The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“This year’s theme reminds us that human rights are about building the future right now. All human rights are indivisible. Whether economic, social, civic, cultural or political, when one right is undermined, all rights are undermined. We must stand up for all rights always.”- António Guterres- Secretary-General of the United Nations. Dehumanization is a lived reality for most of the world’s vulnerable and defenceless; as a result human rights continue to be an illusion for many. Human rights then become those rights which are not inherent but which must be fought for and safeguarded. There are many examples of human rights violations across the globe. Some of these are the on-going Russia Ukraine War, the Israel Hamas war in Gaza, the genocide in Darfur in Western Sudan and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Haiti’s government recently announced that the country’s gangs have crossed a “red line” after allegedly killing almost 200 people over the weekend. Haiti’s National ...

“Genocide is not just a murderous madness; it is, more deeply, a politics that promises a utopia beyond politics - one people, one land, one truth, the end of difference. Since genocide is a form of political utopia, it remains an enduring temptation in any multiethnic and multicultural society in crisis.”- Michael Ignatieff. Hatred is the dominant sentiment that drives genocide. Many are familiar with the word genocide. Our association with the word genocide perhaps is linked to war movies and documentaries of the Holocaust which occurred during World War 2. Unfortunately, there is also a tempting tendency to politicize the term genocide and in so doing we tend to lose an in depth understanding of the term and the lasting implications of the horrors associated with genocide. The Genocide Convention (article 2) defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group … ", including: ...

“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect”. - Captain Alfred Gilmer Lamplugh. International Civil Aviation Day was established in 1994. The day is set aside to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States, and of the unique role of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in helping States to cooperate and realize a truly global rapid transit network at the service of humanity. In 1996, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day. The theme this year is “Safe Skies. Sustainable Future: Together for the next 80 years.” Noteworthy, the ICAO which is a United Nations (UN) agency helps 193 countries to cooperate together and share their skies to their mutual benefit. The UN and world nations have...

“Volunteers embody the best of humanity. On this important day, let’s draw inspiration from their example, and resolve to do our part to help shape a better world for all.”- António Guterres- Secretary-General of the United Nations. What is the state of volunteerism in your society? Undoubtedly, volunteerism must be actively encouraged or else that spirit of humanity will eventually die. The United Nations states that volunteerism is an enormous renewable resource for social, economic and environmental problem-solving throughout the world. Oftentimes the most visible aspects of volunteering are around service delivery in communities. Volunteerism should never be politicized. Humanity depends on the availability of volunteers to give of their time and resources. International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a global observance that celebrates the selfless contributions of volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to making the world a better place. Volunteers are at the forefront of addr...

“Persons with disabilities already disproportionately bear the brunt of the crises scarring our world from conflicts and climate disasters, to poverty and inequalities because of persistent discrimination, stigma, and barriers to basic rights and services.”- António Guterres- Secretary-General of the United Nations. An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us. Unfortunately, persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health. What is Disability? . The term persons with disabilities is used to apply to all persons with disabilities including those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. However, this minimum list of ...

“Slavery is not just a relic of the past. Forced labour, sexual exploitation & domestic servitude are only a few of the forms of slavery that persist today.”- United Nations. An estimated 50 million people are in modern slavery, including 28 million in forced labour and 22 million in forced marriage. Almost one in eight of all those in forced labour are children. More than half of these children are in commercial sexual exploitation. Latest estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO) show that forced labour and forced marriage have increased significantly in the last five years. Women and children remain disproportionately vulnerable. Although modern slavery is not defined in law, it is used as an umbrella term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Essentially, it refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power. M...

"This year’s World AIDS Day reminds us the fight against AIDS can be won if leaders take a rights-based approach to ensure that everyone especially the most vulnerable can get the services they need without fear.”- António Guterres- Secretary-General of the United Nations. Every 25 seconds, someone in the world is infected with HIV. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 42.3 million people have died from HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. Regrettably, many persons continue to behave as if HIV no longer exists. In fact, sexual education is not prioritized in the education system. As a result, many have turned to alternative sources in order to obtain information regarding their sexual health. The World Health Organization defines sexual health as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful ap...

“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.” - Michelle Obama. Every 10 minutes a woman is killed. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women has been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. The United Nations (UN) adds that for at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act their murder by partners and family members. That means a woman was killed every 10 minutes. In order to raise awareness and trigger action to end this global scourge, the UN observes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. The date marks the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in...

“On World Children’s Day, we celebrate the youngest members of our human family. But today is also a moment to recognize the enormous challenges children face in our deeply divided, tumultuous and often violent world.”- UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The state of our children needs much to be desired. All across the planet the welfare and security of children can be described as unsatisfactory. World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. World Children’s Day is the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF’s) global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The theme this year is “Listen to the future, stand up for children’s rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) declares that the world has experienced dramatic prog...

“International Men’s Day has the potential to become the global medium to heal our world. The concept and themes of International Men’s Day are designed to give hope to the depressed, faith to the lonely, comfort to the broken-hearted, transcend barriers, eliminate stereotypes and create a more caring humanity.”- Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh. At times it appears there is a double standard regarding how societies put in place measures concerning the observation and celebration of manhood and masculinity. Men are socialized to be rough and tough. Interestingly, this gendered socialization is perpetuated by many women in the societies given that so many of our families are female-headed households. Men who championed men’s rights are oftentimes viewed with suspicion; however, the same microscope is not applied to women who championed women’s rights. In fact there are very few organizations which are dedicated to the empowerment of our men and boys. The structure of most education systems ...

"Criminal networks are exploiting global vulnerabilities on a vast scale from human trafficking to environmental destruction and cybercrime. Organized crime operates across borders, posing serious challenges that no country can tackle alone."- United Nations. On 15 November 2024, the world marks the first International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) , established by the United Nations General Assembly. This day highlights the urgent need for global solidarity to counter the rising threat of organized crime, which undermines peace, security and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s theme is Pulling Together to Push Back: United against Organized Crime. TOC Day calls for united global action. The devastating impact of organized crime threatens lives, destabilizes communities and hinders economic and social development. But despite these challenges, there is hope. This day serves as...

Diabetes is a complex disease that impacts both the physical and mental well-being of an individual. Millions of people with diabetes face daily challenges managing their condition at home, work, and school. They must be resilient, organized, and responsible. Diabetes affected around 14 percent of all adults worldwide in 2022, compared to seven percent in 1990, according to the new analysis in The Lancet Journal. Disturbingly, the team of researchers estimated that more than 800 million people are now diabetic, compared to less than 200 million in 1990. These figures include both main types of diabetes. Diabetes in North America and the Caribbean . In the Americas, diabetes was recorded as the fourth leading cause of death and disability in 2019. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas, North America and the Caribbean are ranked 4th in the world, with an age-adjusted comparative diabetes prevalence in adults 20-79 years of age of 11.1%. Projected pre...

“The Electoral College is an outdated, undemocratic system that does not reflect our modern society, and it needs to change immediately.”- Senator Barbara Boxer. The US presidential election is a global event. The outcome is not only important for the American society but for the wider international community. The United States of America is viewed as the leader of the free world and recognized as the hegemonic power in geo-political issues. The choice American voters faced for president on Election Day was between Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. At the end of the election night Tuesday, November 5th Donald Trump soared to a decisive election victory over Kamala Harris. Trump showed muscle with the white working-class voters who first propelled him to the presidency in 2016, while gaining huge support from Latino voters. Since 2016 Trump has consistently gained support from the Latino community. Undoubtedly, Trump over-performed among key d...