Dunn

Head of the Institute of Gender Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Dr Leith Dunn, has made a call on parents and members of civil society to participate in changing the local music and the culture of discrimination which affects women and children.

In an interview with The Gleaner last week she stated, "It is clear as crystal that we need to clean up the music."

Dunn spoke in reference to the 'daggerin' and Rampin' Shop debates surrounding sexually explicit songs which have provoked the ire of the local broadcasting commission and many Jamaicans, but which others have embraced as culturally acceptable.

Public spaces

"In public spaces we need a child-friendly environment so you can bring up children who will value themselves not for their sexuality alone, but for their knowledge, skills and what they can create," Dunn insisted.

The gender expert stated, "If Jamaica is to become a first-world country and overcome its poverty, we need to control the negative influences which can impact how productive we become."

Dunn urged parents to protect their children from "local and international products which are highly sexualised".

According to her, the current problem provides a challenge to musical artistes to be more creative in developing their lyrics.

She warned that in the global setting, artistes who resort to explicit sexual lyrics just because they sell will soon find that doors are closed to them in some first-world nations. "Gender is an important part of economic cooperation agreements with Europe."

Dunn also noted that since Jamaica is a signatory to international conventions against violence, policy-makers should ensure that these are honoured and others in civil society should be guided by them.

Human rights

"We have made global com-mitments to the human rights of children and all persons. We have an obligation as a country to respect those laws including the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against women (CEDAW) and the Convention of Belem Do Para which is the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women.

"We are obliged to take every step to create the environment in which women and children are free of violence."

avia.ustanny@gleanerjm.com