Human Rights and Freedom in Jamaica

Jamaica [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	70th best
Capital	Kingston
Land Area	10 830km21
Location	North America, The Americas, The Caribbean
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	2.9m2
Life Expectancy	70.50yrs (2017)3
GNI	$8 834 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	JM, JAM, 3885
Internet Domain	.jm6
Currency	Dollar (JMD)7
Telephone	+8

Jamaica does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Jamaica does better than average in terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₉, supporting press freedom₁₀ (amongst the highest in The Americas), its average Freedom in the World rating, freethought₁₁ and in opposing gender inequality₁₂. But, things still need to improve in Jamaica. Christian institutions are the greatest risk to human rights, with the influence increasing even though the population is gradually shedding theistic beliefs₁₃. Jamaica does worse than average for combatting modern slavery₁₄, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₁₅ and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₁₆. Homosexual marriages are illegal, with consistent pressure from Christian churches preventing any movement towards tolerance₁₃. Atheists are discriminated against, with public officials all being required to swear an oath 'before God' and other explicit Christian engagements and privileges at government level which are not given to other religions₁₃.

1. Jamaica's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   1. Press Freedom
   2. Slavery in the 2020s
   3. Freedom in the World
   4. Nominal Commitment to HR
   5. HR Treaties Lag
3. Gender Equality Datasets
   1. Gender Inequality
   2. Year Women Can Vote
4. Prejudice Datasets
   1. Anti-Semite Opinions
   2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s
   3. Freedom of Thought
5. Links

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1. Jamaica's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to The Americas (2025)17
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank17
1	Canada	17.0
2	Uruguay	30.8
3	Costa Rica	38.8
	...
17	Suriname	76.4
18	Guatemala	77.4
19	Honduras	78.6
20	Jamaica	79.5
21	Colombia	79.6
22	Dominican Rep.	80.4
23	Belize	83.9
24	Paraguay	84.0
25	St Vincent & Grenadines	84.8
	The Americas Avg	75.88
q=35.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)17
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank17
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
67	Macedonia	78.3
68	Vanuatu	78.5
69	Honduras	78.6
70	Jamaica	79.5
71	Colombia	79.6
72	Dominican Rep.	80.4
73	Philippines	81.0
74	Kiribati	81.6
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₁₈. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₁₈.

30 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₈, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₁₈.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

2.1. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Higher is better10
Pos.		202510
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
23	Spain	77.35
24	Taiwan	77.04
25	France	76.62
26	Jamaica	75.83
27	S. Africa	75.71
28	Namibia	75.35
29	Australia	75.15
30	Cape Verde	74.98
	The Americas Avg	55.99
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Jamaica is 26th in the world regarding supporting press freedom (one of the highest in The Americas).

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₉

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

Averages by decade for Jamaica (for the ranks, lower is better):

Press Freedom	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Jamaica:	5.54	88.63
World Rank:	26th	⇡  7th
World Avg:	27.44	65.91

2.2. Slavery in the 2020s

#burundi #eritrea #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better14
Pos.		Slavery in the 2020s Per 100014
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
109	Bolivia	7.20
110=	Nicaragua	7.30
110=	Ivory Coast	7.30
110=	Jamaica	7.30
113	Uzbekistan	7.40
114=	Romania	7.50
114=	Burundi	7.50
116=	Gabon	7.60
	The Americas Avg	5.84
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

Jamaica comes 110th in the world in terms of combatting modern slavery.

Modern slavery includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones, and the poverty-stricken vulnerable.₂₀. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₂₁, Eritrea₂₁, Indonesia₂₂) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say in their 2023 report, that 50 million people are living in modern slavery₂₁, and, nearly two-thirds of those in forced labour are employed at the end of supply chains working for large multinationals that creating products consumed by rich countries₂₃.

For more, see:

• "The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

Averages by decade for Jamaica (for the ranks, lower is better):

Slavery	2010s  Average	2020s  Average
Jamaica:	2.60	7.30
World Rank:	50th	⇣  110th
World Avg:	6.54	7.15

2.3. Freedom in the World

#freedom #human_rights #hungary #politics #USA

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
48=	Grenada	1.5
48=	Latvia	1.5
48=	Bahamas	1.5
51=	Jamaica	2.0
51=	Guyana	2.0
51=	USA	2.0
51=	Mauritius	2.0
51=	Argentina	2.0
	The Americas Avg	2.7
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Regarding its average Freedom in the World rating, Jamaica ranks 51st in the world.

