New focus on domestic violence prevention
(CNS): A number of government agencies and non-profit organisations have come together to form a group to tackle the persistent problem of domestic violence. Although the issue has emerged from the shadows in recent years, with people more wiling to report and talk about it, domestic violence remains a significant blight on Caymanian society. The Alliance to End Domestic Violence aims to enhance support for those who have suffered and raise awareness in the community.
Chaired by the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, which has been at the forefront of the fallout for families for many years, the Alliance includes other agencies, such as the Department of Children and Family Services, Community Rehabilitation, the Family Resource Centre, the Gender Affairs Unit, the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, to streamline the help available to survivors.
The group will also consult and work with other agencies and those who have experienced domestic violence. Setting a vision for the future to eliminate violence in families, along the road to that goal the aim is to use the resources available to empower people to live violence free lives.
“At the Crisis Centre we have found that in many ways it can be a very convoluted process for our clients to navigate the various agencies who deal with domestic violence,” said CICC Executive Director Ania Milanowska. “As such, one of the Alliance’s first goals is to analyse the specific roles each of our agencies play in the journey of survivors. In doing so we hope to identify and address barriers survivors can face, and begin to build a more tightly coordinated approach to addressing domestic violence.”
Public education is one of the Alliance’s major focuses.
“While we believe that most persons are aware that domestic violence is an issue in the Cayman Islands, we also know that most people are not fully aware of the scope of the problem.” said Renee Ebanks, from the Family Resource Centre. “This is partly because, due to the private nature of this type of violence, individual incidents are not generally reported to the media. Using monthly and weekly radio appearances, PSAs and social media, we hope to educate the public about the prevalence of domestic abuse in the Cayman Islands and the very real impact it has on all of us.”
The Alliance to End Domestic Violence began monthly meetings in June and has chosen October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to formally launch. The event, held at Governor’s House, was attended by various stakeholders from across government and the private sector. During the reception, Elisabeth Roper, the governor’s wife, announced that she would be the Alliance’s patron.
“Although the Alliance is in its beginning stages, we are encouraged by the willingness of our members to embrace this coordinated approach, and we believe that it represents a step in the right direction to support people to live lives free from domestic violence in Cayman,” Milanowska said.
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Category: Community, Crime, Crime Prevention, Local News
What a real a joke this is? Alliance to do what? Certainly not the law enforcement side of things when that is fill up to the brim with those from jurisdictions that view domestic violence as a sport or pastime How exactly are the victims or us going to prevent or stop this from happening now. Welcome to the new reality Cayman our rinky dinky leadership has pawned us to lowlife interlopers now running this place right into the ground. Besides.
Though but limp when Alden gives government posts to MLAs who hit women.
How about the police here start to treat it with the seriousness that the Florida police treat it?
That would require law enforcement. It is a non starter.
New focus? What was wrong with an old focus?
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
and 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign
Message by Minister for Education, Employment and Gender Affairs Hon. Tara Rivers, JP, MLa 25 November 2014 http://www.education.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/mehhome/pressroom/2014/messagefromministerrivers16daysofactivism
Gender Abuse: Zero Tolerance! Message by the Honourable Anthony S. Eden, OBE, JP,
Minister for Health and Human Services 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Abuse Campaign 2008
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/cighome/pressroom/archive/200811/genderabusezerotolerance!
If it was zero tolerance in 2008, how come new focus needed?
The Alliance is ensuring that all government agencies and the Crisis Centre work together to ensure that all survivors of domestic violence have the most dignified experience in learning to live after domestic violence. I am so proud of everyone involved to ensure that all survivors have the easiest time they can in some of the worst situation they can find themselves in. Way to go!
Step 1:
Start with criminalizing religeons that put a man above a woman.
Step 2:
Create a place were women can go to and live away and protected from their man.
Step 3:
50% politicians should be female.
The key issue, the root of evil so to speak is religeon. Once you teach kids that adam was first and eve came to assist and pleasure adam, you are done and have created the foundation of women abuse.
If you dont see that, then you are an idiot and part of the problem.
Yes ladies, Any man that raise a hand to you is garbage that needs to be thrown out.
Signed
Man
And anyone that down votes this is a piece of garbage.
Is mental abuse counted and can assistance be provided in support of the victim in divorce proceedings? I’m not suggesting financial support. I am suggesting emotional and potentially resources and guidance on managing through. The divorces I’ve seen where the woman was emotionally abused got nothing in the divorce proceedings and even stalked by the ex after the divorce. It seems to be a cultural thing for the cayman male to view even the ex wife as property. Almost the mentality of if I can’t have her no one will.
Is there somewhere these women can go for emotional support and guidance and not meaning a lawyer.
Cue the comments about how domestic abuse is a “Caribbean culture” thing in 3…2…1…
Pretty sure the law partner that was arrested recently isn’t from the Caribbean, but he must just be a fluke.
It’s not just Caribbean culture. It’s a worldwide problem. But there are sectors of males in every culture that abuse as there are women that abuse men as well as the significant other in same sex relationships.
True story. About 40 years ago, my dear grandfather was very ill, and his children that had moved off island returned to Cayman to say their goodbyes, bringing with them many young, foreign-born grandchildren (my then 10 year old self included). My grandparent’s little house was filled with family and friends, from Cayman and overseas, knowing that this was our last time to see granddad before he passed. He called all of the “boy-child” grandkids to his bedside one day. I will never forget his words that day. He gave us advice on how to live our lives. One of the things he said was, “Don’t ever raise your hand to a woman”. Whenever I think about that day, I find it interesting and odd that he thought he should tell us that. Not that he needed to, but I’ve always appreciated that he did.
Let’s hope that we start to take domestic violence against men more seriously as men are the silent victims of domestic violence. Our society has made it almost impossible for men to feel comfortable coming forward to report instances of domestic violence. Also, many of the domestic violence support groups have also failed to provide equal support services and facilities for men.
i was abused as a male in a previous marriage…so it aint only women!
Everyone is so willing,only nothing seems to happen.