Gov’t Welcomes USAID US$9.9-Million Programme to Assist Violence Victims

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has welcomed assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in strengthening government and civil society efforts in support of victims of interpersonal and collective violence.

The organisation is providing US$9.9 million to bolster interventions in hotspot communities under the Supporting Victims of Violence (SVOV) Activity.

The initiative, being undertaken through partnership with Winrock International, was launched on Wednesday (April 10) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Minister Chuck expressed gratitude to the USAID for the “important intervention”.

He said that the focus of the SVOV Activity is timely and it is hoped that it will significantly reduce cases of violence across Jamaica.

“Far too many victims suffer in silence because they feel it is acceptable, because they feel if they report it, the offender might be prosecuted or they are in fear that there could be even further retaliation,” Mr. Chuck said.

SVOV Activity Chief of Party, Dr. Charlene Coore Desai, underscored that violence is one of the most critical issues facing Jamaica.

“The USAID Jamaica SVOV Activity is aimed at improving multi-stakeholder coordination to provide wraparound and trauma-informed services to survivors and to increase the availability of information on survivors, witnesses and perpetrators of violence in Jamaica,” she shared.

The programme will target Jamaicans aged 10 to 29 years, over a period of three years, ending in July 2027.

“We want to focus on youth because of their high rates of exposure to violence. In Jamaica, they have the highest rates of perpetration and victimisation but also they have the best potential to disrupt the cycle of violence,” she said.

Dr. Coore Desai explained that the SVOV Activity will be survivor and trauma-informed, community-led and inclusive, innovative and will include phased capacity sharing with civil-society organisations.

Among the communities targeted for intervention are Grange Hill and Little London in Westmoreland; Flankers, St. James, Palmer’s Cross and York Town in Clarendon; Braeton, St. Catherine; and Kencot, Lawrence Tavern, Tower Hill and Rennock Lodge in Kingston and St. Andrew.

For his part, United States Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Nick Perry, said the United States remains committed to partnering with the Jamaican authorities to improve citizen security by strengthening policing efforts, enhancing border security and promoting community-based interventions.

“This is a groundbreaking initiative… . It represents a paradigm shift in our approach to addressing violence in Jamaica, to not only support the victims but also witnesses and vulnerable youth, who have become perpetrators of the violence themselves,” Ambassador Perry remarked.