Developing an interagency and inter-disciplinary campaign against domestic violence.
Dear community members
Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence, family violence, battering, spousal abuse) is a problem that affects every sector of society in Jamaica. It crosses all races, social and economic background, cultures, religions and relationship types. It has implications not only for our criminal justice system, but also the health care system, the workplace and day-to-day community life. Simply, its effects are far reaching and devastating; no one comes out unscathed.
The Ministry of National Security is committed to tackling crime and violence and sees domestic violence as an insidious criminal act that perpetuates the use of violence to settle conflicts and minor disagreements. Subsequently, I have been tasked with developing a domestic violence campaign to further raise public awareness about this issue. It is within this context that I am asking members for suggestions and advice on
1. Which agencies/ group should form the technical steering committee?
2. What should be the focus, activities and objectives of the campaign during the short, medium and long term?
3. Suggest discussion questions that will help to raise awareness about the issue?
Regards
Sandra Latibeaudiere
Community of Practice Coordinator
7 Comments
1. In my experience a multi-agency partnership is necessary to drive a domestic violence campaign. Essential members are the police (who need to take these issues seriously), the medical profession (who see much more violence than is ever reported), Ministry of Justice (who need to ensure that judges and prosecutors understand the nature of domestic violence), MNS (of course), Media (to get a strong consistent message out there) and the corporate world (for some sponsorship).
2. The focus of the campaign should be on zero tolerance. It should also look to educate people about domestic violence particularly seeing it as an iceberg (much more happens than we hear about); that it does not discriminate and can be found in all sorts of families, rich and poor, urban and rural; that it is linked to other types of abuse, including sexual abuse.
3. Why do the police not treat domestic abuse more seriously? Why do women stay in abusive relationships? What is the effect of domestic abuse on children? Is domestic abuse linkned to any other crimes? Does the law in Jamaica on marital rape encorage and condone domestic violence? How many times is a woman abused before she reports it to the police? Should there be a zero tolerance approach to domestic violence whereby abusers are always arrested and kept in custody? What is the church doing about domestic violence? Should Doctors be compelled to bring all domestic violence cases to the police? What support is there for victims of domestic violence? What help is available to assist perpetrators of domestic violence to appreciate the problem and move away from offending behaviour?
I agree with the membership suggestions made by John. I would suggest two advocacy groups; Fathers Incorporated and WROC as well as the women support groups attached to the Ministry of Youth Culture and Sport. Given the paucity of credible data on the matter related to Jamaica, the UWI based Institute of Criminal Justice and Secuirty or simililarly focussed research bodies in any of the other universities should also be considered
Domestic abuse is most often shrouded in shame, which leads to victims protecting abusers while suffering in silence and isolation. A nationwide, multi-pronged, multi-media campaign is needed to air the issues, stimulate open dialogue and create conditions that facilitate changes in attitude and behaviour. In the Area Youth Foundation the overwhelming majority of the participants in our projects are young, unattached males, a demographic for whom violence is an almost autonomic response to any stimulus that threatens their fragile sense of self worth. We are not saying that domestic abuse is only about men's physical assaults on women, but in working with this demographic we are struck by how toxic and transactional gender relations are. There is deep mistrust and a mutal conviction that the other gender is only interested in what they can get. We must work equally with the victims and the perpetrators of whatever gender.
In Area Youth, we have found that through drama, music and other arts practices, empathy can be learned and as participants grow in self esteem there is more openness, communication and trust. The arts-based process gives rise to creative products that can be shared with the wider public by way of music videos, tv programming, live shows, etc.
I welcome the MNS' initiative. The previous commentators have raised excellent points and I look forward eagerly to seeing what the next steps will bring.
