Feature Story
Bringing CSR to the Homefront
CADV President Roberta Clarke promotes collaboration for zero tolerance on domestic violence
Submitted by the CADV
We at VYTT continue to encourage corporate involvement in the phenomena of personal crimes against women and children. Human rights specialist and writer Wendy Singh has written extensively in various forums on the increase of child sex abuse in the Caribbean and we are witnessing a spike in the nature and frequency of violent crimes against women in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. More recently VYTT and partner SXD Leadership have introduced a new module #We-Need-To-Talk in its Communicating for Influence (CFI) corporate training programme, to address workplace bullying as an extension of domestic and culturally entrenched behaviours. VYTT supports the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV) and its new President, Roberta Clarke and how she is engaging with business and society to build awareness and change the culture of violence.
In a time when crime and criminality are at the forefront of citizens’ minds, the issue of women’s security remains a top priority for the Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Did you know that during the period 2010-2015 131 women were murdered as a result of domestic violence? This works out to be an average of 25 domestic violence killings per year. In 2017, 52 women were killed, 43 of them were labeled as a tragic end to domestic issues. By the end of the third quarter of 2018, 15 women have met their deaths due to domestic violence.
The Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a non-profit company with charitable status which has worked assiduously since 1988 to develop critical interventions for those experiencing domestic violence. Although its early work focused on crucial support for victims, over time the organization has broadened its scope to include shelters, children’s homes, individuals and groups working to end all forms of abuse.
A recent study done by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in 2017 confirmed that one in every three women in Trinidad and Tobago has experienced physical, sexual and psychological abuse by their intimate partners. The study estimates that approximately 11,000 women are still likely to be in abusive relationships. Further, UN Women research done by the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, St. Augustine found that the critical support systems such as the police, courts, health services and other social services were woefully inadequate and unresponsive to victims’ needs.
The Coalition recognises that its principal mandate is to bring sustained attention to the scourge of domestic violence. It utilizes a multi-sectoral approach to ensure that the efforts of all stakeholders are harnessed under one umbrella to deliver the best responses possible. Whist the Coalition provides essential counselling services for victims and survivors, its work with other responders such as the police service and healthcare sector remains a priority to ensure better protection, safety and care. To this end, the Coalition collaborates with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to integrate effective domestic violence responses into its training curriculum for new recruits. The Coalition is also collaborating with the healthcare sector to provide training for nurses so that they can better respond in situations involving domestic violence incidents.
Further, the Coalition understands the significant value of pursuing a preventative agenda. Violence against women may be triggered by several factors such as substance abuse or poverty related issues but it is essentially rooted in and caused by unequal power relations between men and women. Violence is used to exert power and control and is used as the ultimate weapon to control women. Gendered socialisation results in the creation of different roles for men and women in which male privilege is embedded and perpetuated by institutions.
The adage that ‘domestic violence’ is a women’s issue must therefore be rejected. The Coalition’s President, Roberta Clarke, advocates that “We must work together to change our culture to one of zero tolerance for violence.” Interventions are required from all stakeholders who have key roles whether they are legislative, judicial, corporate, social or cultural. Although significant progress has been made in the development of the law relating to domestic violence, policing protocols and police training, the implementation and enforcement of these laws and policies pose a serious challenge.
Shelters offer temporary accommodation to victims. However, shelters do not accommodate male children over the age of twelve years. Shelters must budget between $90,000 –
$150,000 annually for operational expenditure. Most are finding it difficult to survive and at least one has been forced to shut its doors. Consequently, a concerted effort must be made to plug all loopholes that deny women’s access to both justice and essential services. Women are demanding safety and security in their homes and they are entitled to it.
In the past, the Coalition led several initiatives such as the development of the children’s hotline called Childline and pioneered a school-based prevention programme entitled Peace, Love and Understanding in Schools. Going forward, the Coalition is working on intensifying its prevention programming at the community level and expanding its counselling services. In this regard, the Coalition intends to partner with the police service towards improving the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and developing an accompaniment programme whereby volunteers accompany victims when they attend court or access social services. In addition, an early intervention programme for perpetrators by the Coalition and an education project for primary school students to promote zero tolerance for all forms of violence are in the developmental stages.
On November 10, 2018, the Coalition will launch its sixteen days of activism which will culminate on the International Day Against Domestic Violence, November 25th. The Coalition makes a call for action. Wherever you are and whoever you are, your response and your support will make a difference. Join the cause! Be part of the action to stop violence in our families and in our communities.
The Board Members of the Coalition are Roberta Clarke (President), Roslyn Ali, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, Asha Wilson, Carolyn Fifi and Euon Rivers. Please reach out to anyone of them or the General Manager, Sabrina Mowlah-Baksh at 624-0402/627-6844/627/4795. You can also email us as cadvtt@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page. The office is located at 1 Robinsonville, Belmont.
