Alliance demands full investigation into murder of Caribbean activist
08 December 2005
Following the murder on 30 November of Stephen Harvey, a well-known and respected HIV/AIDS activist in Jamaica, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance has written to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Jamaica requesting a full investigation. Harvey, who was country co-ordinator for the Latin American and Caribbean Council of AIDS Service Organisations and worked on the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life programme, which gave support to gay men and sex workers, was abducted and killed by three armed men who broke into his house and demanded money late on 29 November.
The motive behind the robbery, abduction and murder is not yet confirmed, but Jamaica has seen widespread violence and discrimination against people living with, associated with, or at high risk of HIV/AIDS, especially men who have sex with men.
Stephen Lewis, head of the Alliance’s Latin America and Caribbean team praised the work and commitment of Stephen Harvey and sent condolences to all his colleagues, friends and family. “We have requested that the police carry out a full investigation on this case, not only to publicly condemn such a horrendous crime, but also to bring the perpetrators to justice. We are also calling on all levels of government and society in Jamaica to address the homophobia, stigma and discrimination that abounds and which is undermining many people’s best efforts to tackle the growing Jamaican HIV/AIDS epidemic.”
Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world, and homophobia is also widespread. Homosexual sex (specifically ‘acts of gross indecency’ and anal sex) are illegal and many victims of homophobic attacks are too scared to appeal to the police for help, fearing arrest, abuse or detention. Only a year ago, the founder of the Jamaican gay rights movement Brian Wilson was murdered. While many believed the murder was a hate crime, the police concluded the motive was robbery.
UNAIDS has condemned the recent killing of Harvey, describing his death as “a loss not only to the AIDS movement in Jamaica and the Caribbean, but to the whole world. Steve Harvey will be remembered as an extraordinarily brave and committed activist, who, irrespective of the dangers of his work, represented the interests of people living with HIV and those at risk of infection. His courage was inspiring”.
