Do not be that lonely victim of abuse, violence - Chuck

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has stressed that the success of the Supporting Victims of Violence (SVOV) Activity programme rests on victims of abuse islandwide making reports to the relevant authorities.

In the absence of this component, Chuck believes the country will not record a major reduction in domestic abuse.

The minister was addressing the official launch of the SVOV on Wednesday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The programme is being implemented through a partnership with Winrock International, with the the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) pumping approximately US$10 million into launching the activity.

“Violence, sadly, is a part of our DNA. It’s not only a cultural problem, but it’s rooted in religion. The feeling is that unless you use the rod, the child will be spoilt. And so, even though we beg that children should not be cane spanked or any form of violence to be used on them, it is built in, in far too many of our parents. Especially single parent families; mothers who don’t have fathers around to scold and speak to their children, the easiest way for the mothers to deal with it, is just to pinch ears, hit in the head and sadly, we see many of these young people who are brutalised,” Chuck said.

“And then what does that do? It sends the signal that violence is the way you solve problems. It’s so very sad. And many of these children actually take it out on one another in the schools, in the communities,” he said further.

Chuck said among the worst of the culture practices in Jamaica is the belief by far too many women, that “if a man does not beat them, the man doesn’t love them”.

“I’m sure Winrock [International] you haven’t heard that before, but there are many women who feel a sense of, I can’t understand it, a sense of love when their men actually beat them. And I can tell you, as a former practising attorney sitting in court, I actually see so many women, after the man has been charged, who beg the judge, ‘Beg yu judge! Let him go!’ You’re sad!” Chuck said.

“I have seen so many women ... and I’m there to take out a stop order on the offender, spouse or husband, and I’ve been given a statement and I draft up a affidavit and she doesn’t turn up. And occasionally I drive to the home, because she has an address … and [her response is] ‘No bada wid it, Sir. We are back together’. And sadly, this practice continues too frequently to where violence is now condoned and far too much violence is accepted,” he said.

INFORMATION CULTURAL GAP

Chuck commended the ‘timely’ focus of Winrock International and the SVOV project on victims of abuses, violence and criminal conduct.

“We have to remove this information cultural gap … Far too many victims suffer in silence. And they suffer in silence because they feel it is acceptable, [and also] because they feel if they report it, the offender might be prosecuted. They feel while they are in fear there can be further retaliation. And you get the situation that a fair amount of the criminal and domestic violence is not brought into the public space,” Chuck said.

He reminded that following on extensive efforts after the COVID-19 pandemic, abused people may now access counselling services from government agencies, virtually.

“I urge the victims of violence [and] abuse to go to the Victim Services Division. We have one in every parish. We have restorative justice centres in every parish … and if you take the opportunity to just call the victim service offices, we will send a counsellor to you to listen to your case,” Chuck said.

“I beg. I urge. Do not be that lonely victim of abuse and violence. Yes, it could be your spouse [but] report it to the victim service offices, even if you don’t come in, you can get counselling virtually,” he said.

The SVOV activity aims to address and mitigate interpersonal and collective violence through sustainable, trauma-informed and community-led solutions.

TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY

The USAID has invested significantly in violence prevention and protection efforts in Jamaica, working closely with the Government of Jamaica and implementing partners.

Through SVOV, Winrock International and partners will work together to leverage those investments by improving multi-stakeholder coordination and providing trauma-informed services and information to survivors, witnesses, and perpetrators, with emphasis on gender equality and social inclusion.

The project’s design is informed by data and a commitment to respecting human rights and promoting non-violence.

According to the 2021 Reproductive Health Survey conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, over 33 per cent of females in Jamaica have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, with 45.1 per cent of ever-partnered females admitting to being perpetrators of abuse underscoring the need for SVOV’s comprehensive approach to addressing and rehabilitating victims and perpetrators. Similarly, findings from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022 indicated that 76 per cent of Jamaican children under the age of 15 experienced some form of violent discipline in the last month, while four per cent experienced more severe corporal punishment in the same period.

The SVOV activity will collaborate across communities to foster a shift in societal attitudes towards violence.

“We are committed to working alongside 10 rural and urban Jamaican communities to heal trauma induced by violence and to build a culture that respects all individuals’ rights,” said Charlene Coore Desai, SVOV’s chief of party.

“The launch event is just the beginning of a transformative journey towards a more peaceful and inclusive society,” she said.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com