Activists, survivors and government officials once again silently marched through George Town, letting their signs do the talking to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence.
The annual Silent Witness March, which was held Tuesday, 25 Oct., is organised in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
This year’s event also was dedicated to bringing attention to the problem of bullying.
Among those marching in the 22nd annual event were members of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, the Gender Affairs Unit and Colours Caribbean.
Last year, there were more than 1,700 domestic violence referrals in Cayman, according to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service crime statistics.
Governor Martyn Roper, after the march, said the community as a whole must do more to address domestic violence, which continues to be a challenge in the Cayman Islands.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Roper said, “We also need to raise awareness of all the support available eg from our excellent Crisis Centre,” and noted, “There is too much domestic violence in Cayman and across the world.”
Hazard Management Cayman Islands, which also joined in the march, through a post on its official Facebook page, said that one in four women, and one in seven men are victims of domestic abuse, noting, “There are numerous studies that show that domestic violence and sexual abuse increase in the aftermath of disasters and HMCI believes this information is important for better informing emergency management policies and improving public safety in future disasters.”
Roper, in his Facebook post, lauded a survivor who “bravely and movingly” talked about her experience at the end of the march.
Premier Wayne Panton, who also attended the march, said on his official Facebook page that events such as the march are important “to show our solidarity and commitment to our pledge: to quash all forms of domestic violence and bullying in our community”.
He added, “Estimates published by WHO indicate that globally, about 1 in 3 (33%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. Men also experience a high prevalence of violence, whether through intimate or non-intimate partners. Most of this violence is domestic violence.”
Panton, who is also the minister with responsibility for gender affairs, said, “it was humbling to see such a great turnout” at the march.
“The walk symbolised the journey that victims of domestic violence often go through; and as we did, they often have to continue in silence,” he added.
This year’s theme, Hazard Management said, was “everyone knows someone, and this emphasizes how far-reaching the impact of domestic violence is in our community”.
The march commenced at the Government Administration Building and proceeded through the capital, passing relevant spots along the way, such as the George Town Police Station, the courts and Parliament.
It ended with a meeting at Constitution Hall at which survivors shared their stories.
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