News

The 16 Days of Activism begins on 25 November: the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December: Human Rights Day.

For 16 days, we – as individuals, families, and a community – are being challenged to confront some uncomfortable truths about what is taking place within our homes, our institutions, and our nation. Truths that we must confront if there is to be a change for the better.

Since 1991, the world has marked ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence’ as a concerted effort to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Gender-Based Violence (GBV), sometimes also referred to as Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), is any act of sexual, physical, psychological, mental, economic or emotional abuse that is perpetrated against a person’s will, and based solely on socially ascribed (i.e. gender) differences between males and females. Under this umbrella, domestic violence remains a serious issue which warrants attention and resources, but it is also vital that we recognise other forms of abuse happening within our society; many acts which are perpetuated by being classified as “taboo”, or something we do not discuss or acknowledge.

By now, many have heard the global statistics on how gender-based violence impacts as many as 1 in 3 women - a figure that has remained largely unchanged for the last decade. Global statistics also estimate that a woman or girl is killed by someone in their family every 11 minutes.

Whilst women and girls are disproportionately affected, men, boys, and the LGBTQ+ community can also be targets of GBV, resulting from the perceived power imbalances within the norms of masculinity and femininity. Global statistics indicate that 1 in 7 men are affected by GBV. Indeed, global statistics have their purpose, but far too often we look to these as a reason to pat ourselves on the back, because things here at home aren’t “as bad” as other places; forgetting that we have our own challenges, inequalities and violence with which to contend.

There are a number of local entities that have done incredible work over the years to raise awareness and educate our community on the impacts of gender-based violence. The Family Resource Centre (formerly the Women’s Resource Centre), along with the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, the Gender Affairs Unit, and the Alliance to End Domestic Violence, have been leaders in addressing domestic violence in our community. Similarly, civic groups and organisations, such as Gender Equality Cayman, the Business and Professional Women’s Club, and the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens, are to be commended for the work they do to protect the rights of women and other vulnerable groups. All of these entities work together to provide assistance and support services to survivors and their families, and mechanisms to ensure violent perpetrators are held accountable.

Ending violence against women is everyone’s business, and I encourage every one of us to learn more about the ways that we can each make a difference in our community.