National Documentation Packages (NDPs) are lists of public documents that provide information on country conditions. Updates occur on a regular basis.
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Jurisprudential Guides Notes
Jurisprudential Guides Notes
On
July 28, 2022, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide:
-
Decision TC1 05038 – The proper interpretation of the ‘generalized risk’ exception to protection found at subparagraph 97(1)(b)(ii) of the Act, in claims for protection involving allegations of gang-targeting or other acts of criminality.
On
December 22, 2020, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision MB8-00025 – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses, in applying Article 1E of the Refugee Convention, whether members should consider allegations of risk in a country of residence if they conclude that a refugee claimant has the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of nationality in that country.
On
July 6, 2018, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision TB7-19851 – Nigeria – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses internal flight alternatives in major cities in south and central Nigeria for claimants fleeing non-state actors.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 10, 2018.
On
July 20, 2017, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being
Jurisprudential Guides.
-
Decision TB7-01837 – Pakistan – Whether the treatment experienced by Ahmadis in Pakistan amounts to persecution, whether state protection is available and whether there is a viable internal flight alternative.
-
Decision MB6-01059/60 – India – Availability of an internal flight alternative in India for claimants from Punjab.
Revoked
-
Decision TB6-11632 – China – Analysis of the efficacy of the Chinese national computer network known as the Golden Shield Project and its impact on whether a person wanted by the authorities can exit China via an airport using a genuine passport.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 20, 2017.
Back
30 April 2020
JAMAICA
List of Documents
1.
General Information and Maps
Title:
Jamaica. General Logistics Planning Map.
Source:
World Food Programme. Logistics Cluster.
Date of Document:
4 October 2016
Accessed Date:
11 January 2017
Title:
Jamaïque. L'Encyclopédie en ligne.
Accessed Date:
7 November 2012
Title:
Jamaica. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
1 April 2020
Accessed Date:
22 April 2020
Title:
Country Policy and Information Note. Jamaica: Women fearing domestic violence. Version 2.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
January 2017
Accessed Date:
27 February 2017
Title:
Country Background Note. Jamaica. Version 3.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
September 2019
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Country Policy and Information Note. Jamaica: Sexual orientation and gender identity. Version 2.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
February 2017
Accessed Date:
27 February 2017
Title:
BTI 2020 Country Report – Jamaica
Source:
Bertelsmann Stiftung
Accessed Date:
29 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2019.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
11 March 2020
Accessed Date:
16 March 2020
Title:
Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Jamaica. Addendum: Information received from Jamaica on follow-up to the concluding observations.
Code:
CCPR/C/JAM/CO/4/Add.1
Date of Document:
7 August 2018
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica. Freedom in the World 2019.
Accessed Date:
24 April 2020
Title:
Services available to individuals with mental illness, including persons with bipolar disorder; recourse and complaints mechanisms available to patients receiving psychiatric care, particularly those treated at the psychiatric ward (Ward 21) of ...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
29 March 2018
Accessed Date:
15 April 2019
Title:
Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Jamaica
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Committee.
Date of Document:
22 November 2016
Accessed Date:
11 January 2017
3.
Identification Documents and Citizenship
Title:
The Jamaican Nationality Act
Accessed Date:
15 January 2013
Title:
Chapter II. Citizenship. Jamaica 1962 (rev. 2015).
Accessed Date:
7 February 2018
Title:
Jamaica. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Source:
Jamaica. Electoral Commission of Jamaica.
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Source:
Jamaica. Electoral Commission of Jamaica.
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
4.
Political Activities and Organizations
Title:
Jamaica. Election for Jamaican House of Representatives of 25 February 2016.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
Accessed Date:
26 February 2016
5.
Gender, Domestic Violence and Children
Title:
Jamaica. Social Institutions and Gender Index 2019.
Source:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Date of Document:
7 December 2018
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Domestic violence, including legislation, state protection and support services available (2010-2013)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
20 January 2014
Accessed Date:
29 January 2014
Title:
The Sexual Offences Act, 2009
Accessed Date:
7 November 2012
Title:
The Domestic Violence Act
Accessed Date:
7 November 2012
Title:
Jamaica. Caribbean Gender Based Violence Laws.
Source:
United Nations. UN Women.
Accessed Date:
20 February 2015
Title:
Women's Health Survey 2016: Jamaica
Source:
Statistical Institute of Jamaica et al.
Date of Document:
June 2018
Author:
Carol Watson Williams
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Child Care and Protection Act
Accessed Date:
11 January 2017
Title:
Treatment of sexual minorities, including legislation, state protection and support services (2013-December 2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
12 February 2016
Accessed Date:
26 February 2016
Title:
Annual Country Status Update on the Human Rights Situation Faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons in Jamaica
Date of Document:
13 July 2018
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Report on Human Rights Violations: January 2011 – March 2017
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Constitutional challenge to Jamaica's anti-sodomy law: Questions & Answers
Source:
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; AIDS-Free World
Date of Document:
December 2015
Accessed Date:
11 January 2017
Title:
Jamaica. State-Sponsored Homophobia 2019: A world survey of sexual orientation laws
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
Date of Document:
March 2019
Author:
Lucas Ramón Mendos
Accessed Date:
23 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica: Types of criminalisation
Source:
Human Dignity Trust
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
7.
Criminality and Corruption
Title:
Jamaica. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2020, Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
March 2020
Accessed Date:
24 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica: Tier 2. Trafficking in Persons Report 2019.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
20 June 2019
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Crime and Violence in Jamaica: IDB Series on Crime and Violence in the Caribbean
Source:
Inter-American Development Bank
Date of Document:
June 2016
Author:
Anthony D. Harriott; Marlyn Jones
Accessed Date:
11 January 2017
Title:
Jamaica. 2019 Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Date of Document:
30 May 2019
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica – Gun Facts, Figures and the Law
Source:
The University of Sydney. Sydney School of Public Health; GunPolicy.org
Editor:
Alpers Philip et al.
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
The One Order gang, including activities and state response (2013 - May 2016)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
27 April 2016
Accessed Date:
14 February 2017
Title:
Country Policy and Information Note. Jamaica: Fear of organised criminal groups. Version 3.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
August 2019
Accessed Date:
27 April 2020
8.
Military Service - (No items in this section)
9.
Judiciary, Legal and Penal Systems
Title:
Update: The Jamaican Legal System and Guide to Legal Research
Date of Document:
June 2014
Author:
Jeanne Slowe; Claudette Solomon
Accessed Date:
24 February 2017
10.
Police and Security Forces
Title:
Country Policy and Information Note. Jamaica: Actors of Protection. Version 1.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
August 2019
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Requirements and procedures to lodge a complaint against a police officer; requirements and procedures to obtain a police report; alternative mechanisms available for lodging a complaint against a police officer; effectiveness of complaint...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
11 February 2015
Accessed Date:
26 February 2015
Title:
Jamaica: Time for stronger police accountability. Amnesty International submission for the UN Universal Periodic Review, 36th session of the UPR working group, May 2020.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
1 October 2019
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica. Annual Report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 2018 Volume II: Annual Report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.
Code:
OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc.30
Source:
Organization of American States. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Date of Document:
17 March 2019
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica. International Religious Freedom Report for 2018.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
21 June 2019
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
13.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Race - (No items in this section)
14.
Exit/Entry and Freedom of Movement - (No items in this section)
15.
Labour, Employment and Unions - (No items in this section)
16.
Other - (No items in this section)
The following changes have been made to the previous package dated 31 March 2020:
Title:
Jamaica. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
3 April 2019
URL:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jm.html
Accessed Date:
23 April 2019
Title:
Country Policy and Information Note. Jamaica: Fear of organised criminal gangs. Version 2.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
March 2017
URL:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/598136/Jamaica_-_Org_Crim_Gangs_-_CPIN_-_Feb_2017_-_v.2.pdf
Accessed Date:
6 February 2018
Title:
Jamaica. Freedom in the World 2018.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/jamaica
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
URL:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Jamaica.html
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
I. Political Transformation. Transformation Index 2018 Country Report: Jamaica.
Source:
Bertelsmann Stiftung
URL:
https://www.bti-project.org/fileadmin/files/BTI/Downloads/Reports/2018/pdf/BTI_2018_Jamaica.pdf
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2019, Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
March 2019
URL:
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/INCSR-Vol-INCSR-Vol.-I-1.pdf
Accessed Date:
26 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica: Tier 2. Trafficking in Persons Report 2018.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
June 2018
URL:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/jamaica/
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica. 2018 Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Date of Document:
26 January 2018
URL:
https://www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=23208
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica – Gun Facts, Figures and the Law
URL:
http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/jamaica
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica. International Religious Freedom Report for 2017.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
29 May 2018
URL:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2017-report-on-international-religious-freedom/jamaica/
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Jamaica. Amnesty International Report 2017/2018: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
22 February 2018
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/americas/jamaica/report-jamaica/
Accessed Date:
26 February 2018
Title:
National Report Submitted in Accordance with Paragraph 5 of the Annex to Human Rights Council Resolution 16/21: Jamaica
Code:
A/HRW/WG.6/22/JAM/1
Date of Document:
27 April 2015
URL:
http://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/WG.6/22/JAM/1
Accessed Date:
24 February 2017
Keywords:
children; crime; extralegal executions/killings; gangs; gender equality; legal system; legislation; organized crime; penal system; police/security forces; police/security forces complaints; political activities; sexual minorities; sexual violence; social services; statistics; torture; trafficking in persons
Title:
Requirements and procedures for obtaining medical reports within Jamaica as well as from abroad; whether medical reports can be obtained through a proxy; if so, requirements and procedures; whether there is a national standard format for medical...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
20 December 2011
URL:
http://irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspx?doc=453752
Accessed Date:
7 November 2012
Keywords:
medical records
Title:
National Review Jamaica. In the context of the twentieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Division for Gender Affairs of Economic Commission for Latin America and...
