- Progress Jersey
Progress Jersey is a charity and
pressure group inJersey . It was formed in November2005 byDarius J. Pearce ,Daren O'Toole andGino Risoli . The original aim of Progress Jersey was to encourage electoral participation however it soon became a regular contributor to the Scrutiny process and has lobbied primarily on issues relating to compliance with theEuropean Convention of Human Rights .Its active membership is chiefly drawn from the members of the
Municipality of theParish ofSaint Helier .Organisation
At the first annual meeting the members renewed their commitment to avoid adopting a formal structure and organisations and decisions are made by majority vote of members attending each meeting. Four authorised spokespersons were appointed at this time. In January 2007 it was recognised that a more formal approach had to be taken and they would organise as a charity.
In May 2007,
Darius J Pearce announced that should he stand at the next election it would be as a member of theJersey Conservative Party and resigned from the board to ensure complete separation of the personnel of the charity and thepolitical party .Progress Jersey has been active in online political discussion. [cite web |url=http://www.5tracks.eu/index.php?tag=stuartsyvret |title=The Syvret Letter |accessdate=2007-07-02 |work=5Tracks |quote=There are two major sides to the Jersey online political landscape (away from the major media), one is the JDA inspired Is This Jersey and the other the Centre Right Progress Jersey.]
Activities
Progress Jersey commenced production of a quarterly newsletter for the Parish of St Helier called Parish Matters in Quarter One of 2007 and undertakes 'independent of government' surveys of political opinion amongst Jersey residents.
Legislative Successes
Abuse of trust
As the States of Jersey considered reform of the age of consent, Progress Jersey spearheaded the campaign to introduce greater safeguards for children before any changes were made. The proposition was withdrawn at the first attempt following an e-mail circulated to States Members on the eve of the debate by and a revised law with Abuse of Trust provisions was submitted subsequently and accepted.
Ongoing Campaigns
Civil Partnerships
Progress Jersey spearheaded the campaign to introduce homosexual civil partnerships in Jersey. [cite web |url=http://www.isthisjersey.com/news.php?item.51.9 |title=Civil Partnership Petition in Progress |accessdate=2007-07-02 |work=Is this Jersey? ] Originally a submission was made to
Jersey Scrutiny which was passed to theLegislation Committee . In 2006 SenatorPhilip Ozouf announced his support for the petition organized by Progress Jersey. [cite news |title=Support for island partnerships:A group campaigning for civil partnerships to be legally recognised is being supported by a Jersey senator |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/jersey/4982350.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=7 May 2006 |accessdate=2007-07-02 |language= |quote=Senator Philip Ozouf says he agrees with a petition being organised by Progress Jersey. ] In May 2007 it was announced that a law would be drafted due for introduction in Q4 2008.Reform of Jersey Legitimacy Laws
Progress Jersey made a submission to
Jersey Scrutiny highlighting the inconsistency of the Legitimacy (Jersey) Law 1973, as amended with the position of Jersey as a signatory to theEuropean Convention of Human Rights .The proposition was accepted by scrutiny in June 2006 and the matter referred to the
Legislation Committee .In January 2007, following the introduction of the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 a case was bought before the
Royal Court by a local lawyer who claimed that her illegitimate child was being discriminated against as he could not take the name of his father and that the fatherhood was not allowed to be recorded.In June 2007 as part of her announcement to step down from office, the Home Affairs Minister
Wendy Kinnard indicated that it was her intention to bring a change to the Legitimacy Law. [Jersey Evening Post, 1st June 2007]eparation of Judiciary from Legislature
It is Progress Jersey's contention that the three situations outlined above are in breach of the
European Convention of Human Rights Notes
External links
* [http://progressjersey.blogspot.com/ Progress Jersey website]
* [http://www.scrutiny.gov.je/documents/evidence/7976-39046-2022006.pdf Response to Project Jersey submisison before the European Court of Human Rights]
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