Following the launch of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Gender Policy at The UWI Regional Headquarters, Mona, Jamaica, from left to right: Ambassador Richard Bernal, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs, The UWI; Prof. Dale Webber, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies & Research, The UWI; Dr Camille
Bell-Hutchinson, Registrar, The UWI, Mona; Prof. Opal Adisa, University Director, The UWI Institute For Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), Regional Coordinating Office; Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, LLD (Hon) former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Honorary Graduate of The UWI; Hon Alando Terrelonge, State Minister in the Ministry of Culture, Gender Affairs, Entertainment and Sport; Prof. Eudine Barriteau, GCM, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal The UWI, Cave Hill and Prof. of Gender and Public Policy; Prof. Elsa Leo Rhynie, former Principal, The UWI, Mona; Prof. Barbara Bailey, former Regional Coordinator, IGDS; Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI and Dr. Leith Dunn, Senior Lecturer/Head, The UWI Institute for Gender and Development Studies, Mona Campus.
UWI launches Gender Policy
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has officially launched a Gender Policy, which has been developed to formalise the UWI’s commitment to gender justice and establish a modern framework for its implementation.
The launch of this policy, led by the University’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), is intended to act as the framework to inform changes necessary at the various levels of the regional University, towards the promotion of gender justice. Programme features include the introduction of a regional Gender Mainstreaming Committee which will champion gender justice across The UWI and lead initiatives intended to shape positive attitudes towards gender justice throughout the Caribbean.
The Launch Ceremony for The UWI Gender Policy and Forum took place on Tuesday morning at The UWI Regional Headquarters in Mona, Jamaica. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor of the UWI and Professor Eudine Barriteau, Pro
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UWI, Cave Hill Campus, were amongst the list of speakers endorsing the new Gender Policy. A live stream of the event was viewed on UWItv.
Chairperson Dr. Camille Bell-Hutchinson, Registrar of the UWI’s Mona Campus noted that the launch was indeed historic, as the Gender Policy had been promised for some time.
“While there is still work to be done, the launch of the Gender Policy can be seen as nothing else but historic at the University of the West Indies. This policy is intended to guide the UWI’s actions to mainstream gender across the institution, by ensuring gender equity in all of the university’s practices, policies, procedures and programmes and is expected to be used as a framework to guide the creation of a supportive environment for men and women in all aspects of university life,” Bell-Hutchinson said.
Professor Eudine Barriteau meanwhile noted that the launch of the UWI Gender Policy accentuates the university’s resolve to promote gender justice, as one of its five core values, with the other four being integrity, excellence, diversity and student centredness.
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, in his remarks, said the Gender Policy will be constantly monitored and reviewed for continued improvement.
“It will not be a static document. It will be an organic document that will be subject to ongoing research and review so that we can take whatever corrective action is required,” Beckles said. (RSM)