UWI director warns of post‑hurricane gender harms

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has joined global communities in observing the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign, highlighting the urgent need to confront digital abuse and embed gender perspectives in disaster recovery.

The campaign, observed annually from November 25 to December 10, raises awareness of sexual and gendered violence that disproportionately affects women, girls and persons of diverse genders and sexualities.

This year, the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the university is focusing on technology-facilitated violence and the importance of gender and social inclusion in rebuilding efforts after crises such as Hurricane Melissa.

“Sometimes cited as ‘technology-facilitated,’ ‘image-based’, ‘digital’ or ‘online’ sexual and gender-based violence, these harms refer to acts of violence committed, assisted, aggravated or amplified through the use of ICTs and digital media against someone based on their gender or sexuality,” said Dr Halimah DeShong, university director of the institute. “Women, girls, persons with diverse genders and sexualities, and children are far more likely to be targets.”

Examples include cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of personal material, image manipulation, online impersonation and harassment. DeShong noted that while digital platforms are often weaponised, activists also use them to denounce abuse and promote justice.

Intensify existing inequalities

Turning to disaster recovery, DeShong said crises often intensify existing inequalities. “There are far too many lessons on how inequalities are heightened in times of crisis,” she said. “Inconsistent engagement with these perspectives in relief and rebuilding means we miss how vulnerabilities play out on the ground.”

“We invite communities to be part of the change required to shift attitudes and systems of inequality that sustain violence against women and girls,” DeShong said. “Decision-makers must prioritise gender and social inclusion in disaster management and promote just uses of technology.”

Gendered risks in disaster recovery

• Women and children are more likely to be displaced.

Unpaid care and shelter work intensifies for women and girls.

• Injury and mortality rates are often higher for men engaged in labour‑intensive recovery work.

• Women face reduced access to contraception and reproductive health services

• Post‑disaster situations see increased rates of unwanted pregnancies.

• Persons with disabilities face worsened challenges in the built environment .

• Women and girls are at greater risk of sexual and gendered violence.

• Leadership teams often lack representation from women, persons with disabilities and rural communities.

• Civil society organisations, especially women‑led and disability‑focused groups, need more resources to support recovery.