The recent public statement, on 21 June, issued by the Caricom Council for Foreign and Community Relations (on the situation in Gaza and the Middle East) is biased and reflects an incomplete view of the events in Gaza and Iran.
There is no mention of boys and men who are part of the tragedy and have died. The esteemed Caricom seems to assume boys and men are somehow protected or safe. Hopefully, in future, press releases and public statements by the Council for Foreign and Community Relations will include men and boys whose lives are just as important as those of women and girls.
This statement by the Council for Foreign and Community Relations is not odd. It is from the playbook of the conservative United Nations and its agencies, which also tend to regularly issue statements and express concern of the safety and fate of girls and women in conflict scenarios and during natural disasters, but surprisingly fail to mention the safety of males.
The Caribbean and rest of the world need more balanced, gender-sensitive statements but, more importantly, there is need to ensure peace and stability is promoted in the Middle East, Haiti, Ukraine and other areas of conflict.
Jerome Teelucksingh
founder of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Men and Boys (January 31)
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