Denise Daley | Invest in women, strengthen Jamaica

International Women’s Day 2026 is being observed today (March 8) under a powerful and timely theme: Give to Gain. It is a principle that should shape public policy, national priorities and community action. When we give to women through protection, opportunity, education and legislative reform, we do not diminish our national resources. We multiply them. When we invest in women, Jamaica gains.

Across our island, women are the backbone of families, communities and the economy. They are caregivers, entrepreneurs, farmers, teachers, nurses, public servants and innovators. They sustain households, raise the next generation, and power entire sectors of our national life. Yet, too many of our women continue to operate within systems that undervalue their labour, compromise their safety, and restrict their advancement. If we are serious about national development, we must be equally serious about gender equality.

In recent months, the escalation of crime against women has shaken our conscience. Too many Jamaican women are living in fear. Gender-based violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment are not private matters. They are public crises. They erode productivity, destabilise families and inflict trauma that can last for generations. Every act of violence against a woman is an assault on our nation’s future.

Protection of women must therefore be a central pillar of our public policy agenda. This means stronger enforcement of existing laws, greater accountability for perpetrators and sustained investment in victim support services. It means ensuring that shelters are adequately resourced, that the police are properly trained to respond with sensitivity and urgency, and that our justice system moves with efficiency and fairness in matters involving violence against women and girls. Justice delayed in these cases is justice denied.

NOT ENOUGH

But protection alone is not enough. We must also create greater opportunities for women to thrive economically and socially. When women have access to stable employment, capital, land ownership, training and leadership roles, they are better positioned to break cycles of dependency and vulnerability. Economic empowerment is one of the most effective tools for reducing exposure to abuse and exploitation.

Legislation must play a central role in this transformation. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to ensure that the frameworks governing labour, social protection, entrepreneurship and investment are inclusive and equitable. Women contribute significantly to our economy, whether in the formal sector or through unpaid care work that sustains households and communities. With all that women pour into this country, they must be able to gain from it.

This requires policy reforms that expand access to financing for women-owned businesses, strengthen maternity protections, promote pay equity and recognise the disproportionate care burdens that many women carry. It requires reviewing procurement policies to ensure that women entrepreneurs can compete fairly for government contracts. It requires data-driven approaches to close gaps in wages, representation and access to opportunity.

We must also pay close attention to women with disabilities, rural women and women in marginalised communities who often face compounded barriers. Inclusion cannot be an afterthought. It must be embedded in our legislative and administrative processes from the outset. A Jamaica that works for all women is a Jamaica that works better for everyone.

Public education and counselling must play a far greater role in addressing both prevention and healing. We cannot legislate our way out of cultural norms that tolerate violence or diminish women’s worth. From our schools to our churches, from our media houses to our workplaces, we need sustained campaigns that promote healthy relationships, mutual respect and gender equity.

COUNSELLING SERVICES

Counselling services must be expanded and made more accessible, particularly in communities where trauma runs deep. Survivors of abuse need safe spaces to process their experiences and rebuild their lives. Young men and boys need guidance on positive models of masculinity that reject violence and control. Families need tools to resolve conflict without harm. Investing in counselling and public education is not a soft option. It is a strategic intervention that addresses root causes and reduces long-term social costs.

‘Give to Gain’ challenges us to rethink how we measure national progress. Gross domestic product alone cannot capture the well-being of our women. True development is reflected in safety, dignity, opportunity and inclusion. When women are safe, children are safer. When women earn more, households are more stable. When women lead, institutions become more responsive and representative.

This International Women’s Day, we must recommit ourselves to giving intentionally and abundantly. Give protection through stronger laws and enforcement. Give opportunity through inclusive economic policies. Give support through accessible counselling and survivor services. Give education through sustained public awareness campaigns. Give respect through everyday actions that affirm women’s value.

In doing so, Jamaica will gain more than improved statistics. We will gain stronger families, more resilient communities and a more dynamic economy. We will gain a society where girls can dream without fear and women can pursue their ambitions without constraint.

When we give to women, we gain as a nation. Let us choose to give wisely, boldly and consistently. The future of Jamaica depends on it.

Denise Daley is a member of parliament for St Catherine Eastern and opposition spokesperson on gender, persons with disabilities and the elderly. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com