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Press Release
31 May 2022
Eliminating stigma, discrimination, and violence against vulnerable communities is vital to ending inequalities and achieving Agenda 2030
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Speech
30 May 2022
Remarks of Resident Coordinator Dr. Conille on the Launch of the Joint SDG Fund Joint Programme on Building Back Equal through Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
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Press Release
28 April 2022
United Nations Resident Coordinator pays courtesy call on Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus on the occasion of the eleventh discussion of the Jamaican Economy Panel
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Latest
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.
Photo
17 March 2022
MSDCF 2022-2026 Signing Ceremony Jamaica
This week, Jamaica signed the MSDCF 2022-2026. Thanks to all colleagues who were able to share in the ceremony. Photos below.
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Take Action
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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Take Action
03 April 2020
All the facts and advisories on the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
The United Nations is joining forces with new partners to share vital information about coronavirus. We have to use all possible ways to carry the message of hope and safety.
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Take Action
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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Press Release
01 July 2021
UNESCO and Blackboard to train 10,000 teachers with skills for online teaching
Teachers will be trained in the use of online education tools, resources and interactive platforms to effectively engage students through online learning.
Since the onset of the pandemic, distance education has been a challenge for many teachers due to, for example, little or no connectivity, lack of access to devices and online education resources, and the challenges of moving quickly from traditional classroom instruction to an online environment.
In response to the education crisis, UNESCO and its partners launched the "Education response to Covid-19: Distance Learning and Teacher Training Strategies in the Caribbean Region and Jamaica", in January 2021.
On 22 June 2021, the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, based in Kingston, Jamaica, in collaboration with Blackboard, the leading EdTech company for higher education and K-12, the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning (CCEP) at the University of the West Indies and UNICEF Jamaica, will launch the first series of the three four-week teacher trainings. In a partnership with UNICEF in Jamaica, the initiative aims to train 5000 Jamaican teachers nationally.
"This initiative gives teachers strategies, tools and resources to use in the digital space to create an online classroom environment that meets the needs of both students and teachers," said Dr Faryal Khan, Programme Specialist for Education at UNESCO.
In the pilot phase in September 2020, 40 teachers from the Caribbean sub-region were already trained as master trainers in blended learning and online strategies to enhance the capacity of 300 teachers in their countries.
Faryal Khan, Ed.D, UNESCO, said the joint project is being implemented under the UNESCO Global Coalition for Education, a global, multi-sectoral coalition of 175 institutional partners from the UN, civil society, academia and the private sector, which was established at the outset of the pandemic to ensure continuity of learning.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations with the aim of promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, the sciences, culture, and communication and information.
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Story
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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Story
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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Story
29 March 2022
Jamaican Economy Panel discusses the gender dimension of climate change and disaster preparation
This month, the panellists are looking at climate change and disaster preparation through a gender lens, recognizing International Women's Day celebration on 8 March. After all, the UN Women theme for this year's celebration was "Gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow."
According to the panellists, the most likely disasters affecting Jamaica are drought, coastal flooding, and extreme heat. Those least likely to happen are tsunamis and wildfires. Apart from these last two, most hazard risks are seen as medium-to-high, though, in line with the general description of Jamaica as a relatively hazard-prone country. Climate change is expected to increase these hazards even further. JEP respondents agree with climate experts that hydrometeorological hazards are especially likely to increase. Drought, urban flooding, and cyclonic activity were the top 3 hazards likely to increase due to climate change.
The great majority of respondents agreed that the impact of disasters and climate change is different for women and girls than it is for men and boys. One critical issue that makes women more vulnerable is their increased likelihood of being single parents in female-headed households. Another key factor is the fact that many women generally earn overall lower incomes than their male counterparts. In addition to economic uncertainty, it is also theorized that women are more likely to have household duties and thus be disproportionally affected by a potential absence of potable water and sanitation.
Finally, it should not be forgotten that women and girls also face an increased risk of gender-based violence and that crises can make them more vulnerable to such violence. The issues of gender-based violence were also addressed in JEP Discussion 6.
Some of the most important approaches to reducing the vulnerabilities of women and girls in the face of climate change and associated disasters is to make sure that women have a seat at the table. The participation of women's groups in disaster preparedness and climate adaptation discussions is considered a crucial tool. Furthermore, it will be imperative that opportunities are created to further inspire women and girls who pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. This will enable more inclusive technical and political discussions. Girls' educational outcomes in Jamaica already exceed boys', but this is not as obvious in STEM careers.
