Letter of the Day | Collective effort needed to address gender-based violence

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The pervasive issue of violence against women and girls remains a stark reality in our country. A study conducted by Capri reveals that 28 per cent of Jamaican women encounter direct gender-based violence throughout their lives, with a higher likelihood among those aged 25-29. Emphasising the urgency of the matter, November 25 is designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, themed ‘UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’. Considering this, it is crucial to acknowledge some of the successes in the country’s response to this issue, while also shedding light on the existing gaps and challenges in effectively addressing this societal problem.

I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports for opening two shelters. I would also like to highlight the efforts of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in the establishment of 21 Domestic Violence Intervention Centres across the island. Undoubtedly, these are major initiatives that we’ve had in response to ending violence against women.

However, despite all these initiatives we still have a long way to go if we are to truly end violence against women and girls in our country. Considering this, I would like to make some recommendations that could aid in bridging the gaps and creating a more holistic response to stemming gender-based violence.

At present, the Domestic Violence Act does not comprehensively define domestic violence and only offers protection for mental and physical abuse. Manifestations such as financial abuse are not covered by the law. We are recommending that this be rectified as quickly as possible.

Similarly, according to the sexual offences act, rape is limited to non-consensual penetration of a vagina by a penis. The law does not address/consider non-consensual penetration into the mouth and anus, or even penetration by a foreign object, as rape. This is a huge gap in our legislation and women and girls might feel like justice has not been served because of a technicality in the law.

It is important to mobilise resources for the establishment and improvement of social protection for women and girls who experience gender-based violence. It is imperative to prioritise funding and allocate resources to organisations that specialise in providing comprehensive support services and addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by survivors and working towards the eradication of gender-based violence in all its forms.

JAEMAR JOHNSON

Policy and Advocacy Officer

Jamaican Network of

Seropositives