Freedom House's long-standing annual report has been running since the 1970s, collecting data on political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL). Their reports rate countries as "Free", "Partially Free" or "Not Free", however the results here are based on their numerical values. Many countries score the best combination of scores (1 and 1), which is why the table of results show many places equally placed in 1st place. In the past two decades, some well-established democracies like the USA and Hungary have been falling. Whilst most of the world in general is improving rights and freedoms over time, the 2020s has seen some regression.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Averages by decade for Jamaica (for the ranks, lower is better):

Freedom in the World	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Jamaica:	1.9	2.3	2.3	2.5	2.4
World Rank:	25th	⇣  44th	⇣  65th	⇣  83rd	⇡  81st
World Avg:	4.3	4.2	3.6	3.4	3.4

2.4. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better15
Pos.		2009 Treaties15
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
112=	Dominican Rep.	14
112=	Kenya	14
112=	Japan	14
112=	Jamaica	14
112=	Jordan	14
112=	China	14
112=	Mauritius	14
112=	Botswana	14
	The Americas Avg	16.5
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

Jamaica is 112th in the world regarding its nominal commitment to Human Rights.

There are many international agreements on Human Rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of Human Rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

2.5. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better24
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
53	Iraq	7.55
54	New Zealand	7.56
55	Iceland	7.57
56	Jamaica	7.61
57	Honduras	7.64
58	Congo, DR	7.72
59	Seychelles	7.73
60	Jordan	7.75
	The Americas Avg	8.45
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Jamaica ranks 56th in the world regarding speed of uptake of HR treaties.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

3. Gender Equality Datasets

Jamaica has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

3.1. Gender Inequality

#christianity #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better12
Pos.		202212
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
80	Cape Verde	0.33
81	St Lucia	0.35
82	Kyrgyzstan	0.35
83	Jamaica	0.35
84	Mexico	0.36
85	El Salvador	0.37
86	Mauritius	0.37
87	Peru	0.37
	The Americas Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

With regard to opposing gender inequality, Jamaica comes 83rd in the world.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

• "Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

Conservative Christian groups are succeeding in limiting women's rights, with rape not being recognized within marriage and abortion being illegal, punishable with life imprisonment, although some observers note that the law isn't actively applied.₁₃.

Averages by decade for Jamaica (for the ranks, lower is better):

Gender Inequality	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Jamaica:	0.45	0.44	0.40
World Rank:	55th	⇣  78th	⇣  87th
World Avg:	0.44	0.41	0.37

3.2. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Year Women Can Vote Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
47=	Bulgaria	1944
47=	France	1944
47=	Bermuda	1944
47=	Jamaica	1944
51=	Slovenia	1945
51=	Croatia	1945
51=	Italy	1945
51=	Senegal	1945
	The Americas Avg	1947
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Regarding the year from which women could participate in democracy, Jamaica is positioned 47th in the world.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

• "Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice Datasets

4.1. Anti-Semite Opinions

#antisemitism #christianity #germany #indonesia #jordan #judaism #laos #morocco #netherlands #pakistan #philippines #religion #religious_violence #saudi_arabia #spain #sweden #turkey #UK #vietnam

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better9
Pos.		2014 %9
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
20=	Nigeria	16
20=	Iceland	16
20=	Uganda	16
23	Jamaica	18
24=	India	20
24=	Ireland	20
24=	Italy	20
24=	China	20
	The Americas Avg	29.7
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

Jamaica ranks 24th in the world regarding its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice.

Anti-Semitism is the word given to irrational racism against Jews. It's not the same as anti-Judaism (arguments against the religion) nor the same as anti-Zionism (arguments against Israel). In history, influential Christian theologians concocted the arguments against Jews that led, very early on, to widespread Christian action against Jews_25,26,27,28. As Christianity rose to power in the West and presided over the Dark Ages, there were repeated violent outbursts against Jews of the most horrible kind. Entire Crusades were aimed at them and the feared Spanish Inquisition paid Jews particular attention. The horror of the holocaust instigated by German Nazis in the 1940s was followed (finally) by the era of European human rights and a movement against racism in general.