The full results of this month's discussion are available here.
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Story
25 February 2022
Jamaican Economy Panel discusses Jamaican food systems and the threat of climate change
This first month, the panellists are looking at agriculture and food systems to see how these are affected by climate change and the associated policy implications.
Data from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) shows the generally low level of productivity achieved by the Jamaican agricultural sector. Compared to other Caribbean countries, Jamaica’s output of cereals, milk and fruits is particularly low on a production per hectare basis. While vegetable production is fair compared to other parts of the Caribbean, Jamaican Agriculture does boast some substantial advantages in the production of pulses (legumes) and roots and tubers.
When he was Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. Floyd Green stated that "in transforming our food systems, we will transform Jamaica and ensure that Jamaica fulfils its Vision 2030 mandate while also ensuring that we achieve our UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)", thus recognizing the importance of food systems for Jamaica. The Global Food Systems Summit of the United Nations in 2021 also argued that food systems are at the heart of the SDGs.
When asked to explain Jamaica’s rates of agricultural productivity, the JEP members identified three main areas of concern: the quality of capital/technology used in production, the quality of infrastructure and the small scale of farms in Jamaica. Each of these results from long-term path dependence and is not easily changed. However, in their comments, it became clear that one of the significant challenges identified is the degree to which crops are lost. This crop loss is attributed to weak infrastructure, insufficient storage facilities, and inadequate preparation for inclement weather.
Undoubtedly, the weather is a critical factor for agricultural production, and thus, climate change is a significant cause for concern for the agricultural sector. Indeed, the climate impacts that have already started to show will increase in size and frequency in the coming years. According to the panellists, this calls for a greater focus on climate change in agricultural management and the climate sensitivity of infrastructure. The adverse effects of climate change on Jamaica's agricultural productivity will demand an even greater role of government, especially concerning the training for farmers and the provision of affordable financing to invest in more climate-resilient infrastructure.
The full results of this month's discussion are available here.
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Story
01 February 2022
Jamaican Economy Panel discusses high levels of obesity in Jamaica
According to the World Health Organization, 39% of the worldwide population is considered overweight (with a BMI above 25), while 13% is classified as obese (with a BMI above 30). The situation is substantially worse in Jamaica, with a quarter of the population classified as obese (1 in 3 women and about 15% of men).
The Jamaican government is fully aware of this challenge. In 2018, the Minister for Health and Wellness, Dr. the Honorable Christopher Tufton, stated that the increasing obesity rates "can retard and erode health and economic advances."
According to the Heart Foundation (2020), 4 out of 5 deaths in Jamaica are attributable to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are often the result of obesity. The cost of caring for patients with NCDs reached USD 170 million yearly.
The panellists unanimously endorsed that this topic is worth addressing through public policy, with a vital role for education. After all, young people are not as set in their ways. Providing complete and correct information about healthy diets may have a long-term impact on helping people make healthy choices.
Another prominent policy area for affecting behaviour is that of fiscal policy. Following the example of Mexico, which introduced a tax on sugary drinks in 2014, most panellists support the use of taxes to discourage specific kinds of food, especially if the receipts from such a tax would be earmarked for shoring up the public healthcare system. However, before implementing such a tax, it would be crucial to investigate whether the possible regressive nature of the tax could be avoided.
Finally, from a broad perspective, the panellists identified several other areas that could be utilized to address behavioural change. One way to do this is by making sure that all people have access to healthy diet choices. The other comes back to the education system and would encourage the government to improve school lunches' quality and healthfulness. Another potential upside of that approach is that it could also help strengthen agricultural value chains in the country.
The full results of this month's discussion are available here.
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Press Release
02 June 2022
Eliminating stigma, discrimination, and violence against vulnerable communities is vital to ending inequalities and achieving Agenda 2030
For most of the members of the Jamaican Economy Panel (JEP) stigma, discrimination, and violence perpetrated against vulnerable and marginalised communities are important concerns in Jamaica and a possible hindrance to fully achieving the SDGs. The JEP expressed that those most affected by stigma and discrimination and various forms of violence in Jamaica are women and girls, people from inner-city communities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. These were followed by people with disabilities, people living with HIV and people who are homeless.
