By: Staff Writer
November 24, 2023
A European Union diplomat encouraged the Caribbean Youth Summit to stand up against gender based violence
Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen, EU Ambassador to Jamaica, said: “We very much hope that this Caribbean youth summit, which is starting here today and brings all of you together will provide a space where as community youth leaders that you all are, you can truly engage in a constructive dialogue on the one hand on how to how best to prevent gender based violence.
“But on the other hand, also on how to strengthen the emotional capacity of your peers to deal with challenges which are associated with the very different forms that gender based violence can take.”
The prevalence of gender based violence in the Caribbean stands out in international comparisons. In 2019, five of the top twenty recorded rape rates worldwide were in the Caribbean. Moreover, surveys compiled by UN Women suggest that 46 percent of women in the Caribbean have experienced at least one form of violence in their lifetime.
Ms Van Steen hopes the young people of the Caribbean would be able to come up with “innovative ideas and suggestions,” on how to protect women from violence. More importantly, today’s youth need to promote “positive masculinities” and “effective parenting.”
Marcia Smith, State Minister in the Ministry of Education and Youth in Jamaica, on the other hand focused on the importance of the development goals set by the United Nations (UN) on dealing with gender based violence.
She said: “I want to just highlight Goal 17, partnership for goals. The truth is gender based violence and securing the family unit is something that will not be realized without there being partnership for goals. So you meeting here today is very important to ensure that that partnership is sustained.
“We know that as a region and as a world we continue to face challenges, stemming from climate change, and environment degradation and we know that when the physical environment changes and changes adversely, it has an almost immediate impact on family relations.”
The change in the climate has transformed Caribbean societies and changed the way we interact with one another, putting the environment first and foremost however does not have to side-line gender based issues. “The ground zero for those events are in the home. They’re in the home and this is where a lot of issues will emerge.
“Situations that have to do with gender based violence and how it is that persons mental health are protected during periods of great stress. This forum is therefore a real, real opportunity for you our Caribbean youth, to share your different perspectives.”