A push to end gender-based violence
THE University of the West Indies School of Nursing has joined the global call to ‘Orange the World’ in a bid to end gender-based violence.
In a public forum held at the school’s lecture theatre last Thursday, Dr Steve Weaver, head of the school, explained that gender-based violence is very pervasive and embedded in our system and made a call for local authorities and stakeholders to work together to bring it to an end.
The forum was the brainchild of Cynthia Pitter, lecturer in the UWI School of Nursing and doctoral student at the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, UWI.
“Keeping in mind that it is both men and women, it is embedded in our system. In the local context, where are we with getting gender-based violence to zero? We need to work together to achieve this,” Dr Weaver stated.
Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith, guest speaker at the forum, said that women are disproportionately affected when it comes to gender-based violence, and in order to get the issue off the table, it has to be tackled from a legislative perspective.
“Rape and beatings continue to be tools used by men for violence; however, supporting legislation is the only way to kick out this culture,” she said.
Johnson-Smith further stated that if the sanctions and attitudes towards some of the offences against women are not adjusted, the issue will never be adequately addressed and people will continue to think that justice isn’t served.
She then called for a review of the legislation with regards to the definition of rape, sentencing guidelines, marital rape, stalking, incest and the treatment of younger people as it relates to sexual relationships.
And Sandra Latibeaudiere of Woman Inc called for more crisis shelters to be established islandwide in order to provide shelter for women who suffer domestic abuse.
“Currently there is only one crisis shelter, so we see the problem that poses,” she said.
She further appealed to citizens not to turn a blind eye to issues of violence against women, but to, “Orange your neighbourhood and speak out against it or report the cases.”
The forum continued with a panel discussion which featured presentations on gender-based violence and violence against women from Dr Leila McWhinney-Dehaney, researcher and nurse consultant; Tameka Hill, Caribbean youth policy expert; Taitu Heron, programmes director at UN Women; and Senior Superintendent of Police Desmond Brooks.
November 25 was recognised as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which kicked off a 16-day campaign of global activism until December 10, Human Rights Day, to halt the gross violation of women’s human rights affecting at least one in three women and girls worldwide.
The global initiative, Orange the World, End Violence Against Women and Girls, is led by UN Women on behalf of the UN Secretary General’s global campaign UNITE to End Violence Against Women.
The colour orange has been chosen for the issues to symbolise a brighter future without violence against women. During the 16 days of activism, events are being organised in all parts of the world, and landmarks in towns and cities will be lit up in orange to draw global attention to the issue and stimulate action.
–Kimberley Hibbert
