Opposition lawmaker urges national femicide registry as Jamaica ranks among world's highest

Denise Daley, the Opposition Spokesperson on Gender, the elderly, and persons with disability, wants Jamaica to set up a national femicide registry. Femicide refers to the deliberate killing of women or girls, often because of their gender.

Daley raised the issue on Tuesday as the United Nations Population Fund ranks Jamaica among countries with the world's second-highest femicide rate. She addressed the House of Representatives during her contribution to the Sectoral Debate.

"If we continue treating every femicide as simply another homicide, we will continue responding after lives have already been lost instead of identifying the warning signs that could prevent these tragedies," said Daley.

"Every woman lost leaves behind grieving and traumatised families and communities forever changed. This is why I believe it is time for Jamaica to establish a national femicide registry," she added.

The Member of Parliament for St Catherine Eastern said such a registry would gather and study key data, including prior domestic violence reports, restraining orders, police interventions, and other signs that abuse may be worsening.

"It would enable policymakers, social workers and law enforcement to identify patterns, improve interventions and ultimately save lives," she noted.

Daley told the Parliament that tackling violence in homes and communities must go hand in hand with recognising how abuse has changed.

"Today, abuse no longer ends when someone leaves the house. It follows them onto their mobile phones, computers, and social media accounts. Cyberbullying has become one of the most significant threats facing our young people. We have seen lives damaged by online harassment, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberstalking and public humiliation carried out behind anonymous screens," said Daley.

She pointed out that messages sent in moments can cause harm that lasts for years, and cautioned that "we also cannot ignore the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI)."

Daley said AI could reshape many sectors but, like any powerful tool, can be misused.

"Today, women and girls have become particular targets through the creation of deepfake images and digitally manipulated content intended to humiliate, exploit and intimidate them."

"Young men are also increasingly exposed to cyber fraud and harmful digital influences that shape unhealthy attitudes towards women and relationships," she stated.

The Opposition MP warned that technology must never outpace our values.

"We must begin developing legislative safeguards, public education campaigns and digital literacy programmes that equip our citizens, especially our young people, to use these technologies responsibly while protecting them from abuse," Daley said.

She proposed that schools should be included in that effort.