Anguilla’s recently-appointed Governor, Her Excellency Ms Christina Scott, has made the point that discrimination and violence in all its forms against women violates the principles of equality, human rights and respect for human dignity.
The Governor was at the time delivering the keynote address at a March of Witness at Blowing Point on Saturday afternoon, August 17. The event was staged by the Women’s Ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with participation by Mrs Cerene Joseph, Women’s Ministry Director, others from the North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the local leader, Mrs Violet Sams, as well as women of the church in Anguilla. The March of Witness had as its theme: “End it now. Adventists say No to Violence against women and children. Break the Silence.”
Governor Scott, in the course of her address on discrimination against women, stressed: “It is an obstacle to the participation of women on equal terms with men in the political, social, economic and cultural life of the country. It troubles the growth of the prosperity of society and the family. It makes it so much more difficult for the development of the potential of women in the service of their country and of humanity.”
Ms Scott was of the view that Anguilla was getting better in attacking domestic violence, but noted that there was still a far way to go, with only a small number of cases being reported to the Police, according to Commissioner Rudolph Proctor. She said that such violent behaviour was creating the conditions in which children were being brought up in the society and the way in which families were functioning.
She thought it would be encouraging to see the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of DiscriminationAgainst Women extended to Anguilla. She emphasised that every women should enjoy the principles and the rights due to them at home and at work.
“It would be really good to see the establishment of a national gender machinery in Anguilla,” she went on. “This would be able to carry out vital training and help to build capacity both in the public sector and in the private sector, and it can build on current initiatives already underway…Women need protection in the courts and it would be good to ensure that robust and comprehensive domestic legislation is in place and is being enforced.
“I also think events such as this, that are designed to raise public awareness on the issue, are so helpful – so important – and I would encourage more churches to follow the lead of the Seventh-day Adventist ministry, and other civil groups, and your fine example, and engage in these sorts of activities to raise awareness.”
Governor Scott observed that more than anything else there was a need, as the programme stated, to break the silence around violence and discrimination. She said violence was a global problem noting that in England and Wales, on an average, two women die a week at the hands of their lovers or former partners. “In England, we have been learning the hard way that silence can kill,” she told her listeners.
She took the opportunity to refer to the shooting at Blowing Point, four weeks ago, in which seven young men were injured and the need for persons with information about that incident to break the silence. “Any of us, witnessing or experiencing discrimination or violence, needs to speak out for ourselves, our children and for our society,” she stated.
The Governor was convinced that the full and complete development of a country and the welfare of the world, and the cause of peace, required the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men.“Our vision for change is driven by not just the desire to stop damage being done, but also by the women so full of energy and promise, talent and creativity, and for whom so much is at stake.” She grouped them as mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, nieces and friends.“By working together we can create a world in which they are free to fulfil their potential,” she observed.
Ms Scott added: “Many people have remarked about me being the first female Governor in Anguilla…It is all very, very clear to me, that, in just four weeks of being here, there are so many accomplishments by women to celebrate in Anguilla. It is not just the first female Speaker or the Judges you have – or the senior lawyers or the many women occupying significant positions in all sectors of public and private life. It is also the nurses, the mothers, cooks, artists, musicians, the women in the revolution I’ve met, the small children doing fantastic drumming and that fabulous singer we had earlier.
“I am confident that together you, we, can change the way in which the society works. We can break the silence, we can end violence and discrimination against women and we can set them free.”
Governor Scott’s address was preceded by remarks by Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, who said that violence was affecting individuals in every community. “All of us, and families in this community and other communities throughout the world, are touched by this epidemic of violence and we must work towards ending it now,” he said. “It is said that every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and I am more than sure that there are some men who are experiencing it as well but will not report it. An estimated 1.3 women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner every year.”
Mr Proctor continued: “In Anguilla, domestic violence is under-reported but I want to say to you that the Government of Anguilla, the Ministry of Social Development and the Attorney General’s Chambers are working on legislation to deal with this problem…We want all women to come out of the closet and report domestic violence. It is not good. We have to end it now. Once the legislation is enacted every effort will be made to ensure that the Royal Anguilla Police Force has the necessary tools and powers to deal with the issue of domestic violence.”
The Police Commissioner disclosed that in a matter of weeks, with the assistance of the Governor’s Office, a number of Police Officers would be trained in domestic violence and that he was grateful for that assistance. He also touched on violence against children and cases where it was not reported. “I have seen so many of our young people who are willing to prosecute offenders, but are prevented by parents who are hiding fathers and other family membersabusing children within the family. We have to work to end that now,” he stressed.
He continued: “The time is ripe for all of us to echo our voice against violence and domestic violence. We have to stand up! Speak Out! We have to let the perpetrators know that we will not accept any violence. As a community, we must not allow the women and our young people to be terrorised by violent spouses, or by youth whose only aim is to disrupt the way we live in this community.”
The Seventh-day Adventist March of Witness included lively singing by several groups and individuals, prayer and other forms of service.
