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

“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...

“The Black intellectual, the Black academic must attach himself to the activity of the Black masses.”- Dr. Walter Rodney. The 26th annual Walter Rodney Lecture was held on October 24, 2024 at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. The yearly lecture which has become an integral part of the UWI calendar of events was hosted by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and the Reggae Studies Unit, both in the Faculty of Humanities and Education. Professor Donna Hope was among the academics who brought greetings. Professor Hope stated that it was important that students be introduced to Dr. Rodney in order to understand the importance of this kind of activism and the impact it had and is still having not only on the Jamaican society but the wider Caribbean. The professor added that Dr. Rodney played a critical part in the period of transformation that occurred in the Caribbean region especially as it relates to identity and more specifically the identity of black people. ...

“You are not allowed to give up. If they decide to kill me, it means we are incredibly strong. – Alexei Navalny. The world woke to the breaking news on Friday, February 16th, 2024 that Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most prominent and charismatic opposition leader had died in a Russian prison camp. Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service said Navalny felt unwell after a walk and lost consciousness. An ambulance arrived, but he could not be revived. The service said his cause of death was “being established.” The statement from the Penitentiary Service appears well scripted and gave no details. Aptly nicknamed the Polar Wolf , the prison sits above the Arctic Circle and is described as a "special regime colony", with temperatures in the region plummeting to -30C in winter. It's so much on the outskirts of civilization that it makes it nearly impossible for visitors to reach the site. Navalny was transported to the prison from his previous incarceration at the Melekhovo colony, ...