Human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice, JFJ, says the controversial sex education programme it implemented in six private children’s homes fell outside its mandate.
JFJ says the programme goal was to engender responsible attitudes in marginalized youth towards their sexual and reproductive health to reduce the incidence of HIV infections in the adolescent population.
It says this goal falls outside of its ‘human rights mandate’ that has been the norm and modus operandi for the past 15 years.
The Board of JFJ made the declaration that the sex education programme was outside its human rights mandate.
It has come to that conclusion having completed its review of the programme.
The programme was entitled ‘Healthy Sexual Growth and Development in Marginalized Youth: Rights, Responsibilities and Life Skills’.
In a statement this afternoon, JFJ says its Board of Directors acknowledges that the curriculum included content that may have been inappropriate for children of the target age.
It says its Board is unable to determine who actually prepared the inappropriate material.
This, as it says there were ‘material deviations’ to the project proposal. It adds that this affected the development and implementation of the project.
JFJ says the project proposal required that FAMPLAN signed off on the material to be presented to the wards.
According to JFJ, this was not done.
The human rights lobby group says there were weaknesses in its oversight and vetting which resulted in the likely exposure of some children to inappropriate material.
It says it regrets these occurrences and its Board holds itself accountable.
JFJ reiterated that its former Executive Director, Dr. Carolyn Gomes, developed, negotiated and contracted the project, with funding arranged by the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, CVCC.
It says the project began implementation in October last year under the direct guidance of Dr. Gomes.
It says in December last year, when Dr. Gomes demitted office as Executive Director, she did NOT provide the Board with ‘complete information’ on the project.
This, even as she continued to sit on the Board until her resignation in June.
JFJ has also again distanced its new Executive Director, Kay Osbourne, from any involvement with the project.
The controversial sex education programme reportedly introduced the wards to anal and oral sex.
It sparked outrage among many, with allegations that JFJ was imposing ‘a homosexual agenda’ on the vulnerable children.
The matter is being probed by both the police and the Office of the Children’s Advocate.
Youth Minister, Lisa Hanna, has also asked the Attorney General for legal advice.
The controversy has fuelled rifts in the leadership of JFJ. Its longtime spokesperson, Susan Goffe, as well as two other Board members resigned over the board’s handling of the controversy.
An extraordinary general meeting is set for next week. It’s understood that at that meeting moves will be made to remove the current board and executive director.
