| Mission
Statement
To
enable women to achieve their full potential as participants in
Jamaica’s social, cultural and economic development and with
equitable access to and benefits from the country’s resources.
Who
We Are?
The
Bureau of Women’s Affairs has a mandate to act as a catalyst
to ensure that government addresses the problems that confront women,
given the impact of patriarchy and sexism. The problems include
high rates of unemployment, violence against women in various forms
such as spousal abuse, rape, incest and sexual harassment.
Its
objective is to enable women to recognize their full potential as
individuals and to create avenues for their full integration in
National Development.
What
We Do?
The
three main functions of the Bureau are:
- Research
and Policy Development
-
Public Education and Training
-
Project Planning and Monitoring
National
Policy Statement on Women
In
1987, the government of Jamaica adopted a National Policy Statement
on women. The ten goals of the policy statement cover:
- Increasing
access to employment and income
-
Upgrading women’s skills and increasing their access to
credit and markets
-
Improving pay, working conditions and promoting the diversification
of women’s employment opportunities
-
Ensuring available, affordable, adequate child care services
-
Providing adequate protection and means to redress women and children
who are victims of family violence, incest, rape and sexual harassment
-
Improving housing supply and terms of acquisition to assist women
in the provision of shelter for themselves and their families
-
Eliminating legal discrimination and implementing reforms necessary
for the protection and advancement of women
-
Ensuring that the provision and distribution of basic services
between men and women is equitable
-
Promoting women’s rights to contraception and choices about
the number of children they desire.
-
Ensuring equal rights for females in all areas of education
Did you know that?
- In
1974, the women’s desk was established in the Ministry of
Youth and Community Development
-
The Bureau’s desk was upgraded to a Women’s Bureau
in the Office of the Prime Minister in 1975
-
In 1978, the Bureau expanded its programmes into rural areas and
was transferred to the Ministry of Social Security
-
A Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Affairs was appointed
and the Bureau was transferred to the Ministry of Youth and Community
Development in 1980
-
In 1989, the Bureau was transferred to the Ministry of Labour,
Welfare and Sport
-
Official offices of the Bureau were established at 4 Ellesmere
Road, Kingston 10, in 1998
-
In 2000, the Bureau of Women’s Affairs was transferred to
the Ministry of Tourism and Sport
- In
2002, the Bureau of Women’s Affairs was transferred to the
Ministry of Development
Important
Numbers
- The
Crisis Centre 929-2997 or 929-9038
-
Women’s Media Watch 926-0882
-
The Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse
(formerly Rape Investigative Unit) 926-7318
-
Jamaica Household Workers Association 754-4049
-
Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre 929-8873
-
The Victim Support Programme
-
National Family Planning Board 968-1629-36
-
Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation 929-7608, 929-0977
-
The Children’s Services Division 967-1092-96-7, 976-1100-7
-
The Jamaica Cancer Society 927-4265/4933
Contact
Us
4 Ellesmere
Road
Kingston, 10
Phone:
754-8575-8
Fax: 929-0549
Email: jbwa@cwjamaica.com
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