Violence against women: the full story
VICIOUS attacks against women continued unabated this year as a number of women were raped, assaulted, shot and murdered. Just two weekends ago, news broke of the death of Manchester resident, 58-year-old Doreen Roach and bartender Nikesha Hewitt who were murdered in separate incidents.
Roach was allegedly chopped several times two Fridays ago during a dispute with her 55-year-old husband at their home in Christiana. Hewitt’s attack occurred the Saturday following this incident. She was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend and the father of her two children while walking home with him from work. The attack was reportedly fuelled by jealousy.
In January this year, a pregnant woman, 25-year-old Antoinette Gooden was among three persons fatally shot by gunmen at Varma Road, Kingston 11.
And earlier this month a 90-year-old woman was killed in an arson attack in a section of Newlands, Portmore.
Police statistics showed that in just September alone of this year, 16 women were killed in comparison to 11 during the same time last year. There were also incidents of decomposing bodies presumably of females found.
From all indications, it seems 2009 is turning out to be just as bad or worst than 2008 for women. Police statistics show that there were 610 carnal abuse cases, 849 rape cases and 45 incest cases last year. Six women committed suicide, 1,315 were wounded and 2,615 were assaulted. In addition to this, 151 women were shot and 165 females were either killed.
In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 16 days of activism against violence began on Wednesday, Nov 25 and ends December 10 – International Human Rights Day.
The theme is ‘Commit, Act, Demand: Women and Men Unite to End Violence Against Women’.
The period is being used to educate a wide cross-section of persons on issues relating to gender-based violence; to empower persons to assist in dealing with victims of gender-based violence; and to foster collaboration with partners towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women and the girl-child.
Here is a guide for women as we observe this period.
Resources for women
If you are a woman involved in a violent relationship, you don’t have to suffer alone. There are a number of organisations that have been established to assist women like yourself who feel that there is just no way out.
Woman Inc
This is a non-profit organisation that provides assistance to victims of rape, incest, domestic violence and sexual harassment at the workplace. The organisation operates a crisis centre where women can receive individualised counselling and a crisis shelter for abused women. The crisis centre has been in existence since 1985 and with the co-operation of volunteer counsellors, has given hope to countless women over the years. The centre operates a 24-hour hotline in Kingston and one in Montego Bay between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The crisis shelter was introduced by Woman Inc in 1988 in Kingston and is the only facility of its kind in Jamaica. The shelter provides emergency housing for women to get them out of their abusive settings. Woman Inc also networks with police rape units and professional legal and medical volunteers who also assist victims.
The Bureau of Women’s Affairs
The Bureau of Women’s Affair is an organisation mandated by the Government to address the problems encountered by women in Jamaica, such as abuse and sexual harassment. The main objective is to enable women to reach their full potential and this is done through public education and training, the planning and monitoring of projects and research and development. Although the organisation does not offer counselling services, it helps with the referral of women to other organisations that do so. It has also helped women to gain skills and access to employment so that women might become independent. By becoming independent, women will no longer have to stay in abusive relationships for the sole purpose of wanting to be financially secure.
Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation
Although the primary focus of this group is to provide some form of intervention to girls who have dropped out of school as a result of their pregnancies, the organisation also offers counselling services to children, adolescents and young adults. Victims of carnal abuse are given the opportunity to continue their schooling and also receive skills training to empower themselves. The girls are then assisted in getting back into the formal school system after their pregnancy.
Victim Support Unit (Ministry of Justice)
This unit has a group counselling programme known as ‘Overcomers in action’ that provides healing and restoration to women who are being abused physically, emotionally or sexually through group therapy. These counselling sessions are offered by professional counselors who address the needs of women regardless of their age. The services are free of cost and are confidential. The aim of the programme is to provide strength to victimised women through the encouragement and support of other persons who have been in their situation and through releasing bitterness and hurt brought on by their abuse.
Women’s Media Watch
With the objective of reducing violence against women and promoting a more gender-aware media, the WMA offers workshops, multi-media presentations and seminars to educate and train persons about gender-sensitive issues among other things. The non-government organisation provides a multi-faceted approach to dealing with violence and works with media organisations, schools, youth and service clubs, churches and other women’s groups to advocate and lobby for women rights. They also provide information to women on what they can do to counteract abuse through the issuing of brochures.
The Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA)Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre
CISOCA is the arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, which is mandated to investigate sexual offences and offenders. CISOCA also offers counselling and support to sexually abused victims and conducts medical examinations to gather evidence which might lead to the prosecution of perpetrators.
This non-government organisation helps to promote gender equity and empowerment of women through social, economic and advocacy programmes. The organisation operates a clinic, which sees a number of women getting help with medical issues twice per week. They also have a counselling programme that benefits women who have relationship issues and might need help dealing with certain issues such as abuse.
10 stances to take to protect your rights
WOMEN have been struggling for years to be recognised and treated with the same respect that is often meted out to men. Time and time again their rights have been violated in one way or the other. Below are 10 stances women can take ensure their rights are protected, as supplied by Hilary Nicholson of Women’s Media Watch.
1. Knowledge is power, and as such, your best weapon is learning what rights you have under the law. You can’t protect your rights unless you know what they are.
2. Understand what is meant by ‘human rights’.
3. Learn what some of the laws and policies are to protect your rights – laws against domestic violence, sexual offences, as well as laws to protect workers’ rights.
4. Learn about reproductive rights and sexual rights
5. Learn about specific laws related to women, so that just because we’re women, we cannot be discriminated against – like the right to maternity leave.
6. Believe in gender equality!
7. Nobody has the right to dominate, coerce or abuse another person. Never believe that you did something to deserve abuse. Abusers have to take responsibility for their actions.
8. Believe in yourself, develop self-worth and self-esteem, so that you will have the confidence to protect yourself and claim your rights.
9. Develop supportive, respectful friendships with other women – there is strength in unity – so that you can together seek protection or claim your rights.
10. Never buy into that silly saying that woman is woman’s worst enemy. This is not true, we are our best supporters and friends!
Violence around the world
MILLIONS of women and girls around the world encounter rape, domestic abuse, mutilation and other forms of gender-based violence daily. While measures are sometimes in place to prevent or lessen these crimes, abuse against women continues to take its toll. This year was no exception, as all around the world as women fell prey to violence committed against them.
Here are some examples.
. Woman stabbed in front of police
In what police called a tragedy, a woman was killed by her former boyfriend, who was then killed by officers in Los Angeles, USA last month. The woman, Flor Medrano, 30, had just filed a domestic abuse complaint and officers were outside her home waiting for her abuser when she was fatally stabbed. Information is that police went to her home but did not find the man, who they suspected was in the area. They then waited outside in an unmarked police vehicle hoping to catch the man. The officers eventually called the house to make sure Medrano was safe and let her know they were about to leave. The cellphone call was interrupted, and when the connection was re-established, the officers heard Medrano screaming. The officers rushed into the building and they observed through the window Medrano being stabbed by her ex.
. Female Genital Mutilation
In the middle east, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania and other countries, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is carried out with knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass or razor blades. Anaesthetic and antiseptics are not generally used. According to a World Health Organisation report, an estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM. In Africa, about three million girls are at risk for FGM annually.
If a man hits you once, he’ll do it again.
