News Releases

16 Days of Activism UWI Leading by Example

For Release Upon Receipt - November 21, 2022

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. Monday 21 November, 2022 – The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, will engage in 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a targeted advocacy initiative begun in 1991 at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute. This year’s Campus activities are being driven by the Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) in collaboration with the Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD) and the Students’ Guild.

 16 Days of Activism, an organising strategy around the world for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls, is in keeping with the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s UN1TE by 2030 campaign that calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy, while sharing knowledge and innovations.

 The UWI is leading by example in a series of activities over the period:

Filling the Gaps – November 23, 2-4 pm, Daaga Auditorium: launch of a partnership with Bankers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago and of the IGDS Bilingual Toolkit, as well as the introduction of the Oversight Committee for Next Phase Research and Advocacy

Walk a Mile in my Shoes – On November 25, there will be a panel discussion, a display of victim/survivor stories and an NGO village at the Daaga Auditorium. The panel discussion will culminate with a candlelight silent walk on the campus and a symbolic lighting of candles to represent the ongoing activism and the triumph of survivors over domestic violence.

 Then, from November 28– December 10: The Student Guild joins this global initiative to recognise the strength of survivors and increase awareness among the Campus   community with their Clothes Line Project: Zero Tolerance. They will share anonymous stories and content on t-shirts hung on clothes lines at the Student Activity Centre, Canada Hall, Sir Arthur Lewis Hall, and Joyce Gibson Hall as well as virtually on social media platforms. 

The display of victim/survivor stories and shoes will continue around campus over the 16 days.  All the gently warn shoes donated during this time will be donated to related NGOs.

 Staff, students and alumni are invited to make a statement to end sexual harassment and sexual violence in general via their Art Against Violence or by making a 30-60 second declaration against sexual harassment and violence with relevant taglines such as:    

Stop Harassment Now! It’s the Perpetrator’s Fault!!

Live Life Hands-Free! Keep your hands to yourself!

Being in Control of Yourself is True Power. Be a Consent Specialist! Demand Better!

Stop Harassment Now! We are more than bodies!

For the panel discussion and silent walk or to submit your story, please contact community.engagement@sta.uwi.edu  662-2002 Ext 84188. For more general information, kindly contact igds@sta.uwi.edu, 662-2002 ext 83572, 83577. 

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About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

The UWI is the only Caribbean-based University to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

The Institute for Gender and Development Studies, along with the Division of Student Services and Development, are collaborating to engage. 

For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

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