The places that are the least anti-Semitical are a few countries of south-east Asia (Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam) and some of the secular liberal democracies of Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK). The worst countries for antisemitism are Islamic states of the Middle East₂₉, which are undergoing their own Dark Age. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey see the most oppressive and violent actions towards Jews_30,31. Jews in Muslim countries face a host of restrictions and "ceaseless humiliation and regular pogroms"₃₂. In 2004 the European Union Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia reported on violent anti-Jew crimes in the EU and found that that largest group of perpetrators were young Muslim males₃₃.

For more, see:

• "Anti-Semitism" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s

#2020s #christianity #equality #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #jamaica #sexuality #tolerance

Homosexual marriages are illegal in Jamaica but under the Constitution and via the Marriage (Amendment) Act of 1979, with consistent pressure from Christian churches preventing any movement towards tolerance₁₃.

“Some analysts consider Jamaica one of the most homophobic countries on earth. Church groups, including representatives from the largest denomination "the Church of God," have organized rallies against attempts to decriminalize homosexuality, although the government has thus far made no attempts to repeal the anti-LGBTI+ laws.”

"The Freedom of Thought Report" by Humanists International (2021)₁₃

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better16
Pos.		LGBT Equality in the 2020s Score16
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
170=	Liberia	-4.87
170=	Kenya	-4.87
170=	St Vincent & Grenadines	-4.87
170=	Jamaica	-4.87
174	Solomon Islands	-4.88
175=	Tanzania	-5.00
175=	Tunisia	-5.00
177	Morocco	-5.02
	The Americas Avg	0.41
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Jamaica is 169th in the world in terms of LGBT equality in the 2020s.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₄. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right and protected by privacy laws₃₅. Despite this, it is illegal to be homosexual in over 60 countries (as of 2025)₃₆. The Vexen LGBT Equality Index as part of the Social and Moral Development Index grants points to each country depending on its LGBT stance since the 1970s_37,38. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region, but in the Middle East and Africa cultural prejudice goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

• " LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Jamaica inherited British sodomy laws, criminalizing anal intercourse and "gross indecency". The 1864 Offences Against the Person Act criminalizes same-sex acts with up to 10 years hard labor.

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Jamaica had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination.

Averages by decade for Jamaica (for the ranks, lower is better):

LGBT Equality	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average	2020s  Average
Jamaica:	-5.00	-5.00	-5.00	-5.00	-5.00	-4.87
World Rank:	136th	⇣  138th	⇣  148th	⇡  144th	⇣  158th	⇣  169th
World Avg:	-2.98	-2.87	-2.60	-2.15	-1.10	-1.21

4.3. Freedom of Thought

#atheism #christianity #europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #Jamaica #netherlands #religion #religion_in_Jamaica #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Jamaica's 19th-century blasphemy law was removed in 2013, putting some historical prejudice to bed₁₃. Although Jamaica's Constitution protects freedom of religion (Section 17)₁₃, it causes discrimination against the non-religious and against atheists; for example, public officials must all swear an oath to God₁₃, which therefore makes it illegal for atheists to take up those jobs. Government activity includes explicit Christian engagements with no opening for other faiths and no consideration for those who have no religion₁₃.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better11
Pos.		202111
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
76=	Nepal	2.8
76=	Latvia	2.8
76=	Monaco	2.8
76=	Jamaica	2.8
76=	Mauritius	2.8
76=	Gambia	2.8
76=	Montenegro	2.8
76=	Argentina	2.8
	The Americas Avg	2.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Jamaica comes 65th in the world in terms of freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₃₉. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₄₀. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₄₁ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₄₂. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₄₃. The best countries at doing so are Belgium, The Netherlands and Taiwan_11,44 and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia_11,45.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₆. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₄₀, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₇ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₄₈ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

• "Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).

Despite religious opposition, the government have managed to make some reforms. In 2013, the 19th-century blasphemy law (supported by a 1863 Defamation Act) were replaced, removing the concept of blasphemy from law.