Activities to Raise Awareness about Gender-Based Violence

Several activities will take place over the next 16 days to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV), and actions by the Government to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

The activities, which are being planned by the Bureau of Gender Affairs, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, include the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), today (November 25), at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston; World AIDS Day (December 1); International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) and International Human Rights Day (December 10).

Research Coordinator of the Bureau, Nardia McLaren, told JIS News that the observance of IDEVAW is to raise public awareness on issues of violence against women and girls, including how men and boys can play a more active role in eliminating this violence.

She said it also aims to mobilise more resources for preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.

“We join the rest of the world to observe the major challenges and efforts to prevent violence against women and girls. Worldwide, we have observed that there is a substantial shortfall,” she said, adding that the Government has been implementing a number of measures to prevent and end violence against women and girls.

On World Aids Day, the Bureau will conduct a GBV and HIV/Aids sensitisation session in Drewsland, Kingston, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Miss McLaren said the session will include HIV counselling, condom demonstration and distribution.

A similar session will be held in Clarendon, on Thursday, December 8, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The session will be held with guidance counsellors, pastors, community leaders and members on the issues concerning GBV, particularly domestic violence and trafficking in persons.

“Persons will be sensitised on issues concerning domestic violence and trafficking in persons, what it entails, what to look for, how they can protect themselves, and government agencies they can go to for protection,” Miss Mclaren said.

On December 9, the Bureau will host a session with the Trelawny Women’s Group at the Trelawny Parish Library. Miss Mclaren said this session will focus on IDEVAW, its relevance and how it affects Jamaicans.

There will also be a week of activities to observe International Day for Persons with Disabilities, in partnership with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, from Monday, December 5 to Friday, December 9.