THE University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus, through its Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), Mona Unit, has concluded a series of workshops aimed at empowering students with the tools and knowledge to combat sexual harassment.

The training, which involved 200 students from various backgrounds, was executed with funding support from the British High Commission in Jamaica.

During the month-long initiative, 150 students participated in awareness-building workshops designed to educate them about the importance of understanding and preventing sexual harassment.

These workshops highlighted the significance of creating a safe and supportive environment for all students regardless of gender or disability.

An additional 50 students took their commitment a step further by becoming certified as sexual harassment prevention and protection peer advisers who are now equipped to offer support to students involved in sexual harassment claims while ensuring adherence to The UWI Mona protocols.

The certification process included an intensive series of four sessions held at Taylor Hall on the campus.

The peer advisers have also created educational material, including video and poster messages, to reinforce the critical takeaways from their training. They are designed to further spread awareness and are available for viewing on the IGDS Mona Unit’s social media platforms.

“At the IGDS, we recognise that sexual harassment is a common societal issue. This initiative is one of the ways we aim to acknowledge and combat this sensitive matter within The UWI, Mona community and beyond.

“We are immensely proud of our students who have stepped forward. With the support of the British High Commission, we are making significant strides towards a safer and more inclusive university environment,” said head of IGDS Mona Unit, Dr Karen Carpenter.

The university’s move to attack sexual harassment was applauded by British High Commissioner to Jamaica Judith Slater.

“I want to commend UWI for leading the charge to equip students with the skill sets to prevent and/or appropriately respond to issues of sexual harassment. As Jamaica moves to implement its Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act, we hope this training has empowered these 200 students to respond to this sensitive issue.

“The UK is pleased to have provided funding for this initiative and we look forward to learning about its impact in the coming months,” said Slater.