PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Monday, June 1st 2009 - The Gender Affairs Unit in collaboration with its NGO, Women In Development (WID) - has embarked on a campaign to combat the violence that is plaguing our communities at an alarming rate, particularly violence against women and girls.
“We are gathered here to launch our campaign ‘Stop the Violence’,” said Mrs. Rita Gardiner, Director of Gender Affairs, “As you are aware, there is a surge of crime in the communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially here in Providenciales and the violence is mostly targeted towards women.” At the launch, which took place at the Social Development conference room at the Palmco Building in Providenciales, Mrs. Gardiner ventured further to add that they will not stand for it any longer.
The Gender Affairs Unit has been in operation since 1999, coming into being for the protection of all women throughout the TCI – regardless of nationality. Its objective is empower women and girls; act as change agent for their safety and protection against all forms of violence, be they domestic or community; to further mobilize communities and influence policy makers that they need to be part of the decision making process.
“No longer will we sit around and talk [about] how bad things have become; we are here to take back our streets; our communities and protect our families from the abuse perpetrated on our woman and children.” The Gender Director went on to add that women need to take the lead in determining their own destiny and no longer they should be a prisoner in their own homes and communities.
She implored the TCI community not turn a blind eye to this issue, but help to curb this problem, even if it is by picking up to phone and calling the police. “This is a small nation and people do know what is happening. The Police cannot do it alone, we as citizens must do our part,” added Mrs. Gardiner.
The Gender Affairs Unit is working in partnership with the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), where they will be addressing one of the most serious, but least known aspects of violence under the theme ‘Disarming Domestic Violence’. On Monday, June 15th, there will be a rally in the Five Cays district of Providenciales for Global Week of Action, which is being celebrated 15th to 21st June.
This year, the Unit hopes to begin construction of a Crisis Centre, which will serve as an education medium and a settler for battered women. Currently, the Unit has ongoing continued education programs in Grand Turk and Providenciales designed to facilitate the completion of education of school-aged girls that were all victims of teenage pregnancy and to encourage a spirit of independence.
Minister of Home Affairs and Human Services Hon. Karen Delancy said that: “After many phone calls back and forth, five and a half years ago the Turks and Caicos Islands joined the OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) in a project to modernise and harmonize our family laws.”
The Honourable Minister noted that four pieces of model legislation resulted from the project – Childcare and Adoption; Child Justice; Children Status and Domestic Violence. “The reason that these laws have not being put in place it is because the models, they have to fit into our system,” she reflected.
She went on to add that a subcommittee was formed consisting of persons from the Attorney Generals Chambers, the Department of Social Development and Gender Affairs, Education, Police, the Pastor’ Fraternity and other NGO’s to conduct a final review of the legislation, which two of the models will be tabled, which is projected to be completed by September 2009.
Director for Social Development, Mr. Earl Fulford said: “In most cases, domestic violence has a great impact on the lives of children and, we have seen in most and recent times a rapid increase in child abuse – that is physical abuse; sexual abuse; psychological and emotional abuse amongst children and one to the greatest concerns of the Department of Social Development is that most children are in fear so mot cases of child abuse are being swept under the rug.”
To address this problem, the Social Department has launched a Child Abuse Service Line, an on call telephone services and with that service, one can call throughout the Turks and Caicos Island. The number for that service is (649) 233-1814.
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