WE-Talk
The Situation
Women and girls in Jamaica experience some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence across Caribbean countries.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most prevalent human rights violations that disproportionately impacts women, girls, and people from other disadvantaged populations worldwide. In Jamaica, women and girls experience some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence in the Caribbean.
The country has made important strides to protect the rights of women and girls. Yet, entrenched notions, attitudes, and practices of gender stereotypes and stigmas continue to underpin sexual, physical and other forms of violence against women, girls, and other disadvantaged populations.
About 44 per cent of Jamaicans consider intimate partner violence a private matter that does not require the involvement of authorities. One in every four women in the country has experienced some form of violence in their lifetime.
Social norms and policies grounded in unequal gender and power relations must be addressed to change discriminating attitudes and behaviours and advance gender equality so everyone is valued equally and can reach their full potential.
DETAILS
LOCATION
Jamaica
DURATION
5 years (2022-2027)
Lire la description du programme en français (PDF).
OUR SUPPORTERS
This project is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada, and the generous Canadian public.
What are we doing?
CHANGE
Supporting the change of harmful gender attitudes and beliefs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
ENGAGEMENT
Engaging men and boys as active participants to prevent and end gender-based violence in their families, communities, and society.
ADVOCACY
Strengthening local organizations to advocate for changes in policies and practices that underpin gender-based violence.
What have we achieved so far?
WE-Talk brings a rights-based, feminist, and intersectional approach to support local groups and organizations' existing leadership, programming, advocacy work, and collective action. WE-Talk will ensure these groups are in a solid position to advance gender equality by preventing gender-based violence and increasing the ability of Jamaican women, girls, and people from disadvantaged groups to enjoy their human rights.
Since the beginning of the project, we have reached 817 women and young girls and 118 men with our gender-based violence prevention programs. In the last year (ending March, 2025), partners implemented:
- 2 campaigns to increase awareness among women, men, adolescent girls and boys of harmful norms and practices
- 44 workshops with women and youth influencers trained on their rights to live free from GBV and to access services
- 49 alliance-building activities aimed at raising awareness of, and fostering discussion on, gender-based violence
What’s next?
- Gender-transformative and GBV prevention awareness-raising initiatives, including innovative campaigns
- Workshops with men and boys and with women (including students in schools, teen mothers, seniors and local women’s organizations)