing gender equality and on the empowerment of women and girls. It urged Jamaica to prioritize finalizing and implementing the national strategic plan of action to eliminate gender-based violence. It viewed as positive the efforts to enhance the security of citizens. 54. Botswana commended Jamaica on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, as recommended in the first review cycle. It encouraged Jamaica to finalize and fully implement the national strategic plan of action to eliminate gender-based violence and step up its efforts to combat trafficking in persons. 55. Mexico noted the progress made since the last review. It commended Jamaica on the changes in the legal framework, in particular the adoption of initiatives to eliminate gender violence, as well as efforts to secure general access to drinking water. 56. Cabo Verde praised the spectrum of measures taken to implement the recommendations from the first review cycle through the adoption of legislative measures the creation of institutions and the adoption of policies and plans relating to gender-based violence, judicial reform, law enforcement abuse, human trafficking and social protection. 57. Canada welcomed the steps taken by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat towards the establishment of a national human rights institution and encouraged continued efforts in this area. 58. Chile noted that the Charter on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms did not protect against all forms of discrimination. It praised the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Chile regretted the non-abolition of the death penalty. 59. China highlighted in particular the progress made by Jamaica in the implementation of the national development plan, the strengthening of social security and the recovery of the economy. China further recognized the efforts made in the areas of gender equality, improvement of the legal system and human rights education. 60. Colombia highlighted the commitment of Jamaica to promoting and protecting human rights, recognizing in particular the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms. Colombia noted efforts to implement recommendations from the first cycle, particularly those made by Colombia on women’s rights. 61. Jamaica thanked countries for their recognition of the progress Jamaica had made in the area of human rights and noted the observations and recommendations made. The delegation recalled that many of the questions raised had already been addressed in its report and in the statement, specifically those regarding the Convention against Torture, the death penalty, the use of force by police, the visits by the special procedures, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex community. 62. With regard to a reference to the killing of human rights defenders, the delegation said that the Government was not aware of there being any killing or adverse treatment of human rights defenders, who were accorded a great deal of respect, had full access to the media and had assisted greatly in the progress Jamaica had made in human rights. 63. As to the project on justice reform, the delegation said that, owing to a lack of resources in the area, these issues had to be approached through non-funded activities such as procedural reforms. 9

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents