The United Nations reports that nearly one in three women experience violence in their lifetime. Girls are at particular risk of violence—1 in 4 adolescent girls is abused by their partners.
For thousands of women, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act—their murder by partners or family members.
In Saint Lucia, the awareness is being raised again as the 16 days for activism against gender-based violence commenced on Monday Nov 25, 2024 and will run until Dec 10, 2024.
Gender Affairs Minister Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte says the Department of Gender Affairs is partnering with a French agency to tackle the issue of domestic violence in Saint Lucia, particularly against women and girls.
“It is focused on our attempts at trying to end violence against women and girls. We have had many situations where women and girls find themselves victims of domestic violence and we have to unite, we have to invest, so that we can end that kind of violence,” she said.
Dr Albert-Poyotte notes that domestic violence is an issue which affects both men and women, adding that the Department will be promoting gender equality in all its efforts. “And I have indicated that the Department of Gender, it is not a department just for women, but it is a department that has to promote equality between both men and women. So I call on all Saint Lucians and people around the world to come together.”
In 2022, the government passed its novel Domestic Violence legislation, which was lauded by many international organisations.
Dr Albert-Poyotte says the government has been training police officers on how to properly handle domestic matters.
“We have done training for police officers so that they understand how to implement certain sections of the act. We also did training for magistrates so that they understand the implication of the Act and how they handle disputes and matters that come before them,” she said.
Apart from just training police and magistrates to deal with gender based violence, teach and train men to treat women better and on how to be men. Men who commit the unpardonable atrocity of battering women are themselves immature boys who lack self control, have low emotional intelligence and low self esteem. This highlights the atmosphere of toxic masculinity that exists in our society, the high levels of gun violence, road traffic accidents that overwhelmingly affect men, grievous bodily harm involving sharp implements. Clearly there is an issue with how men think and behave in our society. Again the issue goes back to the family. We need programs that develop well rounded, healthy family living that raises men not boys.
The end of the matter is due to dishonesty or infidélité ”
Violence Femmes ???
Why not violence Hommes ???
Stolen water is sweet
Drink water in your own citern
Who has ever passes through a fire and dose’nt get burn ???
All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves,I looked for him but did not find him..
I will get up know and go about the city, “Have you seen the one my heart loves ?”…
Beloved
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men..
I delight to sit in his shade,and his fruit is sweet to my taste..
Strengthen me with raisin cakes,refresh me with apples for I am faint with love..
Men and women of St Lucia 🇱🇨,I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of St Lucia :
Do not arouse or awaken love until it is so desires..