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20 March 2023
Jamaica’s Social Protection Safety Nets Holding after COVID-19
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Speech
08 March 2023
Remarks from Resident Coordinator Vincent Sweeney on International Women's Day 2023
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Speech
07 March 2023
Remarks by Resident Coordinator Vincent Sweeney on the Launch of the National Study on the Economic Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls (ECOVAWG) in Jamaica
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Jamaica
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity.
Kindly note that the data visualizations show an aggregate of the Caribbean. To view the disaggregated data per country, please click on the name of the country or territory you wish to explore.
Video
10 December 2022
United Nations Jamaica & Bahamas Explains the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
This Human Rights Day, the United Nations in Jamaica reminds us of the Articles of the landmark Universal Declaration on Human Rights #UDHR75 For Jamaica and the world – its message of dignity, freedom, and justice for all remains even more relevant today.
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08 November 2022
Multilaterial System Remains Critical in Tackling Global Challenges
These were the words of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, at the flag raising ceremony commemorating Jamaica's 60th anniversary of membership in the United Nations.
“We remain fully convinced that the alternative to a functioning multilateral system is a more dangerous and divided world that will threaten to marginalise and erode the security and development of small States in particular. We must all, therefore, continue to emphasise the tremendous benefit to our nations and our people of a robust and well-functioning multilateral system,” she said.
She noted: “Small States like Jamaica are, of necessity, the strongest advocates for multilateralism and… multilateral cooperation will be key to getting us back on the road to sustainable economic growth and enhancing resilience to cope with global challenges. We must, therefore, reaffirm our commitment to a world underpinned by a strong rules-based multilateral system.”
The Minister was addressing the UN Day Anniversary Flag-Raising Ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on October 24.
Senator Johnson Smith said that Jamaica will continue to play a positive role in the activities of the organs and bodies of the UN.
“We expect that their programmes and projects will complement those introduced at the national and regional levels and believe that our collective efforts will assist in achieving our own national development goals,” she said.
She noted that Vision 2030, which aligns with the overarching framework of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) continues to be Jamaica’s guide in this regard.
“The United Nations is the product of hope. As we mark UN Day, let us renew our hope and conviction in what humanity can achieve when we work as one in global solidarity,” Senator Johnson Smith added.
UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Garry Conille said that now, more than ever, the institution must remain the space for constructive dialogue and a beacon for sustainable peace, prosperity and the future of the planet.
“Our modern world faces some of the greatest challenges in its history, from the climate crisis to COVID-19, from the fallout from the war in Ukraine to growing threats to democracy,” he pointed out.
Mr. Conille said that since Jamaica joined the UN in 1962, the country has played an outstanding role in the organisation’s system, helping to call international attention to matters such as human rights, decolonisation, economic cooperation, women's issues, among others.
He said that as Jamaica continues to lead an ambitious global agenda, the UN partnership in country, to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, is at its highest level.
“In the past two years alone, joint programmes have increased... with investments of the current country implementation plan already exceeding our expectations,” he said.
UN Day is commemorated annually on October 24, recognising the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
This year is the 77th anniversary of the UN, and the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s membership to the UN.
Originally published by the Jamaica Information Service October 25, 2022
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Press Release
05 September 2022
United Nations & Bahamas Development Bank Partner in staging first Multilateral Partnership Forum focused on the Sustainable Development Goals
Today’s Forum begins at 9 a.m. and is themed, “Transformational Partnerships for a Sustainable Future.” Prime Minister, the Honorable Phillip Davis will deliver the keynote address.
The Bahamas SDG Partnership Forum 2022 serves as a platform to strengthen engagement and relationships across relevant stakeholders and sectors, leading to a more transformational whole-of-society approach to partnerships for advancing SDGs in the Bahamas – particularly in the era of building forward better from COVID-19. The public may join online via the United Nations Bahamas Facebook page.
The event features panel discussions, group dialogues and key presentations engaging a number of partners including Eugene Newry, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Nicholas Higgs, Managing Director, Bahamas Development Bank; Nicola Virgil-Rolle, Executive Director, Lyford Cay Foundation; Samantha Rolle, Executive Director, Access Accelerator; Dave Prescott, Creative Director, The Partnering Initiative (TPI); The Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development and Sumayyah Cargill, Manager, Strategic Development and Initiatives, Bahamas Development Bank, among others.
Senior officials of the United Nations will also present at the signature event. Roberto Valent, Regional Director, UN Development Coordination Office Latin America and the Caribbean, Sai Navoti, Chief of SIDS Unit Sustainable Development Goals Division, UN DESA as well as Dr. Garry Conille, UN Resident Coordinator in The Bahamas will present.
“The United Nations and The Bahamas have this year entered into a Cooperation Agreement that has already begun to yield programmes of impact for the people of The Bahamas,” Dr. Conille said.