On the heels of the May 17th International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2022, the JEP also considered the impact of discrimination and violence on LGBTQ people as part of this month’s discussions. The majority of panellists expressed that a person’s livelihood and well-being were more likely to be affected by forms of stigma and discrimination that included physical abuse, closely followed by the denial of employment opportunities, as well as displacement and homelessness. The majority of panellists believe that all societal sectors could do more to reduce discrimination and violence against marginalised groups, including LGBTQ people.
When asked what could be done to protect marginalised groups from discrimination and violence, a majority of panellists expressed favour for a multisectoral response which would include the strengthening of anti-discriminatory laws and policies, increased community-based interventions and safer housing and shelter for people experiencing displacement and homelessness. A significant number of panellists also felt that school curricula should integrate human rights principles and non-discrimination.
The JEP was asked about the role of the private sector regarding marginalised and discriminated groups, there was a high preference towards the recommendation for the private sector to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the workplace to help reduce stigma, discrimination, and violence. The JEP also favoured private sector input in partnering and supporting organisations representing marginalised groups and implementing public education campaigns.
In responding to this JEP discussion, Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator expressed that stigma, discrimination, and violence pose a real risk to people’s health and hinders their broader development outcomes.
“Stigma, discrimination and violence in all its forms are real human rights concerns that stymie an individual’s ability to contribute to nation-building. The Human Development Report (2000) articulates that human rights and human development share a ‘common vision and a common purpose—to secure the freedom, well-being and dignity of all people everywhere,’” Dr. Conille, said.
Richard Amenya, Director, UNAIDS Multicountry Office based in Jamaica, shared that stigma, discrimination, and violence adversely impact a sound public health response.
“The HIV and AIDS response documents stark examples of the devastating impact of stigma, discrimination, and violence because of one’s health status. Studies show that people living with HIV, who perceive elevated levels of HIV-related stigma, are 2.4 times more likely to delay seeking care until they are severely ill. Such fears often contribute to discouraging uptake of prevention and testing services for HIV,” Amenya said.
“In Jamaica, the Stigma Index (2020) found that 38% of people living with HIV report having delayed testing, and 30% delayed initiating treatment because they feared how others would treat them,” Amenya added.
As in most countries worldwide, additional and accelerated efforts are needed in Jamaica to address stigma and discrimination in order to ensure that everyone can live peacefully with dignity and rights and participate fully in governance, cultural life and the economy while achieving their fullest potential.
Acknowledging the multidimensional urgency of the response, Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head Department of Economics, University of the West Indies said, “Eradicating stigma, discrimination and violence against vulnerable and marginalised groups in Jamaica is no easy commission. However, we must do so. The sentiments echoed by the panellists and other stakeholders strongly signal that there is an urgent need for hard and soft policies and laws that discourage discriminatory and abusive behaviour and hold perpetrators accountable."
For more information on the Jamaican Economy Panel and for the results of this JEP discussion visit here.
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Press Release
28 April 2022
United Nations Resident Coordinator pays courtesy call on Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus on the occasion of the eleventh discussion of the Jamaican Economy Panel
On this occassion, Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator, met with Professor Dale Webber, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus.
The two were joined by Professor Ian Boxill, Deputy Principal of UWI Mona, Jonathan Archie, Deputy Campus Registrar, Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head Department of Economics as well as Dr. Olaf J. De Groot, Ciara Patterson & Jomain McKenzie of the UNRCO.
Dr. Conille conveyed the well wishes of the UN System for the strong partnership established between the United Nations in Jamaica and the Department of Economics UWI, Mona.
“Through the Jamaican Economy Panel (JEP), UWI’s technical expertise has contributed to and expanded economic analysis within the UN system and has increased the accessibility of economic discourse within the wider population,” Dr. Conille said.
“The JEP is well aligned with UWI’s strategy and is helping us answer and respond to society’s questions,” Professor Webber said.
The parties exchange ideas into the future of the JEP and explored opportunities for greater strategic engagement between the United Nations and the regional university.
This month's topic directly links with the latest report by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warned in early April that the Paris commitment of a maximum temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius is becoming more challenging to achieve. The report also highlights that the climate change impact on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as Jamaica, is particularly significant, putting the livelihoods of many people at stake.
