Nearly 20 percent of women in Jamaica have been raped, according to a Jamaicans For Justice survey. A third of respondents have heard of somebody being raped, and half know somebody who has been raped. The survey detected widespread support for redefining rape legally to include male victims (94 percent), but far less support for repealing colonial-era laws prohibiting same-sex sexual relations.
JFJ called on officials to redefine rape, amend grievous sexual assault laws, and repeal so-called “buggery” laws to better protect all victims of forced anal penetration.
“In Jamaica, some concrete first steps to create a sustainable public policy would be to involve GBV survivors and advocates in public policy decision-making processes, as well as accompanying these processes with the necessary financial support”, said Judith Wedderburn, director of WMW JAMAICA, for Atlantic Council.
Jamaica is hardly an outlier in the Caribbean: In Guyana, 55 percent of women reported having experienced at least one form of violence, including intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual abuse, according to the UN. Nearly half of the women in Trinidad and Tobago in a sexual or romantic relationship have experienced violence at the hands of an intimate partner, reports a study from Caribbean Women Count. Nearly half of Caribbean women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) during their lifetimes.
While the reasons for the region’s particularly marked incidence of sexual violence are varied, a UNICEF points to legacy of colonialism and structural inequalities which foster a deeply-ingrained culture of gender-based violence.
Climate and Environmental Justice
The PeoplesClimateVote survey found a strong global consensus for urgent climate action. The survey, conducted by UNDP Climate in 77 countries, found that 86% of respondents wanted countries to cooperate on climate change, over half are more concerned about climate change than last year, and 69% say climate change impacts their major life decisions.
EcoVybz features Trinidadian journalist Ryan Bachoo, discussing climate journalism in the Caribbean.
Trinidad and Tobago climate negotiator Kishan Kumarsingh emphasized the urgent need for Caribbean leaders to strongly lobby for their interests ahead of COP29, at the recent Bonn Climate Change Conference. Key issues include securing increased climate finance, ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions, and progress on adaptation and just transition. (Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
A new study by the ODI found that stakeholders working to advance climate change adaptation and resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face significant challenges due to incomplete, inaccessible, and poorly presented information. There is a critical need for disaggregated data that considers gender, ethnicity, indigeneity, and income inequalities.
Belize's implementation of the Blue Bonds programme aims to address its significant debt while promoting environmental conservation. The programme, launched in 2021, involves the non-profit organization The Nature Conservancy funding Belize's debt repayment in exchange for the government committing to conserve 30 percent of its marine areas. As a result, Belize has protected 20.3 percent of its ocean space and aims to expand this to 25 percent by November, reports Cari-Bois News. (Global Voices)
The UNDP Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean conducted research to assess climate mobility and its integration into adaptation planning. This research identified that several governments are incorporating human mobility into their National Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Strategies, though more comprehensive inclusion is needed. (UNDP)
Democratic Governance
Vincentian lawyer, activist, writer, and NGO leader Jeshua Bardoo has been selected as one of 22 global leaders for the prestigious McCain Global Leaders Program. Bardoo, representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Equal Rights, Access and Opportunities SVG Inc., will participate in a 12-month fellowship aimed at advancing democracy, human rights, and freedom. (IWN)
“There is still much work to be done to harmonize joint positions on incentives for foreign investment and to end competition in sectors like cruise tourism and the Citizenship by Investment schemes operated by five of the member states. Rival politics for national gain have undermined the collective good. Nonetheless, the OECS stands today as the most mature and successful integration project of sovereign states outside the EU”, wrote Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, for Caribbean News Service.
Reparations and Decolonization
On Windrush Day, 22 June, the UK commemorates the contributions of Black Caribbean economic migrants who arrived on the HMT Empire Windrush in 1948. Despite promises of opportunity, they faced discrimination and hardship. The Windrush scandal, which saw many of these immigrants harassed and deported due to the Home Office's hostile policies, remains unresolved. (Global Voices)
Culture
Cindy Allman, known as "BookofCinz," is a Jamaican-born book influencer based in Trinidad, with a mission to get people to read, especially Caribbean literature. With over 150,000 followers on social media, she has built a significant online presence by sharing book recommendations and her travel experiences. (Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)
Trinidadian-Canadian visual artist Kvita Mongroo's second solo exhibition, “The Traces that Ending Worlds Leave Behind," at the Soft Box Gallery in St. Clair, Port of Spain, explores the concept of "Caribbean futurism." Through her mixed-media paper collage pieces, Mongroo delves into the philosophical questions surrounding humanity's future, particularly focusing on the catastrophic impacts of climate change on the Caribbean. (Trinidad Express)
Alvaro Barrington, a Venezuelan-born artist whose parents are from Haiti and Grenada, is the latest artist to take on Tate Britain’s prestigious Duveen Galleries commission. His installation, "Grace," combines elements like tin roofs and rain soundscapes to evoke his childhood memories in Grenada, alongside a vibrant celebration of carnival culture. (Repeating Islands)
Opportunities
The UNDP is offering a self-paced course on Nature Performance Bonds, an innovative financing mechanism aimed at achieving environmental goals while managing national debt. This course, available in English and Spanish, consists of six modules and requires an estimated effort of two hours per week. Participants will learn about the role of Nature Performance Bonds in financing sustainable development and climate action, particularly in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Register.
The Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) Summary for PolicyMakers (SPM) distills key information from the NEA to aid policy makers in making informed decisions regarding biodiversity protection and the sustainable use of Grenada’s natural resources. Learn more.
The Youth Climate Justice Fund (YCJF) is now accepting applications for its 2024 grant cycle. The YCJF supports youth-led groups driving climate and environmental action with a focus on fair and equitable solutions. Grants of up to $20,000 USD are available for groups led by individuals aged 35 and below. These groups should work on intersectional climate issues and demonstrate a commitment to inclusive organizing and community power. Applications are accepted from June 3rd to July 1st. Register.
The British Academy’s Visiting Fellowships for 2025 offer international academics 3-6 month fellowships at UK research institutions, starting from March 24, 2025. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the program aims to foster international collaboration and enhance the UK's research in the humanities and social sciences. Applicants must be postdoctoral or have equivalent experience and must secure a UK host institution prior to applying. The deadline is October 23, 2025, at 5:00pm (BST), with funding up to £40,000. Learn more.
Events
27 June — MIDPOINT TO COP — Climate Analytics will share milestone developments in global climate change negotiations and outline necessary steps for achieving real, transformational change to ensure COP29 delivers for the Caribbean. Register.