The Partnership Forum is also the kick-off to a week-long Partnership Accelerator training programme. The 2030 Agenda Partnership Accelerator is a collaborative initiative by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and The Partnering Initiative (TPI), in collaboration with United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP), UN Global Compact, and the UN Development Coordination Office. The initiative aims to significantly help accelerate effective partnerships in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The training workshops, which include a two-and-a-half-day national training will engage over 40 local leaders with best practice skills and techniques for building effective partnerships, it will enhance understanding of relationships across participants from different sectors and launch new partnerships for supporting the implementation of the SDGs. The Caribbean Partnership Accelerator Training of Trainers workshop, with 15 regional participants, will then close out the week.
According to Aneesah Abdullah, United Nations Country Coordinator, the week’s activities are the fruits of years of partner building and networking aimed at maximizing local expertise and leveraging the service offerings of the UN Development System for the benefit of Bahamians.
“This national training will create a network of partnering champions ready to contribute to national development in new ways. From consultations with local actors, we have ensured that the agendas reflect our national priorities including issues related to climate change, the economy, education, gender and migration,” Abdullah said.
The inaugural SDG Partnership Forum is hoped will encourage and enable the development of structured partnerships to contribute to The Bahamas’ achievement of the SDGs including the establishment of a partnership mechanism to further facilitate meeting the SDGs in The Bahamas.
“From this Forum we hope to identify innovative opportunities for multiparter SDG engagement including facilitating greater access to technical and financial resources for realizing Agenda 2030. I am especially grateful to all our partners, particularly the BDB for supporting the coordination of this effort.” Dr. Conille said.
Resources -END-
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05 September 2022
First of its kind - Bahamas and United Nations Partnership Convene Initiative to Accelerate SDG Action
Today’s Forum begins at 9 a.m. and is themed, “Transformational Partnerships for a Sustainable Future.” Prime Minister, the Honorable Phillip Davis will deliver the keynote address.
The Bahamas SDG Partnership Forum 2022 serves as a platform to strengthen engagement and relationships across relevant stakeholders and sectors, leading to a more transformational whole-of-society approach to partnerships for advancing SDGs in the Bahamas – particularly in the era of building forward better from COVID-19. The public may join online via the United Nations Bahamas Facebook page.
Click here for participant and media resources.
https://bit.ly/unbdbpartner
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01 May 2020
Spotlight Initiative
The Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
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21 December 2022
Jamaican Economy Panel Rounds Up A Year of Adding Value to Economic Conversation
The Jamaican Economy Panel (JEP) has become a cornerstone upon which socio-economic issues can be sounded, reasoned, and rationalised – with a particular ear for a general population audience. The opinions shared have enriched understanding of the development space that the family of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes occupy or can indeed step into as the United Nations works to support economic transformation and resilience building for Jamaica.
Over the last year, the JEP has covered a wide range of themes, from the Looming Obesity Crisis, Food Systems and Climate Change, Climate Risks for Jamaica and the Impact on Women, Climate and Disaster Preparation, Stigma, Discrimination, and Violence against Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups in Jamaica, Ocean Economy, Climate Resilience to lastly, the Creative Economy. This December issue takes stock of the critical points flagged by our Panel and the recommendations raised
Jamaica's Looming Obesity Crisis:
This survey highlighted that Jamaica must tackle obesity through comprehensive policy in all contexts. Panellists agreed that addressing obesity through public policy is needed. Although tax policy is generally one of the most convenient go-tos for affecting people's behaviours, tax on unhealthy behaviours is likely to be highly regressive. Therefore, panellists felt that using public funds to provide a more balanced (and locally sourced) diet in schools can affect behavioural change without the negative impact of regressive taxation.
Food Systems and Climate Change:
JEP panellists felt that even though global food systems are a critical part of everyday life, they receive minimal attention. In Jamaica, the agricultural sector is responsible for 16% of employment and provides substantial earnings through exports. Most importantly, the agricultural sector provides the food we all eat daily. Nevertheless, the Jamaican agricultural industry faces some considerable challenges, especially related to its low level of productivity. More significant investment in technology and skills and the pursuit of economies of scale would help increase the sector's level of productivity. This recommendation is critical in light of climate change, which has already started affecting agricultural output in the country, mainly through the deterioration of infrastructure. In the future, the panellists agreed that providing more support to farmers to improve their agricultural management skills further and teach them to consider the changing climate is crucial. Improving access to finance for farmers will support those who want to invest in upgrading technology and infrastructure, thus increasing the sectors' climate resilience.
Climate Risks for Jamaica and the Impact on Women:
Many respondents felt that women and girls are affected differently by the risks of climate change. This view could be because many Jamaican women find themselves in entrenched positions such as single parents, heads of households, low-income jobs, or household and community responsibilities. To guarantee that women and girls are better included in developing strategies to reduce the impact of climate change, panellists agreed that giving them a seat at the table was the most vital tool. This move would ultimately ensure that Jamaica approaches its disaster responses with an appropriate gender lens.
