Thus far, JFJ and ROOTS FM have successfully completed workshops in the Seivwright Gardens, Denham Town and Drews Land communities on The Role of the Justice of the Peace in Protecting Citizens’ Rights, The Charter of Rights: Search of House and Person and What are your rights when you are Arrested and Detained.All have been positively received by residents. “JFJ is providing a much needed service,” remarks Camille Lee, Attorney-at-Law and host of the workshops. “If people are given the opportunity to learn about the rights they have, then they will be in a better position to defend any attempts to take them away,” she states.
As part of its long-term community empowerment strategy, JFJ continues to provide vital human rights training to Jamaicans at the grassroots level. It is our firm belief that an educated and empowered citizenry is crucial to the advancement of human rights at all levels of society. To this end, JFJ has partnered with the grassroots radio station, ROOTS 96.1FM to mobilise participation from community residents and to air the workshop live to a wider audience. The series brings together stakeholders from the legal and law enforcement professions to engage with residents as well as encourages residents to share their own experiences.
The workshops are funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kingston as a component of JFJ’s Human Rights Awareness Marketing and Promotional Campaign that provides training to community groups, high school and university students, members of the police force and the public at large.