#enforce

Blog #5

As citizens of Jamaica, it is easy for our rights to be violated and disregarded due to the high levels of lawlessness within our society. Most citizens often settle with their rights being breached, due to ignorance and not being able to identify the right channels that are able to assist them. All organizations or agencies that assist with our rights are somewhat tied to the Ministry of Justice that is headed by the Hon. Delroy Chuck. 

Legal Aid Counsel

The Legal Aid Counsel in Jamaica is located in Kingston and caters mainly to citizens who are unable to afford personal legal representation. In the event that you have been arrested or brought before the court, the legal aid counsel is responsible for providing you with legal representation if you have requested and applied for such representation. 

The Independent Commission of Investigations

INDECOM has become a very popular organization in recent times, as they continue to ensure that citizen’s rights are being enforced and protected at all costs. INDECOM is responsible to handling situations in which an individual’s rights have been breached by police officers, members of security forces, members of correctional services, or by anyone who is supposed to be responsible for enforcing our rights instead of violating them. 

Office of the Public Defender

The office of the public defender is established under the Public Defender (Interim) Act, which highlights that its responsibility is to protect and enforce the rights of citizens who have been wronged by a governmental agency or department. This agency is open to the general public; however, it is specifically for those individuals who have faced injustices or breach of rights by public sector entities.

The Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA)

The OCR, CDA and OCA along with other agencies assist in ensuring that they protect and defend the welfare of the nation’s children. These organizations abide by the Child Care and Protection Act (2004) which provides legal guidelines for the care and protection of children. These organizations support children whose rights have been breached through abuse, abandonment, neglected or otherwise. These agencies care for children who are in state care and  advise the government on policy and legal issues relating to children.

There are numerous agencies that are responsible for enforcing our rights and protecting us from violations; however, the aforementioned are some of the most common ones. 

Educate Yourself, and Know Your Rights! Stay Tuned for More!- Zorian Clarke

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