Today, as we join the world in observing International Women’s Day, we note, with no small amount of pride, that Jamaican women continue to make superlative contribution to the advancement of our society.

In fact, any informal survey will also reveal that Jamaican-born women, as well as women of Jamaican heritage, have, for many years, played major roles in some of the most important developments and events worldwide.

We never tire of referencing Mrs Mary Jane Seacole, who in 1853 travelled to Crimea to offer her service as a nurse to soldiers dying from war wounds as well as cholera and dysentery in the Turkey-Russia war.

Although, since then the road forward for women has been rocky, no one can deny that Jamaica has achieved significant progress in fostering gender equality and the empowerment of women.

We see today an increasing number of women heading businesses as well as being among the country’s top decision-makers and legislators.

Additionally, we can point to the enactment of the National Policy for Gender Equality; the Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2021; the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act, 2023; and the National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-based Violence, all of which have ushered in concrete measures to protect the vulnerable, most of whom are women, and promote cultural change.

But even as we acknowledge that Jamaica, today, is in a better position, than say six decades ago, to realise the United Nations’ call to action for driving gender balance worldwide, we must agree with the global organisation’s observation that women still face major obstacles in accessing and exercising power.

The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion and, as such, we endorse UN Secretary General António Guterres’ view that: “When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.”

A few years ago Mr Guterres told us that “closing the gender gap in employment could add US$12 trillion to global GDP by 2025”.

That projection is particularly relevant in the face of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development agreed by world leaders.

We would be particularly pleased if, by 2030, the world could state with conviction that some of the key targets of the agenda have been achieved, among them that all forms of discrimination against women and girls no longer exist; that all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation are eliminated; and that all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation are no more.

As the UN correctly stated, mankind’s mandate now is to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal #5, which is to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” and goal #4, to “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”.

All of these goals come to mind as we ask our readers to spare a thought for the women of Haiti who are under desperate siege from violent gangsters who are running rampant.