There are moments when a country must look beyond its physical development—beyond the new builds, the skyline changes, and the growth of our communities—and turn inward to examine the deeper structures that support our society. November 25 was one such moment, as Jamaica joined the global community in observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
In Parliament, the Minister responsible for gender affairs shared statistics that reveal the hidden stresses affecting too many Jamaican households:
1 in 4 Jamaican women has been physically abused by an intimate partner.
1 in 3 has experienced sexual violence.
These are not distant numbers. They reflect women across the island—women at work, on the streets, in schools, and, most painfully, within the very homes that should offer safety and peace. The global reality mirrors this: one in three women worldwide will face violence in her lifetime.
This year’s theme, ‘Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and …
