WROC urges increased support for women’s organisations

The Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) is encouraging more citizens to play an active role in supporting women’s organisations.

Executive Director, Keisha Williams, made the call during a recent Gender-Based Violence Prevention event at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew.

Williams emphasised the importance of citizens volunteering their time and skills to organisations “making a difference”.

“We are asking our partners to join us in this important work by supporting community-based organisations, like the WROC, advocating for policies that prioritise gender equality and women’s rights,” she said.

Williams noted that over the past two years, more than 300 women have benefited from business, upskilling and employability training programmes undertaken by the WROC in partnership with the Social Development Commission (SDC).

Additionally, she said 20 women from the WROC received seed capital to launch their businesses, along with financial management training and other resources.

Williams, who noted that gender-based violence survivors in vulnerable communities face significant economic challenges, social isolation and psychological trauma, lauded the WROC’s partnership forged with the Inter-American Foundation.

She pointed out that this collaboration aims to strengthen the WROC’s impact on the community by increasing advocacy and collaboration in the fight against gender-based violence.

Founded in 1983, the WROC works to improve collaboration among institutions focused on preventing gender and family violence, and strengthening communities’ ability to reduce violence and support survivors.

The organisation provides outreach programmes targeting health and wellness, sustainable livelihoods, community capacity-building and advocacy.

Among the WROC’s key stakeholders are the Bureau of Gender Affairs, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, Women’s Empowerment Benevolent Society, Social Development Commission, Fight for Peace, Trench Town Community Development Committee, Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, Calvary Temple Church, Bethel New Testament Church, Jamaicans for Justice and the Rose Town Foundation.