Back Row: Ms. Kemoloy Murphy, Ms. Evalie Bradley, Jocelyn Johnson and Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks
The Ebenezer Methodist Church in the Upper Valley was alive with conviction on Tuesday, 25th November 2025, as Anguilla launched its annual observance of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The global campaign began, as always, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls — but this year, the island’s call felt especially urgent.
With the theme “Awareness to Action: Reshaping Culture, Ending the Cycle,” leaders and citizens gathered to confront not only violence itself, but the cultural norms that make it possible.
Chaired by Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, President of the Ebenezer Women’s Circle, the rally drew a wide cross-section of the community: government officials, faith leaders, advocates, and families. Among them were the Hon. Acting Premier and Minister of Social Development Shellya Rogers-Webster, Permanent Secretary Bonnie Richardson-Lake, and Gender Affairs Unit Coordinator Kemoloy Murphy.
The evening began with a stirring invocation from Pastor Wanda Brooks of World Harvest Assembly. Her prayer — emotional, deliberate, and unflinching — spoke directly to the hidden pain in many homes.
“We pray for the beaten girls and the battered women… those that are blamed, bruised, scarred by angry men,” she said, her voice echoing across the sanctuary. She prayed, too, for those “trapped in destructive relationships… manipulated, controlled,” and for a future in which “every woman, every girl can live in safety, in dignity, and in peace.”
A prayer offered by the Mothers’ Union of the Anglican Church continued that plea, lifting up women suffering from poverty, abuse, and exploitation.
In her welcome, Evalie Bradley, President of the Methodist Women’s Commission Anguilla Circuit, reminded attendees that gender-based violence may be global, but it has unmistakable roots here at home.
“It is a cancer within our society,” she said. “Every one of you is special, and I trust that what is said and done here tonight will leave us more aware, more empowered, and more committed to eliminating this scourge.”
Dr. Fleming-Banks followed with a chilling reminder of the scale of the crisis: “Within the last few minutes, at least three women were killed.” She recalled a banner created in 2016 that read, in part, “There is no peace on earth until violence ceases.” The words, she noted, remain just as true today.
Minister Rogers-Webster, in her remarks, announced that earlier in November the Executive Council approved crucial amendments to Anguilla’s Criminal Code — including the full criminalisation of marital rape for the first time. “These changes affirm a principle that must guide our society,” she said. “Every person has the right to safety, autonomy, and bodily integrity, regardless of marital status.”
The draft bill received its first reading in the House of Assembly on 25th November.
She acknowledged the persistent advocacy of Kemoloy Murphy, calling her work instrumental in pushing the reforms forward. But she warned that legislation, while essential, is only one pillar of progress. “True culture change requires strong systems and skilled, compassionate responders,” she stated. To strengthen these systems, the Gender Affairs Unit and the Royal Anguilla Police Force are conducting a comprehensive domestic violence response training series from 24th to 27th November.
The next 16 days will continue with public education campaigns, youth sessions, creative arts projects, and NGO capacity-building workshops. “Ending violence,” she said, “belongs to every home, every school, every workplace, every church, and every community.”
A reflective presentation titled “Inside a Young Mind” offered a glimpse into the emotional toll of violence on children and teens: “Domestic violence isn’t love. Love should lift you up, not make you hide your tears.”
Murphy echoed that message in her remarks. “Ending violence is everyone’s responsibility,” she said. “Our work begins with us — in our homes, our churches, our workplaces, our communities.”
The keynote address by Mrs. Jacqueline Sealy-Burke was a sharp, thought-provoking exploration of how gender-based violence grows from cultural norms and socialisation. While condemning violence is easy, she said, eliminating it “calls for a far more sophisticated, nuanced, and well-considered response.”
Sealy-Burke recalled her earlier work in Anguilla during the development of domestic violence legislation. Public resistance was fierce. Callers on local radio insisted that “some women deserve the licks,” and many opposed removing men from homes because they were the “heads of households.” These mindsets, she argued, expose deeply rooted cultural values that still shape attitudes today.
She broke down how gender norms are ingrained from infancy — from the colours of our blankets to the toys we’re given, to the phrases “act like a man” or “act like a young lady.” Boys are taught to associate masculinity with dominance, girls with silence and submission. These early teachings, she said, lay the groundwork for inequality and, ultimately, violence.
“Rape is not about sexual desire,” she emphasised. “It is about power.” She pointed to music and popular culture as influential forces. The well-known song Kick In She Back Door — in which a woman’s screams of “murder” are framed as entertainment — is casually enjoyed even by children. These messages, she said, normalize harm. Then comes silence — the belief that abuse is “man-woman business,” best kept behind closed doors. “What we tolerate becomes our culture,” she warned.
Change, she said, requires collective commitment — especially from men. “When men stand with women,” she said, “it sends a powerful message.”
The discussion that followed, moderated by Ms. Merline Barrett, opened the floor to personal stories, challenges, and questions.
Avon Carty noted that Sealy-Burke’s soft-spoken yet commanding delivery challenged harmful stereotypes that masculinity must be forceful. Participants discussed how scripture is sometimes twisted to justify harm, and underscored the need for churches to adopt clear protection protocols rather than simply urging women to “pray over it.”
Several raised concerns about emotional abuse, which Sealy-Burke described as often more painful than the physical. A social worker questioned the role of dress and safety, prompting Sealy-Burke to express her hesitancy to put the responsibility solely on the woman. “It implies that she is at fault. Boys and men are not animals that can’t resist mating patterns. God has given us brains and intellect.”
The group also examined the influences of music, media, and peer pressure on young men — and the troubling absence of young male voices in the room.
As the conversation closed, Barrett offered a challenge that lingered in the air: “Imagine an Anguilla free from gender-based violence. What would that Anguilla look like? And what must I change to help build it?”
As Anguilla embarks on its 16 Days of Activism, Tuesday night’s message was unmistakable: violence is not inevitable, culture can be reshaped, and every citizen has a role to play in ending the cycle for good.
By Janissa Fleming