Climate and Disaster Preparation:
The panellists for this JEP felt a need to access more financing to invest in climate adaptation, especially concerning coastal defences and water storage. They highlighted that opportunities exist worldwide to attract such investments through private and public funds. Furthermore, the panellists had mixed perceptions about different segments of Jamaican society's preparedness for a potential hurricane. Their views can be attributed to the lucky streak the country has enjoyed with no significant impacts in almost a decade. Nevertheless, Jamaicans must prepare for acute disasters. The panellists saw the Government's initiative to establish a catastrophe bond as a good step toward preparing for the potential financial impact of a hurricane. However, the panellists indicated that a larger bond size and additional instruments to mitigate risk might be desirable.
Stigma, Discrimination, and Violence against Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups in Jamaica:
The JEP felt that Jamaica had made progress in this area, however, Jamaica must double its efforts to tackle the structural drivers of exclusion. They endorsed protective legislation, stronger political will, effective human rights programming and monitoring, and the improved capacity of public and private sector organisations to promote, respond and treat human rights issues.
Jamaica is a party to several treaties and resolutions relating to human rights, which obligate the Government to protect and promote the rights of all persons without distinction. However, continued work is needed to improve the human rights situation for vulnerable and marginalised groups. Panellists highlighted that additional and accelerated efforts are needed in Jamaica to address stigma and discrimination. Such measures will ensure that everyone, regardless of their group, can live peacefully with dignity and rights and participate fully in governance, cultural life and the economy while achieving their fullest potential.
Ocean Economy:
Jamaica has made many attempts to overcome some of the foremost issues facing its ocean resources. However, panellists agreed that there remains a long way to go to ensure that blue economic transformation strikes the right balance between optimising its commercial value and ensuring that Jamaica's Ocean resources sustain for future generations. The JEP emphasised that everyone has a responsibility and role in achieving this. As Jamaica evolves from the devastating effects of COVID-19, effective recovery must include blue economic transformation. Panellists highlighted that the planning for post-covid recovery provides a significant and unique opportunity to reset and chart a new course to build forward better in this decade of action and champion blue economic transformation.
Climate resilience:
Panellists agreed that increased cooperation and partnerships between the government and civil society, International Financial Institutions, and the private sector would expedite climate resilience in Jamaica. The JEP emphasised that it is necessary to understand better the trade-offs they face to best achieve blue transformation for Jamaica. Finally, panellists concluded that it was essential to adopt a multistakeholder approach as it would further promote collaboration and unity around policies to counteract the effects of climate change in Jamaica.
The Next Issue of the JEP looks at Jamaica’s Creative Economy
It is evident from the overview above that the panellists have come together to offer recommendations for some of the most complex issues facing Jamaica. However, we must examine what the future holds for the JEP. What is clear is the immense scope and opportunity to build upon our partnership with the University of the West Indies and increase our visibility and impact amongst civil society and on the government level. To better understand how we can achieve this, we asked the panellists what areas they would like to see addressed in 2023, how the JEP can be more impactful, and how the JEP can get better engagement.
Panellists felt that issues surrounding health and wellness were critical as Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton highlighted the economic burden of non-communicable diseases, many of which are a result of lifestyle. Panellists emphasised the need to address the economics of crime as well as effective strategies to reduce it. It was also suggested that we examine the effect of the triple crisis (finance, food and climate) on Jamaica. In addition to this, JEP panellists emphasised the need to address areas of green, blue and circular economic opportunities for local communities as well as examine ways to formalise the informal economy. Lastly, panellists suggested more specific topics such as industrial policy and large-scale emigration.
Regarding becoming more visible and gaining traction, the participants felt that increased visibility through sharing the results via social media and collaborating more with media outlets such as The Gleaner and Observer could create quick discussions and debates on specific topics. Another participant suggested sending out a survey to civil society to gain insight into the current issues being debated at the local level. Furthermore, some panellists suggested offering specific policy briefs, guided by the responses, aimed at policy- and decision-makers.
As a way of connecting all of these discussions, the UN hosted a partnership forum on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Jamaica's membership in the United Nations and the 60th Independence anniversary. The conference brought together members of the government, private and third sectors, civil society and academia. The high-level panel discussions on some of the issues brought forward by the JEP underscore the essential role of innovative partnership opportunities in reaching sustainable development goals through this type of engagement. In addition to this, Elliot Harris, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development and Chief Economist, made special remarks about the creative economy.
Please find the link here for the recording of the United Nations Partnership Forum 2022.
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10 November 2022
Bahamian government officials and CSOs benefit from training on Human Rights Treaty Reporting
As the region continues to face the effects of complex global conflicts and humanitarian crises, honouring these commitments has become even more critical.