Posted on behalf of Shirley Pryce
Hi Sandra good hearing from you The protection of Jamaican families from domestic violence is one of the biggest challenges facing the nation. The high rate of such act has had a devastating impact on children, as a country we need to work harder and be more focus to eliminate this monster of a crime. Children who witness domestic violence are also victims; they suffer from behavioral and cognitive problems most times violence is transmitted from generation to generation so we must save our children. I think everyonehas a right to a healthy relationship. Educational campaign is a must Groups suggest are Bureau of Women's Affairs, WROC, Women Inc, University of West Indies Gender and Development, Household Workers Association, Jamaica for Justice, Systren Theatre Collective.
Shirley Pryce
President Jamaica Household Workers Association
4 Ellesmere Road Kingston 10
Posted on behalf of Myrna McKenzie
Dear Sandra:
One of the much ignored aspect of domestic violence is the area of child abuse. We found in our baseline study done in 2009 that the beating of children is an area that much attention is not paid to because of culture. According to many mothers in our research 'we murder dem" and for different reasons depending on sex. We found that girls are beaten more than boys. Girls are beaten especially to interrogate the cycle of teen pregnancy while boys are beaten to prevent them getting involved in gangs and "tekking up badness". We have seen instances of the physical abuse of children including the burning with a hot iron, mother's cutting/stabbing their sons, destroying a child's clothes etc. While participants in our baseline study spoke of incidents of abuse which left children swollen, bleeding, broken-limbed and suffering from other injury, no one indicated that the parents were reported to the police or any other agency. Mothers were the main perpetrators of abuse of children. While this can be linked to the fact that the number of female headed households is just over 50% (need to verify this statistic), majority of fathers said they preferred talking to the children rather than beat them, especially their daughters.
Interestingly, 79% of children we surveyed (inner city communities) said their mother were their role model while 10% said their father. Mothers especially must be targeted in any domestic violence campaign.
Sistren started a campaign using street theatre productions to raise awareness around the issue especially as it relates to a human rights issue. We are very interested in continuing our work around this area of domestic violence.
I'm inviting you to take a look at our baseline study at the link below.
http://www.sistrentheatrecollectiveja.org/Baseline%20Study%20Tek%20it%20To%20Dem%20Project[1].pdf
Regards
Myrna
Posted on behalf of Linnette Vassell
Sandra...greetings.
Important discussion you are coordinating... hopefully towards action soon.
WROC is currently implementing a training and community action programme - Eliminating Gender Based Violence- sensitization of community Facilitators who in tern, mount conversations with targeted groups. A number of conversations are being planned as we speak and information on the programme can be shared through Dorothy Whyte and or Ali Whyte at WROC. I also wanted to urge you to contact the Bureau of Women's Affairs- Faith Webster in particular. They launched earlier this year a National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender Based Violence. The launch was attended by a very large and diverse stakeholder group and as far as I see, we are 'good to go' with the action....!! Can you link with that initiative, so we can move also on the implementing of what we have so far agreed? I am sure the BWA would really appreciate and all of us would benefit from 'join-up government'.
Blessings.
Linnette
Hi Sandra,
I am in strong agreement and support towards this venture. Let me first applaud you and your team for the hard work and dedication that you put into whatever project you undertake. The home is seen as one of the primary agents of socialization and as such ought to be a critical base for the growth and development of our nation's children. It ought to be seen as a safe heaven for all. However, often times the home fail in its attempt to lay the proper foundation for our children and as such a gap is created. This gap can allow for the infiltration of less than suitable values and attitudes and so propagates negativity and gloom. Domestic violence is one of the many monsters that negatively affect the family. It can affect the homeostasis of the family and in so doing result in the demise of the unit and in extreme cases prove to be fatal. The woman is beaten and abused by her male partner for various reasons often time includes; socio-economic dependence, inferiority, inequality and just for being a woman on the wrong day, to name a few. Children are also abused by both mothers and fathers whether physically, mentally, or sexually. Too often we see evidences of these abuses whether in the class room, hospitals, clinics or in the media. I concur with other suggestions as it relates to the groups to be involved in this venture with the media playing a very integral part. The Police, Correctional Services and Prison Ministries are also a few others groups to look at including.
Regards,
Nadria Brown
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