Hated to Death:
Homophobia, Violence, and Jamaica’s HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Glossary of Key Terms

A Note on Jamaican language

I. Summary

II. Recommendations

To the Jamaican government

Reform the law enforcement system

Enhance the national effort against HIV/AIDS

To Donors and International Organizations

III. Methods

IV. Background

HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

Homophobia in Jamaica and its role in driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic

V. Findings of Human Rights Watch's Investigation

Police abuse

Police abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity

Police abuse of sex workers

Police interference with access to HIV/AIDS information and health services

Abuses in the health care system

Discrimination by health care providers

Discrimination in health care provision

Inadequate protection of confidential information

Driving men who have sex with men and people living with HIV/AIDS from health care services

Fostering dangerous practices and complicating health care provision

Denial of access to transportation

Other abuses by non-state actors: violence in the family and in the community

Abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity

Abuses against people living with HIV/AIDS

VI. Government Response

Improving legal and policy protections

Educating health personnel

Efforts to address police abuse and provide HIV/AIDS education to police

Institutional mechanisms to address police misconduct

Police training on HIV/AIDS and related human rights issues

VII. Regional Efforts to Address HIV/AIDS

VIII. Legal Standards

Freedom from violence

The right to privacy and the right to freedom from discrimination

Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention

Freedom of association and assembly

The right to the highest attainable standard of health

IX. Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Appendix

Vol. 16, No. 6(B)   November 2004