The government should immediately set up a national body to oversee and address gender violence issues, a report by a special advisory committee has recommended.
Len Layman, chairman of the committee, in a speech at the opening ceremony on Tuesday of a 16-day campaign to combat gender abuse, said such an entity would not only provide oversight and assistance to the government, but also become a platform for input from all sectors of Cayman on the issue.
The committee was set up following the death of Estella Scott-Roberts, a staunch advocate of victims of abuse. The committee had 30 days from its establishment last month to prepare the report.
Mr. Layman said: ‘Recent events have made it brutally clear that violence does exist in our beautiful isles and it is imperative that we as a country take the necessary steps to change this.’
Another recommendation in the report was the setting up of an ongoing public relations campaign to educate the public on the importance of promoting healthy relationships and let them know of the availability of public and private services, which can help them.
The committee also recommended the formation of a legislative review committee to evaluate all proposed, existing and pending laws, as well as to make recommendations to government to help identify and move items of priority forward, Mr. Layman told the gathering outside the Government Administration Building.
He said: ‘In order to move forward, we also recognise that this Island and its people have been terribly, terribly hurt by the recent violence and it is critical that we acknowledge that hurt and move toward healing. It is also clear that these events have in many ways been divisive in our community.
‘If we are going to make Cayman a more peaceful, less violent place, it is going to take the combined efforts of all its residents, regardless of background.’
To this end, the committee has also recommended making 9 January next year a National Day of Healing and Unity.
The full report has not been made public as it is awaiting presentation to the Cabinet.
Health Minister Anthony Eden, addressing the audience, said: ‘Given the recent circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Estella Scott-Roberts, an outstanding women’s advocate, and the high profile cases of sexual violation of our young children, we unfortunately know all too well about the consequences of gender violence and child sexual abuse here in the Cayman Islands.
‘We must not allow the culture of silence and denial to surround this sort of violence and abuse. We must not offer this level of protection to the perpetrators, nor unintentionally prolong the suffering of the victims through our silence.’
Speaking after the ceremony, Mr. Eden said he thought setting up a national body to oversee efforts to address gender abuse was a brilliant idea.
He said the next step in implementing the recommendations was to present the report to Cabinet, and invite interested agencies and NGOs, as well as government departments to have an input. Any elements of the recommendations that involve legislation would be taken before the Legislative Assembly, he said.
‘This is going to involve a lot of information and collaboration,’ Mr. Eden said.
Members of Cabinet attended the opening ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Abuse, which this year is being dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Scott-Roberts, along with representatives of organisations that offer help and support to victims of gender abuse.
A series of events to highlight and raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse have been organised. The campaign runs from 25 November – International Day Against Violence Against Women – to 6 December, which is International Human Rights Day.
Guests at the opening ceremony were invited to don ribbons, one purple and brown ribbon and the other white coloured. Purple symbolises the international efforts to end violence and abuse against children, spouses, partners and the elderly, while brown is the local symbol for the Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation which aims to advocate a life free from violence. The white ribbon marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Velma Powery Hewitt, president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, which established the 16-day campaign locally in 1996, said: ‘Let us remember that our country has lost some of its finest citizens because gender abuse reared its ugly head. Let us now all make a new and determined effort to actively do our part to make our islands safe for all of its citizens.’
As the backdrop to the speeches yesterday, T-shirts with messages calling for an end to violence – part of the annual Clothesline Project – hung on a line. More T-shirts can been seen at George Town post office throughout the campaign and the public will be invited to paint their own T-shirts at the Women’s Resource Centre on 4 and 6 December.
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