Mark Berman | Ending gender-based violence: A shared responsibility we cannot ignore

On December 6, Canada will commemorate the 34th anniversary of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. A day honouring 14 women murdered at Montreal’s École Polytechnique – a stark reminder that gender-based violence exists everywhere.

We are also in the middle of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign to speak out against gender-based violence and catalyse action.

The root causes of gender-based violence are complex and multifaceted. This problem is not unique to any one country or community. Indeed, violence against women and girls happens in every country around the world, including mine. Canada’s government, like Jamaica’s, is reckoning with this reality and taking action to end gender-based violence (GBV), particularly when it affects our most vulnerable populations.

UNACCEPTABLE REALITY

It remains an unacceptable reality that one in every four women in Jamaica has experienced physical violence from a male partner. Shockingly, 63 per cent of the women who experienced violence from a partner did not seek help. Equally alarming, the 2023 Jamaica Gender Assessment found that between 2014 and 2017, 20 per cent of all child visits to public hospitals were due to sexual assault, increasing to 40 per cent among girls.

These numbers are more than statistics – they represent lives forever altered, futures cut short, and a society grappling with a deep-seated issue. No doubt, the social and economic consequences of these incidents will have ripple effects across generations.

Research shows that deeply entrenched social norms and beliefs about gender roles for both men and women are key drivers of GBV in Jamaica. We know that there are gaps in the institutions that respond to GBV: unequal access to justice, lack of resources, poor infrastructure, and inconsistencies in law enforcement. And we know that individuals with less education and lower incomes are more likely to experience GBV.

This is a complex challenge to confront and there is no one magic solution. Jamaica has already made tremendous progress by establishing strong legal and institutional frameworks for GBV prevention and response. The Bureau of Gender Affairs within the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is taking action through the 10-year National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence in Jamaica 2017-2027, and there are more resources for survivors than ever before.

Canada is proud to be working with Jamaica to build on these efforts. Through projects like the WE-Talk for the Reduction of GBV and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), we are supporting community-led solutions that empower survivors, educate communities, and challenge harmful gender norms. For example, the WE-Talk initiative, a CDN$5 million investment, aims to combat gender-based violence in Jamaica by fostering behavioural change, empowering civil society organisations, and supporting survivors through targeted interventions for women, men, and youth. WE-Talk has been actively facilitating public dialogue, fostering conversations about respect and equality, while CFLI, our flagship small grants programme, consistently funds impactful local GBV initiatives. Notably, CFLI’s funding supports efforts to improve the economic and psychosocial support offered at the island’s national shelter for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

Through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Caribbean project, we aim to prioritise gender-based violence risk prevention, protection, and mitigation strategies. This includes structural support for GBV prevention efforts and enhancing critical services, such as shelter resources for survivors.

Moreover, Canada’s over decade-long support for Jamaica’s justice system continues to drive meaningful change. Through our Social Justice initiative, we are implementing programmes that improve access to justice for GBV survivors, offering vital support services and resources to empower those affected, and ensure they receive the justice they deserve.

Canada’s commitment extends beyond project-based investments; it is deeply rooted in fostering inclusive relationships and amplifying diverse voices. We continue to work closely with the LGBTQ+ community and civil society organisations, recognising their partnership, expertise and leadership as integral to ending GBV. Together, these programmes are creating the transformative change needed to tackle GBV at its roots.

During the 16 Days of Activism, we have an opportunity to build on this momentum. While our attention is focused on the severity of the issue, we must redouble our efforts to challenge and confront harmful gender norms that lie at the root of this problem. That includes education that challenges these deeply held conceptions of gender roles, and programmes to empower men and boys as allies and agents of change. We must also continue with the long-term work to reinforce and expand the institutions and frameworks that prevent and respond to GBV, because while this issue comes to the forefront during the 16 Days campaign, we can only be successful if we persist in our collective efforts 365 days a year.

The road ahead is long, but the stakes are too high to delay. Let us come together – governments, civil society, and individuals – to act now and end gender-based violence.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence is an annual international campaign that started in 1991 to call out and speak up on gender-based violence. It is observed every year from November 25 to December 10. The government of Canada’s theme for 2024 is ‘Come Together. Act Now’.

Mark Berman is the high commis-sioner of Canada in Jamaica. He is also consul general (with responsibility for trade and consular affairs) for the Turks & Caicos and Cayman Islands. Send feedback to kngtngr@international.gc.ca and columns@gleanerjm.com.