Kingston, Jamaica – In a nation where abortion is technically illegal yet quietly common, a growing pro-life movement is making waves both on the streets and in hearts across Jamaica.

At the forefront is Friends for Life, the pro-life arm of Jamaica’s Love March Movement, led by Diane Constantine (see podcast), Project Director and a driving force behind their tireless outreach. Since a mission trip in March 2024, the group has helped at least 27 women choose life for their unborn children, often through personal encounters with trained volunteers outside clinics and in public spaces. They lead the local 40 Days for Life campaign in Kingston.

But it hasn’t been easy.

Volunteers in Friends for Life face not only the heartbreak of confronting women in crisis but also physical aggression. According to Diane, this year’s 40 Days for Life campaign faced “raging inferno” levels of hostility, including verbal assaults, organized opposition, and even suspected police interference. One of the most remarkable incidents involved a hired attacker who had a change of heart after speaking with a volunteer and confessed to his role in disrupting the campaign.

Despite the pressure, Friends for Life remains undeterred. “We view this as spiritual warfare,” said Diane during the podcast with Robert Colquhoun. “Abortion is not just a social or political issue—it’s a matter of the heart, of spiritual life and death.”

The group’s philosophy is deeply faith-based. They stress the need for compassion, prayer, and purity of heart—not hatred. “We’re not just trying to save babies; we’re trying to share the hope of Christ with women who feel trapped,” Diane said.

One of the movement’s key victories came in the form of their first successful abortion pill reversal, where a woman who had taken the first dose of a chemical abortion changed her mind and safely carried her pregnancy to term thanks to swift medical intervention.

The team’s outreach doesn’t stop there. A new initiative called In the Streets is taking their message beyond clinic sidewalks and into everyday Jamaican life through weekly public conversations and engagement. They're also refining their Sidewalk Outreach workshop, soon to become a required training step for all campaign volunteers.

While abortion in Jamaica remains illegal, estimates suggest 20 to 60 abortions occur daily, often in unregulated or clandestine settings. “There’s a huge gap in awareness,” said Diane. “Many women simply don’t know what fetal development looks like in those early weeks.”

This knowledge gap is something Friends for Life aims to close, one conversation at a time. But cultural and economic headwinds remain stiff. Jamaica’s economy is heavily shaped by remittances and tourism, contributing to what Diane describes as a “burial country,” where children often grow up without their parents due to migration. The nation also suffers a brain drain, particularly in healthcare and education sectors.

Even within the Church, the pro-life message faces apathy. “We have a passionate few, but many believers don't understand the urgency of standing for life,” said Diane. Still, she remains hopeful. “God doesn’t need a crowd to move mountains. He works through those who are willing.”

Looking ahead, Friends for Life plans to expand its outreach, deepen its volunteer training, and even bring its message to neighboring Caribbean nations. The team also intends to attend an upcoming pro-life conference in the United States to draw strength and strategy from international allies.

For Diane, the goal is clear: “We want Jamaica to become a refuge—a place where life is sacred from womb to tomb.”

Next Steps for Friends for Life: continue weekly In the Streets public outreach, require Sidewalk Outreach training for volunteers, increase church engagement across denominations, expand abortion pill reversal support, attend U.S. pro-life conference for further training, develop pro-life partnerships in other Caribbean nations and empower and train a new generation of local volunteers