Tag: European Union

Sixteen days to put violence against women on the activist agenda in Jamaica

November 26, 2022

Today (November 26) is International Day Against Violence Against Women, which begins the Sixteen Days of Activism. As always, this issue will be high on the agenda among human rights activists across the island. Violence against women haunts us. In August, I wrote about the case of a young woman whose body has never been … More Sixteen days to put violence against women on the activist agenda in Jamaica

Blue Mountain Maroon community members graduate as tour guides for sustainable livelihoods in Jamaica

November 2, 2022

If you have not visited the Blue Mountains of Jamaica yet, you should know it’s a magical place in many ways. The mist floating across the broad green mountainsides; the tiny, bright gems of flowers and ferns by the roadside; the glowing sunsets over the foothills; fireflies blinking in the damp grass at night; the … More Blue Mountain Maroon community members graduate as tour guides for sustainable livelihoods in Jamaica

Gender-based violence and the young Jamaican woman

October 24, 2022

I wrote recently about the Caribbean Observatory on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, based in Antigua. According to their CEO, the group “continues to work with partners, CSOs, state entities to critically address the linkages between gender-based violence (GBV) and SRHR with the aim of transforming the environment, including the engagement of men and … More Gender-based violence and the young Jamaican woman

Partnering for women’s advocacy in Guyana under the Spotlight Initiative

October 1, 2022

Progress continues, steadily and surely, on issues relating to sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality (my thoughts from 2020 here) and gender-based violence in the Caribbean (in addition to LGBT rights, to a much more limited extent perhaps). It may seem rather patchy, here and there, but sometimes small battles, as well as the large … More Partnering for women’s advocacy in Guyana under the Spotlight Initiative

Grant opportunity: ‘Creative Caribbean – An Ecosystem of “Play” for Growth and Development’ launches Thursday, April 21

April 18, 2022

The Caribbean cultural and creative sector is to benefit from a three million Euro Grant Support Programme, with significant funding from the European Union (EU) and support from the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP). The project will be launched virtually on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 11:00 EST – that’s 10:00 am … More Grant opportunity: ‘Creative Caribbean – An Ecosystem of “Play” for Growth and Development’ launches Thursday, April 21

A Joint Statement from the Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica and the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Jamaica

November 18, 2021

from Marianne Van Steen, Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica and Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Jamaica on The violence perpetrated on November 16th against several participants of a Spotlight Initiative Workshop in Westmoreland The past few days have been disturbing. On Sunday, November 14, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that … More A Joint Statement from the Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica and the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Jamaica

Celebrating 76 years, the UN focuses on frontline heroes and partnerships

October 19, 2021

I have been thinking a lot about peace recently, and my thoughts will be in a follow-up post – including the critical role that our young people can and will play. I particularly like the United Nations’ alliterative theme for UN Day this year – all those “P”s! In Jamaica, as almost everywhere else, climate … More Celebrating 76 years, the UN focuses on frontline heroes and partnerships

Jamaica undertakes major assessment of its food systems ahead of global UN Food Systems Summit

September 7, 2021

Another important event tomorrow: the opening of consultations in Kingston on an assessment of Jamaica’s food systems – in other words, agricultural production and output. The workshop is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Planning Institute of Jamaica. You can watch the opening ceremony on the PIOJ’s Facebook page tomorrow (Tuesday, … More Jamaica undertakes major assessment of its food systems ahead of global UN Food Systems Summit

UNICEF renews call for ban on corporal punishment in Jamaica

July 24, 2021

A child is just a child. Not an adult, but an adult in the making. How then, does a small human being (who has not yet worked things out for him/herself) deserve to be shouted at, beaten, slapped and kicked into submission, in the name of so-called “discipline”? That small child deserves love, nurturing, protection … More UNICEF renews call for ban on corporal punishment in Jamaica