Kingston, 14 June 2023 (JIS) - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says the commencement date of the Sexual Harassment Act is set for Monday, July 3, 2023.

Minister Grange made the announcement during her contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 13.

The legislation addresses concerns about sexual harassment that are employment-related, occurring in institutions, or arising in the landlord and tenant relationship.

The Act contains provisions for dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace, schools, correctional institutions, places of safety, nursing homes, medical and psychiatric facilities, among other places.

“We continue to sensitise employees, employers, tenants, landlords and others ahead of the implementation of the law. At the same time, we have been working to put the mechanisms in place to investigate and adjudicate complaints of sexual harassment. This has included the recruitment of investigators and the appointment of the panel to hear each case,” Minister Grange said.

“We have already hired four sexual harassment investigators. We have also done several sensitisations with companies across Jamaica. In addition to that, we have our help line, which is widely publicised, and it is not just for women but also for men,” she added.

The Minister informed that in two weeks, she will take the membership of the tribunal to Cabinet for approval.

“I use this opportunity to remind every employer and person in charge of an institution of their responsibility to ensure that the policy statement required under the Sexual Harassment Act is prepared and brought to the attention of each worker, client, student, resident, ward, inmate, patient or member, as the case may require, within 12 months of the commencement date,” Minister Grange said.

She added that the Bureau of Gender Affairs has been holding sexual harassment sensitisation sessions with the public.

The Bureau has also been assisting organisations to develop or revise the anti-sexual harassment policies, in keeping with the law.

In recent times, 18 gender focal points have been added to the network as the Government ramps up the mainstreaming of gender in public-sector bodies.

One major new outcome has been the gender certification of the JDF, in keeping with the National Policy for Gender Equality.

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Kingston, 8 March 2021 (JIS) - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says issues affecting women must be tackled in the process of recovering gains lost under the covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the opening of a European Union and United Nations-sponsored forum, titled, ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World’, held virtually, today (March 8), the Minister said the Ministry is ensuring that resources reach the most needy and the most affected, particularly women.

She pointed out that credible data have shown that women have been severely impacted by dislocation caused by the crisis, adding that where the “situation” of women improves, the “overall” economic condition of the society also advances.

“In building back stronger, we must all put greater focus on creating real gender equity. Women and girls are innovative and dynamic leaders, and it is important for them to be empowered to play their part as agents of change in the fight against COVID-19,” the Minister said.

Miss Grange pointed out that the investment in women and girls is futuristic, and her Ministry is at the forefront of ensuring that they achieve increased roles in leadership, political participation, and in strengthening their economic power.

For her part, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, said building back stronger and more resilient requires women using their various platforms for exchange of ideas, information sharing, and for advocacy, such as the wearing of masks, and adhering to COVID-19 protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

Head of the EU Delegation to Jamaica, Ambassador Marianne Van Steen, while bemoaning the many obstacles and violence that women still face across the globe, commended Jamaica for having 26 members in its Parliament (House and Senate), 31 per cent of the membership.

She described this as one of the “highest” in the world, and that “this is excellent and promising”.

The forum was held in observance of International Women’s Day, which is observed annually on March 8 to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

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Kingston, 7 March 2021 – The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment announces the postponement of the International Women’s Day Awards Ceremony which was scheduled to take place on March 8, 2021.

The event, which honours women from various sectors for outstanding contribution to Jamaica, is being postponed in keeping with measures to limit gatherings in light of the covid-19 pandemic.
 
A new date will be announced.

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Kingston, 12 February 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that the contribution of women is vital to achieving sustainable development, peaceful and secure communities and poverty eradication.

The Minister declared that there is an “overwhelming body of evidence showing the undeniable connection between women’s economic participation and prosperity."

Minister Grange made the comments in her address at the Second Women of the Diaspora Summit on Thursday (yesterday).

The online Summit focused on economic equity for women and girls.

According to Minister Grange, “The entire society benefits when women can completely access their rights; have equal access to and control over productive resources, including land, labour and capital; and are able to shape digital, financial and property products, services and policies.”

The Minister reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to continue to “remove obstacles that prevent women from contributing to economic activity, especially as we begin the process of building back stronger from the effects of the covid-19 pandemic.”

Minister Grange said that the Government continues to “invest in education and training and providing grants and other types of funding to put women on the path to economic independence.”

The Gender Minister also spoke of efforts to: eliminate violence against women through the National Strategic Action Plan; provide greater protection for especially vulnerable women through the amendment of legislation; and ensure that women play a greater role in decision-making in keeping with National Policy for Gender Equality which requires a minimum of 30 per cent of either gender represented on Government of Jamaica boards of management.

The Second Women of the Diaspora Summit was organised by the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network, the Republic of Costa Rica, the United Nations Population Fund and UN Women.

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Kingston, 31 January 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed shock and outrage at the killing of a woman during a church service in Falmouth, Trelawny on Sunday.

The police report that Andrea Lowe-Garwood was in a worship session at her church on Sunday morning when a man posing as a member of the congregation walked over to her and shot her several times before escaping in a white motorcar.

The 51 year old bank manager was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Minister Grange said:
“The horrific circumstances of the killing of the woman in her church should serve as a wake up call for all Jamaicans. The entire country must now get involved in efforts to end crime and violence as it requires all of us to end the violence; and it will take all of us to defend Jamaica against the criminals.”

Minister Grange is urging anyone with information about the murder to report to the police.
 
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Kingston 25 November 2020 (JIS) - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Jamaica must renew its commitment to ending domestic abuse as well as using violence as a way to discipline children.

