Jamaica to Celebrate International Women’s Week From March 8 to 11

The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) will be staging a number of activities across the island to celebrate International Women’s Week from March 8 to 11.

The week, to be observed under the theme: ‘Understanding Purpose, Striving for Parity’, will include an exhibition highlighting important women throughout history; fora on abuse and gender mainstreaming; luncheons; health and wellness sessions; among other things.

Field Operations Director of the WCJF, Michelle Fearon, said the fora will feature presentations from “successful women, who have been in the situation (abuse) and survived. We are bringing persons with the knowledge.”

Ms. Fearon said that gender inequality and physical and emotional abuse continue to be issues affecting women in Jamaica.

She noted that the WCJF has been working to increase awareness and to provide support to vulnerable persons.

“We have had presentations. We deal with women and men and their sexual and reproductive health and how they should protect themselves,” she said.

“We need to dispense with the physical and sexual abuses given the age that we are in,” she continued.

Men will also to be included in the programme for International Women’s Week.

The United Nations will observe International Women’s Day on March 8.

The day is a time to reflect on progress made in achieving gender equality, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.