Julianna O’Connor-Connolly

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign 25 November 2009 – 10 December 2009

As the Deputy Premier and Minister for Gender Affairs, I am pleased to reaffirm the Government and the country’s firm stance of ‘zero-tolerance’ for gender violence and to support the 2009 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign.

Coordinated internationally by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership, and locally by the Business and Professional Women’s Club, this campaign runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, the International Day of Human Rights, to symbolize the link between violence against women and human rights.

Gender-based violence is a problem of significant proportions that affects not only the Cayman Islands but all societies worldwide. Violence against women is viewed by many as the most pervasive, yet least recognized, human rights abuse in the world. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Commit _ Act _ Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women!” This theme was chosen to honour the groups and individuals who have committed to bringing violence against women (VAW) to the forefront of global attention, to encouraging everyone in their various capacities to take action to end VAW, and to demanding accountability for all of the promises made to eliminate VAW.

Violence against women is one of the most critical problems facing women across all racial, cultural, educational, social and economic divides in the world, and it is a result of the unequal relations between men and women.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as many as one in every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in some other way - most often by someone she knows, including by her husband or another male family member; one woman in four has been abused during pregnancy.

In Cayman, we cannot ignore the unfortunate fact that, especially in recent times, violence against women occurs in every community on all three of our islands.

We also recognize that men are victims of domestic violence and have specific gender issues in relation to violence such as high rates of male-on-male violence. These issues must also be addressed in conjunction with incorporating men as a part of the solution to this pervasive problem.

It is indeed timely that the Protection Against Domestic Violence Bill (2009) is currently out for public consultation during the 16 Days Campaign. Domestic violence is but one form of gender-based violence, and I encourage the public to review and comment on this important draft bill by November 30th. By providing comments on this draft Bill that seeks to expand the definition of domestic violence and offer broader protection to victims of domestic violence, you can do your part to be involved in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign.

I commend the Business and Professional Women’s Club for leading this campaign and the many Government, non-government, and faith-based organizations that will take part in the campaign and work with victims and perpetrators of gender based violence on a daily basis. Their loads are often heavy and their deeds go unnoticed, but they certainly deserve our appreciation for working towards addressing this social ill and improving the fabric of our families and our country as a whole.

Let us all make the commitment to do our part during this 16 Days Campaign, for we all have a responsibility to end gender-based violence together as women, girls, men, boys, and individuals of all generations, nationalities, races, religions, abilities, political persuasions, and socio-economic backgrounds. May God continue to bless and protect the women, children and men of the Cayman Islands.