Recently, UN Women and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights), in partnership with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office hosted a three-day workshop in the Bahamas on ‘Engaging with Treaty bodies through reporting’ focusing on enhancing the capacity of government officials to prepare reports on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and CEDAW.
The workshop addressed to members of the Bahamian Government, Parliamentarians and Civil Society, sought to strengthen the understanding of how national reporting on the Conventions can be used to facilitate more effective advocacy, legislative and policy development, and accountability to promote human rights within the Bahamas.
Human Rights Officer in the Capacity building programme, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Marie Boyer said: “During the 3-day event, we managed to look at the expectations on the Bahamas to meet their obligations as they relate to women’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, children, and the right of racial minorities. A lot was achieved, and we were honoured with the great contribution from Ms. Marion Bethel, expert of the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminations against Women.”
Ms Boyer further highlighted one of the main outcomes of the training: “At the end of the workshop, participants drew a concrete roadmap to finalize a number of reports that will be subject to review by UN Treaty bodies in Geneva in the months to come.”
In delivering closing remarks, Representative for UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, Tonni Ann Brodber congratulated the participants for their commitments to advancing equality in the Bahamas while emphasizing the important role they played as champions for equitable policies in their national governments and regionally.
Ms Brodber said: “The Caribbean region is like no other— whether our diversity in culture, people, creativity and biodiversity, there is so much to celebrate about our people and our region. However, we acknowledge that progress is still needed in many areas, and we recognize that to better secure human rights within the Caribbean, it is important for all Caribbean countries to build their capacity to effectively meet global treaty bodies' requirements, and a critical part of this is Reporting.”
The Bahamas Country Coordination Officer in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, Aneesah Abdullah identified the importance of the training for national development and the role of the UN in amplifying human rights, stating: “One is the RCO's commitment to responding to the particular needs of the government by collaborating with relevant government stakeholders, in this case, the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and the Office of the Attorney-General. Another is the RCO's role in promoting human rights - a key element of our organizational mandate. And finally, facilitating the involvement of more than one agency, it demonstrates the RCO's increased efforts to identify and create opportunities for the delivery of joint support, where appropriate, by the UN system to The Bahamas.”
Gender Expert, Department of Gender & Family Affairs in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Mrs. Elaine Sands, a participant lauded the organisers for the workshop: "I was so excited to be a part of such a timely forum as it helped to strengthen my knowledge on the reporting procedures and focused particularly on my area of work which is advocacy and awareness against Gender-Based Violence and to promote Non-Discrimination and Gender Equality. I received knowledge and understanding of the obligation of the State to respect, protect and fulfil the gaps in the Circle of Rights. Reviewing Gender Norms and Roles, Gender-Based Violence and how it affects the family and society.”
The Assistant Director of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affair, Ms Jewel Major shared similar sentiments, stating: “The presentations provided clarity and spurred the participants to want to know more. In gleaning some of the comments about the workshop from the participants, the common expression was that the information was presented with so much clarity, now I understand what we must do, and why we have to do what we are being encouraged to do.”
This training occurred several months after the inaugural National Gender-Based Violence (GBV)/Discriminatory Law Review Forum held in February 2022 which targeted gender and human rights experts in The Bahamas to examine the state of international commitments and national legislation which impact gender equality.
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13 February 2023
Jamaican Youth Partner with United Nations Country Team to Stage National Youth Town Hall with His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th UN General Assembly
This week His Excellency Abdulla Shahid the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) paid a working mission to Jamaica. This was the first visit of any sitting UNGA President to Jamaica. Mr. Shahid supported the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) with high-level advocacy interventions around gender-based violence, climate action within small island developing states and greater engagement of youth in governance.
The Youth Town Hall was the first official engagement of His Excellency, as part of his detailed high-level agenda with senior government officials including the Most Honorable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
The Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence (GGPE) and the Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica (YACJ) cohost the event and led the mobilization of island-wide youth representatives including youth parliamentarians, leaders of youth groups and community based organizations, representatives from uniformed groups, young people living with disabilities and ambassadors of the Governor General's I Believe Initiative (IBI).
The Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence (GGPE) is the youth-led principal vehicles for community outreach activities of His Excellence Patrick Allen, the Governor General of Jamaica. The GGPE coordinates the Governor General’s Programme for Excellence and the Governor General Achievement Awards. Historically, the GGPE works with strong focus on issues of:
Education
Youth engagement and volunteerism
Family Values
The GGPE celebrated 30 years in 2021 and recognized the occasion alongside UN76 with the re-start of its annual Youth consultative Conference, the largest hybrid consultative effort of youth in Jamaica and the English speaking Caribbean.
The Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica (YACJ) facilitates continuous engagement of young people in youth development policy and programming actions of the Government of Jamaica. The YACJ is one structure geared towards the fulfilment of the Goal VI of the CARICOM Youth Development Goals (CYDGs), which seeks to ensure and enhance youth participation in all levels of decision-making, programme implementation and oversight. The YACJ works to mainstream the needs of youth through Government of Jamaica (GOJ) programmes and activities during all phases of programme development, implementation and evaluation. The YACJ is also the Steering Committee for the National Youth Parliament, toward ensuring that the deliberations of the parliament are presented to, and discussed with relevant decision-makers. The YACJ is structured to ensure that youth are provided with an avenue for full participation in decision-making processes as equal and valuable partners.
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29 April 2022
Jamaican Economy Panel discusses climate change and disaster preparedness in Jamaica
This month, responding to the publication of the contribution of Working Group II to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report that assesses the impacts of climate change, the warnings in the recent IPCC, and the upcoming hurricane season, the panellists look at disaster preparations.
The panellists identified several critical hazards in Jamaica primarily impacted by climate change, with cyclones (hurricanes) naturally being at the top. However, they are also particularly concerned about people whose livelihoods depend on the coast and who may suffer from a confluence of impacts. With hurricanes, rising sea levels and threats to biodiversity, such coast-dependent lives are likely to suffer the strongest.
The respondents are optimistic about the government's new catastrophe bond launched last year, a first for a SIDS government. It provides Jamaica with up to USD 185 million in protection against losses caused by a named storm over three hurricane seasons. If anything, the JEP panellists would have liked to see an even larger catastrophe bond, mindful that the impact of a hurricane as powerful as Gilbert (1988) would cause estimated losses of up to USD 1.3 billion.
While mitigation continues to be the gold standard for climate change, there is no doubt that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Jamaica must also look at a myriad of adaptation efforts to reduce the impact of disasters. The respondents see opportunities for improving coastal defences, such as through the improvement of mangroves. Respondents recognize, however, that any investment in adaptation strategies will require substantial climate financing. While international development partners provide some opportunities for such climate financing, it is also crucial for the country to continue pursuing other avenues, including innovative private financing.
While Jamaica has not been directly impacted by any since 2012, the risk of hurricanes continues to be great. However, the prolonged absence of major hurricanes making landfall may have affected some of the preparations people pursue. While the panellists generally believe that much of the population is decently prepared, they are sceptical about the government and the private sector.
The full results of this month's discussion are available here.
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30 March 2022
Spotlight Initiative rolls out national visibility campaign to highlight available resources for victims of Violence against women and girls
From March-May 2022, the Spotlight Initiative (SI) coordination team in Jamaica will roll out a nationwide visibility campaign to highlight the resources available to victims of violence against Women and Girls.
Having launched in 2020, the Initiative has since achieved several major milestones including the Establishment of Domestic Violence Intervention Centres to increase access to quality essential services for all women and girls; improvements in several laws and policies among others. The national campaign, therefore, aims to inform members of the public about the diverse resources where women and girls can receive help, information and access to other resources such as shelters and a helpline.
The campaign will utilise a multimedia approach and include placements in television, radio, print and other outdoor media including billboards. This will be complemented by digital media placements, community and online activities.
While the Spotlight Initiative is being implemented across four parishes, namely: Westmoreland, Clarendon, Kingston & St. Andrew and St. Thomas, the national campaign will reach other national stakeholders who can benefit from the available resources.
The SI utilizes interagency coordination via UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF with generous funding by the European Union.
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Press Release
20 March 2023
Jamaica’s Social Protection Safety Nets Holding after COVID-19
In this discussion, the JEP was asked about the social security implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and how we are continuing to deal with the long-term effects.
As an economy with a significant reliance on the tourist industry, estimated to be around 20 per cent of GDP, the restrictions on travel were detrimental to most Jamaicans working in the sector. Restrictions in global travel and border closures caused visitor arrivals to decline by almost 70 per cent causing widespread job losses across the sector.
Dr. Nadine McLoud, Head, Department of Economics, University of the West Indies Mona stated that, “The needs of our most socioeconomically vulnerable are heterogeneous and numerous. Yet, the government and private sector can strategically join forces and leverage resources to yield long-lasting socioeconomic gains. For example, by using multiple social protection instruments - including microfinance provision - in a targeted manner, our society can ensure that Jamaica’s most challenged groups monetize their skill set to help chart their social and economic development.”
Panellists were asked for their views on social protection in Jamaica before the outbreak of COVID-19 and its capabilities to adapt to the increased needs that were caused by the pandemic. Many panellists felt that the social protection already in place was relatively capable of dealing with the heightened demand. One panellist highlighted the success of the CARE programme whilst also emphasising the challenges Jamaica’s informal sector still poses in ensuring inclusive social protection measures. The panellists identified informal workers and persons with disabilities as the two groups that received the least support. In the aforementioned UNDP report, Manuel Mera explained why the number of informal workers remains so high due to the contributory structure in Jamaica which acts “as the potential barrier to formality and the cross-subsidy as an incentive to remain informal.”
