25 November 2019

It is a sad reality that at this moment, a woman and a girl and a family and a community in our country are experiencing the horrific effects and consequences of gender-based violence.

Despite progress at reducing it, gender-based violence is still a major factor of life for too many women in Jamaica and across the world.

Each year on this date we give special focus to the horrific problem of violence against women and girls and recommit as individuals and as a country to take steps to end the violence. We empathise and we feel upset when heartless, callous, horrific and brutal attacks are committed against women and girls everywhere. However, we can help every woman who is suffering and help to prevent it from happening again.

The attacks are not inevitable — we can end the violence, but it requires all of us to end the violence.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is ‘Stand Up! Talk Up! Gender-Based Violence is not a Private Matter’ and it is an invitation to you to join the movement to end the violence against our women.

A woman, somewhere, needs you to be her voice. If you know or suspect something, please stand up and talk up.

Olivia Grange, CD, MP
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport