‘Leaving no one behind’
Guide established for addressing inequalities faced by marginalised groups accessing justice system
Published:Saturday | August 30, 2025 | 12:06 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Jamaica officially now has a guide on how to deal with longstanding gender disparities and barriers faced by vulnerable groups within the justice system.
The Ministry of Justice on Wednesday formally received the island’s first Gender Strategy and Action Plan for the Justice Sector, a key deliverable under the Social Justice Programme being implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
The strategy aims to address deep-rooted inequalities affecting women, children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups who often encounter challenges in accessing justice due to factors such as discrimination, limited mobility, stigma, and financial constraints.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony held at the Courtleigh Hotel in St Andrew, Dr Kishan Khoday, UNDP resident representative, said, “The plan really strengthens Jamaica’s justice sector to deliver on these issues, and it’s also aligned with UNDP’s goal of leaving no one behind, and those most at risk of exclusion at the centre of efforts for Jamaica’s justice reform goals while putting the needs of those most at risk of exclusion at the forefront.
He noted that it also incorporates Jamaica’s national commitments, including the National Policy of Gender Equality, the National Strategy Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-based Violence, as well as Vision 2030.
Furthermore, Khoday said, “By integrating gender considerations into legislation, policies, programmes, it also helps build public trust in justice institutions so that it’s accessible for all.
“It aligns with national commitments like Vision 2030 and the National Policy for Gender Equality, and ensures the integration of gender into legislation, policies, and programmes.”
NEXT STEP
Among the next steps for the plan are the appointment of a gender focal point at the Ministry of Justice, institutional integration of the strategy, capacity-building activities, staff sensitisation, and the development of an accessible complaints mechanism – including the soon-to-be-launched Social Justice App.
Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck welcomed the strategy, describing it as a timely intervention that supports ongoing efforts to improve access to justice.
“I must say that I am very proud and happy for the social justice programme,” he said while commending Canada for working with Jamaica for over two decades to get several programmes off the ground.
At the same time, the minister noted that the country still has a far way to go as a number of pieces of legislation still require tightening up and upgrading, including the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence acts.
“How do we make them more effective in especially reducing conflicts and basically abuse of women in particular, children and the elderly? He asked, adding that a fair amount of support has also been given to the disabled.
However, Chuck noted that through initiatives such as justice fairs, restorative justice, child diversion, legal aid, and victim services, the ministry has already made strides in supporting vulnerable groups. However, he emphasised the importance of awareness and outreach at the community level.
“In truth, we don’t necessarily want to depend only on the police and the courts. We want the community to be able to know of these programmes so that they can direct victims or abused persons to our justice centres,” he said.
Currently, the country has 22 restorative justice centres, many of which operate within the 14 justice centres islandwide, which offer services such as legal aid, counselling, mentoring, and mediation.
The strategy also builds on recent training provided to over 700 frontline workers under the Social Justice Programme, aimed at shifting attitudes and promoting cultural change within the justice system.
“So I want to thank, you know, UNDP and Global Affairs Canada that have supported us financially and really given us this impetus and inspiration to move forward. And I have no doubt that this programme will continue to be a success in the years ahead,” Chuck said.
Shehryar Sarwar, counsellor and head of development cooperation, for his part, commended the ministry for its expansive vision and its ongoing commitment to social inclusion and comprehensive justice sector reform.
“Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing gender equality and inclusive justice for all, and we are proud to support the Ministry of Justice in its transformative journey and look forward to continued collaboration,” he said.