Responding to the survey results, Mr. Vincent Sweeney, United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i., agreed that “establishing and maintaining robust social protection mechanisms ensures that Jamaica is striving to achieve its Vision 2030 and SDG targets.” He emphasised that “it is imperative that the United Nations works to support the government in enhancing its social protection measures, ensuring that inequalities are reduced and that no one is left behind.”
The pandemic has highlighted some of the preparedness areas that need addressing before the next shock inevitably hits. This should be done through enhanced social protection measures and a move towards a more digital society.
The Jamaican Economy Panel is part of a partnership between the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) and the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona. The JEP brings together a select group of economic and public sector experts to address monthly socio-economic questions. These questions help to highlight relevant economic issues and the collective expertise of the panellists.
For more information on the Jamaican Economy Panel and for the results of this JEP discussion visit here: https://jamaica.un.org/en/223975-jamaican-economy-panel-discussion-social-protection
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Press Release
20 February 2023
Gabon, Jamaica and Sri Lanka unite to fight hazardous skin-lightening products
The governments of Gabon, Jamaica and Sri Lanka have joined forces to fight back against damaging beauty practices, launching a joint $14-million project to eliminate the use of mercury in skin-lightening products.
Using cosmetics to inhibit the body’s production of melanin, leading the skin to appear lighter, is a centuries-old practice in many parts of the world that continues to take a toxic toll today.
Both men and women use skin-lightening products, not only to lighten their skin but to fade freckles, blemishes, age spots and treat acne. However, consumers are often unaware that many of these products contain harmful chemicals including mercury, a toxic substance which poses risks to human health and contaminates the environment.
Skin lightening products can cause skin rashes and discolouration; scarring; nervous, digestive and immune system damage, as well as anxiety and depression. The Minamata Convention on Mercury has set a limit of 1mg/1kg (1ppm) for mercury in skin-lightening products. However, a 2018 Zero Mercury Working Group and Biodiversity Research Institute test of over 300 products from 22 countries found that approximately 10 per cent of skin-lightening creams exceeded this limit, with many containing as much as 100 times the authorised amount.
Led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and executed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), the Eliminating mercury skin lightening products project will work to reduce the risk of exposure to mercury-added skin lightening products, raising awareness of the health risks associated with their use, developing model regulations to reduce their circulation, and halting production, trade and distribution across domestic and international markets.
“Mercury is a hidden and toxic ingredient in the skin-lightening creams that many people are using daily, often without an understanding of just how dangerous this is,” GEF CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodriguez said.
“This initiative is significant as it focuses not only on substitutions for harmful ingredients but on awareness building that can help change behaviours that are damaging to individual health as well as the planet.”
Skin-lightening products don’t just pose a risk to the user – children can be exposed through breastmilk, and food chains can become contaminated when cosmetics are washed off into wastewater. In addition, the compound can travel far from its point of dispersal, accumulating in the earth, water and soil without breaking down in the environment. With demand for skin-lightening products projected to grow to $11.8-billion by 2026, fuelled by a growing middle class in the Asia-Pacific region and changing demographics in Africa and the Caribbean, the use of harmful ingredients in skin lightening products is a global issue.
UNEP Industry and Economy Division Director Sheila Aggarwal-Khan said the use of mercury in skin lightening products was a serious public health issue in need of urgent attention.
“While Governments have agreed limitations on mercury use through the Minamata Convention, companies continue to manufacture, trade and sell toxic products to consumers”, she said. “UNEP is proud to work with these three countries, as well as a passionate set of co-financing partners to transform the industry.”
“WHO calls for urgent action on mercury as one of the top chemicals of public health concern. The health impacts of mercury have been known for centuries but more people should become aware now,” said Dr Annette Prüss, Acting Director, WHO Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health. “Countries should urgently act to take legal action against harmful practices so that this dangerous element is eliminated from skin-lightening products that people use every day.”
The three-year project will bring the countries together to align their policies on the cosmetic sector with best practice, creating an enabling environment to phase out mercury and attempting to shift broader cultural norms on skin complexion through engaging organisations, healthcare professionals and influencers working in the field.
Sema Jonsson, founder of project co-financier the Pantheon of Women Who Inspire, said the organisation wanted people to admire and be proud of their natural skin tone.
“We are all beautiful,” Jonsson said. “Not in spite of our skin but because of it.”