When ranking different climate-induced hazards, the panellists see the most significant risk in cyclones (hurricanes), drought, the livelihoods of the coast-dependent population, and the long-run risk of rising sea levels. Other risks identified by the latest IPCC report, such as coral bleaching and biodiversity loss, are considered less urgent in the case of Jamaica.
While mitigation continues to be the gold standard for handling climate change, the latest figures show that it is unlikely that climate change can be addressed entirely in time. For this reason, adaptation should be carefully considered and prioritized as well. When asking the JEP panellists about different adaptation strategies, the need for increased financial resources is particularly apparent. One of the key strategies for Jamaica will be to improve coastal defences, especially with nature-based solutions, such as mangroves, but these would be very costly.
Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head of the Economics Department at UWI Mona and co-founder of the JEP, comments that "major investment is required to prepare the country for climate change. However, while financing opportunities through our international development partners should be pursued, we must explore other ways in which financial flows can be unlocked. The private sector, for example, can extract significant benefits from sustainable and climate-sensitive investment opportunities – an untapped and lucrative pool in Jamaica. The tourism sector, a major recipient of foreign direct investment, stands to lose the most from climate change. So engaging such investors in ensuring that coastlines are protected in the long run would be a logical path to pursue and a win-win for all stakeholders."
For almost a decade (since Sandy in 2012), Jamaica has avoided significant hurricane impacts. This luck could lead to a reduced awareness of the hazards associated with hurricanes and lower vigilance and hurricane preparedness. The respondents generally believe that people are decently prepared but have a somewhat dimmer view of private sector actors.
The JEP panellists applaud the Government's issuance of what is known as a catastrophe bond, which insures the country for up to USD 185 million of hurricane damages. While many panellists believe it is a wise decision to issue such a bond, a substantial number would have liked to see a larger size of such a bond. It was pointed out, for example, that the impact of a hurricane such as Gilbert (1988) would have an estimated impact of up to USD 1.3 billion. While some may view such an enormous catastrophe as very unlikely, its impact would be huge.
Several other respondents also highlighted the need for a broader range of instruments, such as weather derivatives and a more holistic, multisectoral and structural approach to making the country less prone to the impacts of hazards. One respondent pointed out that rigid enforcement of building codes would help lessen the impacts of a cyclone, but that the large construction boom over the past few years may have lessened the attention to such enforcement.
Responding to the survey results, Dr. Conille shared that "the continuing exhaust of greenhouse gases exacerbates existing hazards. While it is crucial to reduce emissions as soon as possible, it is also important to look at ways to alleviate the impacts of disasters that may be exacerbated by continued climate change. SIDS have a great need for additional funds to be able to invest in both mitigation and adaptation. The work of The Hon. Prime Minister Holness with the Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada as co-chairs of Group of Friends of SDG Financing is crucial in the pursuit of such innovative financing accessible to all states."
The Jamaican Economy Panel is 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.
The full results of this month's discussion are available here.
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Press Release
19 April 2022
Caribbean Creative Sector to benefit from ACP-EU 3 million Euro Grant Support Programme
The Virtual Launch is set for Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 11:00 EST.
The United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO), the CARICOM Secretariat and The University of the West Indies have joined forces to implement the project titled Creative Caribbean - An Ecosystem of “Play” for Growth and Development” in the amount of Euros 3 million.
The three-year project that will be implemented in 15 Caribbean countries aims to develop a robust creative economy in the region by strengthening the enabling environment and providing grant support for industry and training initiatives.
The Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) targeted for grant support include music, fashion, festivals, film, animation and new media, visual and performing arts, among other areas of entertainment - a sector that provides millions in revenue and in which thousands of people find full-time and part-time work.
The project is expected to strengthen research and data collection on CCIs, to facilitate market access opportunities, to support the development of national artists registries, Cultural policies and Creative Industry Development Acts to incentivise the sector. It will also provide grants to creative and cultural practitioners to grow more globally competitive businesses and enhance their professional development.
“It is an unquestionable fact that the impact of Covid-19 on the cultural and creative sectors was tremendously significant, yet CCIs play a notable role in the economy and recovery from the pandemic. The Creative Caribbean project seeks to shift the paradigm from "the struggling artist" to creating an enabling environment where creatives are incentivised to produce and thrive and become a key driver of sustainable development in the region," explains Saadia Sanchez-Vegas, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean.
