MINISTER of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange says Government has been working actively to develop and to strengthen existing frameworks and programmes aimed at reducing and eliminating violence against women in Jamaica.

“We have recorded significant achievements including amendments to the Domestic Violence Act, to extend the scope and meaning of domestic violence,” Grange said last Friday, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

“Amendments have also been done to the Memorandum of Objects and Reason to ensure compliance with the Draft Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022 as well as a comprehensive review has been undertaken of the National Policy for Gender Equality through support from the Caribbean Development Bank. This was done under a project which was implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund under the Basic Needs Trust Fund.

“We have also been informed by a National Study on the Economic Costs of Violence Against Women & Girls in Jamaica, commissioned by UN Women.”

“Our women and girls are undervalued, raped, beaten and killed. Violence against women and girls is everybody’s business and it has to end,” Grange added.

“The Government is encouraging dialogue about the seriousness on the complexity of gender-based violence and stereotypes and cultural practices which perpetuate and normalise violence against women and girls.”