CARIBBEAN SHEROES INITIATIVE, KNOWLEDGE TOOL KIT Copyright © 2021 by Institute for Gender and Development Studies - Regional Coordinating Office This toolkit was commissioned by UNESCO. However, the designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The author is responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this book and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. Graphic line and cover design by Clementina Villarroel Typesetting and graphic design by Antoinette Emmanuel Printed in Jamaica. CONTENTS FOREWORD BY UNESCO 1 INTRODUCTION 2 UNESCO’S NOTE 3 IGDS-RCO’S NOTE 4 My Mother Raised Me To Be An Activist Opal Palmer Adisa 5 My Mother Yashika Graham 7 What Makes a Good Leader Joan Andrea Hutchinson 8 Gender-Based Violence — Full Time It Fi Stop Rozhaun Walker 10 Conversation Millicent A Graham 12 Sheroes’ Profiles 13 Honourees • Linnette Vassell 14 • Joan French 16 Butterfly of the Earth Saffron 18 Advocating For Women’s Social and Political Justice • Sistren Theatre Collective 19 • WMW Jamaica 21 • Women’s Resource Outreach Centre (WROC) 23 Reading Center Millicent A Graham 25 Combatting GBV and Victim Support • Woman Inc 26 Nuggets on Advocacy 28 CONTENTS Advancing Workers’ Rights • Jamaica Household Workers’ Union 30 • Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers 32 Tree Huggers Unite Saffron 34 Promoting Women’s Service, Participation and Leadership • Soroptimist International Jamaica 35 • Jamaica Women’s Political Caucus 37 Make Your Mirror Your Friend Joan Andrea Hutchinson 39 Supporting and Advocating for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Justice • Eve for Life 41 • Her Flow Foundation 43 • WE-Change Jamaica 45 • Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) 47 Spanish Needle Ann-Margaret Lim 49 Sustenance Yashika C. Graham 50 Positive Power of a ‘Force Ripe’ Girl Amanda Hutchinson 51 You Are All That Opal Palmer Adisa 53 If Upendo Can, So Can You Joan Andrea Hutchinson 54 Roots And Wings Saffron 56 Why Yuh Never Meck Mi Leave? Joan Andrea Hutchinson 57 CONTENTS Contributing Authors 58 Useful Links & Articles 60 Need Help? Contact 62 Credits 64 raising public awareness and advocating for eliminating FOREWORD: gender-based discrimination and all forms of violence against women. UNESCO Advocates for By launching the Caribbean Sheroes Initiative, UNESCO and the University of the West Indies, supported by the Gender Equality Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, highlight and In the Caribbean, at least one in three women has been document the contributions of women, women’s group, a victim of gender-based violence in her lifetime, making and their work regionally, and aim at enhancing capacity this one of the most widespread violations of human among younger generations of women. rights. While the numbers on Violence against Women UNESCO recognizes that the achievements and and Girls are shocking, the underlying traditional social commitment of women activists that engage in civil norms which shape and perpetuate patriarchal power society organizations by investing their time, energy, and structures still permeate all layers of society, leading to efforts is a building block for gender equality in Jamaica, different forms of inequalities throughout our political, the Caribbean, and globally. Their leadership, resilience, economic, and social systems. Culturally sanctioned energy and effort should not be invisible. Instead, their behaviors, preconceived notions of traditional gender achievements should be recognized, celebrated and norms and stereotypical gender roles are often openly amplified. or subtly manifested, leading to exclusion and unequal Therefore, this knowledge toolkit aims at documenting opportunities for women. the achievements and lessons learned of twelve Jamaican In pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, Civil Society Organizations that have worked relentlessly gender equality is one of UNESCO’s global priorities. In all to advance women’s rights and social justice, fostering its fields of competence – Education, Culture, Social and a less violent society and more equal gender relations Human Sciences and Natural Sciences, Communication grounded on human rights. We hope that this knowledge and Information – UNESCO is committed to removing product will serve as a knowledge-building block for barriers that hinder women’s personal and professional inspiring younger generations and further driving the work development and to ensure that everyone has fair, of other Civil Society Organizations in Jamaica and the inclusive and equal access to opportunities, resources