Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms

The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act, 2011

The influence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has been substantial. Its principles have been incorporated into constitutions of countries in the United Nations including Jamaica, making it constitutional law.

Rights that you are entitled to under the Constitution of Jamaica (Simplified Version):

• The right to life, liberty and security of person except in the execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offense of which the person has been convicted
• The right to freedom of thought, conscience, belief and observance of political doctrines
• The right to freedom of expression
• The right to seek, receive, distribute or disseminate information, opinions and ideas through any media
• The right to peaceful assembly and association
• The right to freedom of movement, that is to say, the right  (i) of every citizen of Jamaica to enter Jamaica; and (ii) of every person lawfully in Jamaica, to move around freely throughout Jamaica, to reside in any part of Jamaica and to leave Jamaica
• The right to equality before the law
• The right to equitable and human treatment by any public authority in the exercise of any function
• The right to freedom from discrimination on the ground of (i) being male or female (ii) race, place of origin, class, colour, religion, political opinions
• The right to everyone to (i) protection from search of the person and property (ii) respect for protection of private and family life, and privacy of the home; and (iii) protection of other property and of communication;
• The right of every child to be protected by virtue of being a minor, part of a family, society and the State
• The right of every child who is a citizen of Jamaica, to public educational institution at the pre-primary and primary levels
• The right to enjoy a healthy and productive environment free from the threat of injury or damage from environmental abuse and degradation of the ecological heritage
• The right of every citizen of Jamaica to be registered to vote
• The right of every citizen of Jamaica who is so registered, to vote in free and fair elections
• The right of every citizen of Jamaica to be guaranteed a passport and not to be detained or deprived except by due process of the law
• The right to protection from torture, or inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment
• The right to freedom of the person
• The protection of property rights
• The right to due process
• The right to freedom of religion

See The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act, 2011 for more details.