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Posted: Friday 26 November, 2021 at 4:26 PM

Collective approach needed to end gender-based violence

By: Staff Reporter, SKNVibes

    CHARLESTOWN,Nevis -- MINISTER of Gender Affairs in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), Hazel Brandy-Williams  believes that the time has come where an all hands on deck approach is needed to end gender-based violence, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    In her address to recognize today, November 26th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the minister reported the stark increases in the number of cases of domestic violence which more than quadruple during 2020.

     

    “One exacerbating factor of gender-based violence is the dreaded plague of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and extended curfews have left victims stranded with their abusers. An increase in unemployment has amplified economic dependence leaving victims reliant on their abusers. This has been evident, even here, in our country, where cases of domestic violence went from a total of 87 in 2019 to a distressing 357 in 2020, when the pandemic reached our shores,” the minister revealed.

     

    This year has not been any different, as the numbers for the first three quarters of this year have also shown an increase over that of 2020. In fact, data presented by the Minister Brady-Williams showed that there were 443 cases across St. Kitts and Nevis.

     

    She attributed that number to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw several periods of lockdowns during the year when the cases had peaked.

     

    “We must all awake and collectively move to end gender-based violence now! As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon puts it: ‘There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable,’” noted the minister.

     

    She called on those who have not been affected by the issue to not sit idly by as the cycle continues. 

     

    “No longer can we say it is his business but not mine. No longer can we use our phones to record incidences of violence rather than for reaching the police. No longer can we laugh rather than lend a helping hand for violence will not end on its own; it must be stamped out from the heart of our society,” she emphasized.

     

    The ministry within the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) will kickstart its 16 Days of Activism where a number of activities will be held to raise awareness and provide opportunities for men and women to ventilate topics of importance and determine solutions.

     

    “We will work with partners such as the Federal Ministry of Gender Affairs and non-governmental organisations to engage the public through televised panel discussions and on-the-street interviews to give greater awareness to the serious and often hidden issue of intimate partner violence.

     

    “Importantly, we invite the public to join us for the Official Federal Launch of this year’s campaign against Gender-Based Violence which will take place on Friday, November 26th at 4 p.m. on the Villa Grounds in Charlestown. We must join our voices to say “No to violence!”

     

     

     

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