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:

1. Research and Policy Development
   
2. Public Education and Training
   
3. 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:

1. Increasing access to employment and income
   
2. Upgrading women’s skills and increasing their access to credit and markets
   
3. Improving pay, working conditions and promoting the diversification of women’s employment opportunities
   
4. Ensuring available, affordable, adequate child care services
   
5. Providing adequate protection and means to redress women and children who are victims of family violence, incest, rape and sexual harassment
   
6. Improving housing supply and terms of acquisition to assist women in the provision of shelter for themselves and their families
   
7. Eliminating legal discrimination and implementing reforms necessary for the protection and advancement of women
   
8. Ensuring that the provision and distribution of basic services between men and women is equitable
   
9. Promoting women’s rights to contraception and choices about the number of children they desire.
   
10. 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