“It’s time we decide as a nation that we will stop beating our pickney. We must end all acts of violence and abuse in our homes, in our communities, and in our country. We have to focus on the homes and the communities because most of the violence against women, girls and boys takes place in the homes,” she noted, during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (November 24).

She was speaking against the observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls on Wednesday (November 25) under the theme ‘The Empowered Woman: From Victim to Survivor’.

Minister Grange, in her address, cited a United Nations report that states that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.

“This is in keeping with the findings of the local women’s health survey, which found that one in every four women in Jamaica has been slapped, beaten, thumped up with fist, pushed, kicked, attacked with a weapon or threatened with a weapon by her male partner. We also know that the violence doesn’t have to happen. It is not inevitable,” she said.

Minister Grange pointed out that in countries such as the United States (US), violence against women has declined. “Domestic violence against adult women went down by 64 per cent between 1993 and 2010,” she said.

She noted that Jamaica has adopted similar measures to those implemented by the US under a 10-year National Strategic Action Plan to end gender-based violence.

Among the actions is the development of a network of shelters for women who need help to leave abusive relationships. 

Minister Grange urged women who need support to call the 24-hour hotline numbers: (876) 553-0372 and (876) 929-2997.

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Kingston, 8 September 2020 - The Minister of Culture Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that with the passing of Mrs. Jeanette Grant-Woodham “Jamaica has lost a woman who made an indelible mark on education and politics.”

“In the course of her long and distinguished service to the nation, we will recall that Mrs Grant-Woodham was appointed the first principal of the Tivoli Comprehensive High School; she was elected the first female President of the Senate and was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry.

“Her contribution to education did not stop with her stewardship at the Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High School but saw her serving the University of the West Indies, the University of Technology, the Council of Community Colleges and as Executive Director of the Jamaican Institute of Management.

“Another of Mrs Grant-Woodham’s outstanding contributions was her commitment to the cause of women’s political empowerment. This was exemplified by her active participation in the Jamaica Women’s Political Caucus.

“Jeanette Grant-Woodham was a strong woman, one dedicated to giving service of the highest quality and one who demonstrated extraordinary love of country and fellowmen.

“I am happy that I accepted her invitation to be Patron of the Jeanette Grant-Woodham Education Foundation to succeed former Prime Minister Edward Seaga. The main focus of the Foundation is to stimulate excellence and performance among students in academics, the arts and culture.

“I am committed to keep her legacy alive through the Foundation.

“Proud I am that she remained my friend to the end. I kept her abreast of developments and she continued to make suggestions on the way forward.

“I express my deepest sympathy to her son, Omar, sister Marcia, brother, Lennox, other relatives and her friends.

“May her soul rest in peace.”

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Morant Bay, St Thomas 22 December 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that a new nursery, to be constructed at the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation location in Morant Bay, will be named in honour of Miss World, Toni-Ann Singh.

Minister Grange made the announcement during a tour of St Thomas by the new Miss World on Sunday (today).

Minister Grange said:
“It is my pleasure to announce this afternoon that this facility will have a new nursery. We will build out a new nursery and it will be the Toni-Ann Singh nursery. We will make a more detailed announcement, but I just want to say to you that it will be done. And it will be done soonest!”

The tour of her home parish is one of the activities to celebrate Toni-Ann being crowned Miss World 2019.

Toni-Ann Singh had chosen the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation location in St Thomas for her ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ project upon entering the Miss World competition and has been working with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to improve the facilities. She is aiming to raise J$12million to develop the facilities and help adolescent mothers to complete their education.

The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation helps adolescent mothers to continue their education while providing them with the tools to become good parents.

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Kingston 21 May 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, is this year’s recipient of the coveted DUSUSU Award in the Gender Minister category.

The awards are presented annually to a First Lady and a Gender Minister who have shown exemplary work in Gender Development issues.

The award was presented to Minister Grange at her offices in New Kingston by the founder of the DUSUSU Awards, the world renowned girls education advocate Zuriel Oduwole.

Zuriel said Minister Grange was selected because she is “doing a lot in the areas of and in issues surrounding girls education, gender development and teenage pregnancy.”

Zuriel started the awards in 2014 when she was 11 years old to recognise the work of First Ladies and Gender Ministers in Africa.

Minister Grange has created history by becoming the first person outside of the African continent to receive the DUSUSU Award.

The Minister said she was honoured to receive the award from young Zuriel. Minister Grange pledged to continue working towards the empowerment, protection and education of girls.

Previous recipients of DUSUSU Awards have included Ministers of Gender Affairs in Mauritius, Ghana and Rwanda.

KINGSTON, 7 November 2018 (JIS) - The Government is advanced in the establishment of the first State-run National Shelter to assist women who need to leave abusive environments.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange provided details during a Statement to the House of Representatives on November 6.

She informed that in the last few months, the Government has completed the acquisition of the property and is in the process of transforming it into a centre to accommodate survivors of gender-based violence and their children.

“It will also offer basic necessities, counselling and other forms of support. We acknowledge all those who have graciously donated furniture and other items towards the establishment of the National Shelter,” Minister Grange said.

Meanwhile, the Minister said that national activities to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, will target key stakeholders towards the implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan for the Elimination of Gender-based Violence. 

“We will use this observance to undertake significant outreach activities in communities that are associated with high levels of violence,” Ms. Grange informed.

Through the Bureau of Gender Affairs, the Ministry has developed and championed the National Strategic Action Plan for the Elimination of Gender-based Violence.

“We have begun to implement this 10-year plan that presents an action-focused approach across all of government to eliminate all gender-based violence,” Minister Grange noted.

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