Knowing Your Rights

Bringing you awareness of your rights and keeping you up to date with relevant information💬.

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How can securities of Northern Caribbean University approach students without infringing on their rights as a student and a citizen?

       Studies interact with the securities of the University daily. Sometimes they encounter the securities more than once depending on how often they enter and leave the campus. There have been many complaints of infringement of rights both as students and as individuals. Below are ways in which securities can approach students without infringing on their rights.

o   Address the students politely.

o   Inform students in a polite manner if they are in violations of the university code of conduct/dress/ethos.

o   Explain to them what the acceptable standards are and what can happen if those standards are not followed/adhere to.

o   Do not discriminate any individual.

o   The rules apply to ALL students.

o   Securities should not make fun of an individual if they fail to understand the rules or why something is not acceptable.

o   Securities should at no time attempt to manhandle or assault students.

o   If students fail to comply with the rules, follow the correct procedure and address the individual(s) accordingly.

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   Expectations of Police Officer’s when approaching a Citizen/Non-Citizen

      Police officers are expected to follow protocol when dealing with an individual whether they are a citizen of Jamaica or not. A police officer must act in a manner to preserve the confidence and consideration that his duties require. Here are some protocols officers should follow when dealing with individuals:

o   Always approach a member of the public (citizen or not) professionally and politely.

o   Treat individuals as humanely as possible.

o   The officer should identify themselves and their reason for encountering the individual.

o   The officer should always respect the rights of the individual.

o   Do not use force if not required.

o   Do not question people in an intimidating manner.

o   Officers should not request/demand/accept bribes.

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    How should you behave when approached by a Law Enforcement Agent?

Many persons encounter law enforcement agents from time to time but are not aware of what protocols to follow during their interactions with the law enforcement agent. When approached by a law enforcement officer, citizens should follow these pointers:

·   Remain calm and show no hostility towards the officer.

·   Listen carefully and comply to the instructions given by the officer.

·  Citizens have the right to remain silent.

·  The right to request some form of identification and the reason for interrogation, search, seizure, detention and/or arrest.

·  Citizens have the right to record their interactions between themselves and the officer(s), only if they are legally allowed to be in that space.

·  Do not attempt to escape from the officer or resist arrest.

·   Do not give the officer false information.

·   Do not assault or disrespect the officer in any manner.

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Responsibilities of Law Enforcement persons:

·         To protect civilians.

·         To uphold and enforce the law.

·         To investigate matters and interrogate suspects.

·         The power to search (persons and properties alike).

·         The power to confiscate possessions.

·         To direct and control traffic.

·         To apprehend suspects.

·         Crime prevention.

·         Securing crime/accidents scenes.

·         Writing reports.

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                         What Are Your Responsibilities as A Citizen?

                 You know your rights… Now know your responsibilities.

Citizens are entitled to rights and privileges. However, citizens also have some responsibilities and duties:

1.    Pay taxes.

2.    Obey the law.

3.    To keep the peace.

4.    Respect the rights and responsibilities of others.

5.    To participate in democracy.

6.    The duty to care.

7.    To be ready to serve as a witness when required.

8.    To care for offspring.

9.    To participate in neighbourhood watch.

10.  To serve in the Jury/Jury duty.

11.  To defend their countries’ constitution.

12 . To contribute to society.

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Organizations That Can Help Me If My Rights Have Been Breached:

·         INDECOM (Independent Commission of Investigations): An individual can file a complaint to INDECOM, and they will investigate members and agents of the state if a person’s rights have been infringed.

·         JFJ (Jamaicans for Justice): They provide legal services for victims in response to human rights violations to receive justice.

·         Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights: They promote recognition for Human Rights and civil liberties and undertake all necessary actions to secure redress and for all infringements of Human Rights.

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                                      Remedies for Breaches of Rights

Although the rights of individuals are established and should always be recognized and respected except under the specified circumstances declared that those rights can be restricted or infringed. There are many instances wherein someone’s right is breached whether they are aware or not. Hence, there are some remedies available for a person whose rights have been infringed:

·         Financial compensation (Only if the individual has suffered loss wherein the court allows for compensation).

·         Individuals can file for an Injunction (a judicial order restraining an individual from continuing an action which threatens or invades the legal rights of another. It can compel a person to carry out an action such as restitution to the victim).  

·         Access to the relevant reparation organizations or authorities.

·         An apology (Sometimes the victims of violations of human rights would feel better that the person/organization that has breached their right(s), admits their wrongful action, and apologize).

·         Awareness of Human Rights (Some of these human right breaches are caused by ignorance. Therefore, measures should be implemented to ensure knowledge of human rights reaches everyone so that individuals do not infringe another individual’s right(s).

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     Do You Know Your Rights as a Northern Caribbean University Student?

If not, let me inform you of your Rights as a student at the Northern Caribbean University. 

     As a student at the Northern Caribbean University, you are a member of the academic community. As such, you are entitled to special obligations and certain privileges. These can be found in the Student handbook of the Northern Caribbean University. Additionally, students should uphold the integrity of the academic community and exercise the appropriate behavior that reflect the ethos of the university. 

· Right to enquire matters regarding university policies and procedures that affect personal life or concerns of general interest.

· Right to appeal issue(s) with an administrative decision, policy, or regulation. A student has the right to make representation on a point affecting all or a portion of the student body.

· The right to file a complaint if the student believes that his/her academic or personal rights have been violated by another student, NCU worker or a third party connected to the institution. If the student is a student worker, they have the right to file a complaint regarding treatment at work.

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     Everyone has rights. Therefore, the purpose of the Convention on the Rights of a Child is to acknowledge, protect and fulfil the rights of every child as they too are individuals with their own rights. Furthermore, the Convention acknowledges the role of parents and the family in the care and protection of children, as well as the obligation of the State to assist in carrying out these duties. The Convention on the Rights of a Child also allows for children to know their rights as every child has a right to know their rights. 

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Children’s right are recognized in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Jamaican Constitution. 

According to Chapter 13 subsection 2k of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Jamaican Constitution, the right of every child includes:

 the right to be protected by virtue of being a minor, part of a family, society, and the State

the right of a child who is a citizen of Jamaica, to public educational institution at the pre-primary and primary levels.

to 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.

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Who is a child? According to UNICEF, a child is anyone under the age of eighteen years unless majority is attained earlier according to the law applicable to the child. 

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Do You Know Your Rights As A Jamaican Citizen?

       As humans, we are entitled to rights and freedoms, but how many people know their rights or can acknowledge when these rights are being infringed upon? I want to take the opportunity to educate and refresh your minds on the rights we have as a Jamaican citizen. These rights can be found in Chapter 13 subsection 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Jamaican Constitution:

  The right to life, liberty, and security.

  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 of every citizen of Jamaica to enter Jamaica; and 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 being male or female race, place of origin, class, color, religion, or political opinions.

The right to protection from search of self and property; and respect for protection of private and family life, privacy of the home; and protection of other property and of communication.

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 right to protection of property rights.

 The right to due process.

  The right to freedom of religion.

      All these rights are entitled to Jamaican citizens and anyone legally in Jamaica. Some of these rights are considered fundamental rights because they are entitled to everyone. However, the rights outlined by the Jamaican Constitution, should always be acknowledged, respected, and never infringed upon except under the conditions outlined by the said Constitution. This therefore means that everyone is under the responsibility to acknowledge and not breach such rights.

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What are Rights? 🤔

 The term “rights” is often used, but do we really understand the depth of the word? According to Laski, rights are those conditions of social life without which no man can seek in general to be himself at his best. In brief, rights are privileges that we inherit from birth. Example: The right to life.