KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, through the Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA), continues to advance its national mandate to promote gender equity and safeguard the rights of women and girls by driving community engagement, policy sensitisation and legislative reform.

Principal Director of the BGA, Sharon Coburn Robinson, highlighted the importance of the Bureau’s services, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to ensuring that women and girls feel protected and heard.

She underscored the critical role of the BGA’s support channels, including its dedicated helpline for gender-based violence (GBV) and its Community Liaison Unit.

“The helpline is very important for assisting persons. [Our] Community Liaison Unit, [and] social workers, go to the communities and speak with community members during the times when it is required,” Coburn-Robinson said.

She further noted that community sensitisation remains central to the BGA’s work, encompassing outreach on key observances such as the International Day for Rural Women, alongside year-round awareness efforts focused on national legislation.

“We conduct sensitisation on matters related to policy and legislation to ensure that communities remain informed. Their voice matters, their contribution matters, because the National Policy for Gender Equality, one of its four guiding principles, emphasises a participatory approach. Everyone is included… everybody’s voice matters,” Coburn-Robinson explained.

She highlighted the ongoing review of the Domestic Violence Act as a key example of this commitment, noting that one of the actions being pursued is to bring that exercise to completion.

The principal director emphasised that the bureau will continue its ongoing sensitisation efforts under the Sexual Harassment Protection and Prevention Act, while also working to ensure that the Sexual Harassment Tribunal delivers accessible and equitable justice.

“The tribunal that we have will be able to make good on the cases that are referred so that the persons who bring forward the cases… the complainers will actually feel as if justice is served,” she pointed out.

Coburn-Robinson encouraged Jamaicans to work collectively to build safer communities for each other.

“We want persons to feel that they can be safe in their communities. We know that if community members bond together and form a sort of protection around themselves as they strengthen their community… that kind of community resilience can assist,” she said.

Coburn-Robinson highlighted successful models such as the Clarendon Inter-Parish Network and encouraged other parishes to adopt similar approaches.

“We think other parishes can do the same thing. Do the conversations, have the networking and just continue to keep your community safe,” she emphasised.

Addressing the wider Jamaican society, Coburn-Robinson urged collective responsibility, vigilance and active engagement in the fight against domestic and gender-based violence.

She called on all Jamaicans to report suspected cases of harm, foster strong community partnerships and collaborate closely with law-enforcement agencies.

“Try to make sure that they report as much as possible — anything that they hear, anything that they see that is untoward, anything that they suspect might be something that can cause harm to someone. We’re all our brothers and sisters’ keepers,” the principal director said.

“We want a society that is better than what we saw when we came, and what our children and those coming behind them [will] be able to enjoy. A space that is free from discrimination, free from harm and violation, exploitation and abuse, where they can exercise their rights and feel safe,” Coburn-Robinson added.

Established in 2023, the GBV Helpline Unit provides critical support to victims, survivors and witnesses of gender-based violence.

Women can access assistance by calling 876-553-0372 or 876-236-1713, while men are encouraged to seek support through the dedicated helpline at 876-553-0387.

— JIS