wider Caribbean. and tools that enable them to reach their full potential. In the Caribbean, UNESCO’s Social and Human Saadia Sanchez Vegas, Ph.D. Sciences Sector supports knowledge creation and Director and Representative undertakes advocacy activities promoting women’s rights, UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean 1 Caribbean SHEROES: The Shoulders of Greatness For some, heroes wear capes and masks and live SHEROES, are trailblazers who stand proud and in faraway places and are above the ordinary. But have laid solid foundations for you to follow. In our Sheroes, walk, live and breathe among us and honour of the work they have done and the have skin, flesh and hair that are similar to ours. outstanding gains they have made, you are being Therefore, when we look at ourselves in the mirror charged to continue the advocacy, continue to we are looking at a potential shero - someone who promote and elevate the rights of women and has greatness inside, someone with a passion to girls, and work on causes which will make their contribute, to make a difference. lives better. Perhaps that Shero is you, going though Our Caribbean Sheroes have paved a path your own metamorphosis, similar to a caterpillar for you to follow. You stand on the shoulders of growing into a butterfly. women who have worked hard and sacrificed a A Caribbean Shero is an outstanding woman, great deal for the benefit of the majority; you stand often working in a civil society organization (CSO) on the greatness of Caribbean Sheroes. or a non-governmental organization (NGO) that Women’s rights and women’s causes are at INTRODUCTION promotes Gender Equity and Social Justice. the heart of the partnership between UNESCO A Caribbean Shero’s work is dedicated to and the the Institute for Gender and Development improving the lives of women and girls, raising Studies Regional Coordinating Office (IGDSRCO), awareness about all types of social ills and and honouring Caribbean Sheroes is the violence, in particular violence against women organizations’ way of acknowledging some of the and girls and child abuse. transformational work done by Caribbean women A Caribbean Shero is involved in key areas of and organizations This recognition is important advocacy, research and working in communities, for UNESCO because too often, even though designing and executing programmes and women play a critical role in development, their initiatives that benefit women and girls. contribution is overlooked. Caribbean gender A Caribbean Shero seeks to bridge the gap and activists are unsung heroes and the Caribbean connect women and girls to the relevant agencies Sheroes Initiative is a significant way of applauding and resources that will make their lives better. and shining the light on some of these amazing Tireless and selfless, these visionaries, women and organizations. 2 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Cluster Office for the Caribbean, through by the Social and Human Science Sector, aims at equipping Caribbean Small Island Developing States with the capacities, tools and resources to produce and make meaningful use of policy-relevant, whole-of-society and human-rights-based social and human scientific research and knowledge, thus promoting inclusive and peaceful societies. In delivery of UNESCO’s Global Priority Gender Equality, the Social and Human Sciences Sector undertakes advocacy activities promoting women’s rights, raising public awareness and advocating for the elimination of gender-based discrimination and gender-based violence in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States. Furthermore, UNESCO advocates for positive redefinitions of social norms of masculinity and the meaningful engagement of men and boys, alongside women and girls, in the global movement for gender equality. Jamaica became a Member State of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1962 and in 1965 the Jamaican National Commission for UNESCO was established. Its Mission is to involve in UNESCO’s activities, the various national, regional and international partners working for the advancement of education, science, culture, communication and information so that each Member State may play an ever-increasing role in UNESCO’s work and particularly in the information and execution of its programmes. The Secretariat, headed by Secretary General Everton Hannam, is responsible to the Commission for the effective implementation and co¬ordination of the programmes and activities of UNESCO in Jamaica, and for advising on and implementing policy decisions. Minister Grange is the Chairperson