News Releases

UWI advances Research for Repair and Increased Accountability

For Release Upon Receipt - February 3, 2025

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Monday, February 3, 2025—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has reaffirmed its commitment to centering reparatory justice and sustainability in research, teaching, and learning, as it officially launched the One-UWI Research Cluster on Reparatory Justice on Friday, January 24, 2025. The launch occurred during an online ceremony, setting the stage for fostering a global impact on these critical issues.

Marking the pivotal moment, Dr Sonjah Stanley Niaah, Director of the CRR and Chair of the Cluster, outlined the Cluster’s core objectives. Among them is to create a multidisciplinary research hub that unites scholars, students, and other key stakeholders to explore the historical, legal, economic, scientific, and cultural dimensions of reparations and engage in international advocacy that fosters dialogue, public events and advocacy efforts locally, regionally, and internationally.

In his address, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, praised the timing and significance of the Cluster, emphasising its relevance to the broader project of higher education globally. He highlighted the link between sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reparatory justice. He congratulated the Cluster organisers for spearheading this cutting-edge initiative and advancing the critical conversation in the global search for equality for all.

Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Graduate Studies and Research, underscored that the Research Cluster demonstrated The UWI’s profound commitment to addressing the historical injustices that have shaped the socio-economic landscape of the Caribbean. She reaffirmed the university’s mission to contribute to transforming the Caribbean into a region where justice, equity, and sustainable development are fully realised.

Ms. Sandrea Maynard, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs, highlighted that the establishment of the Cluster further solidified the long-standing work of the CRR and The UWI. She urged researchers to prioritise the legal implications of reparatory justice in their research agendas.

Other speakers at the launch event included Professor Silvia Kouwenberg, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education and a member of the Research Cluster and Ms. Lucy Gaffney, Company Director at The Repair Campaign. Professor Kouwenberg stressed the importance of recognising language in the pursuit of reparatory justice, while Ms Gaffney cautioned that the SDGs could not be fully realised unless the ex-colonial powers took responsibility for repair. 

The creation of this Research Cluster is part of The UWI’s broader strategy to enhance the quality and impact of its research, which will directly inform curriculum development and teaching across the institution. Notably, the Cluster’s work complements initiatives such as The UWI/University of Glasgow Master of Arts in Reparatory Justice which welcomed its first cohort in the 2023/2024 academic year.

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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 for the past 75 years.

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 Global Campus, and 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). 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 in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 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. In 2024, The UWI launched a first-of-its-kind global online graduate business school focused on leadership within the context of supporting the SDGs.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu   

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