Joint statement on violence perpetrated against participants of a Spotlight Initiative workshop in Jamaica

A Joint Statement from Marianne Van Steen, Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica, and Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Jamaica 
on the violence perpetrated on November 16th against several participants of a Spotlight Initiative Workshop in Westmoreland, Jamaica.

The United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) in Jamaica condemn in the strongest terms the deadly attack perpetrated against volunteers as they attended a gender-based violence-prevention workshop coordinated by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as part of the European Union (EU) and United Nations Spotlight Initiative. 

On behalf of the UN and the EU in Jamaica, we express heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims; young men who sought to contribute to community strategies for eliminating gender-based and family violence.
The UN and the EU take this opportunity to reaffirm that violence in all its forms constitutes one of the most serious threats to national peace and collective prosperity. This brazen and horrific event points to the significance of continued inclusive approaches to reducing crime and violence – to which the UN and the EU remain fully committed.
We reiterate our firm commitment to working with the Government, its partners, and the people towards the common goal of making Jamaica a safer home for all its citizens, allowing every individual, especially young people, equal opportunity to self-actualize and achieve their highest potentials - unfettered by the scourge of violence.

On behalf of the UN and the EU in Jamaica, we again extend our sympathies to those who mourn and express profound gratitude to implementing partners across Jamaica who, like Peace Management Initiative, continue to serve their communities, despite risks to their personal safety, and who remain committed to ending violence in all its forms.

For further information, please contact:
United Nations: Jomain McKenzie, Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications & Advocacy, Office of the UN
Resident Coordinator. Email: jomain.mckenzie@un.org. Mobile: +1876-562-3357
Delegation of the European Union to Jamaica: Althea Buchanan, Press and Information Section. Email:
althea.buchanan@eeas.europa.eu. Mobile: +18763226874