“We need a new ideal to follow, one which is equated with humanity and not the fairness of one’s skin.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Biodiversity Research Institute Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), headquartered in Portland, Maine, is a nonprofit ecological research group whose mission is to assess emerging threats to wildlife and ecosystems through collaborative research and to use scientific findings to advance environmental awareness and inform decision makers. BRI supports 12 research programs within four research centers including the Center for Mercury Studies.
About the Global Environment Facility, The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral fund dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. Its grants, blended financing, and policy support helps developing countries address their biggest environmental priorities and adhere to international environmental conventions. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $22 billion in financing and mobilized another $120 billion for more than 5,000 national and regional projects. About UN Environment Programme (UNEP) UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
About the World Health Organization (WHO) Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance to live a healthy life. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
For more information, contact
News and Media Unit, UN Environment Programme Laura MacInnis, Senior Communications Officer, GEF
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Press Release
07 February 2023
World Environment Day 2023 to be hosted by Côte d’Ivoire with a focus on solutions to plastic pollution
This year marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, after it was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. Over the past five decades, the day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Tens of millions of people participate online and through in-person activities, events and actions around the world.
“The scourge of plastic pollution is a visible threat that impacts every community around the world," said Jean-Luc Assi, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. “As host of World Environment Day 2023, we welcome all sectors, from governments and businesses to civil society, to come together to find and champion solutions.”
Côte d'Ivoire has banned the use of plastic bags since 2014, supporting a shift to reusable packaging. The country’s largest city, Abidjan, has also become a hub for start-ups looking to beat plastic pollution.
More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 per cent is recycled. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually.
Microplastics – tiny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter – find their way into food, water and air. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year –and many more if inhalation is considered. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor.
With available science and solutions to tackle the problem, governments, companies and other stakeholders must scale up and speed actions to solve this crisis. This underscores the importance of this World Environment Day in mobilizing transformative action from every corner of the world.
This year’s World Environment Day will be supported by the Government of the Netherlands, which is one of the countries taking ambitious action along the plastic lifecycle. It is a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and a member of the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution
and Marine Litter. It is also a member of the High Ambition Coalition calling for a strong and ambitious international legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution.
“Plastic pollution and its detrimental impacts on health, the economy and the environment cannot be ignored. Urgent action is required. At the same time, we need true, effective and robust solutions,” said Vivianne Heijnen, Netherlands’ Minister for the Environment. “As part of several policies aimed at plastics, The Netherlands and the European community at large are fully committed to reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastic, which can and must be replaced with durable and sustainable alternatives.”
The announcement today follows a resolution adopted in 2022 at the United Nations Environment Assembly to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, with the ambition to complete the negotiations by end of 2024. The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-1) was held in Uruguay in December and the second meeting is expected to be held in Paris in 2023. The instrument is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic.
“We must seize every opportunity and engage with every stakeholder to deal with the plastics problem in its entirety,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “Côte d’Ivoire and the Netherlands are among a number of countries rising to this challenge and embracing the benefits of a circular plastics economy. The commemoration of the 50th World Environment Day is a moment for all governments, businesses, community groups, and individuals to join this drive.”
The campaign for World Environment Day 2023 will use the hashtag and slogan #BeatPlasticPollution.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About World Environment Day
World Environment Day is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Held annually since 1973, the Day has also become a vital platform for promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. With the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the helm, over 150 countries participate each year. Major corporations, non-governmental organizations, communities, governments and celebrities from across the world adopt the World Environment Day brand to champion environmental causes.
About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information, please contact:
News and Media Unit of the UN Environment Programme
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Press Release
18 January 2023
Jamaica’s Creative Economy Poised for Another Take-Off
In this discussion, the JEP was asked about Jamaica’s Creative Economy and invited to share their perspectives on Jamaica’s options to further develop and diversify the island’s creative sector.
Dr. Nadine McLoud, Head, Department of Economics, University of the West Indies Mona stated that
“Jamaica has not reaped the full scale of the pecuniary and nonpecuniary returns from its massive and globally unique stock of creative capital that spans its entire socioeconomic distribution. Jamaica's production function in the creative arena requires critical facilitating inputs, such as physical infrastructure and financial capital, to help churn out sizeable and sustainable returns that will contribute to its economic development while reducing income inequality.”
Dr. Marcus Goffe Deputy Director/Legal Counsel of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) describes Jamaica as a “cultural superstate - a powerhouse over-bubbling with talent and creativity” with a world platform in music, sport, dance, and other spheres. However, Jamaica hasn’t realised the full potential of its creative ability. This may be partly due to not having accessible financing for the creative sector nor the opportunity to monetise the industry thoroughly.
Economist, Dr. Karsten Müller, Assistant Professor of Finance, highlights that brain drain has an extremely negative affect on the economy, notwithstanding the creative sector. Müller further emphasized that to retain some of the brightest Jamaicans as well as entice highly skilled immigrants, it is necessary to invest in “more cultural offerings” which he posits would “improve the liveability of Kingston.”
