FOR years she has lived on a plot of land, paying the property tax, confident that this established her ownership of the premises that has been in the family’s possession for decades.

But a recent legal literacy session held in the Caribbean Palms community located off Spanish Town Road in St Andrew provided her with clarity that it was not as simple as she assumed.

The woman, whose name is being withheld, was one of the many residents who participated in a session organised by the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), supported by the European Union’s ‘Promoting Human Rights and Access to Justice for Priority Populations in Jamaica’ project.

The session was designed to empower residents of underserved communities by translating complex legal concepts into actionable knowledge.

For this woman it was not just another community event — it was a turning point.

She said her interest was piqued when JASL’s Policy and Advocacy Officer Patrick Lalor asked participants to reflect on their rights and aspirations and jot them down on paper before he tied their responses to Jamaica’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

But it was Legal Officer Latoya Thomas’s presentation on land ownership that struck a chord with her.

“I always believed that family had first preference in land inheritance and that paying property taxes secured ownership,” the woman admitted.

Her misconceptions were quickly dispelled as Thomas detailed the legal requirements for ownership, emphasising documentation and investment proof.

It was a revelation that brought clarity and urgency.

“The first thing I’m going to do is put up a fence to establish clear boundaries,” she shared, explaining that for years she had lived on the land without formalising ownership, but now she understands the path forward.

Other attendees at the session left equipped with information and tools to navigate complex legal systems, sparking what organisers described as a “ripple effect” of empowerment in their communities.

The woman’s story wasn’t the only testament to the day’s success. Across the room attendees shared challenges ranging from inheritance disputes to employment discrimination.

One participant spoke of the frustration young job seekers face with experience requirements for entry-level positions, while others discussed stigma tied to certain home addresses.

Angela Brown Burke, Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Western, commended the session’s grass roots approach.

“Legal literacy is often inaccessible, but initiatives like this bring the law to the people. These conversations spark change,” she noted.

“We need more of these sessions, not as one-offs but as ongoing conversations,” Brown Burke emphasised. “Empowering one person can ignite a movement within communities.”

This session was part of a broader initiative to foster legal literacy and empowerment across Jamaica.

The project kicked off with a baseline survey to understand the stigma and discrimination faced by priority populations, providing data to shape interventions. A significant milestone came in July with a legal fair that drew 69 attendees.

Held on July 19, the fair brought together key partners, including Independent Commission of Investigations, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Jamaica Constabulary Force, and Tax Administration Jamaica.

A session in Rockfort on July 30 engaged 49 participants, with six individuals receiving direct legal assistance on matters like land acquisition and wills.

Today JASL will officially launch its EU project, Promoting Human Rights and Access to Justice for Priority Populations in Jamaica’ geared at reducing HIV-related stigma, discrimination, and gender inequality in Jamaica.

The project, which is funded to a tune of €299,958, began in December 2023 and will run for 30 months, culminating in July 2026.