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  Salutations
  Hon. Delroy Chuck, Minister of Justice
  Mr. Shehryar Sarwar, Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada
  Mrs. Grace-Ann Stewart McFarlane, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice
  Dr. Deborah Duperly-Pinks, Senior International Assistance Officer, Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada

The SO-JUST project’s Gender Strategy and Action Plan represents a key pillar in advancing equity within Jamaica’s justice sector. It provides a structured framework for ensuring that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and its agencies systematically address gender inequalities and barriers to justice faced by women, men, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups. 

The Strategy seeks to institutionalise gender mainstreaming across justice institutions through evidence-based programme development, gender-responsive legislation and policies, and strengthened collaboration with non-state partners. A central feature of the Strategy is the delivery of annual gender sensitisation and social context training for justice sector personnel, aimed at building the sector’s capacity to identify and respond effectively to systemic barriers to equitable access to justice. In doing so, the Strategy supports the broader goal of embedding sustainability and inclusivity within Jamaica’s justice system through the following:

Promoting Equitable Justice for All: The SO-JUST project’s Gender Strategy and Action Plan strengthens Jamaica’s justice sector to deliver gender-sensitive and inclusive services that respond to the needs of women, girls, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups. This work is grounded in UNDP’s Leaving No One Behind principle, ensuring that those most at risk of exclusion are placed at the centre of justice reform.
 

Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Strategy directly advances:
o    SDG 5 (Gender Equality): By embedding gender mainstreaming across the MoJ and ensuring equal access to justice.
o    SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By addressing systemic barriers faced by disadvantaged and marginalised populations.
o    SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): By strengthening institutional capacity, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in justice delivery.
 

UNDP’s Mandate and LNOB Commitment: UNDP’s mandate is to support countries in building resilient, inclusive, and accountable institutions. Through this Strategy, UNDP ensures that gender equality and human rights remain central to justice reform in Jamaica, with a focus on equity, empowerment, and sustainability so that no group is left behind.
 

Supporting Jamaica’s National Commitments: o    The Strategy supports the National Policy for Gender Equality (NPGE) by embedding gender perspectives into justice legislation, programmes, and services.
o    It reinforces the National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence (NSAP-GBV) by building institutional capacity to prevent discrimination, strengthen services for survivors, and provide effective mechanisms for redress.
o    Vision 2030 Jamaica, particularly National Outcome #6 (Effective Governance) and #11 (A Secure, Cohesive and Just Society).

By integrating gender considerations into legislation, policies, and programmes, the Strategy helps to build public trust in justice institutions and ensures that justice is accessible, fair, and survivor-centred, particularly for women and men experiencing GBV and persons with disabilities facing systemic exclusion.

Next Steps in Implementation of the Strategy & Action Plan
For 2025, the project will advance implementation of priority activities under the Gender Strategy and Action Plan, aligned with the project’s Intermediate Outcome 1: Strengthened institutions, legislation, and justice services that advance the rights and equitable outcomes for all Jamaicans. Key next steps include:
 

Establishment of a Gender Focal Point & Team: A gender focal point and a small team will be identified within the MoJ to provide technical guidance and oversight on gender mainstreaming. Training and certification will be facilitated by the Bureau of Gender Affairs to ensure alignment with national standards.

Staff Sensitisation and Institutional Integration: Sensitisation sessions will be conducted with MoJ staff on the Gender Strategy & Action Plan to ensure that concrete gender-responsive action items are integrated into the Ministry’s annual work plan to promote accountability and sustainability.

Development of a Standardised Gender Training Curriculum: In partnership with IGDS UWI Mona, a standardised training curriculum will be designed and rolled out across the justice sector. This curriculum will institutionalise knowledge and support the long-term integration of gender perspectives into justice delivery.

Comprehensive Gender Sensitisation Training: Training sessions will be provided for social justice officers and other justice sector officials. These sessions will be designed to strengthen awareness, promote knowledge retention, and build the capacity of officials to deliver equitable and gender-sensitive justice services.

Establishment of Accessible Complaint Mechanisms: Through the Social Justice Mobile App, a complaint mechanism feature will be developed to allow disadvantaged groups to report cases of discrimination, mistreatment, or denial of services by justice institutions. This will enhance accountability and transparency while ensuring that vulnerable groups have safe channels to seek redress.