Collaboration needed to address violence against women and children – Min. Webster

Mar 06, 2013 News

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Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread violations of human rights, and is prevalent in every continent and in every culture.

This assertion was made by Human Services Minister Jennifer Webster as she addressed the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women.  The event, which commenced on Monday and is set to culminate next week Friday, is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
According to Webster, violence usually manifests itself in many forms, transcends race and class and occurs in diverse settings, and presents a challenge which causes significant harm to the individual and degrades the fundamental moral and social fabric of the society.  Moreover, it impedes social progress and development for advancing women’s rights, the Minister added, even as she pointed out that the priority theme “elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls”-is an issue that commands high priority within the Region.
As such, she noted that women play a critical role in the socio-economic and political development of the Caribbean, and Member States of the Region should take pride in the achievements made in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The Minister asserted that “CARICOM countries are not unique in the problems we face to attain the goals and objectives set out in the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action and other international instruments established to protect the rights of women and girls”.
She explained that the one problem which is of great concern to the Region’s Governments is that of domestic violence, adding that “we have recognized that the endemic culture of violence and widespread gender-based violence in particular, demands intensive and extensive strategic action and multilayered interventions by all of us.”
She alluded to the fact that trafficking of humans for sexual or labour exploitation is a growing concern for CARICOM Member States, particularly as the victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking are predominantly young women and girls.
She disclosed, too, that traffickers now routinely use the lure of lucrative job opportunities to target women and girls across the region through websites, even as she noted that it is anticipated that as the region becomes “a more networked society”, the internet will increasingly facilitate the transnational marketing of sex workers.
“Other issues of gender inequality, social exclusion, youth unemployment and violence in schools continue to pose challenges as we attempt to protect our women and girls, and adequately prepare them for their various roles in our societies,” Webster emphasised. Additionally, she vocalized that the lack of resources for proper data collection and research within the region is a fundamental issue which impedes timely and accurate updates on the implementation of national policies aimed at addressing these concerns.
Addressing the Challenge
At the national level in CARICOM Member States, various legislative measures are being enhanced, even as monitoring frameworks are being developed to address gender-based violence, Webster mentioned.
Added to this, she noted that CARICOM has taken the opportunity to express its appreciation to UN Women and UNIFEM for their valuable support and assistance in the formulation of programmes and legislative reform initiatives geared towards addressing violence against women in CARICOM Member States.
With the support of UNIFEM, a standardized programme titled ‘Partnership for Peace – A Domestic Violence Intervention’ was introduced in several CARICOM Member States. This, according to Webster, is aimed at engaging men and boys in confronting negative gender stereotypes and to encourage them to accept their roles and responsibility in ending violence against women and girls.
The further development or elaboration of such programmes at all levels for men and boys, that target behavioral change and socialization to counter gender stereotyping, should also be encouraged, she added.
“We are also appreciative for the support provided by UN Women in the establishment of a Caribbean Young Women’s Transformational Leadership Programme which is geared towards enhancing the leadership and decision-making skills of women, and to the development and empowerment of young women.”
And as attempts are made to move forward in this regard, the Minister insisted that “our efforts at addressing violence against women and girls must adopt a multi-sectoral ‘whole of society’ approach, engaging Government and civil society players”.
The media, according to her, must also play a responsible role in the sensitisation of this issue.  Norms and standards developed for gender equality, she stressed, must be reflected in the policies for all related sector areas for coherence of action and sustained impact.
In CARICOM, the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) spanning all social sectors, is well placed to spearhead and facilitate this work at the regional level.
Moreover, Webster recounted that CARICOM Heads of Government, at their 24th Inter-Sessional Meeting held in Haiti last month, adopted a Regional Crime and Security Strategy which includes as one of its Strategic areas, Crime Prevention, to be addressed through the CARICOM Social Development and Crime Prevention Action Plan. COHSOD and the Council for National Security and Law enforcement will collaborate on the roll out of this Strategy.
According to Webster, in the upcoming period, increased focus must be placed on the provision of multi-sectoral services encompassing, inter alia, law enforcement, with continued training for the police force being a top priority, as well as prevention training, legal assistance and youth-friendly medical care and counseling services.
The UNDP 2012 Caribbean Human Development Report – ‘Human Development and the shift towards better Citizen Security’ highlights the fact that in our region, ‘violence against women is disproportionately borne by youth and significantly impacts the girl-child’, said Webster.
The Minister asserted, too, that since the family is the nucleus of every society, it is therefore of utmost importance that “we recognize the need to reinforce in our homes, the teaching of respect for women, pay critical attention to socio-cultural expressions and stereotypes that degrade women, and perpetuate the myth that women are an inferior class to be abused and exploited.”
“We also need to inculcate in our young women a deeper awareness of their own values, and recognition of their own self-respect and the need to demand that respect from others,” she added, stressing that “these are the types of interventions that will no doubt assist in our efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.”

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