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Government continues to support victims of intimate partner violence

Published:Thursday | March 8, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Yhomo Hutchinson
Prime Minister Andrew Holness engages in light discussion with (from left) attorney-at-law Sherene Golding Campbell; special adviser to the vice-chancellor on resource development, University of the West Indies, Mona, Minna Israel; and co-owner and executive chairperson of Phase Three Productions Limited, Dr Marcia Forbes. Occasion was a breakfast meeting which the prime minister hosted in recognition of International Women’s Day at Jamaica House yesterday.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the Government is continuing to put measures in place to support victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic abuse as it works to address the issue.

He lamented that violence against women "is one of the greatest challenges that women face in our society today", stressing that more needs to be done to deal with it resolutely.

Holness was addressing a breakfast meeting he hosted in recognition of International Women's Day at Jamaica House yesterday.

He pointed out that the Government has made resources available to put in place shelters for victims, noting that one of three properties has already been purchased.

Located in a rural area, the facility, which will be the first state-run national shelter for victims of gender violence, will offer training and counselling. It is expected to begin operations during the upcoming financial year.

"We are making the investments to ensure that as a Government, we are being proactive in addressing the issue of violence in intimate partner relations and domestic abuse," the Prime Minister said.

Holness noted that work is also being done to address the "ecosystem of institutional bias" in relation to the response of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to victims of IPV and domestic violence.

"We have been working to get the police to understand that they have a critical role in being proactive in addressing instances of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse that come to their attention," he said.

More than 30 powerful women in leadership positions across different spheres were invited to the meeting, where they were treated to a fine Jamaican breakfast and entertained by songstress Ayesha Davis with her rendition of Superwoman.

Each of the invitees, headed by the wife of the prime minister, Juliet Holness, also shared what International Women's Day means to them, and highlighted matters of concern in relation to the role of women in society.