Date of Document:
June 2014
URL:
http://www.cepal.org/mujer/noticias/paginas/3/51823/Jamaica_Review_Beijing_20.pdf
Accessed Date:
20 February 2015
Keywords:
children; crime; domestic violence; gender equality; gender-based violence; institutional efficacy; labour; legislation; political activities; sexual violence; social services; statistics
Title:
Jamaica Constabulary Force Periodic Crime Statistics Review.
Source:
The Jamaica Constabulary Force
Date of Document:
16 July 2017
URL:
https://www.jcf.gov.jm/sites/default/files/JCF%20Periodic%20Serious%20Crimes%20Review%20Weekly%20Jan%2001%20to%20July%2015%2C%202017.pdf
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Why Jamaica's Homicide Rate is Up 20%
Date of Document:
20 June 2017
URL:
https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/why-jamaica-homicide-rate-up-20-percent/
Accessed Date:
7 February 2018
Title:
Black, Green, Gold and Too Much Red: Jamaica's Struggle with Gang Violence
Source:
Council on Hemispheric Affairs
Date of Document:
5 October 2016
URL:
http://www.coha.org/black-green-gold-and-too-much-red-jamaicas-struggle-with-gang-violence/
Accessed Date:
11 January 2017
Title:
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), including effectiveness and government efforts to strengthen the force (2011-2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
9 February 2015
URL:
http://irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspx?doc=455717
Accessed Date:
4 February 2016
Keywords:
corruption; crime; extralegal executions/killings; gangs; judicial efficacy; legal system; police corruption; police efficacy; police/security forces; statistics
Title:
Waiting In Vain - Jamaica: Unlawful Police Killings and Relatives' Long Struggle for Justice
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
23 November 2016
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr38/5092/2016/en/
Accessed Date:
11 January 2017
Title:
Jamaica. Freedom of the Press 2015.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2015/jamaica
Accessed Date:
4 February 2016
Keywords:
freedom of expression; freedom of the press; legislation; police/security forces; political activities
Title:
Jamaica. Critics Are Not Criminals: Comparative Study of Criminal Defamation Laws in the Americas.
Source:
Debevoise & Plimption LLP et al.
Date of Document:
March 2016
URL:
https://cpj.org/reports/critics_are_not_criminals-english.pdf
Accessed Date:
7 February 2018
Title:
Country Information and Guidance. Jamaica: Background information, including actors of protection and internal relocation. Version 2.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
March 2018
URL:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/685577/Jamaica_-_Background_-_CPIN_-_v2.0__March_2018_.pdf
Accessed Date:
8 April 2019
Title:
Country Background Note. Jamaica. Version 3.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
September 2019
URL:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/832016/Jamaica-Background-CPIN-v3.0-September-2019.pdf
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Jamaica. Addendum: Information received from Jamaica on follow-up to the concluding observations.
Code:
CCPR/C/JAM/CO/4/Add.1
Date of Document:
7 August 2018
URL:
https://undocs.org/en/CCPR/C/JAM/CO/4/Add.1
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Source:
Jamaica. Electoral Commission of Jamaica.
URL:
https://ecj.com.jm/voter-id-card-renewal/
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Source:
Jamaica. Electoral Commission of Jamaica.
URL:
https://ecj.com.jm/voters/voter-information/registration-procedures/
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Women's Health Survey 2016: Jamaica
Source:
Statistical Institute of Jamaica et al.
Date of Document:
June 2018
Author:
Carol Watson Williams
URL:
https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/-/media/files/un%20women/vaw/vaw%20survey/jamaica%20womens%20health%20survey%20report%202016.pdf?vs=5406
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica: Types of criminalisation
Source:
Human Dignity Trust
URL:
https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/jamaica/
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Country Policy and Information Note. Jamaica: Actors of Protection. Version 1.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
August 2019
URL:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826146/External_Jamaica_-_Actors_of_Protection_-_CPIN_-_v1.0__August_2019_.pdf
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica: Time for stronger police accountability. Amnesty International submission for the UN Universal Periodic Review, 36th session of the UPR working group, May 2020.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
1 October 2019
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/AMR3817172019ENGLISH.pdf
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Title:
Jamaica. Annual Report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 2018 Volume II: Annual Report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.
Code:
OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc.30
Source:
Organization of American States. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Date of Document:
17 March 2019
URL:
https://www.oas.org/en/iachr/docs/annual/2018/docs/IA2018RELE-en.pdf
Accessed Date:
14 April 2020
Disclaimer
National Documentation Packages (NDPs) include country-of-origin information that is publicly accessible at the time of publication and available within time constraints. While the Research Directorate strives to maintain the
NDP with current information, the research is not exhaustive and country conditions can change rapidly. Members of the public are invited to
suggest documents they feel are relevant to the
NDP.
NDPs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the
NDPs are the responsibility of independent
IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
All sources are fully cited, including a hyperlink, to facilitate the location of the information. The
IRB will attempt to ensure that these links are maintained for the most recent
NDP. It cannot guarantee or be responsible for:
- the functionality of links to external sources,
- the content accessed by these links,
- the availability of external content in both English and French,
- any other part of a third party website.
The information presented in
NDPs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the
IRB or the Government of Canada.