Gender Affairs Anguilla organised various community events from Thursday, 25th November to Friday, 10th December 2021, which focussed attention on eliminating gender based violence (GBV) in Anguilla. Significant dates observed were:
• International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls – Thursday, November 25th
• Human Rights Defenders Day – Monday, November 29th
• World AIDS Day – Wednesday, December 1st
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities – Friday, December 3rd
• Human Rights Day – Friday, December 10th
A wide range of activities were scheduled, which included free health screenings and tests, physical well-being exercise sessions for senior citizens, men’s seminar/formal night, women’s forum, parenting webinar, women’s self-defence workshops, art viewing and silent auction. The Anguilla Community Action Network (ACAN) and the Department of Youth and Culture (DYC) collaborated with Gender Affairs for some of these affairs.
At the invitation of Dr Ronya Foy Connor, Head of Gender Affairs, I attended the “My Voice is Valuable” Women’s Forum held at the Soroptimist Centre on the evening of November 25th. It was an informative meeting. Although we were small in numbers – approximately a dozen women, one man and a toddler, the persons present actively participated in a roundtable discussion and we were rewarded for our attendance with a delicious Thanksgiving dinner provided afterwards.
Honourable Minister of Social Development, Ms Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, gave noteworthy opening remarks. Ms Susan Hodge, who serves with Stop the Abuse for Everyone (SAFE), spoke on the importance of labour unions to protect employee’s rights and handle cases of discrimination as well as sexual harassment. SAFE is a toll-free 24 hours/7 days a week hotline providing psychological support for persons in the Anguilla community.
Ms Tajah Carter, Secretary of Unlimited Potential (UP) Girl, recited a poem that she’d composed. Dr Phyllis Fleming-Banks, Manager – British Overseas Territories, University of the West Indies (UWI) – led a table talk with participants engaged in speaking on subjects such as mental health and silence as they relate to violence.
Dr. Foy Connor guided a candle lightening ceremony in honour of women in Anguilla who died at the hands of abusive partners. Mr Kenn Banks assisted with showing a Klassique Dance Academy video that utilised the arts to interpret gender based violence. Mrs Ursil Webster Brooks, who represented the Anguilla National Council of Women (ANCW), gave the vote of thanks.
During this COVID-19 pandemic, the statistics have shown us that incidents of gender based violence – in addition to gun fighting amongst the youths – have increased drastically. The welfare of our small island developing state is at stake. We must take this matter seriously in Anguilla, and address it properly with appropriate actions. We can no longer afford to turn a blind eye pretending such aggression does not or will not ever happen.
It is imperative our voices speak out, both collectively and individually, regarding these travesties. Even if we personally have not experienced, or been perpetrators of, these kinds of abuses towards a child, youth or adult, we cannot remain silent when witnessing or hearing about such traumatic occurrences. Ultimately, these flabbergasting acts impact all of us. We each have a connection to someone, either directly or indirectly.
To stay quiet, not saying a word, means that we are complicit in covering up and keeping secret these unbearable cruelties. Thus, we allow the abusers to continue being abusive, as well as show a lack of compassionate for persons who are abused – all of which continue to perpetuate this vicious cycle.
The effects from being abused, being the abuser and/or witnessing abuse are extremely devastating and cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). It takes immeasurable energy with a lifetime of self-healing work to overcome PTSD, if that is even possible. Some persons never recover from traumas they have experienced. The memories haunt them forever.
We must break these generational adversities that have been imposed on us as humans from infancy to elder years. Every single one of us has to do whatever we can to END THE VIOLENCE NOW! Otherwise, we will bring about the downfall of ourselves, our families, our children, our women, our men, our boys, our girls, our toddlers, our babies, and all of our nations globally.
As a person who has experienced gender based violence in childhood and as an adult, I am an advocate of ending the violence in Anguilla and universally!
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Kay M Ferguson is a contributing columnist who uses a nom de plume, The Empress Extraordinaire. Her words encourage us to explore who we are, evolve as human-beings and transform our world. Link with Kay at anguillawriter@gmail.com.
