Several groups on Thursday (May 13) staged peaceful protests against gender-based violence across Jamaica, calling on the Government to enact stronger legislative reform to protect women and girls.

One of the larger protests was staged outside the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation’s (KSAMC) Church Street headquarters.

Dubbed ‘Thursdays in Black’, the protest saw the bulk of participation from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies, which is leading the effort.

The department also collaborated with the Jamaica Council of Churches, African Renaissance and Diaspora Network, opposition councillors with the KSAMC and the People’s National Party Women’s Movement (PNPWM).

Member of Parliament for South West St Andrew Dr Angela Brown Burke, in an interview with Our Today, highlighted the need for more action to address gender-based violence, adding that for too long, Jamaica has done little but talk on the matter.

“In particular, today, [Thursdays in Black] asked for individuals to come out and support an end to gender-based violence and to stand to protect our women and children and so, we came out to support. I was extremely pleased with the public response,” she began.

“It is important. We have been talking [about] this, calling for more for quite some time and I believe public education, raising awareness is always an important thing to do,” the politician added.

Brown Burke, hailing the Church Street protest a success, told Our Today that the demonstration in front of the KSAMC’s corporate offices was just one of several demonstrations taking place simultaneously across the island. She, and many in attendance, wants the pressure and the protests to continue.

“I spoke with a couple of the participants; they were so pleased and they feel we shouldn’t be stopping. We should [continue] carrying this message,” the shadow minister on education and training insisted.

Caretaker for South East Clarendon, Patricia Sutherland said that on behalf of the PNP Women’s Movement, she delivered a letter to Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams and minority leader at the KSAMC, Andrew Swaby.

“We are encouraging councillors island-wide to add their voices in protest and push their respective MPs to respond with the legislative amendments that can protect our women and girls. Violence against our women has no place in this country and especially not in our parliament,” she wrote on Facebook.

As mentioned by Our Today, there were similar Thursdays in Black protests elsewhere across Jamaica, notably in St Ann, Westmoreland and St Catherine.