A discussion on sexual violence against girls and women in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

Sexual violence against women and girls in Jamaica is endemic. However, the problem has not amassed the public outrage and attention that other forms of violence have garnered. It also has not received the scholastic intensity and the communal investments it deserves. The current article aims to focus attention on the disturbing issue of sexual violence against women and girls in the Jamaican context and to steer the matter into the academic arena. The review suggests that the risk factors for sexual violence against Jamaican women and girls are akin to those reported in international studies and similarly catalysed by the complex interplay of structural and socio-cultural features of the society. In light of the paucity of relevant local research, the article discusses critical strategies that have been effective in international settings and their probable benefits to the local setting in stemming the incidence of sexual violence.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual violence
• Jamaica
• women
• girls
• socio-ecological framework

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Age of sexual consent in Jamaica is 16 years.

2 In 2015, a sexual harassment bill to outlaw sexual intimidation and coercion in the workplace, institutions, and in landlord-tenant relationships was tabled in Parliament; to date no further action has been taken.

3 Sexual abuse of a minor.