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...