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UWI Launches Gender Policy

By: , May 23, 2018

The Key Point:

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has developed a Gender Policy to formalise its commitment to gender justice and establish a framework for its implementation.

The Facts

  • Representing Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, State Minister, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, commended the UWI for the policy, which he said will assist in promoting gender justice across the region.
  • The draft Gender Policy was completed by former Director of the UWI IGDS Regional Coordinating Office, Professor Verene A. Shepherd, and a working group.

The Full Story

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has developed a Gender Policy to formalise its commitment to gender justice and establish a framework for its implementation.

The policy was launched on Tuesday (May 22) at the UWI Regional Headquarters in Kingston.

The launch of this policy, led by the University’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), is intended to act as the framework to inform changes necessary at the various levels of the regional University towards the promotion of gender justice, and addresses issues of equity, sensitivity and resource allocation.

It is also a blueprint to incorporate the issues of gender and development and to express the fundamental principles that are deemed vital to sustainable growth and development throughout the Caribbean.

Representing Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, State Minister, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, commended the UWI for the policy, which he said will assist in promoting gender justice across the region.

“Now in its 70th year, the UWI must be lauded for implementing such a policy that seeks to create gender justice and gender balance,” he said.

Mr. Terrelonge called for greater inclusion of men and boys in the gender discussion.

“If it is that Jamaica is going to be the place to live, work, do business and, more importantly, raise families, we must bring our men back to the gender discussion. Let us include them (in) everything we discuss here. It is only then that we can truly look at gender justice within our society, because an equal society is one that views both parties equally and sees the importance and actions of both parties throughout the society,” he said.

Director, UWI Institute for Gender and Development Studies, Regional Coordinating Office, Professor Opal Adisa, noted that the Gender Policy makes the university the first tertiary institution in the Anglophone region to take such a bold stance and align itself with global movements that seek gender parity and justice for all.

“Not only is the UWI Gender Policy intended to guide the University action to mainstream gender on all campuses by ensuring gender equity across the institution in all university practices, policies procedures and programmes, it also serves as a model for all stakeholders about the future possibilities for development, so that all the people of the society are provided with equal opportunities to engage fully in the developmental process,” she explained.

The draft Gender Policy was completed by former Director of the UWI IGDS Regional Coordinating Office, Professor Verene A. Shepherd, and a working group.

Professor Adisa will lead its implementation, along with a Gender Mainstreaming Committee responsible for championing gender justice across the UWI, and leading the activities intended to positively shape attitudes toward gender justice.

Last Updated: May 23, 2018

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