NAJ to Stage March Against Violence Towards Women and Children

Members of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) will take to the streets of Black River, St. Elizabeth, on Tuesday (February 25) in a march to advocate against violence towards women and children and encourage community action to eradicate the scourge.

The event, dubbed ‘Stop Violence Against Women and Children’, is spearheaded by 2024/25 NAJ/LASCO Chin Foundation Nurse of the Year, Abigail James. It is in keeping with the Orange Day Initiative, observed on the 25th day of each month.

It forms part of the United Nations (UN) UNITE Campaign to end violence against women and girls. The campaign was launched by UN Women in 2008 and seeks to mobilise global action against gender-based violence.

Tuesday’s event in Black River, which begins at 7:00 a.m., will see the participants marching from the Black River Health Centre through the town’s streets and culminating at Independence Park, where several activities will be staged.

These include awareness talks by representatives of organisations and institutions such as the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

Participants are encouraged to wear orange, the symbolic colour of a violence-free future.

The NAJ has taken a personal stand against violence, particularly in light of the tragic loss of a fellow nurse who was killed while on her way home from work two years ago.

“Nursing is a profession that is female-dominated, and this is something very personal to us,” Ms. James said.
Consequently, she said the goal of the march is to educate, advocate and support victims of gender-based violence.

“We must speak up because silence enables abuse. It is our duty, as a community and a nation, to protect women and children,” Ms. James maintained.

For more information, persons can contact the NAJ at (876) 929-5213 or Abigail James at (876) 820-1891.