According to UN Senior Economist Stuart Davies, moving forward, Jamaica should consider more flexible financing structures that advance the diversification and economic transformation of its creative sector. Additionally, creatives would benefit from increased access to flexible financing mechanisms in order to fully take advantage of opportunities that arise as they develop and take creative products and services to market.
Elliott Harris, Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, highlighted that traditional financing institutions often lack the flexibility that is needed for the creative economy to thrive. He explained that there is a “great need to expand access to sufficient and appropriate financing that will enable the scaling up of the creative economy to the point where it can actually provide a live yield.”
The sustainability and diversification of the Jamaican economy is key to ensuring that there are adequate opportunities for future generations, thereby limiting the migration of highly skilled creatives from Jamaica. Additionally, Jamaica is particularly well-known for its musical talent. Panellists emphasised the need for infrastructure to support this existing and burgeoning talent. In this regard, the JEP also agreed that emerging artists needed improved access to venues, practice space and business skills to further monetise this talent and further boost the music industry.
Responding to the survey results, Mr. Vincent Sweeney, United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim, agreed that, “we must find ways to create a thriving environment for artists to truly reflect the rich creative ability that exists in Jamaica. There is space for public-private partnerships to help deliver on a number of these solutions.” He continued “improving access to global markets can raise competitiveness, ultimately creating a new economic dynamism.”
The Jamaican Economy Panel is part of a partnership between the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (UNRCO) and the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona. The JEP brings together a select group of economic and public sector experts to address monthly socio-economic questions. These questions help to highlight relevant economic issues and the collective expertise of the panellists.
For more information on the Jamaican Economy Panel and for the results of this JEP discussion visit here.
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Press Release
23 February 2023
Leaving No One Behind: Ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, GBV and harmful practices
In November 2019, countries across the world, including the Dutch and English Speaking Caribbean, met at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 in Kenya to renew their commitment to the Programme of Action. At the end of that engagement some very ambitious commitments to accelerate the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, leaving no one behind and ensuring rights and choices for all were made. In our Sub-region commitments were made by Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
At UNFPA we continue to work with governments, Civil Society Organizations, our other partners, and our UN counterparts in offering a quality response and contributing to the reduction of gender-based violence in humanitarian, peace and development settings; ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, and for women’s and girls’ empowerment and gender equality. Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19, there have been some key achievements some of which help to fulfil Nairobi commitments, which are highlighted below.
UNFPA has supported countries with the implementation of the Essential Services Package for women and girls subject to violence: a set of modules that guide the provision of quality and coordinated essential services from the health, social services, justice and policing sectors. The idea behind this is that when quality services are in place for survivors and those at risk of experiencing GBV, more people will access them and the consequences of violence on survivors can be mitigated; and several lives will be saved.
In May, under the European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme, UNFPA and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), established the regional Essential Services Package Community of Practice (ESP CoP), a space that allows for key regional institutions and National Gender Bureaus across the Caribbean to continue to promote the application of high-quality standards in the provision of essential services for survivors of GBV.
To ensure survivors of GBV have access to high-quality services from various sectors, UNFPA also partnered with several institutions such as the University of the West Indies, the Guyana Police Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force in the provision of well-needed and relevant training focused on a survivor centred approach. In Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, referral pathways - flexible mechanisms that safely link survivors to services such as health, psychosocial support, case management, safety/security, and justice and legal aid - were established and operationalized.
Our partnership with the Government of Canada and UN Women has resulted in the start of the implementation of the Build Back Equal (BBE) Project in Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The aim of the project is to decrease the adolescent birth rate and establish discernible measures to address the unmet need for family planning. In another similar partnership with Global Affairs Canada, we began implementing the EQUAL SRHR project which has similar objectives to BBE in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
In Guyana, the India Funds Project which aimed to contribute to reducing adolescent pregnancy in Regions 1 and 9 recently concluded and we are happy that we have seen a reduction in the number of pregnancies among adolescents aged 10-19 in those two regions.
UNFPA in Suriname has placed significant focus on engaging young people by hosting events including a workshop on an adolescent health strategy throughout the year. Similarly, twenty Belizean youth participated in a capacity-building session which introduced them to the concept of population dynamics and its importance. In Jamaica, during the 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, a banner event on VAWG and a youth forum were hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. The youth forum is key to engaging young people on the identification of youth-specific issues and how to prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence from a gender perspective.
Despite the remarkable progress, the commitments from Nairobi still remain elusive for many countries. Universal access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health information, education and services as defined by the ICPD Programme of Action continues to be a work in progress. Hence, the work must continue to ensure the well-being of current and future generations. This will require unprecedented national, regional and global cooperation.
UNFPA remains committed to strengthening our partnerships and innovating to build a more inclusive, sustainable future for the region.
Note: Originally published in the national press.
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