Artists and Cultural Entrepreneurs from the following countries are eligible to apply for grant support under this landmark project: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
UNESCO, CARICOM and The UWI have the pleasure of inviting you to the virtual launch of the Joint Project "Creative Caribbean" on Thursday, 21 April 2022, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (GMT-5:00).
Register to join the virtual meeting
https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kY0riN7QeW470_hCfNeIQ
Meeting ID: 848 7174 7994
Passcode: 335198
With the Financial Contribution of the European Union and the Support of the Organisation of ACP States
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Press Release
04 April 2022
Women and girls should be included in urban planning in the Caribbean
In some cases, they bring gritty character to the neighborhood and in many they create insecurities and discomfort amongst the citizens, with a specific kind of discomfort for women and girls in particular. The spaces may also remind us about what once was – and what still can be.
A vibrant craft shop and café by the lady a few blocks away. Fruits and vegetable stalls operated by the local women’s farmer group. The afterschool gathering spot of the youth from the communities, ‘liming’ safely if not so quietly. A bench along the street for the elderly and differently abled to sit under a shade while waiting for that ZR van that arrives reliably. A relaxing stroll in a lush park before hurrying off to take care of the next errand: going to work, getting groceries, picking up children or helping the elderly family members.
The spaces and buildings are abandoned for many reasons. Economic downturn, criminality, more hazards like hurricanes barreling through and more recently, COVID-19 cutting off the solid stream of tourists. According to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Hurricane Ivan (2004) caused damage to homes, buildings and other structures at more than US$3 billion across the region.[1] Hurricane Maria (2018) caused extensive damage to Dominica, totaling at around US$1.3 billion.[2] Hurricane Dorian (2019) resulted in total of US$2.5 billion of damage in the Bahamas.[3] While many spaces and buildings have been rebuilt or given new life since, there are always those that remain unattended, provoking the feeling of lost opportunity.
Resilient, inclusive, smart and safe public spaces enable businesses to thrive and empower the citizens to live their life for the fullest. Reliable and sustainable public transportation is a critical element of this. They both enable access to employment and key services, income generation, recreation and wellbeing, thus influencing gender equality. It is well known that gender and other socio-economic realities shape how women, men, girls, boys, LGBTQI persons and other marginalized groups experience public spaces and public transportation. What may be a safe enough space for an adult man may be a space to avoid for a young woman. Generally, unsafe spaces for women and girls are the canary in the coal mine so to speak for insecurity for all. While there is no data in the Caribbean yet on the prevalence of gender-based violence in public spaces and how this is linked to broader issues of criminality, evidence from different countries in the region tell the unfortunate truth of high prevalence of violence against women, including sexual violence and harassment. Based on prevalence data from 5 Caribbean countries, 46 percent of women have experienced at least one form of violence from their intimate partner.[4] A deeper dive into the data shows that in Grenada, for example, 26.6 percent of women have experienced non-partner sexual harassment in their lifetime.[5]
The design of urban services and infrastructure impact on the time, cost, safety, comfort and psychological burdens of the users. For women and girls, street harassment is so prevalent. Whether they are riding the minibus, walking on the streets or accessing public spaces, it can often be a frustrating and unpleasant experience. With urban planning processes taking better into account the needs and experiences of women and girls, this can change. When given the opportunity, women and girls have proven to design spaces and systems that work better for everyone.
For example, the Government of Barbados has added electric buses offering specific child and mother seating to the public transport fleet to improve the comfort and safety, as well as to mitigate climate change. Moreover, the Adopt a Stop programme in Barbados improves safety at the bus stop through solar panel powered lighting and proper seating. Furthermore, with the leadership of a Barbados-based woman-led electric vehicle company, charging stations have been placed to places where women felt safer – close to entrances and in vicinity of other amenities. Safer for women, safer for everyone.
As climate change progresses, we can anticipate more intense and frequent tropical storms and sea level rise.[6] Also, that unwelcomed guest, COVID-19 is likely here to stay.[7] Are our public spaces and transport systems prepared to take the hits and bounce quickly back? Let’s make sure that women and girls and all community members are engaged in the conversation and are given the opportunity to lead on the change.
