First Caribbean Study on National Economic Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls launched in Jamaica
Date:
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, and Representative of UN Women MCO Caribbean Tonni Brodber presenting the ECOVAWG in Jamaica Report | UN Women Photo: Dorian Clarke
The total cost of Violence Against Women in Jamaica in 2018 was JMD 102 billion (or more than USD $ 1 billion). This represents 6.49 %of GDP.
The total costs of VAWG for a ‘typical case’ were estimated at 15.646 billion Jamaica dollars/USD 121.8 million or 0.77 per cent of the 2018 GDP.
The National Study on the Economic Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls (ECOVAWG) in Jamaica was launched by Representative of UN Women MCO Caribbean Tonni Brodber under the EU-UN Spotlight Programme with European Union Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen in partnership with Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange.
Ms. Brodber highlighted: “In Jamaica the total costs of violence against women and girls, is 15.646 billion Jamaica dollars for a typical case... The typical case is based on administrative data. So these are just the women who are showing up to the police and this is an underreported crime. 15.646 billion Jamaica dollars.
… This study provides evidence which will hopefully inform decision making and justify the budget decisions that are required for effective response yes, but also effective prevention. It is costing Jamaica too much. The stakes are really too high."
Please read the Representative’s full remarks here
Please read the United Nations Resident Coordinator (a.i.) to Jamaica here
Please access the National Study on the Economic Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls (ECOVAWG) in Jamaica and its companion documents on our website here
Key Findings of the Data – Excerpted from Researchers’ Presentations
[Authors]: Bazlul H. Khondker, PhD (Team Leader), Samantha John-Aloye, PhD (Social Statistician), Lebrechtta Nana Oye Hesse-Bayne, MSc Econ (Gender and Development Specialist)
