16 days*-violence against women in trinidad and tobago
A Trinidadian mother of two brutally murdered, reportedly by a male relative.
Assessments of the state of human rights in Trinidad and Tobago repeatedly identify violence against women as a chronic societal problem. In 2002, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in their report on Trinidad's compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, made the following comments:
...entrenched stereotypical attitudes with regard to the role of women and men and the persistence of gender-based violence within the society constitute obstacles to the full implementation of the Convention
...despite innovative legislation, policies and programmes, violence against women remains a serious reality that is being perpetuated by deeply rooted traditional patriarchal attitudes, apparently tolerated by society.
...The Committee urges the Government to place a high priority on measures to address violence against women in the family and in society in accordance with the Committee's general recommendation 19 and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Committee recommends that the Government introduce measures to raise public awareness about violence against women and urges the Government to strengthen its activities and programmes to focus on sexual violence, incest and prostitution.
On the positive side,
The Committee commends the State party for its comprehensive programme to combat domestic violence through such initiatives as a 24-hour hotline, the establishment of a Domestic Violence Unit within the Gender Affairs Division, a male support programme and community-based drop information centres. The Committee commends the Government for steps to provide emergency legal aid, in particular in cases of domestic violence
I've found two lists (list 1 and list 2) of women-focussed organisation in T&T, including several agencies working to eliminate gender-violence and to assist victims of gender-violence. If any readers can add any more about similar support agencies in Trinidad and Tobago (or, indeed, anywhere in the Caribbean), please leave the information in the comments.
*This is one of (at least) 16 posts I'll be writing for the 16 days of activism against gender violence. x-posted to my blog.
Assessments of the state of human rights in Trinidad and Tobago repeatedly identify violence against women as a chronic societal problem. In 2002, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in their report on Trinidad's compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, made the following comments:
...entrenched stereotypical attitudes with regard to the role of women and men and the persistence of gender-based violence within the society constitute obstacles to the full implementation of the Convention
...despite innovative legislation, policies and programmes, violence against women remains a serious reality that is being perpetuated by deeply rooted traditional patriarchal attitudes, apparently tolerated by society.
...The Committee urges the Government to place a high priority on measures to address violence against women in the family and in society in accordance with the Committee's general recommendation 19 and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Committee recommends that the Government introduce measures to raise public awareness about violence against women and urges the Government to strengthen its activities and programmes to focus on sexual violence, incest and prostitution.
On the positive side,
The Committee commends the State party for its comprehensive programme to combat domestic violence through such initiatives as a 24-hour hotline, the establishment of a Domestic Violence Unit within the Gender Affairs Division, a male support programme and community-based drop information centres. The Committee commends the Government for steps to provide emergency legal aid, in particular in cases of domestic violence
I've found two lists (list 1 and list 2) of women-focussed organisation in T&T, including several agencies working to eliminate gender-violence and to assist victims of gender-violence. If any readers can add any more about similar support agencies in Trinidad and Tobago (or, indeed, anywhere in the Caribbean), please leave the information in the comments.
*This is one of (at least) 16 posts I'll be writing for the 16 days of activism against gender violence. x-posted to my blog.