For the month of March - Women’s Month - the world celebrates the contributions of women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all. Under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” UN Women Multi Country Office - Caribbean and UN Habitat stand to support governments, civil society organizations and the private sector in including women and girls as the leaders in sustainable urban planning in the Caribbean.
[1] Hurricane Ivan impacts https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL092004_Ivan.pdf
[2] Hurricane Maria impacts in Dominica https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/dominica-impact-hurricane-maria-disaster-profile-january-2018
[3] Hurricane Dorian impacts in Bahamas https://publications.iadb.org/en/assessment-of-the-effects-and-impacts-of-hurricane-dorian-in-the-bahamas
[4] Data from Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago https://caribbeanwomencount.unwomen.org/
[5] https://caribbean.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office%20Caribbean/Attachments/Publications/2021/20210209%20Grenada%20Life%20Experience%20Report%2018%20for%20digital.pdf
[6] WMO (2021) State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2020. World Meteorological Organization. WMO-No. 1272. https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=21926#.YZ497tDMKUk
[7] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00057-y
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Press Release
29 March 2022
Women must have a seat at the table of climate change and disaster preparations
This month's topic also acknowledges the celebration of International Women's Day on 8 March. UN Women celebrated this year with a theme of "Gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow", highlighting the significant contributions by women and girls around the world to the discussions on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response.
UN Women is also one of the agencies leading the EnGenDER project. EnGenDER is a large-scale project funded by Global Affairs Canada and UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, supporting climate change, disaster risk reduction and environmental management interventions in nine Caribbean countries.
The panellists were asked about their perceptions of Jamaica's hazards and whether such hazards are exacerbated by climate change. The panellists agreed that Jamaica is most exposed to the hazards of drought, coastal flooding, and extreme heat. They generally see the hydrometeorological risks as most likely exacerbated by climate change.
Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head of the Economics Department at UWI Mona and co-founder of the JEP, comments that "Jamaica has been lucky in recent years with the paths of different hurricanes dodging us. However, given our experience with Gilbert, we should not be complacent about the impact of a direct hit of an extreme natural disaster on the Jamaican economy and people. Climate change increases air's capacity to hold moisture, which increases the risk of excessive rain even outside hurricane conditions. This pattern is an existential threat to many farmers and Jamaican communities living close to water, as shown in last month's JEP Discussion".
The great majority of respondents agreed that, in the face of many disasters, the risks faced by women and girls are different from those faced by men and boys. Some of the key ingredients to the increased risk level include that women often have lower incomes than men and are more likely to be single parents. In addition to the economic vulnerability of women and girls, they are also seen as being more present in households, thus having to cope with challenges such as interrupted sanitation and water supplies. Finally, there is a real threat of gender-based violence, especially in acute disaster situations that warrant evacuation or shelter movements.
Tonni-Ann Brodber, Representative of the UN Women Multi-country Office for the Caribbean, comments that “in addition to the economic vulnerabilities of women, their care responsibilities for children and the elderly act as an additional responsibiliy. If a disaster causes school closures, societal expectations often demand that women stay home to provide care duties. Additionally, women and girls are often at greater risk of the threat of sexual abuse and exploitation in the aftermath of a disaster. The increased risks are not unique to women and girls, other groups including people living with disabilities, the elderly, and members of the LGBTQ+ community also face increased risk as a result of intersecting vulnerabilities.”
The critical tool in addressing the vulnerabilities of women and girls in hazardous situations is including women in discussions on disaster preparedness and climate change. The participation of civil society organizations that represent women is often forgotten, and women's political representation in Jamaica continues to lag. In Jamaica, one somewhat bright light is the relatively favourable position of girls when it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), compared to the abysmal situation they find themselves in other countries. After all, when women and girls pursue STEM careers, they will necessarily be engaged in the technical discussions to prepare for disasters and oncoming climate change.
Responding to the survey results, Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator, shared that
“Gender equality is a core value of the United Nations and a person’s gender should not be a risk factor in emergency situations. Despite progress we still have much to do, as a collective, to ensure the safety of women and girls during and after crisis events. One of the key strategies to achieve this goal is to ensure that women and girls are included and that their voices are heard long before disaster hits."
The Jamaican Economy Panel is a partnership between the United Nations in Jamaica 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.
The full results of this month's discussion are available here.
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