• Salutations
  Mrs. Grace-Ann Stewart McFarlane, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice
  Mr. Shehryar Sarwar, Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada
  Dr. Deborah Duperly-Pinks, Senior International Assistance Officer, Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada
  Dr. Christine Hendricks, Executive Director, Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities
  Dr. Dalea Bean, Senior Lecturer & Head of the Institute of Gender & Development Studies, UWI Mona
  Other specially invited guests
  Members of the media

Good morning.

Today, Jamaica takes yet another bold step in realizing its vision of a justice sector accessible to everyone in need, fully equipped to serve our most vulnerable communities. With the launch of the Social Justice and Gender Training Workshop series, 700 stakeholders across Jamaica’s criminal justice system are being prepared to serve those typically overlooked and left behind, sensitive to their unique issues and concerns; these include persons with disabilities, women in crisis, children in contact and conflict with the law; individuals living with mental health challenges and persons from rural areas. 

This bears the hallmarks of a fair and inclusive justice system – the backbone of any society that values equality, dignity, and respect for human rights. Our collective pursuit of this ideal will help to ensure vulnerable groups are no longer marginalized, from this perspective. 

The shared vision drives UNDP’s partnership with Ministry of Justice on the Social Justice Project and energizes our work on the ground. With financing and strong partnership support from the Government of Canada we are proud to be delivering pragmatic solutions that are strengthening access to justice, especially to those whose voices are too often unheard.

For UNDP, the Social Justice "SO-JUST" project represents a long-term investment in building the systems, skills, and mindsets needed to make justice a lived reality for every Jamaican. By working hand-in-hand with ministries, agencies, courts, civil society, and community actors, the SO-JUST project is shaping a justice sector that is not only stronger but more equitable and inclusive.

The Project is especially tailored to challenge entrenched norms, address inequities, and equip those on the frontlines of justice with the tools to make a tangible difference in the lives of the most disadvantaged. We know that individuals and communities living with poverty, discrimination, gender-based violence, or disability face barriers that are not only systemic but deeply personal. Through these workshops, we send a clear message: that justice must be delivered with fairness, empathy, and without prejudice.

These workshops bring together key stakeholders from across the justice and security sector, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Ministry of Justice staff, as well as Justices of the Peace and Mediators. In the lead-up, to date, two sessions have already been conducted, in Kingston and St. Mary, reaching 78 participants. An additional 60-70 are expected today toward an overall target of 700 participants across all parishes. The training factors gender sensitivity, trauma-informed policing, survivor-centred community engagement, social justice and intersectionality. It also includes a special presentation from the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, which highlights practical ways to deliver justice that is inclusive and equitable for persons with disabilities. UNDP lauds the strategic vision to sustain the impact of the series by producing a National Plan of Action ensuring lessons learned from the workshops are embedded in practice.

We believe this powerful intervention will not only serve to strengthen relevant policies and frameworks but shift perceptions and practices around justice delivery. Equity is not achieved by process alone; it is achieved when the people delivering justice see themselves as agents of change, capable of restoring trust and breaking cycles of exclusion. This therefore presents an opportunity to encourage a new mindset and to remind each of us that the justice system is most credible when it treats every person with the same dignity it promises in law.

We have the same vision for a Jamaica that lives Sustainable Development Goal number 16 – peace, justice and strong institutions and a vision of a world where equality is realized, institutions are trusted and unbiased, and peace is sustained because justice is accessible to all. When inclusion is prioritised, and when institutions are responsive to the needs of every citizen, we build a foundation for lasting stability, safety, and shared prosperity.

The UNDP commends the Ministry of Justice for its visionary leadership, the Jamaica Constabulary Force for its active engagement and the Dispute Resolution Foundation and the Lay Magistrates of Jamaica for their invaluable service to the justice sector. We specially acknowledge the Institute for Gender & Development Studies at UWI Mona for its critical role in developing and facilitating the workshop modules, bringing expert guidance and depth to the training, and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities for its ongoing commitment to disability awareness, inclusion, and their willingness to partner in advancing equitable justice services. These are underpinned by the ongoing support from Global Affairs Canada.

Finally, to all participants, your dedication to learning, adapting, and championing positive change in your respective roles is essential to building a justice system in Jamaica that is equitable, accessible, and fair for all.
Let us leave here today with a renewed commitment to building a justice system that empowers rather than excludes; that listens before it judges; and that sees the humanity in every person who walks through its doors. May this workshop be the starting point for sustained impact, where the principles of equity and inclusion are not just discussed, but lived and practised every day.

Thank you and we wish for all participants a rewarding workshop with far reaching outcomes.